Plastic pollution has long been a concern in oceans, rivers, and soil, but a new study reveals its presence in an unexpected place - the lungs of birds.



Tiny plastic particles drifting through the air are making their way into the respiratory systems of birds, raising concerns about how deeply plastic contamination has infiltrated ecosystems.



The study, conducted by researchers at the <a href="https://www.uta.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Texas</a> at Arlington, highlights how widespread <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ocean-plastics-linked-to-disability-risks-for-coastal-residents/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">microplastics</a> have become in the environment. 



Scientists have been increasingly worried about the impact of these pollutants, not just on wildlife but also on human health.



The air people breathe and the food they consume may contain more plastic than previously thought.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-birds-as-living-environmental-sensors">Birds as living environmental sensors</h2>



Shane DuBay, an assistant professor of biology at UTA and co-author of the study, explained why birds were chosen for the research. 



"Birds serve as important indicators of environmental conditions," said Professor DuBay. "They help us understand the state of the environment and make informed decisions about conservation and pollution control."



Birds live everywhere, from busy cities to quiet forests, so they are useful for studying pollution. Since they travel long distances, scientists can see how pollution spreads across different areas.



Birds share many spaces with humans, which means that their exposure to airborne <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plastic-treaty-is-a-historic-opportunity-to-stop-a-human-health-crisis/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">microplastics</a> may indicate similar risks for people.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-plastic-contamination-in-bird-lungs">Plastic contamination in bird lungs</h2>



To understand the extent of plastic contamination in bird lungs, the researchers examined 56 wild birds from 51 different species.



All specimens came from the Chengdu Tianfu International Airport in western China. The location provided a controlled setting where birds from various backgrounds interacted with human-made environments.



Scientists extracted lung samples and performed chemical tests to detect microplastics and even smaller nanoplastics. One method, laser direct infrared technology, helped count microplastic particles lodged in the lung tissue. 



Another method, pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, identified nanoplastics that could enter the bloodstream through inhalation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shocking-levels-of-plastic-detected">Shocking levels of plastic detected</h2>



The results of the study were alarming. Scientists found large amounts of tiny <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plastic-pollution-is-changing-the-entire-earth-system/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plastic particles</a>, known as microplastics, inside the lungs of birds.



On average, each bird species had about 221 plastic particles in their lungs. When measured by weight, the researchers found 416 plastic particles per gram of lung tissue. The most common types of plastic were chlorinated polyethylene, used for coating wires and pipes, and butadiene rubber, which is found in car tires.



This means plastic is not just polluting water and soil - it is also floating in the air. If birds are breathing in these tiny plastic pieces, it raises concerns about what might be happening to humans.



People live in the same environments as birds, especially in cities. If birds are inhaling plastic, humans likely are too - without even knowing it.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-risks-of-airborne-plastic-in-birds">Risks of airborne plastic in birds</h2>



There is no set rule for how much <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-interlinked-crisis-of-plastic-pollution-and-global-warming/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plastic</a> in the lungs is considered safe. However, past research has shown that breathing in tiny plastic particles may cause serious health problems.



Scientists think inhaling plastic could lead to lung diseases, heart problems, and even cancer. Persistent exposure to plastic might also affect fertility and weaken the immune system.



Once plastic gets inside the body, it can build up in tissues, possibly causing long-term damage or inflammation. Some plastics also contain harmful chemicals that could interfere with how the body works.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-growing-plastic-crisis">Growing plastic crisis</h2>



Professor DuBay emphasized the urgent need to combat plastic pollution before it causes irreversible damage.



"Our research highlights an urgent need to address plastic pollution in our environments, as these contaminants can have far-reaching impacts on ecosystem health, as well as human health," he said.



The study makes one thing clear - plastic waste isn’t just piling up in landfills or floating in the ocean. It’s in the air, drifting unseen, finding its way into the lungs of both birds and humans. Cutting back on plastic pollution is no longer just an environmental goal - it’s an urgent necessity.



Scientists need more research, more funding, more answers. How much plastic is truly in the air? What long-term damage does it cause? Until these questions are answered, the best step forward is simple: stop the spread before it gets worse.



The study is published in the <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0304389425001864?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of Hazardous Materials</a>.



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Birds are breathing in plastic - what does that mean for us?

Plastic pollution has long been a concern in oceans, rivers, and soil, but a new study reveals its presence in an unexpected place - the lungs of birds. Tiny plastic particles drifting through the air are making their way into the respiratory systems of birds, raising concerns about how deeply plastic contamination has infiltrated ecosystems. The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Texas at Arlington, highlights how widespread microplastics have become in the environment. Scientists have been increasingly worried about the impact of these pollutants,...

A fossilized dinosaur brain from 133 million years ago was found in Sussex, England. 

Fossil records rarely preserve soft tissue such as brains and hearts. In the past, nearly all study of dinosaur soft tissue has been reconstructed from fossil bones. This recent discovery is thought to be the first time a genuine fossilized brain has been identified.

The approximately 133-million-year-old brain is said to have belonged to a close relative of the Iguanodon, a spike-headed herbivorous dinosaur. 

This small fossil was originally discovered in 2004 on the beach at Bexhill-On-Sea in East Sussex, UK and was missing a skeleton to help identify it. Only recently was a team of researchers, including Dr. David Norman of the University of Cambridge and the late Dr. Martin Brasier of the University of Oxford, able to determine it was a fossilized dinosaur brain. 

To assist in visualizing very small features of the brain, Professor Brasier partnered with researchers from the University of Western Australia, who helped create high-resolution images of parts of the brain, revealing the outer layers and capillary remnants within the cortex. The brain structure, in particular that of the outer layers, shows remarkable similarity to modern birds and crocodilians, and likely functioned in fairly similar ways.

Dr. Norman said, "Brain tissues are incredibly fragile and it is quite incredible that the animal died in circumstances that uniquely led to their preservation – through a process of 'pickling' and then mineral replacement . . . . What we think happened is that this particular dinosaur died in or near a body of stagnant water, and its head ended up partially buried in the sediment at the bottom. Since the water had so little oxygen and was so acidic, the soft tissues of the brain were likely preserved and cast before the rest of its body was buried in the sediment."

Such fortuitous circumstances are extremely rare in fossilization – this discovery can provide a unique window into the brain of this ancient dinosaur.

—

The research team presented their findings at the latest meeting of <a href="http://vertpaleo.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Society of Vertebrate Paleontology</a> which was founded in 1940 and works tirelessly to “advance the science of vertebrate paleontology throughout the world.”

<a href="https://ukfossils.co.uk/2012/01/24/bexhill/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bexhill-On-Sea</a> is a favorite spot for fossil hunters after turn-of-the-century storms exposed dinosaur trackways.

Fossilized dinosaur brain from 133 million years ago found in UK

A fossilized dinosaur brain from 133 million years ago was...

Sad report on Washington State orcas: scientists reveal drastic measures must be taken in order to avoid further depletion of the regional killer whales.

The orca is a magnificent creature also known as the killer whale. They are skilled hunters able to overpower large marine animals, but they are not known for violence towards humans. To aid them in their hunt, they grow huge teeth of up to 4 inches in length. Orcas are characterized by their long dorsal fin and black &amp; white coloring, and are considered to be the largest of the dolphin family – full grown whales can weigh up to six tons, with a length of 32 feet.

Terrible news for the orca population of Washington waters emerged yesterday, with three whales presumed missing or dead since this summer.

Following these deaths, the number of Washington State orcas has dropped to 80, the lowest frequenting these waters in decades, the Center for Whale Research reported yesterday. These impressive creatures face constant threats from pollution, human interference, and lack of nourishment, having been listed as endangered in 2005.

Experts say the orcas are being affected by a decline in the availability of suitable nutrition, which is hitting mothers and newborns hard.

Ken Balcomb, principal investigator at the Center, called for dams on the Lower Snake River to be breached, which would release more salmon into the habitat. These whales have a strong preference for chinook salmon, which are depleted in the area.

"We know what we need to do: feed them," Balcomb said.

However, there is opposition to the removal of the dams, with criticism coming from the local community who point out the hydroelectric power created by the dams powers the regional economy.

Jim Waddell, retired engineer with the group DamSense, added, "There's no reason these dams couldn't be breached."

This issue has been the focus in a long-running lawsuit that had its latest ruling in Portland this past May, when U.S. District Judge Michael H. Simon rejected the government's latest plan for offsetting the damage that dams in the Columbia River Basin pose to salmon. Judge Simon ordered them to come up with a new plan by March 2018.

Let’s hope they reach a solution before more orcas in the region perish.

—

<a href="http://www.whaleresearch.com/about-us" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Center for Whale Research</a> is dedicated to the study and conservation of the Southern resident killer whale (orca) population in the Pacific Northwest. It’s a non-profit organization which has been running for forty years.

Sad report on Washington State orcas

Sad report on Washington State orcas: scientists reveal drastic measures...

Paleolithic decorating tips have been revealed in a new study from Catalan researchers.

Cave lion pelts were used by ancient peoples as a trendy, multipurpose decorative tool.

Humans alive during the Paleolithic area certainly had bigger problems to worry about than interior decor. However, archaeologists studying caves in present-day Spain recently made a unique fossil discovery that sheds light on ancient cave living. 

[caption id="attachment_95672" align="alignleft" width="150"]<img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-95672" src="http://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/pelts-150x150.jpg" alt="Paleolithic decorating tips have been revealed by a new study from Catalan researchers." width="150" height="150" /> Paleolithic decorating tips[/caption]

Prehistoric humans would perform sacred rituals deep in these caves. The La Garma cave has shed light on what life could have been like 16,000 years ago. Archeologist Edgard Ceramos from the Catalan Institute of Human Paleoecology and Social Evolution and his team have spent several years investigating the cave for fossils, generally finding bones from horses and goats.

Recently, the team discovered nine fossilized claw bones from an extinct cave lion. The Eurasian cave lion was larger than an African lion and went without a mane. Dr. Ceramos explained that since the only lion remains found were claws, they can presume that they were brought in attached to the lion’s skin. Each claw also had a similar marking that appeared to have been made by human tools.

Ancient people are thought to have hunted the Eurasian lion until it went extinct roughly 2,000 years later. They would skin the lion to make pelts for a variety of purposes: protection, warmth, shelter.

Over time the pelts decomposed, leaving only the claws. While there is still much mystery surrounding the nature of the Paleolithic decorating tips' ancient rituals, we know one thing for sure: our ancestors loved to adorn their homes with luxurious animal skins.

—

Read the full journal over at <a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0163591" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PLOS ONE</a>.

Paleolithic decorating tips revealed

Paleolithic decorating tips have been revealed in a new study...

San Francisco Bay waters have been found to contain a harmful freshwater algae toxin, a new study shows.

Harmful toxins from freshwater algal blooms are causing worldwide issues in rivers and lakes, and have also contaminated coastal waters.

High levels of this freshwater algae toxin produced by  have been found in the San Francisco Bay. Although harvested shellfish from California's coastal waters is closely monitored for toxins, there is no routine testing for this toxin, known as microcystin.

The pollutant, which can cause liver damage, is produced by a type of blue-green algae that thrives in warm, nutrient-rich water and is present in many Californian lakes and rivers – including rivers flowing into the San Francisco Bay Delta.

Dr. Raphael Kudela, the Lynn Professor of Ocean Health at U.C. Santa Cruz, led his team to test for microcystin in shellfish after detecting the toxin in San Francisco Bay water samples. The researchers tested mussels sourced from five Bay sites, conducting experiments on mussels and oysters to determine both how quickly the shellfish absorb the toxin and how long it takes to clear from their tissues.

"We found that this freshwater toxin accumulates in shellfish, both mussels and oysters, and that in San Francisco Bay, the toxin levels in some mussels exceed the recommended guidelines for consumption by quite a bit," Kudela said.

First author Dr. Corinne Gibble, environmental scientist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, said the findings show tests for microcystin should be added to existing shellfish monitoring programs.

"There is monitoring of shellfish for marine-derived toxins, but because this is a freshwater toxin, no one has been looking for it. Now it seems microcystin is something we should be monitoring as well," Dr. Gibble said.

Between May and October there is a state quarantine in place on harvesting mussels for human consumption. The research team has been working closely with state agencies to continually monitor this problem.

"The agencies have been very responsive," Dr. Kudela commended. "There is potential for this toxin to affect humans, but most of our samples are still below the recommended limits for human consumption, so people shouldn't panic and think they can't eat shellfish."

The most pressing concern is the effect this toxin could have on mammals such sea otters, whose diet consists of shellfish. In 2010, Dr. Kudela reported that microcystin poisoning had killed several sea otters in Monterey Bay.

"This really highlights the connectivity between what people do on land and what happens in the ocean," he said. "A lot of shellfish farms are downstream from freshwater sources, so we want to raise awareness of this issue."

Microcystin is becoming a bigger problem around the world due to warming temperatures and nutrient pollution. In the Bay Area, the presence of this toxin caused closures of public swimming areas.

Dr. Kudela suspects the freshwater algae toxin polluting the San Francisco Bay originate from several sources, citing rivers, among others. He believe the California drought has accelerated the problem.

"The rains help by flushing things out. Warm, dry conditions favor these blooms, so we've been seeing more of them lately than we would without the drought," Dr. Kudela said.

—

Read more over at <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1568988316301639" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Harmful Algae</a> journal.

Freshwater algae toxin found in San Francisco Bay

San Francisco Bay waters have been found to contain a...

The great reed warbler and his epic annual journey sheds light on birds’ migrational pathway.

Biologists tracked a songbird on its 10,000-kilometer migration from the Middle East to sub-Saharan Africa using lightweight geolocation technology. The study identified key regions of importance for the species which can help with conservation efforts.

Joshua Horns, graduate student and the study’s first author, said, "Identifying areas important to a species is a critical component of conservation. For migratory birds, like the Great Reed Warbler, this information can be difficult to obtain since the birds rely on multiple areas that can be separated by vast distances."

[caption id="attachment_95529" align="alignleft" width="150"]<img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-95529" src="http://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Great-Reed-Warbler-3-150x150.jpg" alt="The Great Reed Warbler and his epic annual journey, sheds light on birds migrational pathway." width="150" height="150" /> The Great Reed Warbler and his epic annual journey, sheds light on birds migrational pathway.[/caption]

The Great Reed Warbler and his epic annual journey

The team at the University of Utah, along with Turkish collaborators from Kafkas University, KuzeyDoga Society, and the Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs, set out to follow a population of great reed warblers from their breeding grounds in eastern Turkey all the way to sub-Saharan Africa, where the birds winter.

Great reed warblers rely almost entirely on wetlands for food and habitat. 2/3 of these wetland species face extinction. Although this species are not endangered, monitoring their patterns can help us understand more rare species.

As these birds are small, standard GPS units are too ungainly for these studies. The development of geolocators has allowed lightweight tracking units to be produced, which are perfect for the birds. These devices use sunlight rather than satellites to log the birds’ movement. Scientists can use the sunrise as a longitude marker and the day’s length to deduce latitude.

In early 2013, the research team attached 30 geolocators to great reed warblers in eastern Turkey. All the birds had to be recaptured so the team could access the information, which has proven to be a mammoth task every Spring. So far, they have successfully recovered 5 devices, providing insight about the birds and their journey.

The study revealed that
<ul>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">During the fall, the birds flew roughly 3,600 kilometers, from Turkey into South Sudan, crossing the Middle East, Arabia and Sahara deserts. </li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Some birds spent four months in central African wetlands before relocating 2,100 kilometers southeast to the Indian Ocean coast.</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">In April, the birds began migrating back to Turkey, travelling 5,500 kilometers over the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. </li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">All in all, the warblers travelled 11,000 kilometers annually – which is roughly the distance from Alaska to Chile.</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">This is the second-longest recorded migration for great reed warblers ever recorded.</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">All five birds crossed from Africa to the Middle East at the Bab-al-Mandeb Strait.</li>
</ul>
The Bab-al-Mandeb Strait is a narrow channel of water connecting the Indian Ocean to the Red Sea. By crossing here, the birds benefited by reducing the amount of time they spent over open water. The great reed warblers are intelligent enough to know where to land if things go wrong – but there are drawbacks. These birds enter a "migratory bottleneck." Horns added, "These bottlenecks create great potential for population declines if something should happen that makes it difficult for migrants to move through."

The authors of the paper wanted to raise awareness of how little protection many areas on this migratory route receive.

The potential threat was made even clearer when the team looked at how well protected the great reed warblers were along their routes. The researchers looked at which Important Bird Areas (IBA) the birds were using, including the Aras River wetlands, where these birds breed. This is eastern Turkey's richest wetland, supporting 264 bird species – but the threat of destruction by the planned <a href="http://www.savearas.org/" target="_blank">Tuzluca Dam</a> looms.

Horns says, "If habitat in this region is allowed to deteriorate, great reed warblers as well as all other birds migrating through the Strait could be in serious danger." 

—

Read the full study <a href="http://unews.utah.edu/a-songbirds-travelogue/" target="_blank">here</a>.

The great reed warbler and his epic journey

The great reed warbler and his epic annual journey sheds...

Are you ready to eat edible bugs? The future of fine-dining may center around insect-based cuisine.

Eating bugs sounds like a rock-bottom financial scenario or maybe a nostalgic scene from The Lion King – but, believe it or not, both the scientific and the gastronomic worlds are abuzz about the future of dining. 

According to a recent report in the American Chemical Society’s Journal of Agricultural Food and Chemistry, iron levels in grasshoppers and crickets are similar to beef’s. Experts are convinced that bugs are a nutritious and sustainable meat alternative. 

Different insect species have varied nutritional benefits. Crickets have far more iron than any other common edible bugs. Grasshoppers and mealworms are rich in calcium, copper, and zinc. Furthermore, when scientists factored in the human digestion process, they found that minerals from these bugs were actually more readily available for digestion than the minerals found in beef.

It’s still a hard sell to get most eaters in Western cultures on board the bug fine-dining train, but over 1,900 insect species are documented as a food source in other parts of the world. 

Bugs are not only a source of protein – they are also rich in iron. Iron deficiency is often the largest problem encountered when following a meatless diet, so, in theory, bugs could be a feasible alternative to higher animals.

Bugs got their name because they were widely assumed to be nothing more than a collective nuisance to humans. As it turns out, they may be more useful than anyone has ever thought.

—

Learn more <a href="http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.jafc.6b03286" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

Are you ready to eat edible bugs?

Are you ready to eat edible bugs? The future of...

Worm metabolism is dictated by gestation conditions, according to a new study.

The study has shed new light on the theory that worm metabolism can be predetermined before birth. Published today in the PLOS Genetics journal, the study focused on the extensively studied nematode worms known as C. elegans. 

The findings indicate worms who were underfed for the first week of their life were better equipped and experienced fewer long-term adverse effects if their mothers had been underfed during pregnancy.

A team led by Dr. L. Ryan Baugh, assistant professor at Duke College, fed one group of pregnant worms a normal diet. The second group was given significantly less nutritious fare. When the offspring were born, they were held without food for eight days and monitored throughout their creepy-crawly lives. The research showed the starved larvae grew slower and were less fertile than the worms who ate normally.

However, the worms whose mothers were given the weight-watchers’ diet while pregnant were significantly less affected than the worms whose mothers were well-fed. Those worms also made a much quicker recovery after the eight-day starvation period. 

“They didn’t completely escape the adverse effects of early life starvation but they were buffered from them,” Baugh said. “These animals are able to anticipate adverse conditions based on their mothers’ experience.”

A study on humans in the early 90s yielded a similar conclusion, called the “thrifty phenotype hypothesis.” It found that pregnant women who don’t get enough nutrition are able to program their offspring with “thrifty” metabolisms which store nutrients efficiently. As a result, the children are better able to operate in food-scarce conditions. 

It is still unclear how this reprogramming works. Malnutrition during pregnancy has been shown to cause mother worms to make bigger, stronger eggs, better fit to handle the conditions. One theory says that hunger slows down ovulation, so the egg has more time to grow prior to fertilization. The mother’s diet during pregnancy might also change the gene expression passed down to the offspring.

We respectfully remind all readers that a healthy, balanced diet is key to a happy, healthy pregnancy.


—

Read more over at <a href="https://today.duke.edu/2016/10/underfed-worms-program-their-babies-cope-famine" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Duke Today</a>.

Gestation conditions dictate lifelong worm metabolism

Worm metabolism is dictated by gestation conditions, according to a...

Sharks’ toxic ammonia moisturizer protects their skin from the salty ocean.

The Pacific spiny dogfish, a common grey shark which grows to around 150 cm in length, has worked out how to produce his own low-cost, organic skincare so effective it will make skin-care devotees the world over envious. The sharks recycle the ocean's toxic ammonia and convert it into useful urea, new research from University of British Columbia (UBC) zoologists reveals today.

Animals use protein as nourishment, but sharks also require continually replenishing urea in their tissues. The urea, a nitrogen-containing substance which we humans excrete in our tinkle, stops sharks from drying out in the salty seawater.

"It turns out dogfish can absorb ammonia at high rates through their gills," says UBC zoologist Dr. Chris Wood, who led the study published in the Journal of Experimental Biology. "The amount the shark is able to take in through their gills and convert could amount to almost a third of the nitrogen they need from their diet."

The team discovered that the ammonia isn't simply diffused into the shark's body, but enters by a biological process. The gas is presumed to be carried into tissues by Rhesus proteins in channels already known to carry ammonia gas molecules across cell membranes.

Sharks are scavengers and can go without food for long periods. They build up stores of urea from their uncanny ability to take in ammonia, giving them a complexion that even top models would be envious of.

—

Read the <a href="https://science.ubc.ca/news/how-sharks-recycle-toxic-ammonia-keep-their-skin-moist" target="_blank">full report</a>.

Sharks recycle toxic ammonia to protect their skin

Sharks’ toxic ammonia moisturizer protects their skin from the salty...

Sea star washed up on a Gulf Coast beach.

Salish Sea sea stars impacted by wasting disease.

According to a study published yesterday in PLOS ONE by scholars from the University of California, Davis, a wasting disease has caused a severe decline in Salish Sea sea star populations off the coast of British Columbia and northern Washington state.

This sea star wasting disease’s effects could have long-term implications for the Salish Sea ecosystem, as the sunflower sea stars have effectively disappeared from the area. The researchers are in discussions with the National Marine Fisheries Service to have the sunflower sea star listed as a "species of concern."

—

Read the full paper <a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0163190" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

Salish Sea stars are in a severe decline

 Salish Sea sea stars impacted by wasting disease. According to...

A large gene-based survey reveals the need for continued wild Jaguar conservation in Mesoamerica.

Today, a research group has published the largest-ever wild jaguar gene-based survey. The report is based on nearly 450 jaguar scat samples collected in Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico. The analysis, published today in the journal PLOS ONE was led by the American Museum of Natural History and global wildcat conservation organization Panthera.

This work identifies areas which require heightened conservation to protect wildlife in the Mesoamerican region and punctuates the importance of large-scale genetic monitoring efforts.

By collecting scat samples, the researchers were able to gather large DNA samples non-invasively. Big cats can pose problems for researchers, as they are difficult to  capture and handle. As the samples quickly degrade in the tropical weather, a large amount of laboratory work must be done in order to analyze the DNA successfully.

"We believe that these jaguars were once continuously distributed over the whole landscape of Mesoamerica, but human activity has resulted in smaller populations that are isolated from other groups," said Dr. George Amato, director of the Museum's Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics and the paper's senior author. "We want to know whether this fragmentation is resulting in reduced gene flow or inbreeding or other things that might be detrimental to the animals. But most importantly, we want to figure out ways to reconnect these populations or, even if they're not completely isolated, to engage in activities that allow jaguars to move more freely across the landscape. One of the only ways to do this is through genetic analysis."

The researchers analyzed DNA from 115 individual jaguars spread across five Mesoamerican countries.
<ul>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Overall, they found moderate levels of genetic variation in the jaguars.</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">The lowest diversity was found in Mexico, followed by Honduras.</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">The scientists found low levels of gene flow between jaguars in the Selva Maya.</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">They found little genetic connectivity in Mesoamerican jaguars, which suggests there is limited jaguar movement between the areas.</li>
</ul>
Low levels of genetic diversity can decrease reproductive fitness, immunity to disease, and lower animals' potential to adapt in changing environments.

More data is needed to fill study gaps; however, the authors are concerned that these regions face rapid land-cover changes, putting jaguars at further risk. They stress that this region should represent a conservation priority which needs continued management, maintenance and mitigation of jaguars' main threats. 

—

Read the <a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0162377" target="_blank">PLOS ONE</a> paper and learn more about <a href="http://amnh.org" target="_blank">AMNH here</a>.

Wild jaguar conservation necessary in Mesoamerica

A large gene-based survey reveals the need for continued wild...

Meet Erythrodiplax ana the Brazilian Dragonfly, whose unique traits set her apart from other species.

Researchers have found a new species of dragonfly in Brazil named Erythrodiplax ana. 

The researchers compared the blue dragonfly's morphology from 2011 to 2014 along with 57 other species in the same genus to confirm it was indeed a new species.

"The discovery is important . . . because of . . . where the species was found," said Dr. Rhainer Guillermo Ferreira, the first author of the article and assistant professor at the Federal University of São Carlos's Center for Biological &amp; Health Sciences (CCBS-UFSCar). "The nature reserve contains a vereda, a palm swamp wetland . . . . The discovery of a new species in an urban area, with a habitat linked to a spring used to draw off water shows how little we know of Brazil's biodiversity," he reported.

Two traits set E. ana. apart from other species in the genus:
<ul>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">The male's body is covered with bluish wax.</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Both males &amp; females have a rare brown spot on each wingtip.</li>
</ul>
The team is investigating the significance of the wax further, hypothesizing that it serves as a kind of sunscreen. Previous studies evaluating the properties of wax found in other species concluded that the blue coloring serves to reflect the sun's ultraviolet rays, Dr. Ferreira noted.

--

Credit: <a href="http://www2.ufscar.br/english/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Federal University of São Carlos</a>

Meet Erythrodiplax ana, a new species of Brazilian Dragonfly

Meet Erythrodiplax ana the Brazilian Dragonfly, whose unique traits set...

Albatross research suggests conservation methods after studying juvenile birds for 14 years.

In order to help conserve long-lived species, we need to collect data to understand their lifestyles. However, tracking down young albatrosses has in the past proven difficult. Today, a new study from The Condor: Ornithological Applications worked with these "prebreeders" to report estimates of the population size and survival rates of young birds.

Husband-and-wife team Eric VanderWerf and Lindsay Young of Pacific Rim Conservation spent 14 years banding 477 Oahu albatrosses as chicks and monitoring their lives. Their research has disproven long-held notions about the Albatross’ habits.

The research reported that
<ul>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Despite the prevailing belief that young albatrosses remain at sea until they are ready to breed, 2% of birds return as one-year olds, 7% as two-year olds and 17% as three-year olds.</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Prebreeders make up almost half of the Oahu population.</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">After fledging, the annual survival was very high – estimated at about 97%.</li>
</ul>
A common threat to the albatross populations is the mosquito-borne disease known as avian pox virus. Even though the birds have a strong immunity to the virus, this can affect their survival and chances of finding a mate. The scientists conclude that we need to understand the disease better in order to protect future generations of albatrosses.

Oregon State University's Dr. Robert Suryan, a seabird ecologist, said, "These results are highly relevant to the study, conservation, and management of long-lived species."

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Read the full study: <a href="http://americanornithologypubs.org/doi/full/10.1650/CONDOR-16-49.1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Condor: Ornithological Applications</a>

Albatross research suggests conservation methods

Albatross research suggests conservation methods after studying juvenile birds for...

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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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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



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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



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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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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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Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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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



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Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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



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



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



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



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



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



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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



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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

[sendtonews key="qas3EhyI0Y-2220951-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

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Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.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

[sendtonews key="vpljfR2VBX-2560867-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

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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

[sendtonews key="MHyhtebibJ-2200368-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from NASA...

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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...

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