On September 29, 2024, something unusual happened in our cosmic neighborhood. Earth captured a tiny asteroid named 2024 PT5, turning it into a temporary mini-moon. 



That's right... as of today, November 2, 2024, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/its-official-earth-now-has-two-moons-captured-asteroid-2024-pt5/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earth has two moons</a>.



Richard Binzel, an astronomer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (<a href="https://www.mit.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MIT</a>), shed some light on these fleeting celestial companions.



"These happen more often than we think, but they're small and tough to spot," Binzel explained. "Only lately have our telescopes become powerful enough to catch them regularly."



Back in August, a team of astronomers from the <a href="https://www.ucm.es/english" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Complutense University</a> of Madrid detected the small space rock using a powerful telescope in Sutherland, South Africa.



They weren't the only ones keeping an eye on it. The asteroid was first noticed on August 7, 2024 by NASA's Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (<a href="https://atlas.fallingstar.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ATLAS</a>) at Haleakala Observatory in Hawaii.



This discovery sparked excitement among astronomers, offering a chance to learn more about <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nasa-test-simulation-shows-earth-not-prepared-prevent-large-asteroid-strike/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">near-Earth objects</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-exactly-is-2024-pt5">What exactly is 2024 PT5?</h2>



Earth occasionally captures small asteroids like 2024 PT5, placing them into temporary orbits around our planet. 



While most asteroids circle the sun on their regular paths, some venture close enough for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earth-global-electric-field-discovered-equally-important-gravity-magnetic-fields/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earth's gravity</a> to snatch them up for a brief visit.



These cosmic visitors only stay in Earth's orbit for a short time -- typically a few weeks or months -- before breaking free and resuming their solar journey.



Each mini-moon gives scientists a rare opportunity to examine <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/27500-hidden-near-earth-asteroids-discovered-using-google-cloud/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">near-Earth asteroids</a> up close, revealing valuable insights about our solar system's mechanics.



So, what makes this asteroid special, aside from the fact that new technology and the internet made it famous? 



William Blackmore, Planetarium Director and Astronomy Instructor at <a href="https://www.mhcc.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mt. Hood Community College</a>, offered his thoughts.



"All mini-moons are unique in their own way," Blackmore explained. "This one isn't different from others except that it's the most recent.”



2024 PT5 will be around for about two more weeks, probably until mid-November.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-comparing-2024-pt5-to-our-moon">Comparing 2024 PT5 to our moon</h2>



Let's compare our moon to this new mini-moon: 2024 PT5 is only about 37 feet across, while our familiar moon stretches a massive 2,159 miles in diameter. That makes <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-did-earth-get-its-moon-a-new-theory-has-emerged/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">our moon</a> over 300,000 times wider than this tiny asteroid.



Knowing it’s up there is pretty exciting, even though we can't see it for ourselves without an invitation to a huge Earth telescope installation.



“These temporary captures are natural cosmic laboratories,” Binzel mentioned. “They help us understand the small bodies that come close to Earth and could be important for future space missions.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-asteroid-2024-pt5-became-famous">How Asteroid 2024 PT5 became famous</h2>



Understanding how 2024 PT5 became Earth's temporary moon involves a bit of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/finding-order-in-the-chaos-of-the-three-body-problem/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">orbital mechanics</a>. 



Blackmore explained, "It's moving along with us in our orbit around the sun. It's part of a group of asteroids called the Arjuna asteroids, which move at about the same pace as Earth."



He added an interesting analogy: "Imagine a skateboarder dropping into a skate park. They ride the curves, adding energy as they go. That's like the asteroid getting caught in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dart-mission-debris-will-create-a-human-made-meteor-shower/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earth's gravitational field</a>, riding the curve before moving on."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-significance-of-spotting-mini-moons">Significance of spotting mini-moons</h2>



Spotting mini-moons is tough because they're incredibly small and faint. These tiny asteroids are often just a few dozen feet across, which means they don't reflect much sunlight. That makes them nearly invisible against the dark backdrop of space.



Plus, they're zipping around at high speeds and don't hang around for long, so by the time we point our telescopes their way, they might already be gone. 



It's like trying to catch a glimpse of a firefly from miles away -- you need the right conditions and equipment.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-modern-high-tech-telescopes">Modern high-tech telescopes</h2>



Astronomers find them by using powerful telescopes equipped with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/gaia-reveals-moons-around-hundreds-of-asteroids/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sensitive detectors and smart software</a>.



Projects like the ATLAS system scan the skies every night, searching for any objects that weren't there before. 



When they spot something moving in a way that suggests it's close to Earth, they alert other astronomers to help confirm the find. 



It's a collaborative effort, combining technology and teamwork to spot these elusive cosmic visitors.



Knowing more about these temporary moons helps us prepare for any potential asteroid threats and opens up possibilities for mining resources from near-Earth objects.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-challenges-in-observing-2024-pt5">Challenges in observing 2024 PT5</h2>



For those eager to see this mini-moon, both experts warned that it would be extremely difficult. "You'd need a telescope with a diameter of at least 30 inches," Blackmore mentioned. "That's beyond what most amateur astronomers have."



Todd agreed, adding, "It won't be visible to the naked eye. Being 33 feet wide and so far away, you'd need a very large telescope."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-does-any-of-this-matter">Why does any of this matter?</h2>



While 2024 PT5 doesn't pose any threat to Earth, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/is-there-a-fifth-force-of-nature-asteroids-provide-new-clues/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">studying it is crucial</a>. 



"It's important to analyze how it moves and interacts with Earth's gravitational pull," Blackmore said. "This helps us refine our techniques for tracking objects that could cross our path again."



Todd highlighted the practical applications of this knowledge. 



"We need to understand how to intercept an asteroid at a distance and change its direction," he said. "This could be vital in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nasa-dart-mission-proves-humanity-can-be-saved-from-asteroid-collision/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">preventing potential impacts</a> in the future."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-inspiration-for-future-space-missions">Inspiration for future space missions</h2>



Blackmore envisioned future missions that could take advantage of these temporary visitors. 



"It would be fascinating if we had missions ready to send small satellites or probes to these objects when they come close," he mused. "Imagine building a network of sensors or cameras traveling along with us, like space webcams."



Todd also saw <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/asteroid-named-psyche-is-worth-10000-quadrillion-for-whoever-can-extract-minerals/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">potential in asteroid mining</a> and scientific discovery. 



"There might be materials on these asteroids that we can't find on Earth," he said. "They could solve problems in medicine or technology. But we need to weigh the benefits carefully."



To sum it all up, the brief visit of asteroid 2024 PT5 serves as a reminder of the dynamic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/building-blocks-of-life-found-in-asteroids-were-formed-in-cold-regions-of-space/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">nature of our solar system</a>. 



While it won't be with us for long -- just a couple more weeks -- its presence offers valuable opportunities for learning and exploration.



As technology advances, we'll likely spot more of these mini-moons. Each one gives us a chance to understand our cosmic environment better and prepare for the future. 



So even though you'll never see it, you might want to spare a moment of your time and stop to appreciate 2024 PT5 while you still can.



The full study was published in the&nbsp;<a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2515-5172/ad781f" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">journal IOPscience</a>.



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Earth's second moon, a mini-moon, will drift away in a few days and never return

On September 29, 2024, something unusual happened in our cosmic neighborhood. Earth captured a tiny asteroid named 2024 PT5, turning it into a temporary mini-moon. That's right... as of today, November 2, 2024, Earth has two moons. Richard Binzel, an astronomer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), shed some light on these fleeting celestial companions. "These happen more often than we think, but they're small and tough to spot," Binzel explained. "Only lately have our telescopes become powerful enough to catch them regularly." Back in August,...

Is there more in a name than we realize? It seems like there is, according to a fascinating new study led by Dr. Yonat Zwebner from Reichman University’s <a href="https://www.runi.ac.il/en/schools/business/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Arison School of Business</a>. Who would have thought that our names might have a role in shaping our faces?



Dr. Zwebner conducted the research in collaboration with Dr. Moses Miller, Professor Jacob Goldenberg, Noa Grobgeld, and Professor Ruth Mayo of <a href="https://en.huji.ac.il" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hebrew University</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-name-and-face-connection">Name and face connection</h2>



This study posits that a person’s face tends to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/humans-do-not-have-free-will-stanford-scientist-robert-sapolsky/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">evolve</a> to mirror their name. How interesting is that? But how does this happen?



The researchers examined whether parents choose a baby’s name based on their appearance, or if the individual’s facial appearance changes over time to match the name given by their parents. The findings are genuinely incredible.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-matching-names-to-faces">Matching names to faces</h2>



The researchers carried out an intriguing experiment where 9- to 10-year-old children and adults were asked to match faces to names. 



Both <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/babies-use-their-mothers-scent-to-see-faces/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">children</a> and adults were able to correctly match adult faces to their respective names, significantly above what could be attributed to pure chance. However, when it came to matching children’s faces and names, the participants couldn’t make as many accurate associations.



It doesn't end there! In another part of this study, a machine learning system was presented with a vast database of human faces. 



The system recognized that the representations of adult faces with the same name were remarkably more similar to each other than faces of adults with different names.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-self-fulfilling-prophecy">Self-fulfilling prophecy</h2>



The bottom line? The researchers concluded that the similarity between a person’s face and their name can be seen as a self-fulfilling prophecy. 



Our facial appearance may change over a long period to align with the social stereotypes associated with our names. Just think about it – does your name influence how you look?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-impact-of-social-expectations">Impact of social expectations</h2>



There's something profound that this study highlights – the broad impact of social expectations. Do you ever think about how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/people-with-many-facial-expressions-seem-more-social-and-likeable/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">social constructs</a> shape us? According to Dr. Yonat Zwebner, the research demonstrates that social constructs do exist, a theory that has been difficult to prove.



“Our research highlights the broader significance of this surprising effect — the profound impact of social expectations. We have demonstrated that social constructs, or structuring, do exist — something that until now has been almost impossible to test empirically," said Dr. Zwebner.



"Social structuring is so strong that it can affect a person’s appearance. These findings may imply the extent to which other personal factors that are even more significant than names, such as gender or ethnicity, may shape who people grow up to be.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-for-personal-identity">Implications for personal identity</h2>



The implications of this study extend beyond mere curiosity about names and faces; they venture into the realm of personal identity and self-perception. 



If our names can indeed influence our physical traits, how does this shape our understanding of ourselves? It opens up a dialogue about the role of identity — are we merely shaped by <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-power-of-diversity-in-friendships/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">societal expectations</a>, or do we possess agency over how we choose to present ourselves? 



The alignment of personal identity with societal constructs could potentially lead individuals to ingratiate themselves with the traits associated with their names, impacting everything from career choices to social interactions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-research-directions">Future research directions</h2>



This groundbreaking research raises several intriguing questions, highlighting the need for further exploration. 



Future studies could delve into the extent to which various social constructs, such as cultural background or socioeconomic status, influence the connection between names and faces. 



Additionally, understanding whether these effects manifest similarly across different cultures could provide deeper insights into the universality of social expectations. 



As we broaden our inquiry into the interplay of names, faces, and identity, we may uncover further layers of complexity in the ways societal constructs shape our lives and perceptions.



What's in a name? Much more than we ever imagined, according to this study. It gives us food for thought about the powerful social structures that quietly shape our lives and even our faces, every day.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2405334121" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.



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People's faces gradually evolve to match their names

Is there more in a name than we realize? It...

Another exciting chapter has recently unfolded in the endlessly fascinating universe. Astronomers around the globe were stunned by an event named the BOAT, short for the brightest-of-all-time gamma-ray burst (GRB).



Experts took a new look at the gamma-ray burst, which happened in October 2022, and made an amazing discovery. Using data from NASA’s Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, scientists have detected a feature that has never been seen before. 



The research was led by Maria Edvige Ravasio, who is associated with <a href="https://www.ru.nl/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Radboud University in Nijmegen</a>, Netherlands. She is also affiliated with Brera Observatory, part of the Italian National Institute of Astrophysics (INAF) located in Merate, Italy.



The team saw something unusual, a high-energy peak, which turned out to be the first high-confidence emission line ever seen in 50 years of studying GRBs.



<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="UioMvapp4o-3764512-12187" type="single"]</div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-an-emission-line">What's an emission line?</h2>



When matter interacts with light, energy can be absorbed and reemitted in specific ways. These interactions can either brighten or dim certain colors (or energies), creating key features when the light is dispersed across a spectrum, similar to the colors of a rainbow.



The features can tell us a lot about the interaction, such as what chemical elements were involved. 



At higher energies, these spectral features can reveal specific particle processes, like when matter and antimatter annihilate each other to produce gamma rays.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-feature-unique-to-the-boat">A feature unique to the BOAT</h2>



Study co-author Om Sharan Salafia from the INAF-Brera Observatory in Milan explained that while some previous studies reported possible evidence for absorption and emission features in other GRBs, they ended up being just statistical fluctuations.



What the experts saw in the brightest gamma-ray burst is different. They ran the numbers and determined that the odds this feature is just a noise fluctuation are less than one chance in half a billion.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-story-of-gamma-ray-bursts">Story of gamma-ray bursts</h2>



Gamma-ray bursts are the most <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ai-pinpoints-location-farthest-gamma-ray-bursts-in-universe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">potent explosions in the cosmos</a>. These massive cosmic fireworks emit an exorbitant amount of gamma rays, the highest-energy form of light.



The most typical type occurs when the core of a star exhausts all its fuel, causing it to collapse and form a rapidly spinning black hole. 



Matter falling into the black hole powers oppositely directed particle jets that blast through the star’s outer layers at nearly the speed of light. Earth detects a gamma-ray burst only when one of these jets points almost directly toward it.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-intensity-of-the-brightest-gamma-ray-burst">Intensity of the brightest gamma-ray burst </h2>



The BOAT, or GRB 221009A as it is formally known, erupted on October 9, 2022. It saturated most gamma-ray detectors in orbit, including those on Fermi, preventing them from measuring the blast's most intense part.



Reconstructed observations coupled with statistical arguments suggest that if the BOAT were part of the same population as previously detected GRBs, it would likely be the brightest burst to appear in Earth’s skies in a whopping 10,000 years.



The unusual emission line showed up almost 5 minutes after the BOAT's detection and well after it had dimmed enough to end saturation effects for Fermi. 



The emission line lingered for at least 40 seconds, peaking with energy of about 12 MeV (million electron volts). To put this into perspective, the energy of visible light ranges from 2 to 3 electron volts.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-made-the-spectral-feature">What made the spectral feature?</h2>



The team suspects the most likely cause of this spectral feature is the annihilation of electrons and their antimatter counterparts, positrons. 



“When an electron and a positron collide, they annihilate, producing a pair of gamma rays with an energy of 0.511 MeV,” said study co-author Gor Oganesyan at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gssi.it/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Gran Sasso Science Institute</a>&nbsp;in L’Aquila, Italy. 



“Because we’re looking into the jet, where matter is moving at near light speed, this emission becomes greatly blueshifted and pushed toward much higher energies.”



So, to produce an emission line peaking at 12 MeV, the annihilating particles were likely moving toward us at roughly 99.9% the speed of light.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-many-unknowns-in-gamma-ray-bursts">Many unknowns in gamma-ray bursts</h2>



“After decades of studying these incredible cosmic explosions, we still don’t understand the details of how these jets work,” noted Elizabeth Hays, the Fermi project scientist at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center</a>&nbsp;in Greenbelt, Maryland. 



“Finding clues like this remarkable emission line will help scientists investigate this extreme environment more deeply.”&nbsp;



In the end, it's just another day in the universe. Each second brings <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ai-helping-nasa-swift-pinpoint-location-gamma-ray-bursts-grbs-most-violent-explosions-universe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">new discoveries</a>, new mysteries, and new chances to understand the cosmos around us better. This latest finding is yet another milestone in our quest to unravel the cosmic truths.



Video Credit: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center



Image Credit: NASA



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Brightest gamma-ray burst ever recorded had a rare energy peak

Another exciting chapter has recently unfolded in the endlessly fascinating...

“Every picture tells a story,” or so the saying goes. True enough, but what if those <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/negev-petroglyphs-ancient-art-rock-carvings-face-erosion-fungi-lichens/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pictures</a> tell the story of an ancient culture and its intricate relationships with the natural world? 



In the wilderness of the Colombian Amazon, a secretive canvas of rock art explores this very tale. It takes us back to the early settlers of the continent - meeting, marveling, and making meaning of the animals they encountered.



This adventure into human history is led by an international team of researchers from the <a href="https://www.exeter.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Exeter</a>, <a href="https://www.udea.edu.co/">Universidad de Antioquia</a>, Medellín, and the <a href="https://unal.edu.co" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Universidad Nacional de Colombia</a>. The findings take us on a visual journey through time, culture, and ecology.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ancient-amazon-rock-art">Ancient Amazon rock art</h2>



Located in the Serranía de la Lindosa, Cerro Azul – a free-standing table-top hill near the Guayabero River – has proven to be a vital page in the storybook of man's early days in Amazonia. 



The hill hides a trove of rock art, a gallery of vivid ochre <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/early-humans-used-lava-tubes-for-homes-middle-east-saudi-arabia/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">paintings</a> that serve as a testament to the lives and beliefs of the region's early settlers.



“These rock art sites include the earliest evidence of humans in western Amazonia, dating back 12,500 years ago," said Dr. Mark Robinson, associate professor in Exeter's Department of Archaeology and History.



"As such, the art is an amazing insight into how these first settlers understood their place in the world and how they formed relationships with animals.” 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-amazon-through-the-lens-of-rock-art">Amazon through the lens of rock art</h2>



The team's detailed study of animal remains from nearby excavations - alongside analysis of the artistic depictions - revealed an intriguing discrepancy. 



While the remains suggest a diverse diet that included mammals, reptiles, and even fish, it appears the artists weren't merely <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/worlds-oldest-cave-painting-discovered-in-indonesia/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">painting</a> what was on the dinner table.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/amazon_prehistoric-rock-art_animals_panels2_UExeter_1s.jpg" alt="a) avian/human at Las Dantas, b) lizard with round, human-like head at Currunchos, c) bird/plant/human with penis at Principal, d) sloth/human at Demoledores, e) Unknown quadruped with tail and penis at Reserva, f) Deer/human at Principal. Credit: University of Exeter" class="wp-image-1940207"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">a) avian/human at Las Dantas, b) lizard with round, human-like head at Currunchos, c) bird/plant/human with penis at Principal, d) sloth/human at Demoledores, e) Unknown quadruped with tail and penis at Reserva, f) Deer/human at Principal. Credit: University of Exeter</figcaption></figure>



Interestingly, the animal bones' proportions didn't match the proportional representation of animals in the art. 



This raises fascinating questions about the significance of certain species in indigenous Amazonian culture, further underlining the complexities of the relationships these early settlers forged with the animals around them.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-art-and-the-supernatural">Art and the supernatural</h2>



Indeed, the visually stunning renditions of animals and humans transforming into one another alluded to a rich mythology that guided generations of Amazonians. 



This hints at a profound spiritual aspect, suggesting that certain species were revered and believed to possess supernatural connections, warranting complex rituals from specialists.



“The Indigenous people of Cerro Azul and the surrounding lands hunted and depicted a diverse array of animals from different ecologies – from aquatic fish to arboreal monkeys; terrestrial deer to aerial birds, both nocturnal and diurnal," noted Dr. Javier Aceituno, of Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín.



"They had intimate knowledge of the various habitats in the region and possessed the relevant skills to hunt animals and harvest plants from each, as part of a broad subsistence strategy.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-big-cats-and-power-symbols">Big cats and power symbols</h2>



Adding another layer of intrigue to the study are the species noticeably absent from the rock art. Big cats, despite their position as apex predators, were strikingly missing from the painted panels. 



This absence prompts the researchers to theorize that the artists may have been restricted from depicting powerful beasts, like the jaguar, adding a new dimension to their findings.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/amazon_prehistoric-rock-art_animals_panels1_UExeter_1s.jpg" alt="a) fishing; b, c, e) hunting; d) monkey leaping/transforming sequence; f) and an unknown animal with circular feet and curved head elements. Credit: University of Exeter" class="wp-image-1940205"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">a) fishing; b, c, e) hunting; d) monkey leaping/transforming sequence; f) and an unknown animal with circular feet and curved head elements. Credit: University of Exeter</figcaption></figure>



On the other hand, the abundant illustrations of figures combining human and animal characteristics reveal a complex mythology of transformation between animal and human states, a traditional belief still prevalent in many modern Amazonian communities.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-learning-from-amazon-rock-art">Learning from Amazon rock art</h2>



The artwork not only paints a picture of humanity's relationship with animals but also showcases a broad understanding and exploitation of diverse environments in the region, including savannah, flooded forests, and rivers.



Professor Jose Iriarte of Exeter offered his perspective on the value of these findings. "Our approach reveals differences between what indigenous communities exploited for food and what is conceptually important to represent - and not represent - in art," said Inarte.



"Though we cannot be certain what meaning these images have, they certainly do offer greater nuance to our understanding of the power of myths in indigenous communities. They are particularly revealing when it comes to more cosmological aspects of Amazonian life, such as what is considered taboo, where power resides, and how negotiations with the supernatural were conducted.”



The findings shed light on the intricate tapestry of Amazonian life thousands of years ago, still echoing through the timeless rock art of Cerro Azul.



Our journey through the annals of human cultural history continues, filling the gaps one discovery after another, allowing us a glimpse into the complex rhythms of ancient life that continue to resonate in our modern world.



The study is published in the <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0278416524000448?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of Anthropological Archaeology</a>.



Image Credit: University of Exeter



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Rock art reveals early human ties with Amazon animals

“Every picture tells a story,” or so the saying goes....

New research from the <a href="https://www.rom.on.ca/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Royal Ontario Museum</a> (ROM) highlights a significant, yet previously overlooked source of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/greenhouse-gas-emissions-reach-another-all-time-high/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">greenhouse gas emissions</a>: drying lake beds, specifically Utah's Great Salt Lake. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-drying-lake-beds-and-climate-change-nbsp">Drying lake beds and climate change&nbsp;</h2>



The study, published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2024.07.001" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">One Earth</a>, reports that in 2020, the desiccated bed of Great Salt Lake released 4.1 million tons of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. 



This finding underscores the potential for drying lake beds to become substantial contributors to climate change, exacerbated by global warming.



“Human-caused desiccation of Great Salt Lake is exposing huge areas of lake bed and releasing massive quantities of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere,” said Soren Brothers, the study’s lead researcher and ROM’s Allan and Helaine Shiff Curator of Climate Change.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-addressing-all-activities-contributing-to-emissions">Addressing all activities contributing to emissions</h2>



Brothers noted that the significance of lake desiccation as a driver of climate change needs to be addressed in greater detail and considered in climate change mitigation and watershed planning.



According to the study authors, it is crucial that all activities contributing to GHG emissions be fully accounted for as societies adopt strategies to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to halt the progress of climate change.



“Inland waters are a critical component of the global carbon cycle, emitting large quantities of carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) to the atmosphere and annually burying a similar quantity of organic carbon as is buried in oceans,” the researchers added.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fluctuating-levels-of-saline-lakes">Fluctuating levels of saline lakes</h2>



Great Salt Lake’s water levels vary yearly, mainly depending on the volume of meltwater from surrounding mountains. However, human activities like agriculture, industry, and municipal water use have significantly depleted the lake over the years.&nbsp;



Globally, similar patterns are observed in other iconic saline <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/arctic-lakes-produce-less-methane-than-previously-thought/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">lakes</a> such as the Aral Sea, Lake Urmia, and the Caspian Sea. 



The drying of these lakes not only destroys critical habitats and degrades air quality but also accelerates climate change by emitting greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane from exposed sediments.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-emissions-from-drying-lake-beds">Emissions from drying lake beds</h2>



The research team measured carbon dioxide and methane emissions from the exposed sediments of Great Salt Lake between April and November 2020.&nbsp;



These measurements were compared with estimates of aquatic emissions to determine the anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions associated with the lake's desiccation.&nbsp;



The findings indicated that the lake bed emitted 4.1 million tons of greenhouse gases, primarily carbon dioxide (94%), accounting for approximately a 7% increase in Utah's human-caused greenhouse gas emissions for that year.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-measuring-emissions-in-great-salt-lake">Measuring emissions in Great Salt Lake </h2>



Fieldwork was conducted while Soren Brothers was an assistant professor of limnology at <a href="https://www.usu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Utah State University</a> (USU). The lead author, Melissa Cobo, was a master’s student at USU, and co-author Tobias Goldhammer is a researcher at the <a href="https://www.igb-berlin.de/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Leibniz Institute for Freshwater Research </a>(IGB Institute) in Berlin, Germany. 



The team measured greenhouse gas emissions every two weeks using a portable analyzer attached to a closed chamber. They visited seven sites at the south end of the lake and sampled three additional locations during an intensive three-day campaign to determine spatial variability.&nbsp;



As <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/study-aims-to-reduce-methane-emissions-from-lakes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">methane</a> is 28 times more potent as a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide, the global warming impact was calculated in “carbon dioxide equivalents” to reflect methane's greater impact.



The data showed that greenhouse gas emissions from the dried lake bed were strongly related to warm temperatures, even at sites exposed for over two decades.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-new-driver-of-atmospheric-warming-nbsp">A new driver of atmospheric warming&nbsp;</h2>



To assess whether the lake had historically been a significant greenhouse gas source, the team also measured near-shore emissions and analyzed water chemistry.&nbsp;



The results indicated that the lake itself was not likely a significant greenhouse gas emitter, making the current emissions from the dried bed a novel driver of atmospheric warming.



As climate change exacerbates drought conditions in arid regions, the desiccation of rivers and lakes could contribute to feedback loops that accelerate climate change. This underscores the need for these emissions to be considered in global greenhouse gas output assessments and in the development of reduction policies.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-broader-implications-of-the-study-nbsp">Broader implications of the study&nbsp;</h2>



The implications of this study are broad and significant. If similar greenhouse gas emissions are occurring from other drying lakes around the world, the cumulative effect on global greenhouse gas levels could be substantial.&nbsp;



The research highlights the need for more comprehensive monitoring and mitigation strategies for drying lakes as part of global efforts to combat <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/safety-on-frozen-lakes-declining-due-to-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate change</a>.



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Drying lake beds are a major source of harmful emissions

New research from the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) highlights a...

Prepare for an extraordinary celestial light show this week that promises to captivate your imagination! On July 30th, we will witness a remarkable occurrence: two meteor showers, the Delta Aquarids and the Alpha Capricornids, will peak simultaneously.



The Delta Aquarids are known for their bright and speedy meteors, while the Alpha Capricornids are famous for their slower, more colorful shooting stars.



This unique combo is set to light up the night sky in a stunning display of meteors, creating a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/double-meteor-shower-delta-aquarids-alpha-capricornids-light-up-night-sky-july-2024/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">breathtaking spectacle</a> you won’t want to miss.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-science-of-meteor-showers">Science of meteor showers</h2>



First, let's briefly explore the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/full-buck-moon-joins-perseids-meteor-shower-stellar-show-this-weekend/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">captivating phenomenon</a> of meteor showers. These celestial events occur when our planet passes through the debris left by comets or asteroids.



As Earth orbits the sun, it occasionally intersects these trails of cosmic remnants, leading to the awe-inspiring display of a meteor shower.



Meteoroids, the fragments we observe, vary significantly in size, ranging from minuscule grains of sand to sizable rocks. 



Upon entering our atmosphere, they travel at incredible speeds, often surpassing 100,000 miles per hour.



The intense friction generated during their descent heats these particles, causing them to glow and illuminate the night sky in a stunning spectacle. 



This dazzling display is commonly referred to as meteors or, in a more poetic sense, "shooting stars."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-meteoroids-meteorites-and-meteors">Meteoroids, meteorites, and meteors</h2>



Now, let’s clarify some cosmic terminology to eliminate any confusion and learn the difference between meteoroids, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/iron-meteorites-reveal-unexpected-metal-distribution-in-solar-system/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">meteorites</a>, and meteors.



Meteoroids are essentially small rocks or particles that zip through the vastness of space. 



When they ignite upon entering the Earth's atmosphere due to the immense heat generated by their rapid descent, they transform into meteors.



But what happens if a meteoroid survives this <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/eta-aquarids-see-up-to-50-shooting-stars-per-hour-this-weekend/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fiery journey</a>? If a piece makes it through the atmosphere and lands on the Earth's surface, it is known as a meteorite.



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/thousands-of-meteorites-vanish-in-antarctica-due-to-melting-ice/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Meteorites can provide valuable insights</a> into the composition of our solar system, as many of them are remnants from the early days of its formation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-meet-the-stars-of-the-show">Meet the stars of the show</h2>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-delta-aquarids">Delta Aquarids</h3>



The Delta Aquarids meteor shower is a captivating annual event that lights up the night sky, especially for those in the Southern Hemisphere. 



This shower gets its name because its radiant point -- the spot in the sky where the meteors appear to originate -- is near the star <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delta_Aquarii" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Delta Aquarii</a> in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquarius_(constellation)" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">constellation Aquarius</a>.



The Delta Aquarids are believed to be remnants of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/96P/Machholz" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">comet 96P Machholz</a>, which orbits the Sun approximately every five years. As this comet travels close to the Sun, it sheds particles that spread out along its orbit. 



When Earth passes through this debris trail, the particles enter our atmosphere, causing the meteor shower. These particles, often just the size of a grain of sand, burn up due to friction with the atmosphere, creating the bright streaks we see as meteors.



One of the unique features of the Delta Aquarids is their long-lasting peak. Unlike other meteor showers that might peak for just one night, the Delta Aquarids have a broad peak period, typically from late July to early August. 



During this time, stargazers can see up to 20 meteors per hour under ideal viewing conditions. The meteors are known for their faint, long trails, which can be especially beautiful against a dark, moonless sky.



The Delta Aquarids are part of a larger family of meteor showers associated with the same comet. This shower's meteors travel at an average speed of around 25 miles per second (40 kilometers per second), which is relatively slow compared to other meteor showers. This slower speed allows the meteors to create longer-lasting trails.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-alpha-capricornids">Alpha Capricornids</h3>



The Alpha Capricornids meteor shower is an intriguing celestial event that offers a stunning display of bright meteors. Originating from the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capricornus" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">constellation Capricornus</a>, this shower typically peaks around late July.



The Alpha Capricornids are believed to be associated with the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/169P/NEAT" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">comet 169P/NEAT</a>. As this comet orbits the Sun, it leaves behind a trail of debris. When Earth passes through this debris, the particles enter our atmosphere, causing the meteors we see. 



Unlike many meteor showers, the Alpha Capricornids are known for producing bright, slow-moving fireballs. These fireballs can be exceptionally brilliant and can stand out even in light-polluted areas.



One of the most striking features of the Alpha Capricornids is the relatively low number of meteors per hour, usually around five, but the quality makes up for the quantity.



The meteors tend to be larger and slower, providing a more prolonged and impressive display. The fireballs produced can sometimes be so bright that they cast shadows and are visible for several seconds.



The Alpha Capricornids are unique because they don't produce as many meteors as some other showers, but the ones they do produce are often very bright and impressive. 



These meteors travel at a slower speed of around 15 miles per second (25 kilometers per second), allowing for longer-lasting fireballs that are easier to observe.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stargazing-101-watching-two-meteor-showers">Stargazing 101: Watching two meteor showers</h2>



The fusion of these two showers creates a unique astronomical spectacle, with meteors potentially visible every couple of minutes, providing stargazers with an enchanting experience that highlights the beauty and mystery of our universe.



For a truly comfortable and enjoyable viewing experience, it’s best to find a spot far away from the bright lights of the city.



Consider heading to a rural location or a designated dark sky park, where the atmosphere is free from light pollution that can spoil your stargazing experience and significantly hamper the visibility of these beautiful heavenly bodies.



Once you’ve settled in, give your eyes about 20 to 30 minutes to adjust to the darkness; this time allows your pupils to expand and enhances your ability to see the stars and meteors clearly. After this adjustment period, you’ll be ready to fully appreciate the celestial show above.



To ensure maximum comfort while you gaze up at the night sky, make sure to lie on a cozy blanket or settle into a reclining chair that supports your back and neck.



While you don’t necessarily need binoculars or telescopes to enjoy meteor showers, having a pair on hand can enrich your experience when observing constellations and planets.



A red flashlight is also a handy tool; it allows you to navigate around in the dark without disturbing your night vision or ruining the experience for others.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-two-meteor-showers-connecting-humans-and-space">Two meteor showers connecting humans and space</h2>



Experiencing a meteor shower transcends mere observation by serving as a compelling reminder of the vast wonders beyond our planet. 



As you recline and witness meteors blazing across the sky, you are not simply observing a natural spectacle but engaging with the universe in a significant manner. 



This is a moment to be shared with loved ones, providing an opportunity to appreciate the beauty and mystery of the cosmos.



The combination of these two meteor showers, Delta Aquarids and the Alpha Capricornids, presents a distinct chance to immerse yourself in the night sky's splendor.



Whether you are a seasoned stargazer or simply someone who delights in gazing upward, this celestial event promises to inspire awe and provoke reflection.



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Two meteor showers combine tomorrow into one spectacular show

Prepare for an extraordinary celestial light show this week that...

When Northeastern graduate Camille Martin and associate professor Leila Deravi co-founded <a href="https://seaspireskincare.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Seaspire</a>, a skincare ingredients company inspired by pigments in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/octopus-and-squid-senses-linked-to-human-brain-evolution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">octopus</a> and squid, they aimed to create products that benefit both the skin and the environment. Recent research indicates they are succeeding.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-enhancing-sunscreen-protection-nbsp-with-cephalopods">Enhancing sunscreen protection&nbsp;with cephalopods </h2>



A study published in the <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/ics.12993" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">International Journal of Cosmetic Science</a> has revealed that Xanthochrome, a synthesized molecule found in cephalopods such as squid, octopus, and cuttlefish, enhances <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ultimate-natural-sunscreen/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sunscreen</a> protection when combined with zinc oxide without harming coral reefs.&nbsp;



Deravi, Seaspire's scientific adviser, noted that these safety findings are crucial because there are a lot of toxicities involved with (traditional) UV filters in sunscreens.



“Some of the chemical UV-filters in particular are known to create reactive oxygen species that are not only bad for the environment but can also seep into our skin and cause systemic toxicities,” said Deravi.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-inspiration-for-natural-skincare-ingredients-nbsp">Inspiration for natural skincare ingredients&nbsp;</h2>



The industry is enthusiastic about environmentally friendly innovations, added Martin, who earned her PhD in chemistry from <a href="https://www.northeastern.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Northeastern University</a> in 2019 and has served as Seaspire's CEO since its inception.&nbsp;



“Everything we do as a biotechnology company is centered around leveraging marine animals as a source of inspiration for the next generation of skincare ingredients,” explained Martin.



The goal of Seaspire is to make Xanthochrome accessible to skincare product manufacturers and distributors along the supply chain, ultimately incorporating it into a variety of products, including sunscreens, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/artificial-intelligence-identifies-new-anti-aging-compounds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">anti-aging</a> applications, and functional color cosmetics.&nbsp;



“We are just wrapping up the research and development on it now and actively looking for partnerships to bring this to market,” Deravi said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chemical-compounds-for-sunscreen-protection-nbsp">Chemical compounds for sunscreen protection&nbsp;</h2>



Xanthochrome, produced as a brown, textured powder, possesses potent antioxidant and skin restorative properties while providing light scattering qualities that protect against photoaging.&nbsp;



It is the trade name for a chemically synthesized version of xanthommatin, a molecule found in the skin of cephalopods and insects.&nbsp;



“The secret to the cephalopods' unique coloration is derived from its multifunctional chemical compounds, which we identified in our lab at Northeastern,” Deravi explained.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-antioxidant-properties-of-cephalopod-skin-nbsp">Antioxidant properties of cephalopod skin&nbsp;</h2>



Martin's Ph.D. work was the first to demonstrate that these small molecules inside cephalopod skin, contributing to the animal's camouflage, also have significant antioxidant properties.&nbsp;



“They're free radical scavengers, which are very important for skin health and skin barrier function,” Deravi said. Additionally, these molecules exhibit crucial optical properties that protect against sunlight exposure, functioning similarly to UV filters in sunscreens.



“We didn't create a new molecule. We were able to isolate and characterize the properties of the biomolecules found within cephalopods, engineer a bio-identical version of the naturally occurring material, and position Xanthochrome as a new active ingredient that provides a wide range of skincare benefits,” Martin explained. This innovation offers a single molecule with multiple functions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-boosting-the-power-of-zinc-oxide-nbsp">Boosting the power of zinc oxide&nbsp;</h2>



Unlike parabens often found in sunscreens, previous research showed that Xanthochrome is not an endocrine disruptor. The latest study indicates that it boosts the ultraviolet protection of zinc oxide, which the U.S. Food and Drug Administration deems a safe and effective sunscreen ingredient, by 28% and enhances visible light blocking potential by 45%.&nbsp;



Moreover, Xanthochrome did not adversely affect coral cuttings even at concentrations five times higher than those used in typical formulations.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-commitment-to-sustainable-solutions">Commitment to sustainable solutions</h2>



Martin and Deravi hope that skincare manufacturers will recognize Xanthochrome as a next-generation ingredient akin to retinoids, vitamin C, and hyaluronic acid.&nbsp;



“We're creating products that can really be applied and adopted across a wide range of users,” Martin said. “We are creating something that is not only safe for all people but also the environment.”



Deravi emphasized the importance of proving the safety of new raw materials for both humans and the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ocean-plastic-pollution-has-become-a-global-crisis/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ocean</a>, where products eventually end up.



Seaspire's mission reflects a commitment to innovative, sustainable solutions in skincare, drawing inspiration from the natural world to address modern challenges in environmental and personal health. As they advance towards market readiness, their work underscores the potential for marine-inspired biotechnology to revolutionize skincare.



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Octopus pigments boost the power of sunscreen protection

When Northeastern graduate Camille Martin and associate professor Leila Deravi...

New research has revealed that the surface of Uranus' moon Ariel is coated with a significant amount of carbon dioxide ice, particularly on its trailing hemisphere, which always faces away from the moon's direction of orbital motion.&nbsp;



This discovery is surprising because even in the frigid environment of the Uranian system, carbon dioxide typically turns to gas and escapes into space.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-uranus-moon-may-have-molecules-within">Uranus’ moon may have molecules within</h2>



Scientists have theorized that something must be supplying the carbon dioxide to Ariel's surface.&nbsp;



One popular hypothesis suggests that interactions between the moon's surface and charged particles in Uranus' magnetosphere create carbon dioxide through radiolysis, a process where molecules are broken down by ionizing radiation.



However, a new study published in the <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/ad566a" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Astrophysical Journal Letters</a> supports an alternative theory: that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-carbon-dioxide-travels-in-the-atmosphere/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">carbon dioxide</a> and other molecules are emerging from within Ariel, possibly from a subsurface liquid ocean. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-carbon-dioxide-deposits-on-uranus-moon">Carbon dioxide deposits on Uranus’ moon</h2>



The research, led by Richard Cartwright from <a href="https://www.jhuapl.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory</a> (APL), used NASA's <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthpedia-articles/lift-off-the-james-webb-telescope-is-headed-to-space/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">James Webb Space Telescope</a> to collect chemical spectra of Ariel's surface and compared them with spectra of simulated chemical mixtures in the lab. 



The experts found that Ariel has some of the most carbon dioxide-rich deposits in the solar system, with an estimated thickness of at least 10 millimeters (0.4 inches) on the moon's trailing hemisphere.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-carbon-monoxide-on-ariel-s-surface">Carbon monoxide on Ariel's surface</h2>



Additionally, the study detected clear signals of carbon monoxide on Ariel's surface. “It just shouldn't be there. You've got to get down to 30 Kelvin [minus 405 degrees Fahrenheit] before carbon monoxide's stable,” Cartwright said. 



Ariel's surface temperature averages around 65 degrees Fahrenheit warmer, suggesting that carbon monoxide must be actively replenished.



Radiolysis could contribute to this replenishment. Laboratory experiments have demonstrated that radiation bombardment of water ice mixed with carbon-rich material can produce both carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide, indicating a potential source for the rich abundance of these molecules on Ariel's trailing hemisphere.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-many-questions-remain-unanswered-nbsp">Many questions remain unanswered&nbsp;</h2>



However, many questions remain about Uranus' magnetosphere and its interactions with the planet's <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nasa-four-uranus-moons-may-have-oceans-that-are-miles-deep/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">moons</a>. 



Even during Voyager 2's flyby of Uranus nearly 40 years ago, scientists suspected that these interactions might be limited due to the 58-degree offset between Uranus' magnetic field axis and the orbital plane of its moons. Recent models have supported this prediction.



Instead, the bulk of the carbon oxides on Ariel may come from chemical processes occurring in a subsurface water ocean, with these molecules escaping through cracks in Ariel's icy exterior or even through eruptive plumes.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-does-ariel-have-liquid-water">Does Ariel have liquid water?</h2>



The new spectral observations also hint that Ariel's surface might contain carbonate minerals, which can only form through interactions between liquid water and rocks.&nbsp;



“If our interpretation of that carbonate feature is correct, then that is a pretty big result because it means it had to form in the interior,” Cartwright said. “That's something we absolutely need to confirm, either through future observations, modeling or some combination of techniques.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-geological-activity-on-uranus-moon">Geological activity on Uranus’ moon</h2>



Ariel's surface features, including gash-like canyons, crisscrossing grooves, and smooth spots believed to result from cryovolcanic spills, have led researchers to suspect that the moon may have been or still might be geologically active.&nbsp;



A 2023 study led by APL's Ian Cohen even suggested that Ariel and/or its sister moon Miranda could be emitting material into Uranus' <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/secrets-of-jupiters-magnetosphere-will-help-us-predict-space-weather/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">magnetosphere</a>, potentially through plumes.



“All these new insights underscore how compelling the Uranian system is,” Cohen said. “Whether it's to unlock the keys to how the solar system formed, better understand the planet's complex magnetosphere or determine whether these moons are potential ocean worlds, many of us in the planetary science community are really looking forward to a future mission to explore Uranus.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dedicated-missions-to-uranus-are-needed">Dedicated missions to Uranus are needed</h2>



In 2023, the planetary science community, through its <a href="https://www.nationalacademies.org/our-work/planetary-science-and-astrobiology-decadal-survey-2023-2032" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Planetary Science and Astrobiology decadal survey</a>, prioritized the first dedicated mission to Uranus, raising hopes for a future scientific voyage to the turquoise ice giant.



Cartwright views this as an opportunity to gather valuable data about the solar system's ice giants and their potentially ocean-bearing moons. These findings could have implications for understanding similar worlds in other stellar systems.&nbsp;



Additionally, a mission to Uranus could provide concrete answers that are only possible through direct exploration. Most of Ariel's observed grooves, which are suspected to be openings to its interior, are on its trailing side. If carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide are leaking through these grooves, it could explain their abundance on Ariel's trailing side.



“It's a bit of a stretch because we just haven't seen much of the moon's surface [Voyager 2 captured only about 35% of Ariel's surface during its brief flyby],” Cartwright cautioned. “We're just not going to know until we perform more dedicated observations.”



Image Credit: NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory



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Uranus’ moon Ariel may have a hidden ocean

New research has revealed that the surface of Uranus' moon...

NASA's devoted team at the Glenn Research Center in Cleveland is making headlines again. They have successfully <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nasa-receives-deep-space-laser-message-psyche-mission-140-million-miles-away/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">transmitted</a> 4K video footage from an aircraft to the International Space Station (<a href="https://www.nasa.gov/international-space-station/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ISS</a>) and back, using optical or laser communications. 



This impressive achievement, a first in the history of space exploration, is a part of a series of tests intended to facilitate live video coverage of astronauts on the moon during the Artemis missions.



The scientist orchestrating this feat, Dr. Daniel Raible, Principal Investigator for the High-Rate Delay Tolerant Networking (<a href="https://www1.grc.nasa.gov/space/scan/acs/tech-studies/dtn/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">HDTN</a>) project at Glenn, has gone on record to share the significance of this achievement.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bye-radio-waves-welcome-laser-communications">Bye radio waves, welcome laser communications</h2>



For years, NASA has used radio waves to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nasa-sent-pet-photos-to-the-space-station-using-lasers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">send information to and from space</a>. Now, they are pivoting to a more efficient method. 



Laser communication, which uses infrared light, has the potential to transmit 10 to 100 times more data, and do it faster than the traditional radio frequency systems. 



This is a game changer for space missions. But how did they accomplish this extraordinary feat?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-successful-laser-communications">Successful laser communications</h2>



In collaboration with the Air Force Research Laboratory and NASA's Small Business Innovation Research program, the Glenn engineers installed a portable laser terminal under a Pilatus PC-12 aircraft. Data was then sent from the aircraft to an optical ground station in Cleveland. 



From there, data traveled over an Earth-based network to NASA's White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico. 



In a marathon of transmissions, the data traveled 22,000 miles from Earth to NASA's Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (<a href="https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/stmd/tech-demo-missions-program/laser-communications-relay-demonstration-lcrd-overview/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LCRD</a>), an orbiting experimental platform. The LCRD then relayed the signals to the ISS before they were sent back to Earth.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-boosting-space-communication">Boosting space communication</h2>



These innovative experiments are more than just technological wonders. “We can now build upon the success of streaming 4K HD videos to and from the space station to provide future capabilities,” noted Dr. Raible.



Think about it. Video conferencing from the moon. For the Artemis astronauts, this will be instrumental in coordinating activities and maintaining crew health.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-refining-the-technology">Refining the technology</h2>



After every experimental flight, the devoted team at Glenn continued to refine their technology. They found that testing space technology through aeronautics was more practical and cost-effective than ground or space testing. 



James Demers, the chief of aircraft operations at Glenn, emphasized the importance of getting “new ideas out of the lab and flown in the relevant environment.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-new-era-of-space-exploration">A new era of space exploration</h2>



The flights form part of an ambitious NASA initiative – to stream high-bandwidth video and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nasa-sends-missy-elliotts-hip-hop-music-to-venus/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">data from deep space</a>. Future human missions beyond low Earth orbit will harness these technologies. 



As NASA seeks to capture high-definition data on the moon and beyond, it's the start of a laser communication era at NASA’s Space Communications and Navigation (<a href="https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/space-operations/space-communications-and-navigation-scan-program/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SCaN</a>) program.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-impact-of-laser-communication">Impact of laser communication</h2>



The shift to laser communication not only revolutionizes <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/voyager-1-resumes-messages-to-earth-from-15-billion-miles-away/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">data transmission</a> but also amplifies scientific research capabilities. 



By enabling high-density data transfer, researchers can access real-time information from distant missions, leading to enhanced decision-making and swift technological advancements.



This ability to quickly and efficiently transmit large datasets is especially crucial for missions exploring outer planets, where the delays of traditional communication methods can hinder timely responses to critical situations. 



With laser communications, scientists can monitor experiments and collect data in near real-time, opening new frontiers in space research.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-collaboration-and-future-prospects">Collaboration and future prospects</h2>



NASA's exploration of laser communications really highlights how crucial collaboration is between different institutions and industries. 



By teaming up with the Air Force Research Laboratory and innovative private sector companies, they've created a space where creativity and technological breakthroughs can thrive together.



As NASA looks toward the future, the continuation of these collaborations is key to overcoming the challenges of interstellar communication. 



This united approach not only aims to establish a solid framework for future explorations but also inspires the next generation of engineers and scientists to push the boundaries of what is possible in space communication, ensuring that the journeys to the stars remain within reach.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-next-in-this-chapter">What’s next in this chapter?</h2>



While the initial experiments on the ISS have concluded, researchers aren't stopping just yet. They'll continue to test 4K video streaming capabilities from the PC-12 aircraft throughout July. The goal is to develop technologies that'll usher in humanity's return to the lunar surface through Artemis.



The feats of the Glenn Research Center team have set the stage for a new era of space communication. Laser, not radio waves, will be the language of choice for data transmission. And when astronauts set foot on the moon once again, we on Earth will be able to witness it with unprecedented clarity.



Image Credit: NASA/Dave Ryan



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NASA just streamed a 4k video to the space station and back

NASA's devoted team at the Glenn Research Center in Cleveland...

Remember the game of “Memory” you played as a kid, where you had to match pairs of cards stacked face down? Well, humans aren't the only ones who can play this game - bacteria can also remember, or so suggests a recent study led by Dr. Ilana Kolodkin-Gal from the Scojen Institute for Synthetic Biology at <a href="https://www.runi.ac.il/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Reichman University</a>.



No, these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bacteria-and-imprint-new-era-dna-transformation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bacteria</a> aren't flexing their tiny brains to match pairs of cards. Instead, they're remembering something far more crucial to their survival: how to form beneficial relationships with their hosts - be it a plant or a human.



This is particularly true for the bacteria Bacillus subtilis, which is widely utilized as a probiotic and a biological control agent.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bacteria-memory-spans-generations">Bacteria memory spans generations</h2>



These bacteria can recall the required genes associated with colonization and symbiosis with their host even after they’ve been disconnected from the host. 



This uncanny ability, which can last for generations, empowers the bacteria to resettle with a new host swiftly and more efficiently than those bacteria that haven’t had any previous stable interaction with a host.



But, what's the secret behind this bacteria's exceptional memory? Besides the usual suspects - genes - the answer also lies in the circumstances under which these genes are activated.



The experts discovered that the genes with multigenerational inheritance patterns showcased resistance to stress, emphasizing the critical role of the defenses developed by the bacteria during their colonization.



Such multigenerational benefits could explain why the association between beneficial bacteria and their hosts remains stable over time. The research team speculates that similar mechanisms could play a role in the human gut, where beneficial probiotic bacteria from the same group ensure long-term protection against disease.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-for-probiotic-use">Implications for probiotic use</h2>



The findings from Dr. Kolodkin-Gal’s research on Bacillus subtilis have significant implications for the use of probiotics in both agriculture and healthcare. 



Understanding how these bacteria remember and react to their hosts can lead to more effective probiotic formulations. 



In agriculture, this knowledge can improve the stability and efficacy of beneficial microbes applied to crops, enhancing plant health and yield. 



In human health, it suggests that selecting probiotic strains with a proven history of engagement with the human gut could lead to more robust outcomes in managing gut health and preventing diseases.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-research-directions">Future research directions</h2>



As the field of microbial memory continues to grow, future research will likely focus on decoding the specific genetic mechanisms that allow for memory and adaptation in various bacterial species. 



Exploring how environmental factors influence these memories could provide insights into not only bacterial behavior but also their interactions with different hosts.



Additionally, studying other microbial communities beyond Bacillus subtilis may reveal universal principles of memory and association that extend to the human microbiome, ultimately enhancing therapeutic strategies for a variety of health conditions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bacteria-memory-for-a-better-future">Bacteria memory for a better future</h2>



This intriguing study was carried out with the support of Jonathan Friedman's group from the <a href="https://en.huji.ac.il" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hebrew University of Jerusalem</a> and Asaph Aharoni's group from the <a href="https://www.weizmann.ac.il/pages/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Weizmann Institute of Science</a>.



Also contributing were Dr. Omri Gilhar from the Weizmann Institute of Science and Dr. Liat Rahamim-Ben Navi from the Scojen Institute at Reichman University. 



Dr. Ilana Kolodkin-Gal elaborated on the broader implications of the study.



"Our research findings open the door to the manipulation of the identified genes to create synthetic circuits with memory for agricultural and industrial applications, and to improve the engineering of probiotic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bacteria-microbes-discovered-destroys-pfas-forever-chemicals/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bacteria</a>, whose average lifespan is about 30 minutes. We aim for them to act in accordance with the signal they receive for hours or even days."



The potential applications are significant. Picture a world with even more effective probiotics, engineered with a memory that makes them work longer and better. Or consider the agricultural industry, which could utilize bacteria with a lasting memory to enhance <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/engineered-plant-microbiomes-the-future-of-crop-protection/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">crop health</a> and productivity. 



The possibilities are as vast as they are exciting. While this is just the beginning, the journey to unlock the full potential of these memory-endowed <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plants-keep-up-a-precise-rhythm-to-partner-with-bacteria/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bacteria</a> is well underway.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0944501324002155?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Microbiological Research</a>.



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Bacteria have a memory of interactions with their hosts

Remember the game of “Memory” you played as a kid,...

In a world deeply concerned about climate change and its devastating effects, clean energy solutions are being aggressively sought after. A surprising breakthrough has come from an unexpected place: old soda cans and seawater.



The humble aluminum found in soda cans shows promising potential as a sustainable source of clean energy.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-soda-cans-and-clean-energy">Soda cans and clean energy</h2>



Experts at the <a href="https://www.mit.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Massachusetts Institute of Technology</a> (MIT) discovered that when the aluminum in soda cans is exposed in its pure form and mixed with seawater, the solution produces hydrogen.



This gas fuels engines and cells without producing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fossil-carbon-emissions-hit-a-record-high-in-2023/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">carbon emissions</a>. Intriguingly enough, this novel reaction is expedited significantly when caffeine is added to the mix.



In a study conducted at MIT, the researchers demonstrated their eco-friendly innovation by dropping pretreated aluminum pellets into a beaker of filtered seawater. 



Our familiar pure aluminum was scrubbed with a rare-metal alloy to allow it to interact with the seawater and generate <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/green-hydrogen-energy-production-just-got-a-lot-easier/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hydrogen</a>. The salt ions in the seawater could attract and recover the alloy, which was then reused in the hydrogen production process.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-role-of-caffeine">The role of caffeine</h2>



While the seawater and aluminum reaction was successful, it took place at a relatively sluggish pace. 



However, when coffee grounds were introduced to the solution, the scientists were taken aback at how rapidly the reaction progressed. 



They discovered that a minor concentration of imidazole, an active component of caffeine, could streamline the reaction to just five minutes, a noticeable improvement from the original two hours.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-clean-energy-on-the-go">Clean energy on the go</h2>



The researchers are working on developing a small reactor that could function on a marine vessel or underwater vehicle. This vessel would carry aluminum pellets along with the rare-metal alloy and some caffeine.



The reactor would periodically be supplied with these ingredients and the readily available seawater to produce hydrogen.



The implications are significant. “This is very interesting for maritime applications like boats or underwater vehicles because you wouldn’t have to carry around seawater - it’s readily available,” said study lead author Aly Kombargi, a PhD student at MIT.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-overcoming-challenges-and-limitations">Overcoming challenges and limitations </h2>



While this innovation appears game-changing, the researchers hit some roadblocks along the way.



When aluminum interacts with water, it generates hydrogen and heat, but this reaction can only occur if the aluminum remains in its pure form. 



The moment it comes in contact with oxygen, such as in the air, it creates a protective oxide layer that prevents further reactions. This elusive layer is why hydrogen doesn't bubble up when you drop a soda can in the water.



The team successfully overcame this roadblock by pretreating the aluminum with a rare-metal alloy of gallium and indium, successfully removing the oxide layer.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-future-of-sustainable-energy">The future of sustainable energy</h2>



The team now plans to test this eco-friendly technology in marine and underwater vehicles. 



In addition, a future where trucks, trains, and even planes can be powered by aluminum and seawater might not be too far away.



“The next part is to figure out how to use this for trucks, trains, and maybe airplanes. Perhaps, instead of having to carry water as well, we could extract water from the ambient humidity to produce hydrogen. That’s down the line,” noted Kombargi.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-change-and-clean-energy-solutions">Climate change and clean energy solutions </h2>



Combating climate change requires urgent sustainable energy solutions. Innovations like the aluminum-seawater reaction show the potential of using <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wealthy-nations-are-making-more-progress-toward-sustainable-development/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">natural resources</a> for clean energy. Alongside renewable sources like solar, wind, and hydroelectric power, these breakthroughs will help us reduce reliance on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/air-pollution-from-fossil-fuels-kills-5-million-people-each-year/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fossil fuels</a>.



Biofuels from organic materials, such as agricultural waste and algae, offer renewable alternatives to traditional fuels. Researchers are enhancing biofuel production through advanced fermentation and genetic engineering.



Energy storage technologies, including advanced batteries and supercapacitors, are vital for consistent power supply from intermittent <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/clean-energy-biodiversity-wildlife-habitats-delicate-balancing-act/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">renewable sources</a>. Innovations in materials science are creating more efficient and durable storage solutions.



Smart grids and energy management systems optimize energy consumption and distribution, reducing waste and improving efficiency. By combining innovative technologies with advancements in biofuels, storage, and smart grids, we can build a sustainable future with a resilient energy infrastructure.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S2666386424003990" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cell Reports Physical Science</a>.



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Old soda cans: A surprising source of clean energy

In a world deeply concerned about climate change and its...

New research from <a href="https://www.vt.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Virginia Tech</a> reveals that SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/covid-lockdowns-had-unexpected-impacts-on-wildlife-behavior/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">COVID-19</a>, is prevalent among various wildlife species. 



The study found the virus in six common backyard species and detected antibodies in five of these species, with exposure rates ranging from 40 to 60 percent.&nbsp;



Genetic tracking confirmed both the presence of the virus and unique viral mutations closely matching human variants, supporting human-to-animal transmission.



Animals near hiking trails and high-traffic public areas had the highest exposure rates, indicating that human activities play a significant role in transmitting the COVID virus to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/humans-transmit-more-viruses-to-animals-than-we-catch-from-them/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wildlife</a>. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-novel-covid-virus-mutations-in-wildlife-nbsp">Novel COVID virus mutations in wildlife&nbsp;</h2>



Scientists from the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, the Department of Biological Sciences in Virginia Tech’s College of Science, and the Fralin Life Sciences Institute conducted this study, emphasizing the need for broad surveillance due to the identification of novel COVID virus mutations in wildlife. These mutations could be more harmful and transmissible, posing challenges for vaccine development.



However, the researchers stressed that there was no evidence of the virus being transmitted from animals to humans. People should not fear typical interactions with wildlife, as noted by Carla Finkielstein, professor of biological sciences at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute.&nbsp;



“The virus can jump from humans to wildlife when we are in contact with them, like a hitchhiker switching rides to a new, more suitable host,” said Finkielstein. She emphasized the virus’s goal to spread and survive, adapting and mutating to thrive in new hosts.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-widespread-covid-exposure-among-wildlife">Widespread COVID exposure among wildlife</h2>



Previous studies had primarily identified SARS-CoV-2 in wildlife such as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/covid-19-is-circulating-and-evolving-rapidly-in-white-tailed-deer/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">white-tailed deer</a> and feral mink. The Virginia Tech study expanded the number of species examined, providing a broader understanding of virus transmission to and among wildlife. 



This data suggests widespread exposure in wildlife, particularly in areas with high human activity, which serve as points of contact for cross-species transmission. Signs of the virus were found in deer mice, opossums, raccoons, groundhogs, rabbits, and Eastern red bats.&nbsp;



“This study was really motivated by seeing a large, important gap in our knowledge about SARS-CoV-2 transmission in a broader wildlife community,” said Joseph Hoyt, assistant professor of biological sciences and corresponding author on the paper.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-focus-of-the-research-nbsp">Focus of the research&nbsp;</h2>



The research team collected 798 nasal and oral swabs across Virginia from animals either live-trapped and released or treated by wildlife rehabilitation centers. They also obtained 126 blood samples from six species.&nbsp;



Locations varied from urban areas to remote wilderness to compare virus presence in areas with different levels of human activity. Notably, two mice at the same site on the same day had the exact same variant, indicating possible transmission from the same human or between the mice.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-do-humans-pass-covid-to-wildlife">How do humans pass COVID to wildlife?</h2>



Researchers remain uncertain about how the virus is transmitted from humans to animals. While wastewater is one possibility, the scientists believe trash receptacles and discarded food are more likely sources.&nbsp;



“I think the big take-home message is the virus is pretty ubiquitous,” said Amanda Goldberg, the study’s first author and former postdoctoral associate in Hoyt’s lab. 



The study focused on Virginia, but many of the species that tested positive are common throughout North America, suggesting they are being exposed in other areas as well. Surveillance across a broader region is urgently needed, Hoyt emphasized.



“The virus is indifferent to whether its host walks on two legs or four. Its primary objective is survival,” said Finkielstein, who is also director of the Virginia Tech Molecular Diagnostics Lab.&nbsp;



She highlighted the importance of sequencing the virus’s genome in these species, a monumental task accomplished by a talented team of molecular biologists, bioinformaticians, and modelers in a state-of-the-art facility. “We understood the critical importance of sequencing the genome of the virus infecting those species,” she said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-research-is-needed">Further research is needed</h2>



The researchers stressed the need for continued surveillance to monitor these mutations. Further research is needed to understand how the virus is transmitted from humans to wildlife, spreads within species, and potentially between species.&nbsp;



“This study highlights the potentially large host range SARS-CoV-2 can have in nature and really how widespread it might be,” Hoyt said. Understanding which wildlife species might play a role in the long-term maintenance of SARS-CoV-2 in humans requires much more work.&nbsp;



“What we’ve already learned is that SARS CoV-2 is not only a human problem, and it takes a multidisciplinary team to address its impact on various species and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/healthy-ecosystems-are-needed-to-prevent-future-pandemics/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ecosystems</a> effectively,” Finkielstein concluded.



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-49891-w" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications</a>.



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COVID virus is prevalent in backyard wildlife species

New research from Virginia Tech reveals that SARS-CoV-2, the virus...

Each year, the 29th of July marks a remarkable day of reverence and adulation for one of nature’s most majestic predators - the tiger. First initiated in the year 2010, the annual celebration of Global Tiger Day brings together 13 tiger range countries to further a shared commitment, labeled as the Tx2, to double the number of wild tigers.



Celebrations in 2016 signified the midpoint of this ambitious objective, and the participation was heartening, to say the least. 



The #ThumbsUpForTigers campaign saw WWF offices, organizations, celebrities, government officials, individuals, and families uniting on an international scale to honor the grandeur of this regal feline.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-global-tiger-day">Global Tiger Day</h2>



“Doubling tigers is about tigers, about the whole of nature - and it's also about us," noted Marco Lambertini, Director General WWF.&nbsp;



This statement embodies the interconnectedness of our existence. The survival of tigers isn't just about conserving a species but preserving the intricate balance of nature - and ensuring our survival.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-global-tiger-day-in-bhutan-and-nepal">Global Tiger Day in Bhutan and Nepal</h2>



Bhutan, the small Himalayan nation, boasted quite an exhilarating tidbit this year - a wild tiger was spotted within the Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary (BWS). This sighting happened after nearly two decades of tiger absence in the sanctuary, spawning great excitement within the nation.



This Global Tiger Day, also known as International Tiger Day, brings promising news from the Bardia National Park in Nepal. The results from a recent tiger monitoring study showed an increase in tiger numbers. 



"It is the Tx2 goal that guides us through these challenges to ensure this iconic species is better protected, so we can save all by saving just one," noted Ghana Gurung,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wwfnepal.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">WWF-Nepal</a>&nbsp;Senior Conservation Program Director.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-indonesia-s-need-for-protection">Indonesia's need for protection</h2>



With less than 400 tigers left, Indonesia’s wild tiger population, now confined to the island of Sumatra, is critically <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthpedia-articles/are-tigers-endangered/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">endangered</a> and in urgent need for protection.&nbsp;



Activities and events on Global Tiger Day drive the message home with poignant reminders like the exhibition of 371 papier mâché tigers at Senayan City Mall in Jakarta.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tigers-in-malaysia-and-india">Tigers in Malaysia and India</h2>



During this Global Tiger Day, <a href="https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&amp;rls=en&amp;q=WWF-Malaysia&amp;ie=UTF-8&amp;oe=UTF-8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">WWF-Malaysia</a>, along with Maybank, hosted an awareness exhibition about the plight of the national animal. Dr. Dionysius S.K. Sharma, WWF-Malaysia CEO, stated: "We need to combine our efforts at full force to double the number of tigers in the wild."



India recently hosted a week-long celebration to raise awareness about tiger conservation, emphasizing the vital role these wild tigers play in our ecosystem. 



The event featured educational workshops, art exhibitions, and wildlife photography contests, engaging thousands of participants to reflect on the importance of protecting tiger habitats and fostering community responsibility for their preservation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cambodia-china-and-taiwan">Cambodia, China, and Taiwan</h2>



Despite the absence of tigers since 2007, Cambodia remains hopeful, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wwf.org.kh/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">WWF-Cambodia</a>&nbsp;is supporting the government's plans to reintroduce tigers. A public event at the AEON Mall marked the day with exhibitions and video competitions.



Evidence of tigers returning and breeding has ignited optimism in Northeast China. A two-day festival was hosted by&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wwfchina.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">WWF-China</a>&nbsp;and WWF-Russia, featuring presentations, discussions, and field trips.



DotAsia, a non-profit organisation, along with TRAFFIC East Asia and WWF, accelerated their efforts to support the Tx2 goal. A key discussion point was the role of the internet in wildlife trade, both as a threat and as a possible boon to tiger conservation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-collaborative-international-efforts">Collaborative international efforts</h2>



Conservation of tigers transcends national borders, necessitating collaboration between various countries and organizations. This year, global entities came together to share <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/international-tiger-day-celebrating-one-of-earths-most-majestic-animals/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">successful conservation</a> strategies and resources, creating synergies that can amplify their impact. 



Collaborative efforts such as transboundary conservation regions have been highlighted as essential in protecting tiger habitats. By uniting resources and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nasa-is-tracking-endangered-animal-habitats-from-space/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">knowledge</a>, countries can more effectively combat poaching and habitat loss, ensuring a stable future for wild tiger populations.



Global Tiger Day isn't just another date in our calendars. It is a day that accentuates the vital need to appreciate, respect, and conserve the beautiful yet endangered creature that is the tiger. As we continue in our pursuit of reaching the Tx2 goal, let's remember that every ripple counts in making a wave.&nbsp;



Happy Global Tiger Day, everyone!



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Global Tiger Day: Worldwide support for tiger conservation

Each year, the 29th of July marks a remarkable day...

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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"

[sendtonews key="QIoVYJqRBi-2434608-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from NASA...

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

[sendtonews key="JbW4VsY53O-1632195-12187" type="single"] Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

The history of Mars is much more complex than we thought

[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...