New research has revealed that biofluorescence is widespread in birds-of-paradise, a group of tropical birds famous for their spectacular courtship dances and colorful plumage.&nbsp;



The study shows that 37 out of the 45 known species exhibit biofluorescence, which appears to be especially prominent in males. This hidden glow may be used to attract mates and establish dominance.



The research was conducted by scientists at the American Museum of Natural History (<a href="https://www.amnh.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AMNH</a>) and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-adding-a-glow-to-mating-rituals">Adding a glow to mating rituals</h2>



Birds-of-paradise inhabit regions in eastern Australia, Indonesia, and New Guinea. For generations, they have intrigued scientists with elaborate feather displays and acrobatic dances that males use to court females.&nbsp;



Bioluminescence is a phenomenon in which an organism absorbs light at one wavelength, then emits it at another



The new evidence of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cats-glow-in-the-dark-fluorescence-found-to-be-very-common-in-mammals/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">biofluorescence</a> suggests that these dazzling birds might have yet another visual trick: a layer of fluorescent signals invisible to humans without specialized instruments.



Rene Martin is the study’s lead author and an assistant professor at the <a href="https://www.unl.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Nebraska-Lincoln</a>.&nbsp;



“The unique <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/whale-shark-mating-behaviors-observed-for-the-first-time-in-the-wild/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mating rituals</a> and displays of birds-of-paradise have fascinated scientists and spurred a myriad of studies focused on trait evolution and sexual selection,” said Martin. “It seems fitting that these flashy birds are likely signaling to each other in additional, flashy ways.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-detecting-fluorescence-in-birds-of-paradise">Detecting fluorescence in birds-of-paradise </h2>



The research draws on specimens collected since the 1800s, held in the <a href="https://www.amnh.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">American Museum of Natural History</a>’s extensive ornithology collection.&nbsp;



A decade ago, Museum Curator John Sparks - an ichthyologist by training - noticed that certain bird species, including some birds-of-paradise, glowed green-yellow when exposed to specific wavelengths of light. This led him and colleagues to begin a deeper exploration of avian biofluorescence.



“Despite there being over 10,000 described avian species, with numerous studies that have documented their bright plumage, elaborate mating displays, and excellent vision, surprisingly very few have investigated the presence of biofluorescence,” Sparks said.



Martin, who conducted this work while a postdoctoral researcher at the Museum, and Emily Carr, a PhD candidate in the Museum’s Richard Gilder Graduate School, took Sparks’ initial findings and broadened the analysis.&nbsp;



Using ultraviolet (UV) light, the team discovered that the birds not only glow under blue wavelengths but also fluoresce strongly under UV exposure. 



This effect was mainly observed on male plumage patches crucial to courtship, such as the head, belly, and neck, as well as mouth and bill linings.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-biofluorescence-is-most-pronounced-in-males">Biofluorescence is most pronounced in males</h2>



The researchers found that this fluorescence is especially vibrant in males, often concentrated in areas highlighted during mating rituals.&nbsp;



Meanwhile, females also exhibit it, though to a lesser degree - primarily on their chests and bellies. The study suggests that the equatorial environments in which these birds live offer abundant and varied light conditions, possibly enhancing the visibility and function of biofluorescence.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/bird-of-paradise_Paradisaea-guilielmi_biofluorescense_credit-Rene-Martin_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/bird-of-paradise_Paradisaea-guilielmi_biofluorescense_credit-Rene-Martin_1s.webp" alt="Biofluorescence is seen on an emperor bird-of-paradise (Paradisaea guilielmi) in the American Museum of Natural History's collection. Credit: Rene Martin" class="wp-image-1959700"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Biofluorescence is seen on an emperor bird-of-paradise (Paradisaea guilielmi) in the American Museum of Natural History's collection. Credit: Rene Martin</figcaption></figure>



“These <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bird-extinctions-shatter-the-harmonious-balance-of-nature/">birds</a> live near the equator, where there is an abundance of bright solar light year-round, and they live in forests where the complexity of light is significantly affected by differences in the canopy and where biofluorescent signals may be enhanced,” Carr said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-bird-fluorescence-matters">Why bird fluorescence matters</h2>



Recent studies in closely related species indicate that birds-of-paradise have eye pigments aligned with the fluorescence peaks measured in this study - meaning they can likely perceive these glowing patches.&nbsp;



In a species group already known for visually striking performances, these fluorescent signals may offer an even finer scale of detail for courtship and territorial displays.



When a male bird-of-paradise performs an intricate dance, the green-yellow glow from certain feathers might act like a hidden spotlight, contrasting sharply against the bird’s darker plumage. This could help catch a female’s attention or signal social status among competitors.



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



Although birds-of-paradise are among the best-studied avian groups for behavior and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-and-why-tropical-birds-are-so-strikingly-colorful-and-iridescent/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">coloration</a>, the discovery of broad-scale fluorescence suggests that birds may have more complex signaling systems than previously realized.&nbsp;



The presence of fluorescent patches in so many species raises the possibility that other bird lineages, especially those with striking plumage or elaborate displays, could also exhibit biofluorescence.



Moving forward, the researchers plan to investigate how environmental factors - like canopy cover, seasonal light availability, and even habitat degradation - might affect these glowing displays.&nbsp;



Understanding how birds-of-paradise perceive biofluorescence could also inform broader questions about the evolution of sexual selection and signaling in avian species.



Ultimately, this study reshapes scientists’ understanding of the “secret language of light” that these flamboyant birds use to communicate.&nbsp;



With improved imaging technologies and heightened awareness of avian fluorescence, researchers may soon discover that a hidden glow permeates many corners of the bird world, especially in those known for their spectacular visual allure.



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsos.241905" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Royal Society Open Science</a>.



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Birds-of-paradise use secret biofluorescence to attract mates

New research has revealed that biofluorescence is widespread in birds-of-paradise, a group of tropical birds famous for their spectacular courtship dances and colorful plumage.&nbsp; The study shows that 37 out of the 45 known species exhibit biofluorescence, which appears to be especially prominent in males. This hidden glow may be used to attract mates and establish dominance. The research was conducted by scientists at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Adding a glow to mating rituals Birds-of-paradise inhabit regions in eastern...

The internet has transformed our everyday lives in ways we are still beginning to understand. Gone are the days of navigating a map for directions and mailing letters to far away friends to keep in contact. The internet has made our lives easier, faster and more convenient. Unfortunately, the internet has also helped fuel the illicit wildlife market.

A recent<a href="http://static1.1.sqspcdn.com/static/f/157301/27922673/1528275723837/SEAsia-Otter-report.pdf?token=p2R0%2F28DPnHigqT%2FyiDH6Wbg%2BTg%3D"> study</a> by the wildlife monitoring group <a href="http://www.traffic.org/">TRAFFIC</a> and the <a href="http://www.otterspecialistgroup.org/iucn.html">International Union for Conservation of Nature Otter Specialist Group</a> found that the online pet trade for otters is creating a pressing threat to otter populations.

The study monitored online advertisements for otters one hour a week in Indonesia between January and April 2018. The researchers found 560 advertisements selling up to 1,189 animals in Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia. The main species affected by online sales in this study was the small-clawed otter which is currently listed as “vulnerable” and protected on Appendix II of <a href="https://www.cites.org/">CITES</a>.

The study concludes, “Overall, the pet trade emerged as the most pressing threat to the survival of otters, particularly in Indonesia and Thailand.”

Otters are far from the only species affected by the online wildlife market. Studies have found live animals such as tortoises sold for the pet trade and wildlife parts such as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pangolins-smuggled-ivory-trade/">ivory</a> for sale.

Although it is difficult to assess the exact size of the secretive market, the<a href="https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/frontpage/2014/May/wildlife-crime-worth-8-10-billion-annually.html"> United Nation Office on Drugs and Crime</a> estimated that the wildlife market brings in $8-$10 billion a year, ranking it as one of the most lucrative markets along with guns, drugs and human trafficking.

As the internet becomes more commonplace, wildlife traffickers are increasingly utilizing it as a tool. The internet streamlines sales and allows traffickers to sell animals throughout the world while remaining anonymous. Traffickers can post advertisements for animals, contact potential buyers and accept payments all through their computers which has opened the market up to smaller-scale traffickers.

Traffickers generally consider the internet a low-risk platform for selling wildlife. Buyers and sellers use a variety of methods to keep their market hidden such as using sites that cannot be found through search engines, closed social media groups, direct messaging apps and code words for wild animals.

The elusive nature of online sales makes enforcement efforts difficult, especially in areas where enforcement of the wildlife market is already low.<a href="https://www.cites.org/"> The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora</a> has taken actions to address the growing online market but some countries’ laws against wildlife trafficking predate the internet and need to be updated.

<a href="https://www.ifaw.org/united-states">The International Fund for Animal Welfare</a> (IFAW) has investigated the online wildlife trade since 2004 and works with governments and law enforcement agencies to provide them with information and training to combat the online trade.

IFAW recently joined forces with the <a href="https://www.worldwildlife.org/">World Wildlife Fund</a>, TRAFFIC and 21 technology, e-commerce and social media companies (including Google, eBay, Facebook and Instagram) to shut down the online trade. The group, the Global Coalition to End Wildlife Trafficking Online, has a goal of reducing wildlife trafficking across platforms by 80% by 2020.

These powerful tech giants can have a huge impact on the wildlife market as they are often the hosts of the wildlife trade. According to<a href="https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2018/03/wildlife-watch-tech-companies-online-wildlife-crime-coalition/"> National Geographic</a>, the tech companies will create algorithms to detect keywords and flag the posts before they are even posted. Since wildlife traffickers often use code words to avoid detection, companies will need to manually review posts as well.

This coalition is a big move for tech companies who have previously received criticisms for not doing enough to prevent online wildlife trafficking. Wide-scale efforts from both governments and the tech industry are needed to quash the online market before it is too late for the many species affected by the online wildlife trade.

--

By <a href="mailto:brianna.grant134@gmail.com">Brianna Lynne</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Contributing Writer

The internet is helping fuel global wildlife trafficking

The internet has transformed our everyday lives in ways we...

After 2017’s devastating hurricane season, the cities, islands, and coastal communities hit hardest were left to pick up the pieces and forge a long road to recovering basic essential services like providing clean water, clearing roadways to hospitals, evacuating trapped residents, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/energy-colonialism-hurricane-maria/">restoring power</a>.  

It’s estimated that damage from the 2017 hurricane season cost around $282 billion, one of the costliest seasons on records 

For biologists at <a href="https://wustl.edu/">Washington University in St. Louis</a> and <a href="https://www.harvard.edu/">Harvard</a>, though, hurricane Irma afforded a fortuitous research opportunity into natural selection events and how lizards in the remote cays of Turks and Caicos weathered the storm. 

The one of a kind study on the physical characteristics that can make the difference between life and death in the middle of a hurricane was published in the journal Nature. 

“Hurricanes are in the news, and it seems that they're becoming more destructive,” said Jonathan Losos, a member of the research team. “Something like this has never been documented before because it's so difficult. The timing had to be just right.”

The study did not start out as an examination of natural selection events but that’s what it morphed into after it became apparent that data collected on lizard populations for an invasive species eradication project could be used for before and after Irma comparisons on lizard species. 

The researchers were granted rare access to their original research areas on remote islands in Turks and Caicos after hurricane Irma. 

“Heading back to Pine Cay, we weren't sure what we'd find, but when we got to the field and saw a few lizards running around, we were eager to get catching and start measuring,” said Colin Donihue, the lead author of the study. “We walked exactly the same transects we had the last time. There were definitely fewer lizards. We had to work harder to catch our sample size.”

For two days, Donihue and Losos and their team collected 100 lizards on two separate islands, recording data on forelimb, hindlimb, and core body strength measurements. 

The researchers also took pictures of the lizards’ toe pads in hopes that it would show why some lizards survived over others. The new data was compared to the data collected before the hurricane had hit. 

“The prediction was that if we saw any changes, they would be changes in the features that help lizards hold on -- they would be related to clinging ability,” said Donihue. “For example, the sticky toe pads on their fingers and toes, maybe they would be larger.”

It was the lizards that had larger toe pads on both forelimbs and hindlimbs with shorter bones between their hips and knees that survived. Surviving lizards also had smaller bodies. 

The researchers were then curious if these traits gave the lizards an advantage during the hurricane and the results seem to indicate that this is the case. 

“With regard to evolution, the question is whether hurricanes cause selective mortality: do individuals with certain traits survive better than individuals with different traits?” Losos asked. “The alternative possibility -- that devastation is so massive that mortality is indiscriminate, not favoring some individuals over others -- is certainly possible. Still, hurricane-induced natural selection seems like the best explanation for these findings.” 

There are still missing pieces to the study and further research is needed to understand how lizards behave during a hurricane and the self-preservation methods they employ. 

Lizards are built to cling, but not all lizards are built equally as the study show, and some lizards with larger toe pads may be better suited to weather hurricane force winds compared to their long-legged, long-bodied counterparts. 

The study also calls attention to the importance of better understanding how hurricanes affect entire ecosystems and species populations. 

“We know that hurricanes are getting more frequent, and we know that they're getting more strong,” said Donihue. “So, setting up a network of sites that are actually set up to investigate the question of how hurricanes are changing the evolutionary trajectory of species I think could be really useful.”

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Image Credit: Colin Donihue

Large toe pads give some lizards a leg up during a hurricane

After 2017’s devastating hurricane season, the cities, islands, and coastal...

In an article written for <a href="http://theconversation.com/au">The Conversation</a>, Dr. Jesse Grady explains that assigning a “real” age to a dog or a cat is not as simple as it is made out to be. Dr. Grady says that it is important for veterinarians like himself to understand the age of their patients so that they can make the best healthcare recommendations.

“There’s an old myth that one regular year is like seven years for dogs and cats. There’s a bit of logic behind it. People observed that with optimal healthcare, an average-sized, medium dog would on average live one-seventh as long as its human owner - and so the seven ‘dog years’ for every ‘human year’ equation was born,” writes Dr. Grady.

He describes this rule as an “oversimplification” because not all dogs are average-sized. Furthermore, animals age differently from humans and from each other, and the aging process is partially based on breed characteristics and size. For example, bigger animals tend to have shorter life spans compared to smaller animals. Nutrition and weight are also major contributors to the life expectancy of a pet.

Dr. Grady says that veterinarians are now able to provide far better medical care to animals than even a decade ago, and that a better methodology is used to measure the ages of pets. Vets divide <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dogs-comfort-owners-upset/">dogs</a> into six categories, or life stages: puppy, junior, adult, mature, senior, and geriatric.

“Life stages are a more practical way to think about age than assigning a single number; even human health recommendations are based on developmental stage rather than exactly how old you are in years,” writes Dr. Grady.

Cats are also divided into six stages of life, which are more consistent compared to dogs because cats have much less variability in size. Veterinarians use these life stages to determine what screenings or tests the animals need.

“Just like a normal human toddler doesn’t need a colonoscopy, a normal puppy doesn’t need its thyroid levels checked,” explains Dr. Grady. “An adult woman likely needs a regular mammogram, just like an adult cat needs annual intestinal parasite screenings.”

Dr. Grady points out that an animal's overall health status can influence its age for better or worse, just the same as people.

“So next time you take your pet to the veterinarian, talk about your animal’s life stage and find out what health recommendations come with it. Watching out for health abnormalities and maintaining a healthy weight could help your cat live long past the literal ‘prime’ of its life.”

Jesse Grady is a clinical instructor of Veterinary Medicine at <a href="https://www.msstate.edu/">Mississippi State University</a>. 

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Life stages are a better age indicator than dog years, vet says

In an article written for The Conversation, Dr. Jesse Grady...

Land use plays a major role in animal population declines, and many studies examine how agriculture and economic growth will impact species and their primary habitats. 

However, new research shows that alternative habitats are equally important in understanding population decline and the adaptability of a species. 

Birds are a prime example of this, as many bird species use urban or agricultural land as an alternative to their primary habitat. 

Researchers from the <a href="http://illinois.edu/">University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign</a> replicated an early 1900s ornithological survey to better illustrate the vital importance that alternate habitats can have in dictating a species’ ability to survive and thrive. 

The fate of some bird species may then lie not in the decline of their primary habitats, but in agricultural or urban space that is made increasingly more inhospitable for birds through <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pesticides-extremely-toxic-birds/">pesticides </a>or infrastructure. 

“This study demonstrates that these 'primary habitats,' as termed by the authors, do not necessarily drive population changes,” said Amanda Rodewald, an expert on birds' response to land use who was not involved in the study. “Rather, the extent to which a species uses novel or alternative habitats such as urban areas might better explain patterns.”

The results were published in the journal The Condor: Ornithological Applications. 

Two ornithologists crisscrossed the state of Illinois between 1906 and 1909 surveying bird populations and creating a record of native bird species to Illinois inhabiting grassland, forest, urban and agricultural habitats. 

The Condor study wanted to replicate that original survey and researchers recorded and monitored Illinois bird populations between 2006 and 2008. 

Next, the data collected on the survey was used to create a mathematical model of bird occupancy to show how things had changed since the early 1900s. 

The results showed that birds changed their use of alternative habitats more than their primary ones. 40 species included in the study expanded their populations and occupancy by taking advantage of urban habitats. 

26 of the species surveyed suffered population declines because they decreased their use of agricultural habitats. 

Urban habitats have become increasingly bird-friendly and many people enjoy putting bird feeders in their yard to attract and watch birds.

Agriculture, on the other hand, has grown increasingly hostile to birds and other animals because of how much pesticides and herbicides are used to treat the crops. 

“Understanding which species can or can't take advantage of these alternative habitats will allow us to better predict which species need conservation efforts,” said Michael Ward, a lead author of the study. “Urban habitats are the habitats in which many species have been increasing, and the general public, by providing small bits of habitat in their backyards, have the opportunity to help a range of species.”

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Image Credit: M.K. Rubey

Alternative habitats shown to be important to bird populations

Land use plays a major role in animal population declines,...

When it comes to getting along with dogs, cats are in charge. The idea that cats and dogs are hard-wired not to get along is so common that it created the popular phrase “fighting like cats and dogs.” 

While it might seem that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dogs-comfort-owners-upset/">dogs</a>, who are larger in size and capable of doing more damage to their feline counterparts, hold all the power in a household, it turns out cats are actually in charge.

Researchers from the<a href="http://www.lincoln.ac.uk/"> University of Lincoln</a> found that cats, not the owner, are responsible for keeping the peace, in a new study published in the Journal of Veterinary Behaviour. 

Many pet owners who have both cats and dogs will attest to their cats lashing out, hissing, or attacking a dog rather than vice versa. 

Researchers surveyed 750 pet owners about the relationships between their dogs and cats. According to the study, fewer than 1 in 5 owners have witnessed their dog threatening their cat. 

“On the face of it, these results suggest that the cat is the kingpin in a household with dogs. They are the princess and the dog is lower down in the hierarchy,” said Sophie Hall, the study’s co-author. “It may be that cats' threatening acts are more obvious to owners, as they hiss or strike out with their paws at a dog. But it may also be the case that cats are less domesticated in their behaviors than dogs, so are less used to getting along with other four and two-legged members of the family and have had less training to do so.”

One in ten of the owners reported that their cats actually injured their dogs but less than one percent said that their dog had hurt the cat in any way. 

It’s possible for cats and dogs to get along, of course, but cats are less social than dogs and are not evolutionarily geared toward companionship and domestication in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dogs-humans-close/">same way dogs are</a>. This difference in domestication history can make cat and dog relationships tricky, to say the least. 

Ultimately though, whether or not the two animals do get along depends entirely on the cat, according to the study. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

When it comes to getting along with dogs, cats are in charge

When it comes to getting along with dogs, cats are...

Species loss in the tropics has become so dire that a new study in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/nature/">Nature</a> has warned a global biodiversity collapse is imminent unless we take urgent and significant action. In this paper, an international team of researchers warns that failure to act quickly and decisively will greatly increase the risk of an irreversible species loss in the most diverse areas of our planet.

This study is the first high-level report on the state of the world’s four most diverse tropical ecosystems. These ecosystems are coral reefs, lakes and rivers, savannas, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/amber-fossil-frogs-tropical-forests/">tropical forests</a>. Although the tropics cover just 40 percent of the planet, the authors determined that this ecosystem is home to over three-quarters of all the planet’s species, including almost all shallow-water corals and more than 90 percent of the world’s bird species. It’s estimated that millions of other species that inhabit the tropics have yet to be discovered by science.

“At the current rate of species description – about 20,000 new species per year - it can be estimated that at least 300 years will be necessary to catalogue biodiversity,” says Dr. Benoit Guénard, assistant professor at the <a href="https://www.hku.hk/">University of Hong Kong</a> and an author on the study.

In these tropical ecosystems, many species face the “double jeopardy” of being threatened by both local human pressures – like logging or overfishing – as well as pressures from climate change – such as droughts or heat waves.

And while many other species are being threatened, the declining health of the tropical ecosystems threatens our species as well. “Although they cover just 0.1% of the ocean surface, coral reefs provide fish resources and coastal protection for up to 200 million people,” says Jos Barlow, a professor from <a href="http://www.lancaster.ac.uk/">Lancaster University</a> and lead author of the study. “And between them, humid tropical forests and savannas store 40% of the carbon in the terrestrial biosphere and support rainfall in some of the world’s most important agricultural regions.”

These findings may seem disturbing – and they are – but the authors also describe actions we can take in order to help save these important ecosystems. They call for a step-change in efforts to support sustainable development and effective conservation interventions to preserve and help restore these tropical habitats.

“The fate of the tropics will be largely determined by what happens elsewhere in the planet,” says Barlow. “While most of us are familiar with the impact of climate change on the polar regions, it is also having devastating consequences across the tropics – and without urgent action could undermine local conservation interventions.”

While it is clear that climate change and human impact has caused significant damage to these ecosystems, all is not lost. There must be a sense of urgency to our future actions in reversing the damage we have done. 

Barlow laments, “Fifty years ago biologists expected to be the first to find a species, now they hope not to be the last.”

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Alexander Lees/Manchester Metropolitan University

A tropical biodiversity collapse is imminent, scientists warn

Species loss in the tropics has become so dire that...

Ocean acidification causing fish to lose their sense of smell. A new study from the <a href="http://www.exeter.ac.uk/">University of Exeter</a> has found that ocean acidification causes fish to lose their sense of smell. The research suggests that elevated levels of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rice-lose-nutritional-value-co2/">carbon dioxide</a> will leave fish much more vulnerable to predators and other threats.

Fish rely on their sense of smell to perform the most essential functions, such as recognizing each other and avoiding predators. Fish also use their olfactory system to find food, safe habitats, and suitable spawning grounds. A reduction in their ability to smell could be extremely detrimental to their survival.

When carbon dioxide is absorbed by the ocean, it reacts with seawater and produces acid. Since the Industrial Revolution, the amount of CO2 taken in by the ocean has risen by 43 percent, and oceanic CO2 is predicted to be 2.5 times higher than current levels by the end of the century.


“Our study is the first to examine the impact of rising carbon dioxide in the ocean on the olfactory system of fish,” said lead author Dr. Cosima Porteus. “First we compared the behavior of juvenile sea bass at CO2 levels typical of today's ocean conditions, and those predicted for the end of the century.”

Dr. Porteus explained that sea bass in acidic waters did not swim as often and were less likely to respond when they encountered the smell of a predator. She said that these fish were more likely to “freeze,” which is an indication of anxiety.

The experts also tested the ability of the sea bass to detect different smells by recording activity in the nervous system while their noses were exposed to water with different levels of CO2 and acidity.

“The sense of smell of sea bass was reduced by up to half in sea water that was acidified with a level of CO2 predicted for the end of the century,” said Dr. Porteus. 

“Their ability to detect and respond to some odors associated with food and threatening situations was more strongly affected than for other odors. We think this is explained by acidified water affecting how odorant molecules bind to olfactory receptors in the fish's nose, reducing how well they can distinguish these important stimuli.”

Study co-author Professor Rod Wilson is a professor of Integrative Animal Physiology at the University of Exeter.

“Our intriguing results show that CO2 impacts the nose of the fish directly. This will be in addition to the impact of CO2 on their central nervous system function suggested by others previously, which proposed an impaired processing of information in the brain itself,” said Professor Wilson.

“It is not yet known how rapidly fish will be able to overcome these problems as CO2 rises in the future. However, having to cope with two different problems caused by CO2, rather than just one, may reduce their ability to adapt or how long this will take.”

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/nclimate/">Nature Climate Change</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Dr. Cosima Porteus

Ocean acidification causing fish to lose their sense of smell

Ocean acidification causing fish to lose their sense of smell....

An expansive ten-year study on grasshoppers has filled in some huge gaps in the insect’s family tree, evolutionary history, and genetic relationships. 

Grasshoppers are some of the most abundant groups of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/eating-bugs-future/">insects</a> on Earth and can be found all over the world in varying environments. Most grasshoppers belong to the family Acrididae which is thought to contain some 6,700 species with several subfamilies.

Because of the rich biodiversity of grasshoppers, taxonomists have been faced with many challenges in properly classifying individual species and tracing genetic relationships back to the insects’ evolutionary roots. 

Researchers from <a href="https://www.tamu.edu/">Texas A&amp;M University</a> and the <a href="http://www.museo.fcnym.unlp.edu.ar/">Museo de La Plata</a> in Argentina examined 142 grasshopper species from 22 countries and extracted DNA samples to better understand how grasshoppers around the world are related. 

The results, published in the journal Insect Systematics and Diversity, show that contrary to previous theories, the birthplace of Acrididae was South America and not <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fossils-humans-africa/">Africa</a>. 

For their research, the team compared the grasshoppers’ nucleotide sequences.

“We used the differences in nucleotides among different species to infer the relationships,” said Hojun Song, the lead author on the study. “For example, closely related species will share similar stretches of nucleotides because they share a common ancestor, but distantly related species will have more different nucleotides between them.”

After analyzing and comparing the DNA sequences, the researchers were able to better categorize grasshopper phylogeny and the results shed insight on the complex intricacies of grasshopper evolution. 

Acrididae did descend from one common ancestor, but pinpointing this ancestor is impossible because many of the Acrididae subfamilies are “paraphyletic”, meaning their ancestry can’t be traced to a single origin. 

Grasshopper taxonomy is no easy feat, not only because of the sheer diversity of the species, but also because of their similar body forms. This has lead to mass “dumping grounds” where grasshoppers with similar shapes were clumped together despite not being of the same species or families. 

The researchers are hopeful that their results will give taxonomists a better way to classify grasshoppers. 

“There are some subfamilies, such as Catantopinae and Hemiacridinae, that have been considered taxonomic dumping ground for many decades,” Song said. “This means that a lot of unrelated groups have accumulated in these artificial groupings. Showing the paraphyletic nature of these groups is the first step to reclassify taxonomy, and we foresee that there would be some major shifts in grasshopper classification in the near future.”

Even though the study involved one of the most detailed genetic analysis ever conducted on Acrididae, the species included in the study represent just a small fraction of the entire family of species and the researchers hope to continue improving grasshopper taxonomy with future research. 

“We plan to increase the taxon sampling in the future and use more phylogenetic markers to build a more comprehensive phylogeny,” said Song. “At the same time, we plan to reclassify major groups within the family so that the classification would reflect monophyletic groups.” 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Image Credit: Insect Systematics and Diversity/Ruben Foquet, Ricardo Mariño-Pérez, Hojun Song, Maria Marta Cigliano, Paolo Fontana, and Juan Manuel Cardona

Grasshopper family tree analysis reveals South American origins

An expansive ten-year study on grasshoppers has filled in some...

One of President Donald Trump’s biggest campaign promises was to tighten border security and build a wall along the United States and Mexico border. But many experts have weighed in on the costly ramifications of such an endeavor from an economic standpoint, with estimates that it will cost upwards of 21.6 billion dollars to build, according to a U.S. Department of Homeland Security document reported by <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-immigration-wall-exclusive/exclusive-trump-border-wall-to-cost-21-6-billion-take-3-5-years-to-build-internal-report-idUSKBN15O2ZN">Reuters</a>. 

However, with all the media attention the wall has garnered, little has been paid to the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/us-mexico-border-wall-threaten-100-endangered-species/">environmental impacts</a> of a continuous border wall. 

A new paper published in the journal BioScience describes the threats that the wall would pose to biodiversity and the harm it could do to the many species that call area along the border home. 

The paper was co-authored by 16 experts from the U.S and Mexico and has been so far endorsed by more than 2,500 members of the scientific community from 43 countries. 

According to the report, a border wall would fragment the geographic ranges of many species like the Mexican gray wolf, Sonoran pronghorn, and Peninsular bighorn sheep. 

“Some of the affected animals are charismatic as well as threatened," said William Ripple, a co-author from <a href="https://oregonstate.edu/">Oregon State University</a>. “A continuous wall would disconnect any jaguars and ocelots in the U.S. from their major range in Mexico. And it's not just solid walls that are the issue; certain types of fencing can be a complete barrier to individual wildlife species. All of that should be considered.”

There is also the possibility that wall construction won’t adhere to environmental laws and prevent access to important resources for animals. 

“Many species, such as bighorn sheep, are composed of populations of relatively few individuals per unit area and have large home ranges - hundreds of square miles in the bighorn's case,” said Rodolfo Dirzo, a <a href="https://www.stanford.edu/">Stanford</a> biologist and co-author of the paper. “Barriers will impede the bighorn sheep's migrations and movements to track habitats that shift due to a changing climate.”

The border is home to a rich and vibrant ecosystem with bisecting habitats and regions. Any changes in the name of security could threaten the biodiversity of the area and the 62 critically endangered species that live there.  

The researchers urge a call to action urging Congress to order that security measures do not disregard federal environmental laws. 

“The border extends about 3,200 kilometers and bisects many important habitat types from desert to forest to scrublands to mountain ranges,” said Ripple. “These are important wildlife habitats, high in biological diversity, that span both sides of the border. I hope national leaders will listen to our conservation message.”

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Image Credit: Matt Clark, Defenders of Wildlife

Border wall would jeopardize endangered species, biodiversity

One of President Donald Trump’s biggest campaign promises was to...

A new study led by <a href="http://www.nova.edu/">Nova Southeastern University</a> (NSU) has found that whale sharks can grow to be more than 60 feet in length, which is over 20 feet longer than previously realized. The researchers have also discovered that male whale sharks can live up to 130 years.

The team from NSU's Guy Harvey Research Institute (GHRI) collaborated with experts from the Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme for the investigation, which was conducted in the Republic of Maldives. The scientists used a unique approach to study the aging growth dynamics of the whale shark.

“What makes this a novel approach is that we took repeated noninvasive underwater measurements of live sharks over the course of a decade,” said study first author Cameron Perry.

“Up to now, such aging and growth research has required obtaining vertebrae from dead whale sharks and counting growth rings, analogous to counting tree rings, to determine age. Our work shows that we can obtain age and growth information without relying on dead sharks captured in fisheries. That is a big deal.”

The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/whale-shark-longest-migration/">whale sharks</a> came back to the same place every one to two years and individuals could be recognized by their unique spot patterns, making it possible to take repeated measurements of these individuals over many years.

The study revealed that male whale sharks can live as long as 130 years and may grow as large as 61.7 feet on average, which is nearly 17 feet longer than a school bus.

“Growth and reproduction of whale sharks, which are endangered in many places, are poorly understood," said study co-author Mahmood Shivji, who is the director of NSU's GHRI. 

“When you couple this lack of knowledge with the fact that whale shark products such as fins, meat and oil are highly valuable - they are harvested in many countries - one can quickly see the urgency in learning as much as possible in order to help save these majestic creatures.”

Perry added: “The more we learn about these animals, their growth dynamics, where they go, what areas may be their nurseries, it can lead to a better understanding of their life history, which is imperative to guide conservation efforts.”


The study is published in the <a href="https://www.publish.csiro.au/mf/content">Marine &amp; Freshwater Research Journal</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

The world’s largest shark species can live up to 130 years

A new study led by Nova Southeastern University (NSU) has...

Dogs are man’s best friend for a reason. They’ve been by our side since we were living in caves and their physical features more closely resembled wolves than the hodgepodge of different breeds we have today. Throughout our symbiotic existence, they’ve provided us with protection, companionship, and comfort. Sometimes it seems like our <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dogs-humans-close/">dogs</a> are even able to read our minds – or at least our emotions. 

Now, a new study published in the journal <a href="https://www.springer.com/psychology/journal/13420">Learning &amp; Behavior</a> has found that dogs are willing to go out of their way to provide us with help and comfort when we show signs of being upset.

Julia-Meyers-Manor, co-author of the study and assistant professor of psychology at <a href="http://www.ripon.edu/">Ripon College</a>, was playing with her children one day when they buried her in pillows. She began playfully calling out for help, “My husband didn’t come rescue me, but, within a few seconds, my collie had dug me out of the pillows,” she recalls. “I knew that we had to do a study to test that more formally.” And thus the idea for this study was born.

The participants were 34 dogs of various breeds and sizes and their owners. Individual owners were positioned behind a clear door held closed with magnets, allowing their dog to see and hear them. The owners were then asked to either hum “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” or cry. The researchers were looking to see if the dogs would open the door more often when their owners were crying. Although this did not turn out to be the case, they found that dogs who did open the door when their owner was crying opened it three times faster than dogs whose owners were humming. 

The researchers also measured the dogs’ stress levels. Results showed that dogs who were able to push through the door to “rescue” their owners showed less stress. They also observed that dogs who didn’t push the door open didn’t abstain because they didn’t care – rather, it seemed like they cared too much. These dogs exhibited the most stress and were too troubled by their owner crying to do anything.

“We found dogs not only sense what their owners are feeling, if a dog knows a way to help them, they’ll go through barriers to provide to help them,” says lead author Emily Sanford, a graduate student in psychological and brain sciences at <a href="https://www.jhu.edu/">Johns Hopkins University</a>.

Past studies have shown that dogs are very responsive to human crying. But this is the first study to show that dogs who sense emotional distress will actively try to do something about it.

“Dogs have been by the side of humans for tens of thousands of years and they’ve learned to read our social cues,” says Sanford. “Dog owners can tell that their dogs sense their feelings. Our findings reinforce that idea, and show that, like Lassie, dogs who know their people are in trouble might spring into action.”

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Dogs go out of their way to their comfort owners if they’re upset

Dogs are man’s best friend for a reason. They’ve been...

I once worked in a fossil casting studio in Fruita, Colorado.  Since I left, the studio has been lucky enough to cast mastodon fossils straight from Snowmass Village Colorado.  The fossils of giant extinct mammals were first discovered at the Snowmastodon site in 2010. Much like the more famous La Brea Tar pits in California, the Snowmass discovery happened by accident.  In La Brea the tar was being used for construction material, in Snowmass, the fossils were discovered at the bottom of a construction site. 

When work began, paleontology wasn’t a concern.  Initially, a simple reservoir was being expanded to supply drinking water to the village of Snowmass.  The first mammoth discovery was made by Jesse Steele who was using a bulldozer to clear the area when bones were found.  The bones were turned over to a project foreman, Kent Olsen who took them home and identified the bones as mammoth fossils.  The <a href="https://www.usgs.gov/">United States Geological Survey</a> (USGS) was informed of the discovery.  Teams from the USGS and the Denver Museum of Nature and Science worked together to excavate the paleontological remains at Snowmass.         

Often this is the reality of paleontology discoveries; I’ve worked on an ancient shark that was found in a stone quarry.  There is more digging for everyday sort of things, construction or mining than paleontology. Usually discoveries are by chance, a glimpse of the amazing depth of our world’s history.  Mostly, mastodons and mammoths were discovered at the Snowmastodon site, but there was also a camel, horse, sloth, a deer. All told, there were over 36,000 vertebrate fossils representing over 100 species discovered in Snowmass.  Another 100 species of invertebrates were also excavated at the Snowmastodon site. 

Although perhaps not as famous as the La Brea tar pits, Snowmastodon is one of the better sites for mammalian paleontology and perhaps archaeology.

I say “perhaps” archaeology because that is one of the more contentious ideas of the Snowmastodon site.  Earlier this year, <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/north-america-first-humans-colonist-evidence-scientists-alaska-genetics-a8140231.html">Independent</a> reported on the genetic evidence from a child discovered at an archaeological site in Alaska.  From the genetic evidence, scientists suggest that people may have colonized America as early as 25,000 years ago.  It’s one piece of evidence that pushes the theorized colonization date back by 10,000 years from what archaeologists previously thought.  If Snowmastodon is an archaeology site, it would mean humans were in North America 50,000 years ago and in Colorado, much further south than Alaska.  There is other evidence suggesting that humans could have been on North America that long ago. 

In 2017, the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/26/science/prehistoric-humans-north-america-california-nature-study.html">New York Times</a> reported on evidence that humans may have been in California as early as 130,000 years ago.  If the evidence holds up, it’s still not clear whether the early people were ancestors of modern Native Americans or people who arrived too early and simply died out.                             

One of the mysteries surrounding the Snowmastodon site is why is it even there?  What caused so many large mammal fossils to be found together in one spot? The geological evidence shows that what was destined to become a reservoir for human use was once a lake visited by ancient mammals.  One hypothesis is that an earthquake caused the sediments of the lake floor to liquefy. If the sediments liquefied at the right time, mastodons, mammoths, giant sloths and all could become trapped in the shallow lake bottom as if in quicksand.  However, it’s unlikely that so many animals would be trapped at once by such an unusual occurrence but it’s not impossible.

Another theory as to why there was such a large assemblage of mammals in one place is a bit more interesting. In other parts of North America, early human arrivals have been shown to cache meat under water to preserve kills.  <a href="http://www.ur.umich.edu/9495/May08_95/storage.htm">The University of Michigan</a> reported on such techniques near the Great Lakes region:

‘"Underwater caching turns out to be a simple and effective way to store meat for long periods. Fossils preserved at ancient cache sites suggest it was an important and common part of the winter-to-spring subsistence strategy of Ice Age hunters," said Daniel C. Fisher, Professor of Geological and Biological Sciences and curator of the Museum of Paleontology. 

Evidence that the site at Snowmass is a cache of a human hunt is still a bit controversial.  At the top of the site several stones were discovered that didn’t quite fit with the local geology.  The stones were possibly placed on top of a kill to weigh a mastodon skeleton down, keeping it under water where the meat would last longer and be hidden from other predators.  

If the Snowmass site is indeed evidence of much earlier human occupation of the North American interior and even a hunt, it could change our views of archaeology and large mammal extinctions.  One hypothesis of why ancient mammals such as mastodons and mammoths died off is the overkill hypothesis. Basically, it’s thought that humans arriving to North America might have hunted to extinction <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/woolly-mammoths-big-comeback/">mammoths</a>, mastodons, giant ground sloths and other impressive megafauna.  Mastodons themselves went extinct around 10,000 years ago, about the time some archaeologists believe humans were first arriving to the continent. If as far south as Colorado, humans were butchering and caching Mastodon carcasses, it could change how we view the dynamic interplay between ancient elephantids and ancient humans.

The Snowmastodon site was excavated, all the fossils likely to ever be found were removed.  Photographs in three dimensions were taken of many of the pieces upon removal in an attempt to document everything.  The fossils were slowly cleaned and prepared, many of them were cast so that scientifically exact replicas can be shared and put on display.  In the end, work on the Snowmastodon site officially ended in 2011 and what was once the burial site of ancient creatures in a lake bottom was once again flooded, this time as a reservoir.  

Fossils are on display at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.  You can visit for free the <a href="https://www.gosnowmass.com/things-to-do/ice-age-discovery/snowmass-discovery-center/">Ice Age Discovery Center</a> at the Snowmass Village Mall.  The Discovery Center claims the site to be the, ‘World’s finest ice age fossil discovery’ then in fine print letters, ‘near Snowmass Village, CO’.  Taken altogether, the statement is true. It also claims to be the ‘finest high-elevation fossil site in the world’ a claim hard to substantiate as what high elevation and fine mean are subjective.  If it turns out that the site is archaeological and not just paleontology though, no hyperbole will be needed to describe its importance. 

A few last pieces of evidence: small stone flakes were found at the Snowmastodon site.  It’s possible that the flakes were crude tools or pieces of tools or flakes made from chipping tools out of stone.  It’s also possible that the flakes are just chips of rock with no connection to humans at all. In relation to the possibility of stone cutting tools, there are striations on mastodon bones found at Snowmass.  To some the striations appear too uniform, parallel cuts where tendons would have once lay. To some these scratches on the bone seem to the marks of an ancient butcher cutting meat from a kill.

With excavation officially concluded and the paleontology site now underwater, it seems unlikely more evidence will be found.  Living on a planet as old as ours, we have time to wait. Perhaps another construction project in Snowmass will uncover other bones with more conclusive evidence. Maybe years from now another scientist looking on a drawer of bone collections in Denver will see with new eyes something missed.  Perhaps the Snowmastodon site will always remain a mystery. We will never know all the details of the lives of humans and beasts that lived before us. There will always be a little bit of mystery and perhaps, that is for the best. 

--

By <a href="mailto:zachfitzner@yahoo.com">Zach Fitzner</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Contributing Writer

Uncovering mammoths at the Snowmastodon site in Colorado

I once worked in a fossil casting studio in Fruita,...

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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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



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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



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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



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The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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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



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

Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

The history of Mars is much more complex than we thought

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research



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



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Cavefish are healthy despite their sedentary lifestyle

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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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



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Satellites capture the world's biggest and fastest waves

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;



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

Satellites have become essential to our survival

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