For many years, scientists believed that prehistoric kangaroos in Australia had specialized diets, relying specifically on certain types of plants or vegetation for their survival. This idea suggested that they were unable to adapt to changes in their environment, such as shifts in climate or vegetation patterns. 



When the kangaroos' preferred food sources became scarce, it was assumed that their dietary inflexibility contributed to their extinction. This theory placed dietary specialization as a key reason for the disappearance of some kangaroo species during the Pleistocene epoch.



However, recent research challenges these assumptions, suggesting that these marsupials were more resilient than we initially realized.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-diverse-diets-of-prehistoric-kangaroos"> Diverse diets of prehistoric kangaroos</h2>



The study was carried out by experts from <a href="https://www.flinders.edu.au" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Flinders University</a> and the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (<a href="https://www.magnt.net.au" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MAGNT</a>). 



The researchers used cutting-edge techniques to analyze the microscopic patterns of wear on fossilized kangaroo teeth. These patterns revealed the types of food the kangaroos ate.



The results showed that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/giant-kangaroos-of-the-past-didnt-hop-they-walked-on-all-fours/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">prehistoric kangaroos</a> were not limited to specific types of food. Instead, they were generalists, capable of eating a wide variety of plants. This flexibility in diet helped them survive environmental changes over time.



Focusing on fossils from the Victoria Fossil Cave at the Naracoorte Caves World Heritage Area in South Australia, the experts analyzed kangaroo diets across 12 extinct species and compared them with 17 modern species.



The Naracoorte region contains the richest and most diverse fossil deposits of kangaroos from the Pleistocene epoch, making it an ideal location for this research.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-flexible-diets-helped-kangaroos-survive">Flexible diets helped kangaroos survive</h2>



“Our study shows that most prehistoric kangaroos at Naracoorte had broad diets. This dietary flexibility likely played a key role in their resilience during <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/protemnodon-kangaroo-fossils-may-explain-their-extinction/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">past changes</a> in climate,” explained lead researcher Dr. Sam Arman.



Contrary to previous assumptions, the study revealed that most species were mixed feeders, capable of consuming both shrubs and grasses.



“The distinctive short-faced kangaroo anatomy led to a widespread view that sthenurines were unable to adapt their diets when climate change altered vegetation patterns, leading to their extinction,” said study co-author Professor Gavin Prideaux.



However, the findings suggest that their ability to consume a wide range of foods provided a survival advantage during periods of scarcity.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-complex-extinction-dynamics">Complex extinction dynamics </h2>



While the ability to adapt their diets likely helped prehistoric kangaroos survive for a time, it wasn’t the only factor influencing their fate. 



The extinction of these megafaunal kangaroos also involved other challenges, such as their large body size, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/not-all-kangaroo-ancestors-hopped-as-a-means-of-locomotion/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">how they moved</a> (locomotion), and their interactions with early humans, who may have hunted them or altered their habitats. 



To better understand these complex extinction dynamics, the researchers plan to study fossils from other Pleistocene sites. They will focus on the critical period between 60,000 and 40,000 years ago - a time when many large animal species disappeared.



This broader investigation could reveal how different factors worked together to drive kangaroo extinctions.



"Identifying what drove the late Pleistocene megafaunal extinctions on the continents remains one of the most contested topics in historical science," noted the study authors. 



"This is especially so in Australia, which lost 90% of its large species by 40,000 years ago, more than half of them kangaroos."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-insights-into-ecosystem-vulnerabilities">Insights into ecosystem vulnerabilities</h2>



The study highlights the ecological roles of prehistoric marsupials, offering valuable insights into the evolution of Australia’s <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ecosystem-attack-predicting-the-success-of-species-invasions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ecosystems</a>. 



“Understanding the resilience of ancient species helps contextualize why Australia has been so vulnerable to introduced large mammals like pigs, camels, and deer,” noted Professor Prideaux.



Dr. Arman uses a relatable analogy to describe dietary flexibility: “Most of the time, I don’t need to engage four-wheel drive, but this capability becomes crucial when I do need it.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-extinction-of-australia-s-megafauna">Extinction of Australia’s megafauna </h2>



The research, funded by the <a href="https://www.arc.gov.au" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Australian Research Council</a>, reflects a long-standing partnership between Flinders University and MAGNT.



The research also honors the traditional custodians of the Naracoorte region, the Meintangk, Marditjali, and Potaruwutj peoples, and acknowledges the contributions of volunteers and students in collecting and preparing specimens.



The study marks an essential step in understanding the resilience of prehistoric kangaroos, their adaptable diet and the complex interplay of factors that led to the extinction of Australia’s megafauna.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adq4340" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science</a>.



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Prehistoric kangaroos changed their diets to survive climate change

For many years, scientists believed that prehistoric kangaroos in Australia had specialized diets, relying specifically on certain types of plants or vegetation for their survival. This idea suggested that they were unable to adapt to changes in their environment, such as shifts in climate or vegetation patterns. When the kangaroos' preferred food sources became scarce, it was assumed that their dietary inflexibility contributed to their extinction. This theory placed dietary specialization as a key reason for the disappearance of some kangaroo species during the Pleistocene epoch. However,...

Marine species have evolved certain traits in order to survive in different aquatic ecosystems and depths in the ocean. But now, new research has revealed how different sharks, in particular, have evolved physical traits according to their liver size depending on their preferred marine habitats. 

The study was conducted by a team of researchers with specialties in biology and physics and published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

The researchers observed the body composition of 32 shark species and found that different <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sharks-use-shoulders-eat/">sharks</a> evolved aircraft-like characteristics with similar aerodynamics to either round, slow zeppelins or fixed-wing high-speed airplanes. 

Zeppelin sharks are ideal for deeper and colder depths, whereas the high-speed aircraft sharks do well in shallower waters. The lower depth sharks also evolved larger livers, and their environment does not demand as much energy expenditure. 

“Conversely, shark species with smaller livers, like most whaler sharks, are negatively buoyant and so must swim at fast speeds so their wing-like fins can provide sufficient lift, overall expending more energy than their deep-dwelling cousins,” said Adrian Gleiss, the lead author. 

However, the researchers discovered that the zeppelins were only expending less energy because they had evolved to be less hydrodynamic and live in habitats where their slow pace doesn’t deter hunting. 

“The zeppelins of the shark world must live in cold places where slow swimming is the rule for both predator and prey,” said Jean Potvin, a physicist at <a href="https://www.slu.edu/">Saint Louis University </a>and a co-author of the study. 

The sharks who live in shallower waters have slimmer bodies that require less energy to move at faster speeds. 

“As with the sharks inhabiting shallow waters, trying to fly zeppelins at the speeds and accelerations common to fixed-wing aircraft of same the weight class would require significantly more energy, unless that is, it is reshaped into a more javelin-like body,” said Potvin. 

The research helps shed light on the evolution of sharks, and by comparing sharks to aircrafts, explains the hydrodynamics of sharks who thrive at different depths. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com </a>Staff Writer

Why sharks are shaped like airplanes and zeppelins

Marine species have evolved certain traits in order to survive...

How do bats navigate dark or dimly lit environments at such fast speeds? They use echolocation, or biosonar, to adapt to the environment around them and create a map of their surroundings. Bats emit high-frequency sounds, or calls, as they fly and listen for the echoes to come to back to them. 

Echolocation is also how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/saving-bats-whose-teeth-used-currency/">bats</a> can hunt and search for prey. The bat's midbrain is where sensory and motor information is processed and is an essential part of tracking and echolocation.

The superior colliculus is a layered structure in the midbrain that takes sensory information and transforms it into motor commands. 

This process is called sensorimotor integration, and has been previously studied in animals who rely on their vision to hunt, adapt to their surroundings, and explore their environment. 

A new study conducted by researchers from <a href="https://www.jhu.edu/">Johns Hopkins University</a> explored sensorimotor integration, but focused on audio input rather than visual to understand how the superior colliculus is influenced by a wide range of natural animal behaviors. 

For the study, the researchers recorded the superior colliculus activity from four big brown bats that were tracking prey (worms) around a dimly lit room. 

The research team then analyzed changes in the bats’ neural activity in comparison to different  vocalizations. 

There were both sensory and motor neurons present in the layers of the superior colliculus. 

The activity in the superior colliculus also changed as the bats closed in on the prey and possibly supports the localization of a target at close distances. 

“Our work investigated mechanisms of dynamic sensorimotor feedback control by analyzing patterns of neural activity in the midbrain superior colliculus (SC) of an echolocating bat tracking and intercepting moving prey,” wrote the researchers. “We discovered that neural activity in the bat SC changes with dynamic adaptations in the animal's echolocation behavior.” 

--

By<a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com"> Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com </a>Staff Writer

How bats use echolocation to hunt prey

How do bats navigate dark or dimly lit environments at...

With its extreme temperatures, lack of resources, and spontaneous sandstorms, the desert can be a very unforgiving place. There is also not much shelter if you come face to face with some of the aggressive creatures that call the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/desert-ants-navigational-skills/">desert</a> home. The following are ten of the most dangerous animals that can be found in the desert.

&nbsp;

Saw Scaled Viper

Found across Africa, the Middle East, and south Asia, these snakes are among the most deadly in the world. They are aggressive by nature, produce extremely poisonous venom, and are known for having a lightning-fast strike.

&nbsp;

Gila Monster

Located in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, the Gila monster is one of the only venomous lizards in the world. The Gila monster has a very strong, painful grip when it bites, but rarely causes death in humans.

&nbsp;

Wild Dogs

Dingoes are top predators in Australia that hunt down animals such as kangaroos, birds, and wallabies. Like dingoes, African wild dogs hunt large animals and run in packs. Both groups of wild dogs have been known to turn on humans and attack when hungry.

&nbsp;

Cougar

Also known as the mountain lion, panther, or puma, the cougar is often found in lowland or mountainous deserts. These solitary animals are strong and stealthy. There are around 30,000 cougars in the western United States, but only 20 fatal attacks on humans have been documented since 1890.

&nbsp;

Inland Taipan

Located in the Australian Outback, this snake is widely believed to have the deadliest venom of any snake. When this snake strikes, it bites several times in rapid succession, delivering enough venom in each bite to kill 100 people.

&nbsp;

Ostrich

This unlikely candidate is one of the most deadly animals in the deserts of Africa. The ostrich uses its strong legs to attack, particularly when the eggs are threatened, and can leave serious wounds with claws that grow up to 21 inches long.

&nbsp;

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

This snake can be found in the southwestern United States and in Mexico, where it is to blame for the majority of fatal snakebites in both countries. Growing up to seven feet in length and weighing as much as 15 pounds, the western diamondback rattlesnake is the second largest venomous species of snakes in North America.

&nbsp;

Killer Bees

Africanized bees will swarm and attack when their hive is threatened, even if they are a quarter mile away. They are also disturbed by noises and traffic, and these bees cause the most suffering by stinging the head and face. They can be found in regions of North, Central, and South America, including the southwestern United States.

&nbsp;

Desert Horned Viper

With over 13 different kinds of toxins present in their venom, the bite of a desert horned viper can be fatal to humans. This is the most common venomous snake in the Sahara Desert, and is often encountered in sand dunes.

&nbsp;

Arizona Bark Scorpion

Particularly dangerous for small children and elderly people, the Arizona bark scorpion is found in western Mexico, the Baja Peninsula, and in the southwestern United States. These small scorpions are not typically aggressive, but their sting can be fatal.

--

By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

The 10 most dangerous desert creatures

With its extreme temperatures, lack of resources, and spontaneous sandstorms,...

The whooping crane is a rare North American bird, with just over 600 in existence. Researchers have discovered that these uncommon birds are also unusual when it comes to love in the wild. 

A recent study has revealed that the long-term relationships that whooping cranes have with their partners often begin during childhood.

When courting, whooping cranes leap, flap their wings, and produce loud vocalizations. When a whooping crane is ready to bond or mate, its crown turns bright red.

A research team led by the <a href="http://www.uga.edu/">University of Georgia</a> tracked 58 pairs of whooping cranes during breeding season using transmitters. These birds had been reintroduced to the eastern United States in 2001.

The researchers observed that the majority of the whooping cranes became friends before breeding. The experts determined that 62 percent of the bird <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/modern-couples-women-house/">couples</a> had struck up a friendship over a year before mating, while 26 percent had formed a close relationship over two years before breeding.

“In addition, 60% of pair associations began before at least one partner had reached nominal sexual maturity,” said the study authors. “Most pairs began associating in the late spring upon arrival at the summer grounds, while associations beginning at other times of the year were rare.”

According to the researchers, the birds’ behavior suggests that there are benefits to prebreeding relationships, such as protection from predators, increasing partner familiarity, and reproductive success. 

Furthermore, the monogamous nature of the whooping cranes’ partnership may be an advantage that shelters them from the difficulty of finding a new mate each breeding season.

The research is published in the journal <a href="https://www.journals.elsevier.com/animal-behaviour/">Animal Behaviour</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Whooping cranes often marry their childhood sweethearts

The whooping crane is a rare North American bird, with...

Picnic-lovers take heed: Disease-ridden flies carry a lot more germs than previously suspected. Between them, houseflies and blowflies alone house more than 600 bacteria, many of them linked to human illnesses, according to a new study.

An international team of biologists and entomologists collected sample flies from around the world and analyzed their DNA. 

“We sampled 116 individual houseflies and blowflies from varying habitats on three continents and subjected them to high-coverage, whole-genome shotgun sequencing,” the study said.

They then used the DNA to analyze the flies’ microbiomes – communities of bacteria on their bodies. 

They found that both houseflies and blowflies carry hundreds of bacteria – more than 350 for the housefly, and a little over 300 for blowflies. Many of the bacteria are pathogens like Helicobacter pylori, linked to stomach ulcers in humans. 

The flies often feed on feces and decaying organic matter, the study said – ripe breeding grounds for bacteria. On top of that, their legs and wings showed the greatest diversity of bacteria, and were the most likely parts of the flies to transmit that bacteria to other surfaces. Burger fixings sitting uncovered for hours on a picnic table, for example. 

The disease-ridden flies may transmit more illnesses to humans than epidemiologists and public health officials suspected, the researchers told the <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/">BBC</a>. 

“We believe that this may show a mechanism for pathogen transmission that has been overlooked by public health officials, and flies may contribute to the rapid transmission of pathogens in outbreak situations," Dr. Donald Bryant, a study co-author at Pennsylvania State University, told the news agency.

Because flies are so widespread in most ecosystems, they play a large role in how bacteria is spread throughout a community, the researchers said. 

"It will really make you think twice about eating that potato salad that's been sitting out at your next picnic," Bryant told the BBC.

The study has been published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-16353-x">Scientific Reports</a>. 

—

By <a href="mailto:kcathey@earth.com">Kyla Cathey</a>, <a href="http://www.earth.com">Earth.com</a> staff writer

Disease-ridden flies carry hundreds of different bacteria

Picnic-lovers take heed: Disease-ridden flies carry a lot more germs...

An unknown bird that appeared 36 years ago in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-galapagos-islands-are-struggling-from-the-growth-of-ecotourism/">Galapagos Islands</a> is providing scientists from <a href="https://www.princeton.edu/">Princeton University</a> with genetic evidence of how new species arise. The researchers have identified a new family of birds which were created right in front of their eyes.

Two scientists from Princeton, B. Rosemary Grant and Peter Grant, have witnessed the origin of this new species over the course of four decades of research on the small island of Daphne Major. 

"The novelty of this study is that we can follow the emergence of new species in the wild," said senior research biologist B. Rosemary Grant. "Through our work on Daphne Major, we were able to observe the pairing up of two birds from different species and then follow what happened to see how speciation occurred."

In 1981, a graduate student working with the researchers on Daphne Major identified a new bird. It was a male that sang a different song and had a much larger body and beak size than the three species of birds native to the island.

"We didn't see him fly in from over the sea, but we noticed him shortly after he arrived. He was so different from the other birds that we knew he did not hatch from an egg on Daphne Major," said Peter Grant.

The researchers captured the bird to collect a blood sample and then released him. The newcomer later bred with a medium ground finch, starting a brand new lineage which was named by the team the "Big Bird lineage." The experts followed the new birds for six generations, collecting blood for analysis.

In the current study, researchers from <a href="https://www.uu.se/en/">Uppsala University</a> analyzed the DNA collected from the birds over the years. They discovered that the original male was a large cactus finch of the species Geospiza conirostris from Espanola island, which is more than 62 miles southeast of the Galapagos archipelago. This incredible distance meant that the bird was unable to return home to mate so instead chose a member of a different species to mate with on the island. 

This type of reproductive isolation is considered a critical step in the development of a new species when two separate species interbreed. In addition, the offspring were unsuccessful in mating with native birds because of noticeable differences like their songs, and so these offspring mated with others of their same lineage and further strengthened the development of the new species.

While it has been long assumed that the formation of a new species takes a very long time, the Big Bird lineage happened in just two generations.

Leif Andersson of Uppsala University explained, "We have no indication about the long-term survival of the Big Bird lineage, but it has the potential to become a success, and it provides a beautiful example of one way in which speciation occurs. Charles Darwin would have been excited to read this paper."

The findings of the study are published in the journal <a href="http://www.sciencemag.org/">Science</a>.

[caption id="attachment_965468" align="aligncenter" width="300"]<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/big-bird.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-965468" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/big-bird-300x233.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="233" /></a> A member of "Big Bird" lineage. Photo Credit: Copyright P. R. Grant[/caption]

--

By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

A new species can develop in just two generations

An unknown bird that appeared 36 years ago in the...

Ever wonder why the turkey is the central character of the holiday celebrating the bountiful agriculture of the United States? The European Pilgrims who happened upon North America had never seen a turkey in the wild before. And as one might assume based on the folklore of Thanksgiving, turkey (meat and eggs) was a favored meal of many of the eastern Native tribes. In honor of the holiday and its most popular guest, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> has put together a list of ten things you probably didn’t know about wild turkeys.

&nbsp;

Turkey Fact Number One:

The species the pilgrims first encountered was the Eastern wild turkey.  They are indigenous to the eastern half of the continent. They can be found running wild from Maine down to northern Florida and as far west as Michigan, Illinois, and Missouri. Their range is the largest of the six subspecies.

&nbsp;

Turkey Fact Number Two:

The Osceola wild turkey or the Florida wild turkey can only be found in… you guessed it: Florida. With darker feathers (described as “purple green” by some) than the Eastern wild turkey, and the smallest of the subspecies, there are about 100,000 Osceola today. 

&nbsp;

Turkey Fact Number Three:

The Rio Grande wild turkey is native to the central plain states like Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and New Mexico, and has been introduced to California and Hawaii. Compared to their forest and mountain dwelling cousins, the prairie-based Rio Grande turkey’s legs are relatively long.

&nbsp;

Turkey Fact Number Four:

The largest of the subspecies is the Gould’s wild turkey. They can only be found in Arizona, New Mexico, and the Sierra Madre mountain ranges of Mexico. Their declining numbers have them heavily protected and regulated. 

&nbsp;

Turkey Fact Number Five:

Merriam’s wild turkeys are native to the Rocky Mountains and the nearby prairies of South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana as well as Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona.  

&nbsp;

Turkey Fact Number Six:

The only wild turkey not indigenous to the United States is the Ocellated turkey, also referred to as the South Mexican wild Turkey. Their range reaches from the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, to Northern Belize, to northern Guatemala. When Spanish explorers traveled to Mexico in the 1600s and found that the Mesoamerican natives had domesticated turkeys, the Spaniards took them back to Europe, giving rise to domesticated turkeys there.

&nbsp;

Turkey Fact Number Seven:

Male wild turkeys go to great lengths to get the attention of females and, seeing as they are polygamous, mate with as many as they can. They display for females by spreading their tails, fluffing up their feathers, and scraping their wings against the ground in a ritual known as ‘strutting.’

&nbsp;

Turkey Fact Number Eight:

Gobbling and spitting are behaviors used by males to express social dominance. When males are out looking for females, they tend to court in groups, with the more dominant male strutting, gobbling, and spitting out front and the less dominant males following behind and then moving in for the “leftovers,” so to speak.

&nbsp;

Turkey Fact Number Nine:

Baby wild turkeys and eggs fall prey to raccoons, opossums, gray foxes, skunks, groundhogs and snakes. Owls, hawks and bald eagles are also trouble for the nestlings. Adult turkeys have to watch out for predators like coyotes, wolves, bobcats, cougars, and bald eagles.

&nbsp;

Turkey Fact Number Ten:

In the 1940s, Eastern and Osceola turkeys could only be found in very remote forested areas of the United States, where illegal hunting was minimal due to inaccessibility. Since then, wildlife managers have transplanted wild turkeys into timbered areas and the populations have flourished. There are four optimal habitats for wild turkeys.

Riparian zones (near rivers and streams) ensure that water and vegetation are available.

Oaks and grasslands provide roosting areas and food. 

Pine savannas are open forested areas canopied by pine trees, which provide food, cover, and brood and nesting areas. 

Forest clearings, meadows, and pastures with young grass, tree and shrub growth provide sustenance for the animals.

&nbsp;

Happy Thanksgiving!

--

By <a href="mailto:rarnold@earth.com">Darryl Joseph</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

10 things you probably didn’t know about turkeys

Ever wonder why the turkey is the central character of...

Scientists have revealed that male dolphins use some of the same tactics that human men use to get the attention of women. As a type of mating ritual, adult humpback dolphins present potential partners with gifts.

The researchers made this surprising discovery during ten years of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/polluted-oceans-wild-dolphins/">dolphin</a> observation off the coast of northwestern Australia. They saw male Australian humpback dolphins gifting large marine sponges to females, while also communicating visually and acoustically.

Simon Allen is a biologist at the <a href="https://www.uwa.edu.au/">University of Western Australia</a> in Perth and lead author of the study.

“We were at first perplexed to witness these intriguing behavioral displays by male humpback dolphins, but as we undertook successive field trips over the years, the evidence mounted.” explained Dr. Allen. “Here we have some of the most socially complex animals on the planet using sponges, not as a foraging tool, but as a gift, a display of his quality, or perhaps even as a threat in the behavioral contexts of socializing and mating.”

While many animals put themselves on display to attract a mate, such as the peacock with its extravagant feathers, it is rare that a non-human species uses objects in a sex display. 

“A display to impress a female is not unusual, but using an object in that display is very unusual,” said Dr. Allen.

The scientists first noticed the behavior during an interaction between a male, female, and a calf. The male dolphin retrieved a large marine sponge from the ocean floor, balanced it on its beak, and then nudged it toward the female dolphin.

The research team also witnessed the male dolphins enlisting the help of a “wingman” to get the attention of a sexually mature female.

“The formation of alliances between adult males for the purposes of coercing females is uncommon, since mating success cannot be shared,” said co-author Stephanie King. “This is a new finding for this species, and presents an exciting avenue for future research.”

While the researchers do not yet know how successful the male dolphin’s strategy is at this time, they plan to conduct underwater studies to find out. The scientists also want to use DNA testing to see if the males who give gifts have more babies.


The researchers believe this behavior demonstrates the male's strength and quality as a partner. They say the findings of the study indicate an unperceived level of social complexity in dolphins.

--

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

Male dolphins use gifts to flirt with potential mates

Scientists have revealed that male dolphins use some of the...

The sea nettle jellyfish is common along the East Coast of the United States and can sometimes be a nuisance to swimmers during jellyfish blooms. But new research has discovered that this average jellyfish is actually two different species. 

It was assumed that sea nettle jellyfish, found in areas like Chesapeake Bay and Rehoboth Bay, were the same as ocean-based nettle jellyfish. But as it turns out, the “bay nettle” is its own unique species. 

The discovery was made by Patrick Gaffney, a professor at the <a href="http://www.udel.edu/">University of Delaware</a> and Keith Bayha, a research associate with the <a href="http://naturalhistory.si.edu/">Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History</a>, using DNA sequencing.

“Before DNA came along, people in museums looked at organisms and counted spines and bristles, measured things, and sorted organisms by their physical characteristics in order to identify species,” Gaffney said. “In the case of this jellyfish, which has been commonly known for centuries, Keith found through DNA sequencing that there were actually two groups.”

The researchers performed genetic testing on samples of sea nettle <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/jellyfish-sleep-ancient-behavior/">jellyfish</a> and found that there were differences between the jellyfish from bayside areas and those that were ocean-based.

The DNA samples were also compared to physical measurements of the jellyfish.

The ocean-based sea nettle jellyfish are larger, have more tentacles, and a larger bell (the appropriately-named top part of the jellyfish) compared the bayside nettle jellyfish. 

It was Bayha that confirmed the findings, and thus, the sea nettle jellyfish was officially named as two different species, the “bay nettle” and the “sea nettle.” 

“When you go back and pay close attention, you start counting the number of stinging cells and types, you see discrete differences that correspond to the DNA,” said Gaffney. “In many cases, when we plotted the data, the graphs looked entirely different with no overlap, reaffirming that it was two species.”

The researchers note that jellyfish are not commonly studied, and so species differences can often go undetected. This discovery is just one example of a species that was long overlooked because researchers didn’t investigate beyond physical attributes.

--

By<a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com"> Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com </a>Staff Writer

Image Credit: Shannon Howard, South Carolina Aquarium; Keith Bayha

This everyday jellyfish is actually two separate species

The sea nettle jellyfish is common along the East Coast...

When we think of pollution, it’s not often that we consider light to be in that category. But in fact, artificial light is considered an environmental pollutant, as it throws off <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-bird-seasonal-clocks/">circadian rhythms</a> and threatens nocturnal animals, plants and microorganisms. Now, an international study published in the journal <a href="http://advances.sciencemag.org/">Science Advances</a> finds that artificial lights are increasing “loss of night,” with the effects particularly strong in certain nations.

In order to determine whether the use of outdoor light is continuing to grow exponentially, Christopher Kyba and colleagues analyzed data acquired by the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer (VIIRS), which is a satellite sensor with a spatial resolution of 750 meters. Through this analysis, they determined that the Earth’s artificially lit outdoor areas grew by over 2 percent (2.2%) per year from 2012 to 2016.

Data showed that these lighting changes were highly variable between countries – some nations greatly exceeded the global rate, while a few experienced decreases in radiance. Two of the countries that had these decreases are Yemen and Syria, which are currently in turmoil with widespread war.

In the world’s brightest nations (referring to light, not necessarily intelligence) such as the United States and Spain, the radiance levels remained stable. In South America, Africa, and Asia, most nations experienced growth in artificial light. Overall, these results show that the global demand for outdoor nighttime light has yet to be met. Furthermore, despite the increases in solid-state lighting (such as LEDs), short-term decreases in related energy consumption appear unlikely.

The researchers also note that the growth in nighttime light from 2012 to 2016 were a close match to the global rise in gross domestic product (GDP). They believe that this finding suggests that access to solid-state lighting does not decrease global energy consumption for outdoor light, which has been an international goal.

These increases – and projections of further increases – in artificial light have significance for everything from our economic policies to our environmental policies. While discovering what areas are experiencing the greatest effects is key, determining how to lessen these effects will be crucial.

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Artificial lights could cause “loss of night” in some places

When we think of pollution, it’s not often that we...

Yellow-fronted canary, Crithagra mozambicus, at Pilanesberg Nati

The wild bird trade has been occurring around the world for ages, and is the root cause of exotic birds spreading worldwide. Birds are the most traded animals in the world, with Europe historically being the main importer. The consequences of the bird trade can affect both the importing and exporting countries. In the country where the birds are captured, it can cause a loss of biodiversity. In the country where the birds arrive, they can damage the local ecosystem, destroy crops, and outcompete local birds.

In 2005, the European Union (EU) banned the trade of all wild birds. A new study shows that since that time, the trade of wild birds has dropped roughly 90 percent globally. The number of birds traded annually fell from about 1.3 million to 130,000.

Prior to this ban, the countries of Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain accounted for the import of about two-thirds of all wild birds on the global market. These birds came mostly from West Africa, and almost all wild bird exports involved two groups of birds. Passerines, including the popular pet birds such as the yellow-fronted canary and the common waxbill, made up almost 80 percent of exported birds. Parrots made up roughly 18 percent.

Since the EU trade ban, these numbers have reversed. Currently, passerine birds make up less than 20 percent of the global trade while parrots have increased to almost 80 percent of all traded birds. Parrots are now the most threatened group of bird species, and the bird most likely to establish in countries it is not native to.

Latin America has now taken the reigns from West Africa as the main exporter of wild birds, responsible for over half of all global wild bird exports. Both the United States and Mexico are now much bigger importers, as wild imports in these two countries have increased from about 23,000 to 82,000 annually.

“Worryingly, we document a shift in wild bird trade towards areas with a high biodiversity,” says Luis Reino, from the <a href="https://cibio.up.pt/">CIBIO-InBIO Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources</a>. “For example, several south-east Asian nations have emerged as important bird importers. These regions are now exposed to a higher risk of bird invasions.”

Reino believes that these results show the importance of a global wildlife trade ban, which would help reduce the number of traded birds and minimize the chances of exotic birds spreading. If anything, the success of the EU trade ban shows that a global ban would likely be effective.

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By: <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Derek Keats, 2016

Global trade of wild birds greatly reduced by EU trade ban

The wild bird trade has been occurring around the world...

It might surprise you to know that birds and reptiles have any relation, but in fact, both are the closest living relatives of dinosaurs. All of these creatures evolved from archosaurs, which essentially ran the show on Earth 250 million years ago.

But exactly how the reptile to bird or scale to feather transition occurred and what genetic factors determined those changes has long puzzled scientists. 

A new study, conducted by researchers from the <a href="https://keck.usc.edu/">Keck School Of Medicine at the University of Southern California</a>, set out to identify the genes responsible for scale and feather development by looking at chickens and alligators. 

If birds and reptiles are the closest living relative to the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/asteroid-dinosaurs/">dinosaurs</a> then they should all share the same genes that helped birds evolve. 

The study was led by Dr. Cheng-Ming Choung who used modern genomics and molecular biology to help map the genetic evolution of scales to feathers. 

Not only did Choung’s research team isolate the genes responsible for feathers and scales, but they also explored how to turn scales into feathers by turning on and off critical molecular circuits during different growth stages. 

“We now have a potential molecular explanation for these hypothesized missing links,” said Chuong. “These results show that different perturbations cause different levels of scale to feather conversion, implying that scales have the capability to form feathers given the proper molecular signals.”

For the study, the researchers performed a complete RNA transcriptome and DNA genomic analysis of chicks and alligators during development. An RNA transcriptome is like the transcript of DNA, and it allows researchers to “read” all the genes in a cell. 

The researchers were able to identify the gene expression differences in the chicks and alligators and isolate the genes responsible for producing either feather or scales. 

After the research team identified the genes responsible for chicken feathers, these genes were put inside alligator eggs, and the researchers used molecular circuitry to turn the genes on or off in the alligators. 

The researchers noted that the developing alligators showed the beginnings of feathers such as budding, elongated appendages, follicles with stem cells, and feather keratin. 

“Our analyses led to the identification of five morpho-regulatory modules that are essential for modern feather formation,” said Chuong. 

The study shows the genes and molecules that helped the dinosaurs evolve into birds and could potentially pave the way for testing the transformation of scales to feathers in modern alligators. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com </a>Staff Writer

From scales to feathers: How birds evolved from dinosaurs

It might surprise you to know that birds and reptiles...

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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

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

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

[sendtonews key="JRaP49ISmm-2357509-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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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

[sendtonews key="6HyfrAJTBI-1831843-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

The history of Mars is much more complex than we thought

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research



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



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

Cavefish are healthy despite their sedentary lifestyle

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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites capture the world's biggest and fastest waves

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;



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

Satellites have become essential to our survival

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