Across Kenya, grasslands serve as a crucial lifeline for both local communities and wildlife, from elephants and giraffes to hyenas. However, climate-driven drought is drying out these habitats, forcing animals and people to vie for diminishing resources - and fueling conflict.&nbsp;



Now, new research shows that restoring more grassland significantly reduces clashes and boosts safety for everyone.



“Grassland restoration is playing a role in reducing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/human-wildlife-overlap-is-rapidly-rising-across-the-globe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">human-wildlife conflicts</a>, social conflicts and the overall feeling of insecurity in Chyulu Hills, Kenya,” said study leader Camila Donatti, a scientist at Conservation International.&nbsp;



“Grasslands maintain 60% of the livestock produced in Kenya and support 70% of all the wildlife that is found outside protected areas, so people, livestock, and wildlife rely on those grasslands for their survival and live in close proximity. This means this system is ideal for studying the connections between grassland restoration and peace and security.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-droughts-escalate-competition-for-resources">Droughts escalate competition for resources</h2>



With the climate crisis intensifying, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/droughts-and-extreme-weather-events-are-escalating/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">droughts</a> have grown more severe, reducing vegetation and leaving less food for both livestock and wildlife.&nbsp;



In Chyulu Hills, researchers surveyed 1,567 households and found that 89% faced some form of conflict with wildlife, while 32% experienced social disputes with other residents. The area is predicted to suffer even more pronounced droughts in the next 30 years, further imperiling resources and livelihoods.



“Grasslands prevent soil erosion while supporting agriculture and livestock grazing, which sustain the livelihoods of pastoralists and farmers in Kenya,” explained Maureen Mwanzia, formerly with Conservation International Kenya and now a statistician at the World Health Organization.&nbsp;



“Additionally, they support rich biodiversity. Beyond their ecological functions, grasslands hold cultural significance and offer tourism and recreation opportunities, making their protection and restoration essential for both environmental and human well-being.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracking-conflicts-in-restored-grasslands-nbsp">Tracking conflicts in restored grasslands&nbsp;</h2>



Beginning in October 2021, 11,000 hectares of grassland in the Chyulu Hills were earmarked for rehabilitation. 



From September 2022 to October 2023, researchers interviewed local households near these restored sites to understand the scale of human-wildlife interactions, such as crop raids and livestock attacks. The team also wanted to document social tensions, like disagreements over land use.



“Of the total households interviewed, 23% had at least one member experiencing non-lethal attacks by wildlife,” Donatti said. “<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/human-elephant-conflict-will-escalate-with-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elephants</a>, giraffes, lions, spotted hyenas, and buffalos were the most likely species to be involved.”&nbsp;



Conflicts often spiked during the rainy season, when predators sometimes turn to livestock and herbivores stray into ripening fields.



However, the study revealed that households near larger restored grassland areas encountered fewer wildlife conflicts, though overall conflict levels stayed relatively flat across time. Researchers attribute this to the still-limited size of restored grasslands compared with animals’ broad ranges.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-restored-grassland-reduces-community-disputes">Restored grassland reduces community disputes</h2>



Besides curbing wildlife clashes, restored grassland appeared to lower social conflicts and a sense of insecurity within local populations. 



Over the study period, people’s perceptions of safety generally improved where more habitat restoration was underway - though women-led households reported more social conflict and uncertainty than male-led households.



“However, we only have 16 months of data,” Donatti cautioned. “Tracking conflicts should continue in the area to understand long-term patterns.”&nbsp;



“Additionally, the information we requested from household members relates to the conflicts and mitigation strategies we have previously identified; other conflicts and strategies may have been happening in the area.”



“Finally, household surveys do not properly capture retaliatory measures on wildlife. These should be assessed using a different methodology.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-potential-of-large-scale-grassland-restoration-nbsp">Potential of large-scale grassland restoration&nbsp;</h2>



Based on these findings, Mwanzia underscored the potential for large-scale grassland restoration to foster both ecological and social benefits.



“I would like to see the integration of grassland restoration into national and international environmental and development strategies, with dedicated funding and resources,” said Mwanzia.&nbsp;



“Policies should address human-wildlife and social conflicts while incorporating gender-sensitive approaches that consider the unique challenges faced by men and women in grassland areas.”



With <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/grasslands-are-racing-to-adapt-to-climate-shifts/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">droughts</a> intensifying and tensions escalating, the study highlights grassland restoration as a nature-based approach that can defuse conflicts, support livestock, and protect wildlife. 



As other regions face similar climate pressures, Kenya’s experience may offer a guide on how bolstering natural habitats can help sustain communities and preserve <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/changes-in-earths-biodiversity-can-be-tracked-from-space/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">biodiversity</a>.



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2024.1431316" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Frontiers in Environmental Science</a>.



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Restored grasslands bring more peace to Africa 

Across Kenya, grasslands serve as a crucial lifeline for both local communities and wildlife, from elephants and giraffes to hyenas. However, climate-driven drought is drying out these habitats, forcing animals and people to vie for diminishing resources - and fueling conflict.&nbsp; Now, new research shows that restoring more grassland significantly reduces clashes and boosts safety for everyone. “Grassland restoration is playing a role in reducing human-wildlife conflicts, social conflicts and the overall feeling of insecurity in Chyulu Hills, Kenya,” said study leader Camila Donatti, a scientist at...

Scientists from the <a href="https://le.ac.uk/">University of Leicester</a> are sharing a new theory on how small animals change their movement behavior based on environmental cues. The researchers are introducing a concept that links an animal’s movement pattern to both biological traits, such as mass and body shape, and to environmental properties.

The theory demonstrates how different movement patterns may occur as a natural balance of the animal's force and its behavioral response to environmental cues. These cues are often information about the location of food sources, predators, and mating partners.

The hypothesis is based on two assumptions. First, a foraging animal must continuously exert a certain amount of force to overcome the friction from the environment while in motion. Second, the animal must adjust its speed according to the signals received from its environment, such as a lurking predator, and exert additional force.

Sergei Petrovskii is the lead author of the study from the University of Leicester's Department of Mathematics. 

"For the last two decades, the patterns of animal movement have been an issue of high controversy and sometimes even a heated debate,” said Petrovskii. "The traditional view is that a foraging animal disperses in space in a slow, diffusive way, similar to how small inanimate 'Brownian' particles moves in physical systems. It has been challenged by growing evidence that under some conditions animals may perform a faster 'Levy walk', which is also thought to provide a more efficient search strategy.”

"However, how animals actually choose between the two patterns remained a mystery,” continued Petrovskii. “Our new theoretical study sheds a new light on this problem."

The newly introduced theory works best for small animals such as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/insect-lost-nature-reserves/">insects</a>, small fish, and small birds. The research, which is published in <a href="http://www.nature.com/scientificreports">Scientific Reports</a>, could help inform experts on the behavior of smaller animals in order to better protect them.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Environmental clues guide the movement of small animals

Scientists from the University of Leicester are sharing a new...

Do animals have feelings? Fish might, according to a group of researchers studying their emotional lives.

The team of scientists from Centro de Ciências do Mar at the <a href="https://www.ualg.pt/en">University of Algarve</a>, the <a href="http://www.igc.gulbenkian.pt/">Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciencia</a> and the <a href="http://www.fchampalimaud.org/">Champalimaud Foundation</a> in Portugal, along with the <a href="https://www.institutouniversitario.com.br/">Instituto Universitario</a> in Brazil, studied how fish react to their environments.

“Within vertebrates, the study of emotion in [ray-finned fish] is particularly interesting since they represent a divergent evolutionary radiation from that of tetrapods, and thus they provide an insight into the evolution of the biological mechanisms of emotion,” the researchers wrote in their study, published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-13173-x">Scientific Reports</a>.

The researchers trained sea bream, a type of fish, under either positive or negative conditions. Then, they put the fish in situations intended to evoke an emotional response.

While it’s impossible to measure actual emotions, the scientists monitored the behavioral, neurological, physical and genetic responses to the stimuli. They watched how the fish interacted with or attempted to escape each situation they were placed in, measured levels of the stress hormone cortisol, and assessed activity in areas of the brain believed to be connected to emotions.

They found several changes and reactions indicating that the bream have inner emotional lives. Different fish reacted to the environmental stimuli in different ways, and their hormone levels and brain activity indicated different motivations.

“This is the first time that is shown that fish can trigger physiologic and neuromolecular responses in the central nervous system in response to emotional stimuli based on the significance that that stimulus has for the fish,” Dr. Rui Oliveira, one of the study co-authors, said in a press release.

The scientists believe their results show that humans aren’t the only animals with complex emotional lives.

“Emotions have been described as internal brain states associated with expressive behaviors, which humans experience as feelings,” the researchers wrote. “Since animals cannot report the subjective experience of feelings the assessment of emotional states in animals has to rely on the occurrence of specific behaviors associated with internal central states.”

The sea bream study showed that animals have measurable physical and behavioral responses that indicate that they, too, have feelings, the researchers said.

—

By <a href="mailto:kcathey@earth.com">Kyla Cathey</a>, <a href="http://www.earth.com">Earth.com</a> staff writer

Image credit: Ines Bravo, <a href="http://www.igc.gulbenkian.pt/">Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciencia</a>

Researchers study the emotional lives of fish

Do animals have feelings? Fish might, according to a group...

Fans of the second Ace Ventura film will recall the endless jokes about bat poop, also known as guano. In real life, bat guano is actually an important source of fuel and fertilizer, and now scientists have found that it can also provide important clues about climate change.

Ice and sediment core samples can provide scientists with a detailed history of climate conditions dating back thousands and even millions of years. Researchers often rely on these core samples to better understand the effects of climate change, and see how the Earth fared years ago during drastic changes in weather. 

Now, a new study from the <a href="http://www.usf.edu/">University of South Florida</a> discovered that bat poop could also show how the climate in East-Central Europe has changed since 850 AD. 

The researchers examined isotopes in bat guano found in a cave in northwestern Romania dating back over 1,000 years. 

Scientists can determine climate conditions from core samples by looking at changes in chemical composition throughout the different layers. In this study, the researchers were able to determine climate changes by looking at nitrogen isotopes in a large pile of bat guano found in the cave. 

Because <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/saving-bats-whose-teeth-used-currency/">bats</a> return time and time again to the same location, similar to stalagmites grow due to precipitation dripping from the cave ceiling, and bat guano can pile up considerably over time. 

The South Florida study analyzed bat guano from a three-meter pile that has been accumulating for more than a thousand years. The researchers found an almost annual record of winter precipitation for the area in Romania within the cave samples going back 1,200 years. 

This is the first time a study has been able to provide a paleo-record of climate in East-Central Europe using bat guano found in a cave. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Bat poop actually provides valuable insights about climate change

Fans of the second Ace Ventura film will recall the...

Scientists have found that protected marine reserves can help oyster populations recover by use of larval “spillover” if the conditions are right. In one of the first studies of its kind, researchers demonstrated the marine population benefits of combining different habitat restoration strategies.

<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/oysters-quickly-close-shells/">Oysters</a> are not only key components of marine ecosystems, but are also important for coastal economies. For thousands of years, oysters have been a source of food that supports commercial fisheries around the world. 

Compared to past levels of oysters, there is now an 85 percent decline in oyster beds due to overfishing and habitat destruction. One way to restore oyster populations is by designating areas where fishing is not allowed.Fish that live in such marine protected areas (MPAs) often recover significantly in both size and abundance compared to areas where fishing is not restricted. MPAs may also boost fish populations through larval spillover, even though evidence of this is limited.

Marine ecologist Dr. David Eggleston has been coordinating with other scientists in an effort to restore oyster populations in Pamlico Sound, North Carolina, which is the second largest estuary in the country. The project has successfully restored oyster reefs in both reserves and harvested areas.

Dr. Eggleston and his team began this study over 20 years ago to determine whether habitat restoration and harvest protection are providing the intended benefits. In particular, they wanted to examine whether reserves are providing larval spillover to harvested areas.

The researchers compared oysters in the following three habitat types: natural reefs that are harvested, restored reefs that are harvested, and restored reefs that are protected from harvest. The findings confirmed the advantages of restored MAPs. The oysters were up to 72 times more abundant in these protected regions.

The evaluation also showed that potential larval output was around 6 times higher in the restored reefs, indicating that more larvae overflows from reserves to harvested reefs than the other way around. Therefore, reserves can contribute substantially to the larval supply of the overall oyster population.

"Marine reserves and habitat restoration offer clear demographic benefits to target oyster populations, particularly when used in concert," said Dr. Eggleston. "Our research shows that no-take reserves with restored habitat can have significant positive impacts on oyster population densities, size-structure and potential larval output. Restored reefs that are harvested can also show increased potential larval output."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/marine-science">Frontiers in Marine Science</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Marine reserves thrive more with habitat restoration strategies

Scientists have found that protected marine reserves can help oyster...

How great are dogs? It’s hard to find someone who doesn’t love them, or at least appreciate the role of the dog in our daily lives. There are so many reasons to enjoy their existence, and scientists may have just found a couple more.

Two studies presented at the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (ACAAI) Annual Scientific Meeting found that the presence of a dog in a child’s home may help protect them against eczema and asthma.

One study found that babies born in a home with a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dogs-expressive-looking/">dog</a> during pregnancy get the benefit of added protection from allergic eczema. “Although eczema is commonly found in infants, many people don’t know there is a progression from eczema to food allergies to nasal allergies and asthma,” says Dr. Gagandeep Cheema, an allergist and lead author of the study. “We wanted to know if there was a protective effect in having a dog that slowed down that progress.”

Through examining mother-child pairs that were exposed to a dog before birth, the researchers found that this exposure is associated with a lower risk of eczema by the time the child is 2-years-old. However, this protective effect goes down at the age of 10.

For the second study, researchers analyzed the effects of two separate types of dog exposure to children with asthma in Baltimore, MD. The first type was a protein, or allergen, that affects children who are allergic to dogs. The second type were elements that the dog might carry, such as bacteria. Ultimately, the results showed that exposure to elements that a dog may carry could have protective effects against asthma symptoms for the child. However, exposure to the allergen protein may increase asthma symptoms among urban children with a dog allergy.

“Among urban children with asthma who were allergic to dogs, spending time with a dog might be associated with two different effects,” says Dr. Po-Yang Tsou, the lead author of the study. “There seems to be a protective effect on asthma of non-allergen dog-associated exposures, and a harmful effect of allergen exposure.”

Both of these studies show that there seem to be even more benefits to living with dogs than we even imagined – it almost seems too good to be true.

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Dogs may protect kids from eczema and asthma

How great are dogs? It’s hard to find someone who...

It has become increasingly popular for people to keep exotic pets such as reptiles and amphibians. But this can pose many problems for ill-equipped owners who don’t know how to care for them properly.

There are also health and safety concerns regarding the trade of exotic animals, which has led some to argue for increased restrictions for pet reptiles and amphibians. 

Veterinary Record has published a collection of articles reviewing the arguments both for and against keeping these kinds of pets. 

One article written by a team of researchers from <a href="https://www.ugent.be/en">Ghent University</a> argues that reptiles and amphibians are no more cause for concern than any other pet. The researchers note that it’s the responsibility of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/easiest-pets-care/">pet owner</a> to research and make sure they have everything they need to properly care of their animal. 

The team also discusses diseases that can be transmitted to humans and the issues with the illegal trade in wild animals, but with proper care and the right information, there is no problem with keeping lizards and frogs in your home.

They also suggest possible measures that will minimize any risks to the health and wellbeing of both the pet and its owner, including introducing minimal care requirements and improving access to specialist veterinarians. 

Gordon Burghardt from the<a href="https://www.utk.edu/"> University of Tennessee </a>agrees with these general principles and also feels that keeping amphibians and reptiles as pets isn’t a major problem. 

Amphibians and reptiles “are compatible with modern lifestyles,” said Burghardt. 

However, there are those who feel that certain reptiles and amphibians should not be kept as pets. 

75 percent of reptiles die during their first year in the home according to Clifford Warwick, a consultant biologist and medical scientist from the United Kingdom. 

Warwick and colleagues also argue that the five aspects of animal welfare under human control, something set in motion by the Farm Animal Welfare Council in 1979, are impossible to meet for reptiles and amphibians 

“There is growing concern about the welfare of reptiles. Earlier this month the RSPCA [Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals] published research showing they are often neglected, and not because their owners don't care about them, but because they are unsure about how to care for them,” said Adele Waters, editor of Veterinary Record. 

Ultimately, it appears to come down to adequate preparation for keeping the animals.

“Research conducted for the charity found a lot of online advice is contradictory, inconsistent and variable in quality and this does not encourage responsible reptile ownership. It is important for reptile owners to get information from a reliable, credible source - their local vet,” said Waters. 

--

By<a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com"> Kay Vandette</a>,<a href="https://www.earth.com/"> Earth.com </a>Staff Writer

New concerns over keeping exotic reptiles and amphibians as pets

It has become increasingly popular for people to keep exotic...

SONY DSC

Climate change could potentially cause some species who depend on bamboo, like giant pandas and lemurs, to starve to death. 

Researchers from the <a href="https://www.helsinki.fi/en">University of Helsinki </a>in Finland, <a href="http://www.stonybrook.edu/">Stony Brook University</a> in New York, and<a href="https://www.monash.edu/"> Monash University</a> in Australia conducted a study that monitored the specialized eating habits of greater bamboo lemurs in Madagascar. 

The greater bamboo lemur is already one of the of the most endangered species on Earth. As their name suggests, these lemurs exclusively eat bamboo, specifically the soft and nutrient-rich bamboo shoots. 

During Madagascar's dry season, which lasts from August to November, the lemurs use their teeth to eat the woody parts of the bamboo tree known as culm. 

The greater bamboo lemur and the giant panda are the only two mammals who can eat the woody culm thanks to a set of highly specialized teeth. 

The lemurs can survive on culm during the dry season, but climate change may force the lemurs to rely on culm for longer and longer periods, slowly starving the species out. 

“For extreme feeding specialists like the greater bamboo lemur, climate change can be a stealthy killer. Making the lemurs rely on a suboptimal part of their food for just a bit longer may be enough to tip the balance from existence to extinction,” said Patricia Wright from Stony Brook University, one of the study’s authors.

The researchers observed greater bamboo lemurs in the Ranomafana National Park in Madagascar for 18 months, monitoring the lemur’s feeding habits. 

The team reported over 2,000 feeding observations which showed that the lemurs spent the majority of their feeding time (95%) eating a single species of woody bamboo. The lemurs only ate the woody bark of that species when they needed to during the dry season. 

Interestingly, analyzing fossils of the greater bamboo lemur found in Madagascar revealed that the lemurs were distributed throughout the island in a broader range.

Now, the lemurs live on the parts of the island where the dry season is shortest, and their distribution throughout Madagascar has decreased. 

<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-costing-billions/">Climate change</a> will likely cause longer dry seasons where the greater bamboo lemurs live, forcing them to eat culm for extended periods. The lemurs could starve as a result. 

The researchers compare the plight of the greater bamboo lemur to that of giant pandas who have similar eating habits. 

The team hopes their efforts show the vital importance of understanding exactly how climate change may cause extinction, and is working to preserve the remaining members of the species affected. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Jukka Jernvall

Bamboo lemurs may starve to death due to climate change

Climate change could potentially cause some species who depend on...

Spending on conservation has been inconsistent throughout the world partly because there hasn’t been enough evidence to show that the money had much of an impact. 

But now, a new study conducted by an international team of researchers and published in the journal Nature, has found that government spending on conservation has reduced biodiversity loss over the years. 

“Governments and donors have been unwilling to come up with the budgets needed, often because there was little evidence that the money spent does any good,” said Dr. Anthony Waldron, lead author of the study. 

It is the first study of its kind to prove the success of conservation spending.

For example, the researchers found that during a ten year period from 1992 to 2003, 14.4 billion international dollars spent on conservation efforts decreased rates of decline in biodiversity.

In 109 countries the researchers discovered an average 29 percent reduction in biodiversity loss from 1996 to 2008. 

The researchers used a vast dataset which included global conservation spending and biodiversity declines over the years. The research team then created an algorithm that calculated biodiversity loss in each country compared to its respective budget for conservation. 

<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/deep-sea-mining-loss-biodiversity/">Biodiversity loss</a> depends on human economic growth and conservation spending, and the more economic growth there in a country, the higher the risk of biodiversity loss. 

The results prove that conservation spending works, but the researcher's algorithm can be further used to calculate financial spending on conservation based on rates of economic growth. 

“The findings are a rallying cry to environmentalists and policymakers,” said Dr. Joseph Tobias, one of the researchers on the project. “The main message is that conservation is working, but that we need to boost investment to meet international policy targets. In addition, the results show how conservation funding may need to change over time, and be tailored more specifically to the context of each country.”

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandett@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Conservation spending works but more could be done

Spending on conservation has been inconsistent throughout the world partly...

Oysters have extremely sensitive hearing and close their shells as a protective response to noise pollution. According to a new study, oysters quickly close up when they detect frequencies as low as 10 to 1,000 hertz. 

The study was conducted by researchers from the <a href="https://www.u-bordeaux.com/">University of Bordeaux</a>, France, and was published in the open-access journal, <a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0185353">PLOS ONE.</a>

Noise pollution from boats, wind turbines, seismic research and even explosions pose many problems for marine life, but the researchers wanted to focus on invertebrates. 

“Noise pollution in the oceans is a growing problem, and we have all heard about its impact on whales. But the oceans are full of different animal types. What are their sound perception capacities,” said Jean-Charles Massabuau who led the research. 

Until recently, little was known about the effects of marine noise pollution on invertebrates like oysters. The researchers wondered if <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/native-oysters-may-thrive-in-climate-change/">oysters</a> “hear” or respond to different sounds, and if anthropogenic noise blocks other sounds in the ocean that the oysters are in-tune to. 

For the study, the researchers examined the effects of noise pollution on 32 oysters in a laboratory setting. 

Oysters rapidly close their shells as a defense mechanism and are extremely sensitive to lower frequencies. 

Massabaue played sounds underwater in a range of frequencies, and the researchers recorded how the oysters responded including how many of the oysters closed their shells and how quickly they closed them.

The oysters in the lab closed their shells at sound frequencies between 10 and 1,000 hertz, and the oysters showed maximum sensitivity between 10 and 200 hertz. 

The fact that their sensitivity is higher for lower frequencies means that the oysters are responsive to breaking waves and currents. 

Cargo boats in shipping lanes also operate with low frequencies, but small recreational boats and jet skis produce sounds too high for an oyster to respond to. 

The research is important in that it examines the impacts of noise pollution on less commonly studied marine wildlife, showing their incredible sensitivity to lower frequencies and how higher sound frequencies pose a threat to some smaller invertebrates.

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Why oysters quickly close their shells

Oysters have extremely sensitive hearing and close their shells as...

Can a skull actually shrink? A new study from the <a href="https://www.mpg.de/institutes">Max Planck Institute</a> provides surprising evidence that it can. A team of researchers found that skulls of red-toothed shrews shrink by as much as 20 percent in anticipation of winter, and then grow back to a larger size by spring.

"We found that each shrew undergoes a dramatic decrease in braincase size from summer to winter," said co-author Javier Lazaro. "Then, in spring, the braincase regrows, almost reaching the original size in the second summer."

Previous studies had indicated that the heads of these shrews shrink. The current analysis demonstrated that the height of the skulls declined by 20 percent and then increased again by 15 percent. Based on the first person to observe this incredible transformation, it is referred to as the Dehnel phenomenon. 

Lazaro’s team became the first to fully document the shrinking skulls by following shrews over three seasons. The researchers used live traps to capture shrews from the summer of 2014 into the fall of 2015. When a shrew was caught, the experts X-rayed its skull and planted a microchip under its skin for later identification.

The X-ray images confirmed that the shrews' heads shrunk over the course of the season. Twelve shrews were documented at at all three stages. They all displayed the same pattern which consisted of a peak head size in summer, a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-cold-winter/">winter</a> decline, and regrowth in the spring.

The decrease in size was actually found to take place beyond the skull and affected the shrews' entire body. In the winter months, several major organs lost mass, the spine became shorter, and the brain mass decreased by as much as 30 percent.

The experts speculated that the decline in size helps the shrews survive in times when food is scarce. Shrews have high metabolisms and do not hibernate.

“Reducing head size--and thus brain size--might save energy disproportionally as the brain is energetically so expensive," said Lazaro.

While the process is not yet fully understood, there is some indication that the skull shrinks as tissue within cranial sutures is resorbed. When spring is approaching, the bone tissue regenerates.

The study, which is published in <a href="http://www.cell.com/current-biology/home">Current Biology</a>, will continue as the team plans to analyze structural change in the brain as the shrews' heads shrink. The researchers would also like to examine the impact of this process on the shrews’ cognitive abilities.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Karol Zub

Red-toothed shrews have heads that shrink and expand with weather

Can a skull actually shrink? A new study from the...

Humans may walk around the planet like we own the joint, but we certainly aren’t the biggest animals in size. Here’s a list of 10 of the largest animals on Earth.

The BLUE WHALE is the largest mammal and the largest living animal on earth. Technically, too large to be weighed on any scale, the blue whale has been measured in sections, averaging 110 tons in weight and 79 feet (24 meters) in length. The largest blue whale on record was 190 tons.

The COLOSSAL SQUID is the largest known invertebrate. Cephalopods (or “inkfish” as fishermen commonly refer to them)– like the squid, the octopus, and the nautilus–are considered the most intelligent of invertebrates. The colossal squid can be as long as 45 feet (14 meters) and weigh as much as 1,650 lbs (750 kg).

The AFRICAN BUSH ELEPHANT is the largest and heaviest land mammal on earth. The title once belonged to the “African Elephant,” but the African bush elephant was recently classified separately from what has been distinguished as the smaller ‘African forest elephant.’ African bush elephants can be up to 13 feet (3.96 meters) tall at the shoulder, 19.7 feet (6 meters) in length, and average 4.9 tons in weight. The heaviest male on record was 12.3 tons.    

The GIRAFFE is the tallest living land animal. They average 14.1 - 18.7 feet (4.3 - 5.7 meters) in height, with the tallest recorded male coming in at 19.3 feet. Adult males typically weigh up to 2,628 lbs (1,192 kg) and females average 1,825 lbs (828 kg). <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/giraffes-long-necks/">Giraffes</a> are the largest ruminants (which include cattle, goats, antelopes, deer) but they belong to an otherwise prehistoric genus, Giraffa. All seven of the other species belonging to the genus have long gone extinct. 

The heaviest living bird is the COMMON OSTRICH. They average 230 lbs (104 kg) in weight and 6.9 feet (2.1 meters) in height. Native to Africa, these flightless birds live in nomadic groups of 5 to 50 birds. While they are known to hide from danger by lying close to the ground, their legs are powerful weapons of defense.

The WANDERING ALBATROSS is known to have the longest wingspan of any living bird. Their wingspan averages 10 feet 2 inches (3.1 meters) with the longest on record measuring 12 feet 2 inches (3.7 meters). Their incredible wingspans allow them to glide for long distances without flapping their wings, so these birds spend most of their lives in flight, generally landing only to feed and breed.

The SALTWATER CROCODILE is the heaviest of the living reptiles.  The saltwater crocodile’s average weight is 990 lbs (450 kg) and their average length is 14.8 feet (4.5 meters). The largest on record was 4,400 lbs (2,000 kg) and 23 feet (7 meters) long. The “saltie” is a hypercarnivorous apex predator, able to take down almost any other animal–including other apex predators. One of the most dangerous animals on earth, the saltwater crocodile prevails by ambushing its prey, drowning it, and then swallowing it whole. 

The KOMODO DRAGON is the largest lizard on earth. With a maximum length of 10 feet (3 meters) and weighing up to 150 lbs (70 kg), these gigantic lizards dominate their ecosystems with serrated teeth and a venomous bite. Some of them get so big that their diet primarily consists of deer. They’ve also been known to attack humans.

The CHINESE GIANT SALAMANDER is the world’s largest amphibian. At one time, they were known to grow as long as 5.9 feet (180 cm) in length, but now their average length is 3.77 feet (115 cm) and their average weight is 60 lbs (27 kg). The Chinese giant salamander is currently critically endangered due to habitat loss and the fact that it is considered a delicacy in China and often used for Chinese medicine.  

The CAPYBARA is the largest living rodent on earth. Native to South America, the capybara is closely related to the guinea pig and is known to travel in groups with as many as 100. They average 4 feet (about 120 centimeters) in length, stand at almost 2 feet (about 56 centimeters) tall at the withers (ridge between shoulder blades), and weight anywhere from 77 to 146 lbs (35 to 66 kg).   

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By <a href="mailto:rarnold@earth.com">Darryl Joseph</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

10 of the largest animals on Earth

Humans may walk around the planet like we own the...

Birds may care for the offspring of other birds when they are hoping for future rewards. By delaying their own reproduction, birds enjoy benefits such as being tolerated in another bird's territory and the chance to inherit territory later.

Around ten percent of the world's bird species around the world contain individuals that postpone their own chance of reproduction to help birds of the same species care for their offspring. This behavior has also been seen in certain mammals, fish, and insects.

Because all animals are thought to share a selfish need to pass along their own genes, researchers find it perplexing that some animals sacrifice their own desires for others. One idea is that the birds are helping out their family members, which is an indirect way of spreading their genes.

But evolutionary biologist Sjouke Kingma from the <a href="http://www.rug.nl/?lang=en">University of Groningen</a> does not entirely agree with this theory. He developed a study to demonstrate that these individuals are also trying to improve their own future prospects. 

Kingma compared 44 species of birds, some of which helped other <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/birds-friends-longer-lives/">birds</a> while denying themselves their own offspring. While some birds were found to only help family members, his research showed that others were more willing to help non-family members when they anticipated that doing so would lead to territory inheritance.

“Birds see their territory in the same way as we see our house,” said Kingma. “Some species of ‘homeowners’ allow other birds to live in their territory and help them to care for their offspring. This may seem logical if the birds living in the same territory and helping each other are related. But this isn't always the case.”

“My research reveals that the homeowners get much more help if the helpers stand to inherit their territory in the future,” he continued. “After all, you'd be much more inclined to help someone maintain their home if you thought you'd inherit it one day. This is precisely what a lot of birds do: they help the current owner so that the territory will be worth more when they inherit it.'

Kingma’s research is published in the journal <a href="http://www.nature.com/ncomms/">Nature Communications</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Sjouke Anne Kingma

Birds don’t mind babysitting, as long as they get paid

Birds may care for the offspring of other birds when...

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

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