For centuries, humans have shaped the traits of domesticated animals to meet their needs. From larger cows producing more milk to dogs bred for specific temperaments, selective breeding has transformed species in remarkable ways. Recent research on German pigs has revealed just how quickly these changes can occur.



A team from Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (<a href="https://www.uni-halle.de/?lang=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MLU</a>) has found that German domestic pigs have experienced dramatic skull modifications within a century. 



Their snouts have shortened, and their foreheads have flattened, traits that were not intentionally selected. The findings provide fresh insight into the unintended <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/old-and-wise-animals-are-essential-for-the-survival-of-species/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">consequences</a> of breeding practices.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-century-of-change-in-pig-breeding">A century of change in pig breeding</h2>



Pigs have been an essential part of human agriculture for thousands of years. Over time, their appearance has shifted significantly, influenced by both natural and human-driven factors. 



In Germany, the early 20th century marked a turning point in pig breeding, as demand for pork increased dramatically. Farmers prioritized traits such as rapid growth, high fertility, and efficient meat production.



"The demand for pork in Germany increased significantly at the beginning of the 20th century, and breeders were encouraged to optimize their animals. They needed them to grow quickly, provide good meat, and be fertile," explained Dr. Renate Schafberg, Head of the Domestic Animal Collection at MLU.



To understand the impact of these breeding efforts, Dr. Schafberg worked with Dr. Ashleigh Haruda from Oxford University to analyze 135 pig skulls from different time periods.



The study included two domestic breeds - Deutsches Edelschwein and Deutsches Landschwein - as well as wild boars, which served as a control group. The results revealed a striking transformation in domestic pigs, while wild boars showed no comparable changes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-surprising-skull-modifications">Surprising skull modifications</h2>



One of the most significant findings of the study was the extent of skull changes in domesticated pigs. Their snouts became notably shorter, and their foreheads lost their outward curve. These modifications occurred in both domestic breeds, despite the fact that they were raised separately.



"We didn’t expect such pronounced differences to appear within a span of only 100 years," said Dr. Schafberg. The fact that both breeds experienced similar changes suggests that the modifications were not the result of direct selection for skull shape.



"These changes occurred even though breeders did not select the animals specifically for their skull shape, as this trait was not important for breeding. Instead, the changes appear to be an unintended by-product of selecting the desired traits," noted Dr. Schafberg.



This discovery highlights how the pursuit of specific breeding goals can lead to unforeseen alterations in an <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/what-animal-will-replace-humans-as-earths-dominant-species-this-scientist-has-an-idea/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">animal</a>’s physical structure.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-could-diet-play-a-role">Could diet play a role?</h2>



While breeding practices played a major role in shaping the skulls of domestic pigs, another factor may have contributed: diet. 



Nutrition is a key influence on the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sheep-have-been-intertwined-with-humans-for-over-11000-years/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">growth and development</a> of animals. Modern pigs are primarily fed high-protein pellets designed to support rapid growth and efficient meat production.



By contrast, wild boars continue to consume a varied diet, including roots, nuts, and small animals. Their skulls have remained unchanged over the past century, suggesting that their natural feeding habits have helped maintain their original features. 



The study raises intriguing questions about the relationship between diet and physical evolution in domesticated animals.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-power-of-human-influence">Power of human influence</h2>



The findings demonstrate the remarkable speed at which human intervention can shape animal species. While many assume that significant evolutionary changes take millions of years, selective breeding can accelerate these processes dramatically.



"Charles Darwin assumed that long periods of time - millions of years - are required for major changes to take place. Our work is further proof that humans can greatly accelerate this process through selective breeding," said co-author Dr. Frank Steinheimer, Head of the Central Repository of Natural Science Collections at MLU.



These insights have broader implications for agriculture and animal husbandry. As selective breeding continues to shape domesticated animals, researchers must consider the potential consequences, both intended and unintended. 



The study serves as a reminder that even small changes in breeding practices can have <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/birds-are-moving-north-and-breeding-earlier-in-a-changing-climate/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">lasting effects</a> on animal physiology.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pig-breeding-may-continue-in-the-future">Pig breeding may continue in the future</h2>



As the global demand for meat continues to grow, breeding practices will likely continue to evolve. Understanding how these methods impact animal development is crucial for ensuring sustainable and ethical farming. 



Scientists will need to explore the long-term effects of breeding choices, considering not only productivity but also the health and well-being of animals.



The study was funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (<a href="https://www.bmbf.de/EN/Home/home_node.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BMBF</a>) and the European Research Council (<a href="https://erc.europa.eu/homepage" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ERC</a>). 



The research offers a compelling look at the complex relationship between human influence and animal evolution, shedding light on the ways in which farming practices shape the very biology of domesticated <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-wildlife-conservation-day-2024-saving-species-from-extinction/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">species</a>.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.241039" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Royal Society Open Science</a>.



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Selective breeding has dramatically sped up the evolution of pigs

For centuries, humans have shaped the traits of domesticated animals to meet their needs. From larger cows producing more milk to dogs bred for specific temperaments, selective breeding has transformed species in remarkable ways. Recent research on German pigs has revealed just how quickly these changes can occur. A team from Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) has found that German domestic pigs have experienced dramatic skull modifications within a century. Their snouts have shortened, and their foreheads have flattened, traits that were not intentionally selected. The findings...

When your <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dogs-befriend-stranger-relaxed/">dog</a> rolls over onto its back, it’s almost impossible to resist giving them a good belly rub. But according to one animal expert, this could be an invasion of your pet’s space and while they tolerate the behavior, it's not fun for them. 

According to Jill MacKay, an animal expert from the <a href="https://www.ed.ac.uk/vet">Royal School of Veterinary Studies</a> at the <a href="https://www.ed.ac.uk/">University of Edinburgh</a>, dogs expose their stomachs in submission while playing with other dogs or their owners, as rolling over and showing its belly is a sign of trust. 

However, sometimes the submissive posture is a way to avoid confrontation, which is why it's important for dog owners to better understand these subtle signals and behaviors in their pets. 

Not only will it make your pet happier, but it can make training and avoiding problem behavior easier. 

MacKay will discuss the things we get wrong with our pets in a talk on pet behavior at this year’s <a href="https://www.sciencefestival.co.uk/">Edinburgh International Science Festival</a>.

Other problems MacKay will mention include the ways owners mishandle problem behaviors like barking and scratching up furniture. 

Even though owners mean well and obviously want the best for their pets, actions, and behaviors such as rolling over can be easily misinterpreted. 

“It is very common for a dog to lie down, show its tummy and lift its legs in the air, but that is not a request for a tummy rub,” MacKay told the <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-5583311/Dogs-DONT-want-tickled-roll-stick-legs-air.html">Daily Mail</a>. “When a dog does it to another dog it means “I trust you and I think you are a good dog to be around. So when a dog does it to a human they trust, it can then be alarming if that human invades their space and touches their soft, exposed belly.”

MacKay has helpful tips for dealing with issues like barking at strangers and cats tearing up nice furniture. She has even written a book, Animal Personality, that will be released later this month. 

For example, even though it can be a nuisance when your dog barks when he shouldn’t, yelling could only make things more confusing for dogs. 

“The best advice is to ignore and refuse to look at the dog. Dogs love us and want our attention so this is a good way to train them they are behaving badly,” said MacKay of teaching dogs not to bark at visitors or passersby. 

When it comes to cats, it can be hard to train them not to scratch on furniture as it’s a natural instinct. 

“Cats walk into a living room and often the first thing they see is the back of the sofa,” said MacKay. “It is almost like an extra wall, so it’s a good place to mark their territory. Instead of shouting at them, owners should just put a scratching post in the same place.”

We want the best for our pets but as MacKay points out, even a well-meaning sign of affection can be misinterpreted because humans and their pets don’t have the same signals, behaviors and social cues.

--

By<a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com"> Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Dogs don’t want their belly rubbed, animal expert claims

When your dog rolls over onto its back, it’s almost...

Eight fossilized embryos have been discovered in a pregnant ichthyosaur fossil that was first found in 2011, revealing that these reptiles gave birth to live offspring instead of laying eggs.

The embryos are so tiny that at first, the researchers were unsure if they were embryos or just the remnants of the aquatic reptile’s stomach contents, but the tiny spinal chords are unmistakable. 

The discovery could help other paleontologists better identify fossil embryos and sheds light on the way ichthyosaurs gave birth over a hundred million years ago. 

Ichthyosaurs first appeared in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/life-triassic-period/">Triassic period</a> and were one of the most dominant predators in the Jurassic period. Sometimes mistaken for water dinosaurs, the ichthyosaur was around long before the dinosaurs first made an appearance. 

Reaching lengths of 10 to 20 feet and made for speed, the reptile was a force to reckoned with. It’s thought that the ichthyosaur could reach speeds of 22 miles per hour. 

The newly discovered embryos show that the reptiles didn’t lay eggs and instead had live births. In fact, the species were aquatic through and through, not needing to go to land even to breed. 

This specimen was found in Yorkshire, England, in an area rich with Jurassic fossils, including other ichthyosaurs and different marine reptile species. 

However, this is the first time paleontologists excavating in the area have been faced with such robust evidence of fossil embryos.

Palaeontologists Mike Boyd and Dean Lomax from the <a href="http://www.manchester.ac.uk/">University of Manchester </a>examined the fossil and discussed their incredible findings with the <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-5578443/Eight-tiny-fossilised-embryos-inside-180-million-year-old-ichthyosaur.html">Daily Mail</a>. 

“The female would have probably have been around three meters [ten-feet] long,” said Lomax. “Of the adult, we have just a few parts of the backbone, some ribs and between them individual strings of vertebrae which are the embryos. It is also the youngest known pregnant specimen and the first found in Yorkshire.” 

The fossil and its eight embryos are now on display in Yorkshire’s Jurassic World.

“This is an incredible find and the research by Dean and Mike has helped us confirm it is the first example of fossilised ichthyosaur embryos to be found in Yorkshire,” Sarah King, the curator of Natural Science at the <a href="https://www.yorkshiremuseum.org.uk/">Yorkshire Museum</a>, told <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-5578443/Eight-tiny-fossilised-embryos-inside-180-million-year-old-ichthyosaur.html">Daily Mail</a>.  “It also allows us to show a softer and more nurturing side to the Sea Dragons which were the top marine predator of their time.” 
--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Illustration: Nobumichi Tamura

Fossil reveals ichthyosaurs gave birth to live young

Eight fossilized embryos have been discovered in a pregnant ichthyosaur...

Scientists at the <a href="https://www.albany.edu/">University at Albany</a> are reporting that the asteroid believed to be responsible for wiping out the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/asteroid-submarine-volcanoes/">dinosaurs</a> was not the only cause of their demise. According to the research, the dinosaurs were in trouble long before the asteroid struck the Earth because they were eating toxic plants.

Professor Gordon Gallup and former student Michael Frederick have proposed this new theory, which suggests that the dinosaurs never adapted a “learned taste aversion,” which would have allowed them to realize when food was making them sick.

According to Professor Gallup, many animal species such as rats benefit greatly from this defense mechanism.

“A reason why most attempts to eliminate rats have not been successful is because they, like many other species, have evolved to cope with plant toxicity,” he explained.

“When rats encounter a new food, they typically sample only a small amount, and if they get sick, they show a remarkable ability to avoid that food again because they associate the taste and smell of it with the negative reaction.”

According to fossil evidence, flowering plants known as angiosperms arrived before the Chicxulub Crater struck Earth 65 million years ago. Just as the plants emerged, dinosaur populations began to dwindle.


The <a href="https://www.albany.edu/">State University New York</a> (SUNY) reported in a <a href="https://www.albany.edu/news/86204.php">news release</a>:

“Gallup and Frederick claim that, as plants were evolving and developing toxic defenses, dinosaurs continued eating them despite gastrointestinal distress.”

The scientists pointed out that, even though is not yet clear when the angiosperms first became toxic, the gradual disappearance of dinosaurs coincided with the appearance of these flowering plants.

“Though the asteroid certainly played a factor, the psychological deficit which rendered dinosaurs incapable of learning to refrain from eating certain plants had already placed severe strain on the species,” said Professor Gallup.

“The prevailing view of dinosaur extinction based on the asteroid impact implies that the disappearance of dinosaurs should have been sudden and the effects should have been widespread, but the evidence clearly shows just the opposite: dinosaurs began to disappear long before the asteroid impact and continued to gradually disappear for millions of years afterward.”

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://ojs.library.queensu.ca/index.php/IEE">Ideas in Ecology and Evolution</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Dinosaurs were already on their way out when the asteroid struck

Scientists at the University at Albany are reporting that the...

An international team of researchers led by <a href="https://www.fau.edu/">Florida Atlantic University</a> has discovered that beluga whales seem to value their ancestral roots, family ties, and culture. The experts found that the whales meet up with their relatives at the same locations year after year and generation after generation.

“What intrigued us most was whether particular whales returned to where they were born or grew up and if this was an inherited behavior,” said lead author Greg O'Corry-Crowe. 

“The only way that we could definitively answer these questions was to find and track close relatives from one year to the next and one decade to the next.”

The study was focused on 1,647 <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/endangered-beluga-whales-noaa/">beluga whales</a> in all of their major concentration areas in the North Pacific including the Gulf of Alaska, the Bering-Chukchi-Beaufort Seas, and the Sea of Okhotsk. 

The research spanned more than three decades from 1978 to 2010, and accounted for all significant coastal summering aggregations in the study locations.

The scientists analyzed 1,444 samples for both mitochondrial DNA and eight repetitive DNA sequences.

Beluga whales were found to habitually return to their summering grounds to assemble with close relatives, and close kin were documented at the same summering sites up to twenty years apart. 

The findings of this study suggest that migratory culture is inherited in the beluga whale society. These whales know where to go and where not to go, and this information is being passed from one generation to the next - possibly from mother to calf.

Researchers also found more conclusive evidence of sex-biased dispersal than previous studies have found, and observed primarily consistent migratory and dispersal behavior across generations.

“Findings from our study are expanding our understanding of how sophisticated non-primate societies can be and how important culture is for the survival of these species,” said O'Corry-Crowe. 

“Our findings also will influence our thinking in terms of how populations and species are going to adapt to dramatic environmental changes. There are few places where this is more urgent than in the rapidly changing polar regions.”

The study is published in <a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosone/">PLOS One</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: Lisa Barry, NOAA/NMFS/AFSC/MML

Beluga whales prioritize family and traditions just like humans

An international team of researchers led by Florida Atlantic University...

It turns out that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/queen-bees-secret-ingredient/">bees</a> aren’t the only crucial players when it comes to plant pollination, as several different vertebrates are also an important part of the process.

Mice, birds, bats, and lemurs are all pollinators, and some have even developed complex relationships with certain plants aiding in reproduction. 

In a new study, researchers from the <a href="https://www.southampton.ac.uk/">University of Southampton</a> and the <a href="https://www.cam.ac.uk/">University of Cambridge</a> reviewed different exclusion experiments in order to determine the importance of vertebrates to pollination. 

The findings were published in the Ecological Society of America's journal Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment.

With plants that have help from pollinating vertebrates, fruit and seed production drops 63 percent when only insects are allowed access to the plant. 

The researchers reviewed 126 similar exclusion experiments and studies that dealt with vertebrate pollination.

According to the research, vertebrates provide certain benefits and services that honeybees and insect vertebrates simply can’t.

Bat exclusion experiments showed a loss of fruit production by 83 percent, which means that bats are important to many plants’ reproductive cycles. 

Bats are known to pollinate 528 plant species around the world, and some plants like the blue agave rely on greater and lesser long-nosed bats exclusively for transporting pollen. 

Birds are also big pollinators, with over 920 bird species responsible for pollinating 5 percent of plant species in most regions. On islands that number can be as high as 10 percent. Even lizards can be pollinators in some parts of the world.

Tropical areas also had a higher percent loss in fruit and seed production when vertebrates were purposefully kept away from plants. 

The researchers say that the reason for the higher dependence on vertebrates in tropical areas has to do with more specialized codependent relationships, like the ones between bats and the agave plant. 

The researchers note that their findings should be used when examining management and conservation efforts in order to protect pollinators. If vertebrate pollinators suffer major population declines, as previous research has shown, so will key pollen-producing plants. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Image Credit: Petra Wester

Mice, birds, and bats also play important roles in pollination

It turns out that bees aren’t the only crucial players...

Two recent studies are shedding new light on how migrating birds have mastered the art of navigation. Experts have identified a protein called Cry4 that is sensitive to blue light and may illuminate Earth's magnetic field.

Migrating birds can travel across huge distances and consistently return to their nests, and this ability has always been intriguing to scientists. Researchers may have now found the secret to the navigational success of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/puffins-migrate-struggle-breeding/">birds</a>.

Previous studies have shown that cryptochromes in birds’ eyes allow them to detect magnetic fields to identify their location and direction, which is a sense that is referred to as magnetoreception. 

Cryptochromes are essentially flavoproteins that are associated with magnetoreception in a number of other species as well. 

Scientists have already established that magnetoreception depends on certain wavelengths of light, particularly blue light, but they could not explain why this was the case.

Researchers from <a href="https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/">Lund University</a> in Sweden investigated magnetoreception in zebra finches, while researchers from <a href="https://www.uni-oldenburg.de/en/">Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg</a> in Germany studied European robins.

The studies have provided evidence that a protein called Cry4 is needed to perceive Earth's magnetic field.

The scientists found three cryptochromes in zebra finches, including Cry1, Cry2, and Cry4, which were located in the brains, muscles, and eyes.

According to <a href="https://www.sciencealert.com/">Science Alert</a>, levels of Cry1 and Cry2 varied in the zebra finches, but levels of Cry4 were present 24 hours a day.

“We also found that Cry1a, Cry1b, and Cry2 mRNA display robust circadian oscillation patterns, whereas Cry4 shows only a weak circadian oscillation,” wrote the study authors.

The constant presence of Cry4 was also found in robins, and European robins showed increased levels of Cry4 during migratory season.

The experts say that, despite a lack of strong evidence, it is possible that Cry1 and Cry2 also help to facilitate magnetoreception.

The research was published in the <a href="http://rsif.royalsocietypublishing.org/">Journal of the Royal Society Interface</a> and in <a href="http://www.cell.com/current-biology/home">Current Biology</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

How migrating birds navigate over vast distances

Two recent studies are shedding new light on how migrating...

It has been known for years now that climate change and the resulting warming of the ocean has led to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mass-coral-bleaching-common/">coral bleaching</a> in many of our oceans’ reefs. Coral bleaching occurs when the water is too warm, causing corals to expel the algae living in their tissues, turning the coral completely white. While this does not kill the coral, they do become more stressed and have an increased risk of mortality. 

New research from the <a href="https://www.coralcoe.org.au/">ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies</a> at James Cook University and <a href="http://www.lancaster.ac.uk/">Lancaster University</a> has found that coral bleaching events not only change the vibrant coral landscape of a reef, they can also decrease the variety of fish living in these ecosystems.

“The widespread impacts of heat stress on corals have been the subject of much discussion both within and outside the research community,” says Laura Richardson, a PhD student at James Cook University and lead author of the study. “We are learning that some corals are more sensitive to heat-stress than others, but reef fishes also vary in their response to these disturbances.”

Researchers examined 16 reefs off Lizard Island in the northern region of the Great Barrier Reef – one of the most important and unique ecosystems on the planet. They surveyed the quantity and species of coral and fish before, during, and after a mass bleaching event in 2016 that was caused by a global heat wave.

“Prior to the 2016 mass bleaching event, we observed significant variation in the number of fish species, total fish abundance and functional diversity among different fish communities,” explains co-author Andrew Hoey of James Cook University. “Six months after the bleaching event, however, this variation was almost entirely lost.”

Coral bleaching can affect some species of fish more than others. After the bleaching event, the researchers noticed a significant decline in the diversity of fish communities. Fish that were more dependent on branching corals – such as butterfly fish – were the most affected. 

Losing species diversity in these sensitive ecosystems is a pressing issue. The abundance of species and variation throughout different fish communities are major characteristics of diverse ecosystems such as the Great Barrier Reef. If we’re unable to slow down or reverse climate change, we may lose these ecosystems – and some of their inhabitants – forever.

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: ARC CoE for Coral Reef Studies/ Ciemon Caballes

Coral bleaching decreases fish diversity in Great Barrier Reef

It has been known for years now that climate change...

Researchers have recently discovered that lemurs who spread information and teach new behaviors are also more socially connected. According to the study, learning and becoming knowledgeable also influences the position that the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/lemur-diet-bizarre-behavior/">lemurs</a> occupy in their social network. 

“We found that lemurs who were frequently observed by others while solving the task to retrieve the food received more affiliative behaviors than they did before they learned,” said study co-author Ipek Kulahci. “As a result, they became more socially central than they were before the experiment.”


The findings of this study demonstrate, for the first time, that a relationship exists between learning and social network position that is based on feedback.

A team of researchers from <a href="https://www.princeton.edu/">Princeton University</a> set up a food reward task in which lemurs learned to retrieve a grape by pulling open a drawer. The experts observed two groups of around 20 individuals as they interacted with each other and the plexiglass box.


The study revealed that lemurs who were more centrally positioned were more likely to solve the task. In addition, lemurs who solved the task while others were observing became more popular.

“I was quite impressed that the frequently observed lemurs received more affiliative behaviors, such as grooming, without adjusting their own social behavior,” said Kulahci. 

She explained that, in most primate species, there is reciprocation between the groomer and the individual who is getting groomed. Dominant individuals, on the other hand, often receive grooming attention without returning the favor.

“So it's a pretty striking pattern that the frequently observed lemurs received lots of grooming without providing more grooming to others,” said Kulahci.


Previous studies have found that social connections influence the way that information is spread throughout a group. This research shows that the flipside may be true: learning and sharing knowledge appears to alter the structure of the social network itself.

“Animals learn not only about their physical environment, such as how to obtain food in a situation that they had never encountered before, but they also learn about each other and use this information to make flexible social decisions when forming social relationships,” said Kulahci. 

“They are learning about who is successful and who is not and adjusting their social responses based on this information. Being socially connected to successful individuals increases opportunities to learn from and copy them and improves future success. The diversity and the strength of their social relationships, in turn, influence if and when they learn from their group members.”

“So, animals' cognitive abilities and social behavior are intertwined with each other and, together, influence animals' decisions in many behavioral contexts such as where and how to forage, with whom to associate, and how to avoid predators or find safety.”

The study is published in the journal <a href="http://www.cell.com/current-biology/home">Current Biology</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth com</a> Staff Writer
Image Credit: Ipek G. Kulahci

Smarter lemurs have more friends, study finds

Researchers have recently discovered that lemurs who spread information and...

Japanese snow monkeys have been bathing in a natural hot spring at Jigokudani for decades, and the baths have even become a popular tourist attraction. A new study from <a href="https://www.kyoto-u.ac.jp/en/">Kyoto University</a> suggests that the snow monkeys have adopted this behavior as a way to deal with the stress of a cold climate.

Japanese macaques reside farther north than any other species of non-human primates. Scientists have speculated that snow monkeys living in the Jigokudani Monkey Park in Nagano are able to maintain their body temperatures by growing long, thick fur in the winter.

The Japanese macaques are also the only group of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/worlds-smallest-monkeys-species/">monkeys</a> known to take hot spring baths, a behavior that was first observed in 1963, but there has been no scientific proof up until now that they do this in order to stay warm.

The current study was focused on 12 female snow monkeys. The experts documented how much time the monkeys spent in the hot springs during spring and winter months. They also collected faecal samples during times of extreme cold to analyze the amount of faecal glucocorticoid (fGC) metabolite present, hormones that are influenced by thermoregulatory stress and the management of a body temperature.

The results of the analysis confirmed that female snow monkeys use the hot spring more often in winter, particularly during the coldest weather. Bathing in the hot spring was found to conserve energy by reducing the loss of body heat, and was found to reduce stress hormone levels in some of the females as well. 

“This indicates that, as in humans, the hot spring has a stress-reducing effect in snow monkeys,” said lead author Rafaela Takeshita. “This unique habit of hot spring bathing by snow monkeys illustrates how behavioral flexibility can help counter cold-climate stress, with likely implications for reproduction and survival.”


The research team also established that the hundreds of visitors who watch the snow monkeys bathe on a daily basis had no effect on their stress levels. 

The study is published by Springer in the journal <a href="https://link.springer.com/journal/10329">Primates</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: Kento Mori

Hot baths help Japanese snow monkeys handle winter cold

Japanese snow monkeys have been bathing in a natural hot...

As you might image from its name, the Common Tern is indeed one of the most predominant species of tern in North America, but the birds’ breeding colonies appear to be suffering despite conservation efforts. 

A new study has found that in order to fully protect a migrating species such as the Common Tern, it’s crucial to find out where the bird spends its time during migration. 

In the case of the term, the problem behind its decline can be found outside of the species’ seasonal nesting lakes. 

The study was conducted by researchers from the <a href="https://twin-cities.umn.edu/">University of Minnesota </a>and published in the journal The Auk: Ornithological Advances.

Researchers attached geolocators to 106 terns from breeding colonies in Manitoba, Ontario, Minnesota, New York, and Wisconsin. The geolocators recorded the birds' locations over time as they migrated during the winters. 

The birds returned to their nesting lakes and breeding grounds and the researchers were only able to retrieve data from 46 of the original 106 terns that were first captured for the study. 

The records from the geolocators showed previously unknown migratory staging areas inland of the United States and along the Gulf of Mexico. 

This was surprising for the researchers, as previously it was assumed that Common Terns typically headed for the Atlantic Coast first and then continued south. 

Instead, they discovered that most of the terns, no matter the colony they first came from, ended up in <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/yaguas-river-northeast-peru/">Peru</a>.

Considering Peru’s susceptibility to climate change, the terns face an increased risk of severe storms, food shortages, and rising sea levels during the winter. 

Any conservation efforts should then take this into account and focus on management and protection policies in Peru first and foremost, in order to reduce population declines among Common Terns. 

“Because survival is lowest during the non-breeding season, identifying coastal Peru as a potentially important wintering location was significant, as it will help us target studies aimed at identifying potential causes of adult mortality in this region,” said Annie Bracey, a member of the research team. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: C. Henderson

Terns face higher risk of population declines when they fly south

As you might image from its name, the Common Tern...

The music release we’ve all been waiting for just hit the presses – but not from any artist you would see at the Grammys. A study from the <a href="https://www.washington.edu/">University of Washington</a> published in <a href="http://rsbl.royalsocietypublishing.org/">Biology Letters</a> includes the largest set of recordings ever for bowhead whales. The study shows the surprisingly diverse and constantly shifting vocal range of these marine mammals, and includes 184 different songs (track listing TBD).

Animals songs are much more complicated than animal calls. Songs are complex, and consist of distinct musical phrases that must be learned and repeated. Many animals use songs to identify themselves as individuals or as members of a group – among other uses.

Researchers gathered recordings of bowhead whales from 2010 to 2014 in waters to the east of Greenland. The population of bowhead whales was almost hunted to extinction in the 1600s, and was recently estimated to consist of roughly 200 individuals. Now, these recordings indicate that the population is at healthy levels. 

“If humpback whale song is like classical music, bowheads are jazz,” says Kate Stafford, an oceanographer at the UW's Applied Physics Laboratory and lead author of the study. “The sound is more freeform. And when we looked through four winters of acoustic data, not only were there never any song types repeated between years, but each season had a new set of songs.”

Stafford has studied these whales extensively. A previous study from her recording whales off west <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/greenland-melting-impacts-global-ocean/">Greenland</a> had found in 2012 that bowhead whales were singing continuously during the winter breeding season. This provided solid evidence that there may be a healthy population in the area.

“We were hoping when we put the hydrophone out that we might hear a few sounds,” Stafford says of the earlier study. “When we heard, it was astonishing: Bowhead whales were singing loudly, 24 hours a day, from November until April. And they were singing many, many different songs.”

This new study has worked to extend that initial five-month dataset, and confirms that these whales sing in this region from late fall to early spring. The hydrophones actually picked up slightly more singing in the later years of the study. But what the researchers found most remarkable was the variety of the individual songs. Their songs are also distinctly different from the songs of humpback whales.

“For marine mammals, acoustics is how they do everything,” says Stafford. “Humans are mostly visual animals, but marine mammals live in a three-dimensional habitat where sound and acoustic information is how they navigate, how they find food, how they communicate.”

Still, little is known about the singing of the bowhead whales. “Why are they changing their songs so much?” questions Stafford. “In terms of behavioral ecology, it’s this great mystery.”

The results of this new research suggests that bowhead whales may be similar to certain birds that learn a diverse, constantly changing repertoire of songs, possibly because novelty offers a certain advantage. “Bowhead whales do this behavior in the winter, during 24-hour darkness of the polar winter, in 95 to 100 percent sea ice cover. So this is not something that's easy to figure out,” Stafford says. “We would never have known about this without new acoustic monitoring technology.”

Research that involves tagging bowhead whales with radio tags may be able to help us determine why this species has evolved to become a unique nautical maestro. “Bowheads are superlative animals: they can live 200 years, they’ve got the thickest blubber of any whale, the longest baleen, they can break through ice,” Stafford says. “And you think: They’ve evolved to do all these amazing things. I don’t know why they do this remarkable singing, but there must be a reason.”

-

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Kit Kovacs/Norwegian Polar Institute

Bowhead whales are like jazz musicians with diverse range

The music release we’ve all been waiting for just hit...

Protecting endangered species is a difficult and time-consuming endeavor, especially in areas where <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/eel-poaching-black-market/">poaching</a> is heavily present. This makes any technological advancement that can aid in the protection of these species while also curbing the effects of poaching vitally important. In this vein, a collaboration between ecologists and astrophysicists at <a href="https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/">Liverpool John Moores University</a> (LJMU) has led to a new use for astrophysical software, helping to identify animals through infrared imagery captured by drones – even at night, when poaching is at its most prevalent.

Drones are used to survey significant portions of land from the sky, which helps ecologists access areas with difficult terrain and monitor wildlife without disturbing the animals.

“With thermal infrared cameras, we can easily see animals as a result of their body heat, day or night, and even when they are camouflaged in their natural environment,” says Claire Burke. “Since animals and humans in thermal footage ‘glow’ in the same way as stars and galaxies in space, we have been able to combine the technical expertise of astronomers with the conservation knowledge of ecologists to develop a system to find the animals or poachers automatically.”

This technology is made possible through machine-learning algorithms and astronomical detection tools that were developed using the open source software, Astropy. The research team at LJMU has worked with Knowsley Safari and Chester Zoo to compile libraries of imagery in order to train the software to recognize various species of animals across numerous landscapes. The team is now beginning their field tests identifying endangered species.

“We held our first field trial in South Africa last September to detect Riverine rabbits, one of the most endangered species of mammal in the world,” says Burke. “The rabbits are very small, so we flew the drone quite low to the ground at a height of 20 meters. Although this limited the area we could cover with the drone, we managed five sightings. Given that there have only been about 1000 sightings of Riverine rabbits by anyone in total, it was a real success.”

Because vegetation can sometimes conceal animals to thermal imaging by blocking their body heat, the team developed software that models these effects, allowing animals that would normally be hidden by trees or leaves to be identified. The software is currently being upgraded in order to better handle atmospheric effects, such as weather and other environmental factors. The biggest issues currently facing the system are dealing with humidity and identifying animals when the temperature of the ground is similar to the temperature of the animal.

Next month, the researchers will be testing this new technology in Malaysia and Mexico, looking for orangutans and spider monkeys respectively. They will also be taking to the water to search for river dolphins in Brazil.

“Our aim is to make a system that is easy for conservationists and game wardens to use anywhere in the world, which will allow endangered animals to be tracked, found and monitored easily and poaching to be stopped before it happens,” says Burke.

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Endangered Wildlife Trust/LJMU

Mixing astronomy and ecology can help endangered animals

Protecting endangered species is a difficult and time-consuming endeavor, especially...

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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

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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

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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

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

[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



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

Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

The history of Mars is much more complex than we thought

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research



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



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

Cavefish are healthy despite their sedentary lifestyle

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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites capture the world's biggest and fastest waves

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;



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

Satellites have become essential to our survival

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