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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Believe it or not, pet food gobbles up a whopping 9 to 20 percent of all livestock worldwide, with the higher end of the scale being true for high pet ownership nations like the U.S. But what if there was a way to reduce this significant environmental footprint with vegan diets for dogs without compromising their health? Turns out, there might be. Rise of vegan dog diets Contrary to popular belief, dogs are not strict carnivores. They are, in fact, omnivores by nature. This basically means they...

When male <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/jumping-spiders-hear-without-ears/">jumping spiders</a> want to mate, they do the arachnid equivalent of flexing their muscles or leaning up against a bar and trying to look cool – they dance around and show off in front of females in order to attract a partner. Two types of male spiders from North America and Australia have upped the dating game ante, displaying vibrant colors in hopes of getting a female’s attention.

This is noteworthy for two reasons. “It's rare to see bright colours on most spiders, as they don't usually have the visual sensitivity to perceive colour beyond drab blues, greens, and browns,” said <a href="http://www.uc.edu/">University of Cincinnati</a> biologist Nate Morehouse. He presented the research at the 2017 <a href="http://www.sicb.org">Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology</a> Conference.

The Maratus “peacock” jumping male spiders of Australia and the Habronattus jumping spider of North America are game-changers in this regard. Not only do the males of both species show off bright colors in a bid for mates; these spiders have also developed the ability to see colors such as red, yellow, and orange. 

This is because the Maratus spiders evolved additional photoreceptors that allow them to see colors that most spiders can’t. Meanwhile, the Habronattus spiders have a red filter on their retina that combines with green-sensitive retinal cells.

How do you test a spider’s vision? Scientists did not pull out tiny eye charts and ask spiders to read the last line from the bottom. Rather, they used something called microspectrophotometry. This measures how photoreceptor cells in the retina absorb light. They also used visual system modeling, a method that relies on mathematical modeling to determine how the retina might perceive color. 

Although the two species of spiders are similarly colorful, they are not related. In fact, the peacock spider has something that the Habronattus does not: an abdomen flap that they can wave as they do their mating dance. While it’s not crushing beer cans on one’s head, female spiders are no doubt impressed. 

--

By Dawn Henderson, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: Nate Morehouse, <a href="http://www.uc.edu/">University of Cincinnati</a>

Photo: Jurgen Otto

Male spiders use rainbow colors and dancing to find females

When male jumping spiders want to mate, they do the...

Let’s all celebrate with a round of butterbeers! Scientists who recently identified a new <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/ocean-acidification-threatening-crab-populations/">crab</a> species delighted Harry Potter fans worldwide when they named it after two of the wizarding world’s most beloved characters.

The crab, Harryplax severus, pays triple homage with its name. First, it honors the late researcher Harry Conley, who picked up the tiny crab along the coast of Guam 20 years ago. The name also alludes to the title character in J.K. Rowling’s series, as well as potions professor Severus Snape.

Conley donated his collections to Gustav Paulay, a curator at the <a href="https://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/">Florida Museum of Natural History</a>. He turned them over to biologists Peter Ng and Jose Christopher E. Mendoza from the <a href="http://www.nus.edu.sg">National University of Singapore</a>. They found the crab, measuring just 0.3 by 0.2 inches, in the collection.

Mendoza, a self-proclaimed Potterhead, was excited to link the name of its founder with one of the most famous boy wizards of all time. He and Ng said that Conley had an almost magical talent at finding new and rare species. The minuscule crab lives deep in the ocean and has small eyes, long legs, and antennae that help it get around in the dark depths. 

The last part of the name – severus - also has a double meaning. In Latin, the word translates to “harsh” or “rigorous,” which the researchers say “alludes to the rigorous and laborious process by which this crab was collected.” 

Harry Potter aficionados will also appreciate the explanation offered by the researchers in their study, which was published in the journal <a href="http://zookeys.pensoft.net">ZooKeys</a>. They say the name is “an allusion to a notorious and misunderstood character in the Harry Potter novels, Professor Severus Snape, for his ability to keep one of the most important secrets in the story, just like the present new species which has eluded discovery until now, nearly 20 years after it was first collected.”

--

By Dawn Henderson, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer
Source: Peter Ng and Jose Christopher E. Mendoza, <a href="http://www.nus.edu.sg">National University of Singapore</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/LiveScience">Live Science</a>

New crab species named after Harry Potter favorite

Let’s all celebrate with a round of butterbeers! Scientists who...

<a href="http://www.earth.com/news/cats-just-smart-dogs-thank-much/">Cat lovers</a> take a lot of heat. They’re stereotyped as being eccentric recluses who struggle to find a piece of cat hair-free clothing every time they set foot out the door. Their lives revolve around the care and feeding of a demanding, aloof little fur ball (or three). And now, cat lovers are getting no love from the scientific community, as researchers have just announced a possible link between cat litter and Alzheimer’s disease. 

The problem lies in a tiny parasite called Toxoplasma gondii. It thrives in soiled litter boxes and is a real threat to pregnant women who end up with litter scooping duty. However, it’s also a risk to other cat owners who scoop the litter box and fail to wash their hands thoroughly afterwards. 

If a person is infected with T. gondii, the parasite moves into their brain. There, it can increase the risk of anxiety, schizophrenia, and even brain cancer. Scientists are also looking into whether or not the infection may cause Alzheimer’s disease. 

Scientists published the study in the <a href="http://www.journalofparasitology.org/">Journal of Parasitology</a>. Journal editor Michael Sukhdeo of <a href="http://www.rutgers.edu/">Rutgers University</a> said that the Alzheimer’s-T. gondii link is likely because “the parasite likes to live in the brain. 

In their research, they looked at mice who were infected with T. gondii, as well as others who were altered to show symptoms similar to Alzheimer’s. Researchers found that mice infected with the parasite demonstrated impairments to their learning and memory that mimicked the classic symptoms of Alzheimer’s. 

They also noted that the infection altered the mice’s brain chemistry and increased their chances of developing Alzheimer’s. 

The findings increase the health risk posed by cat litter to pregnant women, but they also mean that other adults need to be more cautious when handling soiled cat litter. People who are infected may notice flu-like symptoms; they may also experience no symptoms whatsoever. 

--

By Dawn Henderson, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer
Source: Michael Sukhdeo, <a href="http://www.rutgers.edu/">Rutgers University</a>

Oh, poop! Scientists link cat litter to Alzheimer’s

Cat lovers take a lot of heat. They’re stereotyped as...

The great cat-versus-dog debate has waged for years amongst pet lovers everywhere. Cat owners insist that despite most cats eschewing being trained to play fetch or do other activities upon their human’s bidding, their feline friends are just as smart as <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/negotiating-world-dog-walking/">dogs</a>. Meanwhile, dog owners scoff at the idea that cats have equal intelligence to man’s best friend.

Are cats really as smart as dogs? Scientists may have finally settled the question once and for all – and cat owners can finally celebrate. 

There’s no doubt that dogs are smart. They’re even able to use something called episodic memory to recall specific events like enjoying a favorite toy or a tasty snack. However, Japanese scientists have discovered that cats share this ability to recall pleasant experiences. They published their findings in the journal<a href="https://www.journals.elsevier.com/behavioural-processes/"> Behavioural Processes</a>. 

How do you test a cat’s memory? The team analyzed the behavior of 49 domestic cats, observing their ability to recall which bowl they had already eaten out of after 15 minutes away from being away from the test food bowls. This was similar to results that the same group of scientists had seen in tests they’d performed involving dogs. 

Scientists think that cats ability to remember information about food can assist them with hunting and surviving in the wild. Psychologist Saho Takagi from <a href="http://www.kyoto-u.ac.jp/en">Kyoto University</a> was part of the research team. Besides survival, she explained to BBC News that such memories might be fun for cats. 

"An interesting speculation is that they may enjoy actively recalling memories of their experience like humans,” she said.

While seeking out the same food bowl might not seem impressive, a cat’s intelligence goes beyond simple memory skills. They’re also on par with dogs in mental tests such as responding to human gestures, different facial expressions, as well as emotions. Who says a cat can’t be trained? 

--

By Dawn Henderson, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer
Source: Saho Takagi, <a href="http://www.kyoto-u.ac.jp/en">Kyoto University</a>

Cats are just as smart as dogs, thank you very much

The great cat-versus-dog debate has waged for years amongst pet...

When Margaret Groom, the archivist for the village of Uley, began piecing together the tiny town’s history for a book, she knew she had to include John Daniel. Though the gorilla's story only spanned 4 ½ years, it was a big event in Uley history.

The story began in 1918, when French officers shot the parents of a baby <a href="http://www.earth.com/endangered-species/gorilla-gorilla/">lowland gorilla</a>. The little gorilla ended up in a London department store, according to Groom’s book.

When Major Rupert Penny discovered the baby ape, he purchased it for what would be about $31,000 today. Penny named the gorilla John Daniel, according to “Notes from the Uley Archives.”

The book describes how Penny gave John Daniel to his sister Alyce Cunningham, who nicknamed him “Sultan” and raised him like a human child.

The village’s children would go for walks with John Daniel or push him in a wheelbarrow, the book said. Some of the villagers shared with Groom how John Daniel would eat roses and knew which house had the best cider. He also enjoyed watched the village cobbler work, Groom said.

Cunningham gave the little gorilla his own bedroom, where he learned to use the light switch and made his own bed, the archivist added. John Daniel even went to dinner parties in London.

“Notes from the Uley Archives” shares the gorilla's story, along with photos of his childhood in the village.

Unfortunately, it didn’t last.

Like most gorillas, John Daniel grew much larger than a human – to about 210 pounds, the book said. Cunningham could no longer care for him, so when an American man offered to buy him in 1921, she agreed. The American buyer promised to take John Daniel to a safe home in Florida, Groom said.

Instead, he was sent to a circus, then displayed at the Ringling Bros. zoo in New York’s Madison Square Garden.

The gorilla began to have health problems. The circus owners believed he was pining, and wrote to Cunningham urging her to visit.

She set off right away, according to the book, but was too late. John Daniel died at 4 ½ years old.

John Daniel’s body was sent to a taxidermist and is still on display at the <a href="http://www.amnh.org/">American Museum of Natural History</a> in New York, Groom said.

Though short, the gorilla's story is a fascinating peek into the bond between animals and their human companions, and the history of an English village.

—

By Kyla Cathey / Earth.com staff writer

It takes a village: archivist reveals gorilla's story

When Margaret Groom, the archivist for the village of Uley,...

Like a tiny insect kingdom version of the sci-fi flick Alien, the scene that plays out between two wasp species is shocking and quite gory. You see, when a baby Euderus set parasite wasp hatches, it burrows out of its egg before tunneling through another obstacle – its <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/new-wasp-ant-butt/">wasp</a> host’s head. 

According to a paper in the journal <a href="http://zookeys.pensoft.net">Zookeys</a>, the Euderus set, or E. set wasp, enters oak trees that are inhabited by gall wasp. Once inside, the E. set’s work begins. It lays an egg inside a developing gall wasp (Bassettia pallida) and then…  Then we wait. 

Typically, the gall wasp would mature inside the crypt – otherwise known as the gall – and happily tunnel out when spring arrives. Once it’s host to the E. set, the gall wasp becomes like a zombie. The E. set takes control of the gall wasp, forcing it to begin tunneling out of an emergence hole that’s too small. 

When the gall wasp attempts to exit through this hole, its head gets stuck. Then the E. set munches the its host’s internal organs before making a dramatic exit through its head. 

The study’s authors, <a href="http://www.rice.edu">Rice University</a> evolutionary biologists Kelly Weinersmith and Scott Egan, are working to discover how the E. set parasite wasp is able to control the unfortunate gall wasp’s behavior. 

"It could be the parasitoid cues hosts to excavate early, but makes them do it less well than usual," said Weinersmith of the gall wasp’s ill-timed tunnel attempts. "They only go part way and then they get stuck.

"That's what I love about parasite manipulation of host behavior," she continued. "So many of the stories that have been uncovered are just as cool as the coolest science fiction movie."

The E. set was named for Set, the Egyptian god of chaos and evil. Set shared the wasp’s murderous ways, trapping his brother in a crypt, killing him and then dicing him into pieces.

--

By Dawn Henderson, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: Kelly Weinersmith, <a href="http://www.rice.edu">Rice University</a>

Photo: Andrew Forbes/<a href="https://uiowa.edu/">University of Iowa</a>

Parasite wasp goes ‘Alien’ and emerges from host’s head

Like a tiny insect kingdom version of the sci-fi flick...

Satellite <a href="http://www.earth.com/image/new-weather-satellite-detail/">images</a> offer an often-shocking view of how the Earth has changed over time. These images taken from space reveal deforestation, urbanization, as well as catastrophic changes caused by floods, fires, and other natural disasters. <a href="https://www.nasa.gov">NASA</a> images don’t just provide data; they’ve also sparked action amongst conservationists who argue that such images could help save chimpanzees. 

According to Lilian Pintea of the <a href="http://www.janegoodall.org">Jane Goodall Institute</a>, chimpanzees are experiencing a real habitat crisis due to deforestation. Images taken in 1972 and 1999 show a stunning contrast of the area around Gombe National Park in Tanzania. The region – a prime chimpanzee habitat – experienced severe deforestation during that time. The images reveal bare ground in large areas that were once covered with lush forests. 

This is due, in part, to a population explosion in nearby villages. Residents have cleared land for logging, charcoal production, and agricultural use. Conservationists like Jane Goodall hope that these images will help convince locals of the importance of protecting chimpanzees and their habitat. 

"It was really exciting to see the impact of these images on the villagers," Goodall said. The photos were especially interesting to villagers because they could identify important sacred sites and landmarks on the images, providing them with a realistic view of their home and the power they have to change it. "It was like a piece of reality dropped magically from the sky,” she explained.

Lilian hopes that science can help play a part in these conservation efforts and help save chimpanzees. The satellite images help paint a picture of the chimpanzee’s habitat combined with the real-world impact of human activity. 

"We are informing these planning and management efforts with science and data, including satellite imagery from NASA,” Lilian said. “But at the end of the day, it's the villagers' land use plan and we are there just to facilitate the process.” 

--

By Dawn Henderson, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: Lilian Pintea, <a href="http://www.janegoodall.org">Jane Goodall Institute</a>

<a href="https://www.nasa.gov">NASA</a>

Could satellite images help save chimpanzees?

Satellite images offer an often-shocking view of how the Earth...

Hundreds of baby southern right whales have been washing up dead along the coast of Argentina’s Valdés Peninsula. Now, researchers are launching an effort to find out what's causing the mysterious whale deaths.

Scientists will track calves, as well as adult whales, by tagging them and tracking them via satellite. They’ll also take DNA samples, enabling them to tell individual whales apart. The effort will be funded by the <a href="https://europa.eu/european-union/index_en">EU</a> and the UK <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-environment-food-rural-affairs">Department of Environment, Food &amp; Rural Affairs</a>. 

Discovering the cause of the whale deaths has scientists in a race against time. “There are only a few thousand southern right whales left on the planet,” said geneticist Jennifer Jackson, of the<a href="https://www.bas.ac.uk"> British Antarctic Survey</a>, Cambridge. She is leading the project and believes that the answers lie in the sub-Antarctic where the southern right whales feed. 

The species has faced various factors that has led to their decreasing numbers over the years. Their name comes from the whaling industry in which they were deemed as the “right whales” for hunters to target due to their slow speed, as well as their tendency to float after being killed. Right whales also yield large amounts of oil. Mother right whales stay close to their young, swimming with them in shallow waters and making them a prime target for whalers. 

Once hunting of the southern right whale was banned in 1940, their numbers started to recover. Scientists aren’t certain what’s causing the current deaths, but they have theories. They wonder if a lack of krill – the whales’ primary food source – could be killing them off. Toxic algae could also be a factor. Kelp gulls are another potential source of problems for southern right whales, as they’re known for attacking calves. 

As researchers track the whales, they’ll also do survey numbers of krill, as well as look at individual whales’ hormone levels and reproductive status. Jackson is hoping that this will paint a broad picture of what’s happening to the whales and whether scientists can do anything to stop it.

--

By Dawn Henderson, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer
Source: Jennifer Jackson, <a href="https://www.bas.ac.uk">British Antarctic Survey</a>

Scientists investigate mysterious baby whale deaths

Hundreds of baby southern right whales have been washing up...

A flock of snow geese that flew over Montana this winter simply ended up in the wrong place at the wrong time. The way they met their tragic end has put a toxic race against time back in the headlines. 

The geese were migrating over Montana when a sudden snowstorm blew them off course. They ended up in the Berkeley Pit, a site that’s brimming with toxic waste runoff from an abandoned mining system in the area. Approximately 3,000 of the geese died in the poisonous pond.

The Berkeley Pit is part of the largest <a href="https://www.epa.gov/superfund">Superfund</a> site in the country. It’s connected to mines that were formerly run by the Anaconda Copper Co. They tunneled through the area for over a hundred years, searching for gold, silver, zinc, manganese, lead, and copper. The mine closed in 1982 and the tunnels began to fill with water – contaminated water that eventually spilled into the Berkeley Pit. 

Water levels in the pit have continued to rise, with experts predicting an overflow in 2023. Once this happens, the toxic brew could end up in the city’s groundwater. To prevent this from happening, several agencies have sprung into action. <a href="https://www.arco.com">Atlantic Richfield</a>, the company that now owns Anaconda Copper, the <a href="https://www.epa.gov">Environmental Protection Agency</a>, and <a href="https://www.montanaresources.com">Montana Resources</a>, owners of an adjacent pit, are hoping that a nearby water treatment plant may be the answer to their looming problem. 

The Horseshoe Bend plant currently treats over 4 million gallons of water each day – water that would otherwise run into the Berkeley Pit. Officials are working to ensure that by 2023, the plant will be capable of handling 7 million gallons a day. They’re hoping that this will prevent the toxic water from flowing into nearby Silver Bow Creek. 

For the unfortunate group of snow geese, addressing the problem comes too late. For the residents of Butte, the race is on.  

--
By Dawn Henderson, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Snow geese deaths highlight race for time against toxic pit

A flock of snow geese that flew over Montana this...

<a href="http://us.pg.com/">Procter &amp; Gamble</a> are hoping to cut down on ocean trash with new shampoo bottles that are recyclable and made out of beach plastic.

The American manufacturer teamed up with <a href="https://www.terracycle.com/en-US/">TerraCycle</a> and <a href="http://www.suez-environnement.com/">Suez</a>, environmental management companies, to create the new shampoo bottles. They’re the first shampoo bottles in the world made with up to 25 percent post-consumer beach plastic, the company said.

P&amp;G manufactures Pantene, Head &amp; Shoulders, Herbal Essences, and other shampoo brands.

More companies are becoming aware of how plastic trash can end up on beaches worldwide. Scientists are also learning more about the effect plastics have on the ocean’s ecosystems.

Scientists have known for a while now that at least some plastic gets into the ocean. Recent studies have shown the problem is getting worse.

In August, a study found high concentrations of microplastics – tiny, broken-down pieces of non-biodegradable plastic – in the most <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/scientists-find-plastic-in-the-most-remote-parts-of-the-ocean/">remote parts of the ocean</a>. Other studies in 2016 found that <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/ninety-percent-of-seabirds-have-plastic-in-their-guts-2/">seabirds</a>, <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/troubling-trend-fish-love-eating-plastic/">fish</a>, and a number of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/first-evidence-that-deep-sea-animals-are-ingesting-plastics/">marine creatures</a> eat plastic trash and microplastics.

Those microparticles of decaying plastic cause health problems and can even lead to death for some sea creatures.

P&amp;G already uses post-consumer plastics in packaging for its products, and has for more than two decades. The company hopes to double the amount of recycled plastic is uses by 2020.

P&amp;G announced its plans for shampoo bottles made with beach plastic in Davos, where the World Economic Forum is being held.

It was joined by <a href="https://www.unilever.com/">Unilever</a>, which pledged that all of its plastic packaging will be reusable, recyclable, or compostable by 2025. The two multi-nationals also made a pledge, along with Amcor, Mars, Coca-Cola, and other corporations, to ensure that at least 70 percent of plastic packaging can be reused or recycled globally.

Currently, only 14 percent of plastic used worldwide is recycled.

—

By Kyla Cathey / Earth.com staff writer

Beach plastic used to make recyclable shampoo bottles

Procter &amp; Gamble are hoping to cut down on ocean...

It’s a common scene in parks and backyards everywhere: <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/negotiating-world-dog-walking/">dog</a> owners throwing frisbees and balls while their canine companions happily chase them down and retrieve them. Common knowledge says that playing fetch is great way to get both humans and doggies outdoors, as well as a great way for both to get exercise. What dog owners may not realize is that this seemingly innocent game of playing fetch poses a real injury risk for their dogs. 

The problem lies in dogs retrieving heavy sticks and toys. Experts think this additional weight puts strain on the dog’s neck and front legs and could potentially harm them. Additional strain happens when the dogs reach down to pick up the item because they tilt forward “like a seesaw.” 

Even dogs such as retrievers that have traditionally been used to do jobs such as work and hunt can be injured while carrying things. Barbara Bockstahler of the<a href="https://www.vetmeduni.ac.at/en/"> University of Veterinary Medicine</a> in Vienna said that “the additional weight is physically burdensome for them.” 

Researchers tested dogs by walking them over a pressure plate with and without various-sized loads in their mouths. They found that when a dog carries a lighter load, 60% of the dog’s weight is placed on its front legs. With a larger load, as much as three-quarters of the dogs weight shifts to its front legs.

“This is comparable to a human holding a weight in his hand, who slightly tilts backwards and therefore shifts his body weight to his heels,” Dr Bockstahler said.

This can cause the joints and tendons of the dog’s legs to be strained. Rather than heavy sticks and treats, experts suggest that dog owners use light toys and tennis balls in games of fetch. The study was published in the journal <a href="http://bmcvetres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12917-016-0715-7">BMC Veterinary Research</a>.

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By Dawn Henderson, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: Barbara Bockstahler, <a href="https://www.vetmeduni.ac.at/en/">University of Veterinary Medicine</a>

How playing fetch with Fido could actually hurt him

It’s a common scene in parks and backyards everywhere: dog...

It’s been an odd week for ant news. As <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/new-wasp-ant-butt/">we reported</a> earlier this week, scientists discovered a wasp with a protrusion on its butt that resembles an ant’s head. Now, new studies reveal that ants change jobs and are also adept at navigating and walking backwards. 

It’s not all the same old drudgery for worker ants, it seems. A study out of the <a href="https://www.unil.ch/central/en/home.html">University of Lausanne</a> in Switzerland and published in the journal <a href="http://science.sciencemag.org">Science</a> reveals that ants change jobs as they age. Younger ants are responsible for taking care of the queen and nursing the young. As ants get older, they’re charged with cleaning the colony. The oldest ants venture outside of the nest to search for food. 

Speaking of foraging for food, another study published in the journal <a href="https://secure.jbs.elsevierhealth.com/action/consumeSsoCookie?redirectUri=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cell.com%2Faction%2FconsumeSharedSessionAction%3FJSESSIONID%3Daaa3k7WpctwG2dGvMj1Mv%26MAID%3DvkF6H9QKiDjcAWx1O1Z%252F4Q%253D%253D%26SERVER%3DWZ6myaEXBLHj3ZzqSv9HPw%253D%253D%26ORIGIN%3D968708915%26RD%3DRD&amp;acw=e8f7-efc63f1b9519ef867b4c96eebdfa93343ae%7C%24%7C68A7329D7F388736756E86097A52AF03AD45D41050945EC5176BD469BA04F1A63467C02ED9AF4285A1FADDF061BE9B426BC7E57929CBF4D5A2F71CEDB4D14412A4C9417321A0889204A8173B0A7DBE4B9A9932F914FA387ECFA097A2401BD885D74FDB647D9EF376A6A03DE8872687497A6E5DCDB03A574D131E4B9E159EC187&amp;utt=d8f7-efc63f1b9519ef867b4c96eebdfa93343ae">Current Biology</a> explains why ants are so good at it. Scientists have long known that ants can walk backwards while carrying food that’s many times their body weight. They also knew that ants find their way to and from the nest by using visual knowledge and the position of the sun. 

What they didn’t realize is because of their amazing memories, ants can do all of this at once. 

While toting food and walking backwards, ants need only glance over their tiny shoulders to note the position of the sun and their direction of travel. After that, they can proceed all the way to the nest while facing in the opposite direction, having memorized the route. 

Why is it important for humans to understand ant behavior? Apart from general fascination, we observe ants because they help us build better robots. According to Professor Barbara Webb of <a href="http://www.ed.ac.uk/">Edinburgh University</a>, “Understanding [ants’] behavior gives us new insights into brain function, and has inspired us to build robot systems that mimic their functions.”

--

By Dawn Henderson, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Sources: <a href="https://www.unil.ch/central/en/home.html">University in Lausanne</a>,<a href="http://www.ed.ac.uk/"> Edinburgh University</a>

Studies show ants change jobs over their lifespan

It’s been an odd week for ant news. As we...

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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



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Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

[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



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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...