The clever coyotes of San Francisco are proving just how adaptable they can be to urban life. 



These native predators, who returned to the city in the early 2000s after a century-long absence, aren't just surviving in the concrete jungle - they're thriving. The coyotes have learned to switch up their menu based on what each neighborhood has to offer.



Scientists from the University of California, Davis, recently conducted a study to better understand how these animals are adapting to urban life. 



The findings reveal how restaurant density, pavement levels, and other urban features influence what coyotes eat.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-urban-coyotes-diets-are-changing">Urban coyotes’ diets are changing</h2>



Urban environments present new challenges and opportunities for wildlife. As green spaces shrink, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hunting-coyotes-actually-boosts-their-numbers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">coyotes</a> in San Francisco are forced to modify their food sources. 



The researchers found that these adaptable predators consume a significant amount of human-provided food. “Chicken is a really big diet item; we found it in 72% of the scat samples analyzed in the study,” noted lead author Tali Caspi, a Ph.D. candidate at <a href="https://www.ucdavis.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UC Davis</a>.



Despite their reliance on human food, coyotes still hunt natural prey when available. Pocket gophers, a common rodent in the area, were the second most frequent food source, found in 57% of scat samples. 



Other notable items in their diet included pig (human-sourced) and raccoon (natural prey). 



While concerns about coyotes hunting domestic cats exist, the study showed that feline remains appeared in only 4.5% of analyzed samples. This suggests that predation on pet cats is not a significant part of their diet.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-investigating-urban-coyote-diets">Investigating urban coyote diets</h2>



To uncover these dietary patterns, the researchers collected more than 700 coyote scat samples from different parts of San Francisco between September 2019 and April 2022.



The team analyzed the samples at UC Davis’ <a href="https://vgl.ucdavis.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Veterinary Genetics Laboratory</a>, using genotyping to match scat to individual coyotes and DNA metabarcoding to determine what they had eaten.



One key finding was that urban coyotes living in areas with high restaurant density, such as downtown and other heavily paved neighborhoods, consumed more human food. 



In contrast, those living in greener areas, such as the Presidio or Golden Gate Park, relied more on natural prey. This variation highlights how coyotes adapt their foraging behavior based on their surroundings.



The study also revealed that while individual <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/coyotes-can-make-puppy-dog-eyes-too/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">coyotes</a> within the same family had similar diets, the diets of different family groups varied significantly. 



“This study highlights the huge range of dietary and habitat affinities of coyotes as a species. That is a trait for which they are already well-known, but the study also joins a growing body of evidence pointing to relatively narrow proclivities of coyotes as individuals. They tend to stick with what they know,” noted senior author Ben Sacks, director of the <a href="https://mecu.ucdavis.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mammalian Ecology and Conservation Unit</a> at UC Davis.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-return-of-coyotes-to-san-francisco">Return of coyotes to San Francisco</h2>



Coyotes are native to San Francisco, but they were eradicated from the city in the early 1900s. For nearly a century, they were absent from the urban landscape. 



However, in the early 2000s, coyotes made a comeback and have since established a stable population in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/coyotes-live-longer-in-densely-populated-human-areas/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">urban areas</a>. 



Today, they share space with more than 870,000 people in a city that spans just 47 square miles, making San Francisco the second-most densely populated major city in the United States.



Despite their return, many people remain unaware of how to coexist with these animals. Coyotes are opportunistic feeders, meaning they take advantage of whatever food is easiest to access. 



While they can hunt naturally, human-provided food - whether intentionally given or found in trash - has become a major part of their diet.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-coexisting-with-urban-coyotes">Coexisting with urban coyotes</h2>



As coyotes continue to thrive in San Francisco, it is important for residents to take steps to reduce conflicts. 



Many conflicts arise when people inadvertently provide food, either by leaving pet food outside, improperly disposing of trash, or feeding them directly. This can make coyotes more comfortable around humans, increasing the chances of unwanted encounters.



“There’s a misconception that coyotes are starving and need our help finding food in San Francisco, and clearly they don’t,” noted Caspi.



In reality, coyotes are highly adaptable and capable of surviving without human intervention.



Another way to minimize conflicts is by keeping domestic pets safe. Coyotes may not actively hunt cats, but they are opportunistic predators. Keeping cats indoors and ensuring that small pets are supervised can help reduce negative interactions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-urban-wildlife-and-adaptation">Urban wildlife and adaptation</h2>



San Francisco’s urban <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/city-life-has-a-huge-impact-on-coyote-evolution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">coyotes</a> are part of a larger trend of wildlife adapting to city life. Around the world, animals are learning new ways to survive in urban environments. 



Song sparrows in Portland, Oregon, adjust their song frequencies to be heard over city noise, while cockatoos in Australia have figured out how to open trash cans for food. These behaviors demonstrate how different species develop unique survival strategies when faced with human-made landscapes.



“There are a lot of different ways to survive city life as an animal,” Caspi said. “It speaks to the plasticity and resilience of these species to see all of these different strategies for coping with urban life.”



Coyotes, known for their intelligence and adaptability, are no exception. They have successfully integrated into one of the country’s most densely populated cities, using their keen instincts to navigate an environment vastly different from their historical range.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-of-coyotes-in-san-francisco">Future of coyotes in San Francisco</h2>



The study’s findings provide valuable insights into urban wildlife management. By understanding what coyotes eat and how they adapt to their environment, city officials and conservationists can implement better strategies to reduce conflicts while protecting both wildlife and human residents.



The research was funded by a Christine Stevens Wildlife Award from the Animal Welfare Institute, along with support from UC Davis, <a href="https://www.berkeley.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UC Berkeley</a>, and the UC Davis <a href="https://education.ucdavis.edu/center-community-and-citizen-science" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Center for Community and Citizen Science</a>. 



Contributions from community scientists via iNaturalist also played a crucial role in the study, helping researchers locate fresh scat samples and even leading to a rare discovery of fin whale DNA in a coyote’s diet. This was traced back to a beached whale recorded on the app.



As San Francisco continues to evolve, so will its urban coyotes. They have proven their ability to adapt, and their presence in the city is likely to remain a fixture of the urban ecosystem. Learning to coexist with them will be essential in maintaining a balance between wildlife conservation and city life.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ecs2.70152" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ecosphere</a>.



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Urban coyotes have developed a taste for human food

The clever coyotes of San Francisco are proving just how adaptable they can be to urban life. These native predators, who returned to the city in the early 2000s after a century-long absence, aren't just surviving in the concrete jungle - they're thriving. The coyotes have learned to switch up their menu based on what each neighborhood has to offer. Scientists from the University of California, Davis, recently conducted a study to better understand how these animals are adapting to urban life. The findings reveal how restaurant...

As the U.S. battles another surge of Covid-19 infections, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved updated Covid vaccines for Americans aged six months and older.



Despite this, new findings suggest an alarming rise in vaccine misinformation and a decline in the enthusiasm towards Covid-19 vaccination.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-misconceptions-about-covid-19-vaccines">Misconceptions about Covid-19 vaccines</h2>



According to the Annenberg Science and Public Health (ASAPH) Knowledge Survey, the spread of misinformation continues to proliferate.



Distressingly, the number of Americans falling prey to misinformation about <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/covid-19-vaccination-reduces-mortality-risk-but-only-for-6-months/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Covid-19 vaccines</a> is on the rise, fueling vaccine hesitancy. 



According to the report, over a quarter of Americans (28%) falsely believe that Covid-19 vaccines have led to thousands of deaths. Shockingly, this figure has increased from 22% in June 2021.



Additionally, over one in five Americans (22%) hold the potentially dangerous belief that it is safer to get a Covid-19 infection than to get the vaccine. This number has more than doubled from 10% in April 2021.



Furthermore, the percentage of Americans who mistakenly believe that the Covid-19 vaccine alters people’s <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-can-now-collect-human-dna-from-water-air-and-basically-everywhere/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">DNA</a> has almost doubled to 15% from 8% in April 2021.



"Belief in these three misconceptions is associated with increased reluctance to vaccinate," said Kathleen Hall Jamieson, director of the <a href="https://www.annenbergpublicpolicycenter.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-need-for-public-health-resilience">A need for public health resilience</h2>



ASAPH's data reveals concerning attitudes towards Covid-19 and vaccines in general. Only one in five people (20%) expressed worry about contracting Covid-19, despite the ongoing threat.



Additionally, less than half of those surveyed (44%) say they are somewhat or very likely to get an annual Covid-19 vaccine if recommended by the CDC.



Furthermore, although two-thirds of Americans (66%) acknowledge that the benefits of taking Covid-19 vaccines outweigh the risks, this percentage is lower than those related to other vaccines like MMR, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine, and others.



Even the proposed single-shot mRNA vaccine - combining protection against flu, RSV, and Covid-19 - garnered only 49% approval.



"With the CDC reporting that Covid-19 infection remains an ongoing threat and an updated vaccine available, now is the time to ramp up awareness both of the value of vaccinating against COVID-19 and of the risks of contracting the disease," said Jamieson.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-uncertainty-about-vaccines">Uncertainty about vaccines </h2>



The latest ASAPH report also reveals declining <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/medical-oddity-people-born-in-october-are-least-likely-to-get-the-flu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">flu</a> vaccination rates and acceptance of the RSV vaccine for older adults. The research uncovers a significant number of respondents unsure about the effectiveness of various vaccines.



The report also highlights an increase in awareness among respondents about the vaccinations recommended by the CDC during pregnancy.



In the face of this <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-to-debunk-health-misinformation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">misinformation</a> crisis, the urgent need for clear, concise, and accurate public health communication cannot be overemphasized. 



We must challenge misconceptions, arm ourselves with the correct knowledge, and continue to champion the incredible value of life-saving vaccines in our war against Covid-19.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-covid-19-vaccination-and-public-health">Covid-19 vaccination and public health</h2>



As misinformation about Covid-19 vaccines spreads, it poses a significant threat to public health. The declining enthusiasm for vaccination, fueled by misconceptions, has real-world consequences, including the risk of new variants emerging and the prolongation of the pandemic.



Public health experts stress the importance of widespread vaccination to achieve herd immunity and protect vulnerable populations.



Covid-19 vaccines have undergone rigorous testing and have proven effective in preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and death. 



Despite this, vaccine hesitancy remains high, driven by misinformation and mistrust. Health officials and scientists advocate for robust public education campaigns to counteract false information and emphasize the benefits of vaccination.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-counteracting-the-misconceptions">Counteracting the misconceptions </h2>



The continued spread of misinformation about Covid-19 vaccines not only puts individuals at risk but also undermines efforts to control the virus. Accurate and clear communication is essential to counteract these misconceptions and encourage vaccine uptake.



By understanding the facts about Covid-19 vaccines and addressing the misconceptions head-on, we can work towards a safer and healthier future for all. 



Public health campaigns, media literacy education, and community engagement are critical components in the fight against misinformation and the promotion of vaccine confidence.



Funded by an endowment established by the Annenberg Foundation, the ASAPH Knowledge Monitor is a project of APPC’s Annenberg Health and Risk Communication Institute.



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Covid-19 vaccine misconceptions are spreading rapidly

As the U.S. battles another surge of Covid-19 infections, the...

Plasma, the fourth state of matter, holds many secrets yet to be uncovered, ranging from its behavior in space to its interaction with magnetic fields and potential applications on Earth.



One of its most intriguing mysteries is how plasma interacts with magnetic fields. This phenomenon is thought to occur both in the vast expanses between galaxies, shaping cosmic structures, and within fusion devices like tokamaks, where scientists strive to replicate the energy-generating processes of stars.



New research sheds light on the captivating and complex dance between plasma and magnetic fields, revealing insights that could revolutionize our knowledge of both astrophysical phenomena and practical fusion energy production.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-plasma-and-magnetic-field-interactions">Plasma and magnetic field interactions </h2>



Scientists at the Department of Energy’s <a href="https://www.pppl.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory</a> (PPPL) have discovered an innovative way to capture the dynamic interaction between plasma and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/milky-way-galaxy-is-surrounded-by-massive-magnetic-fields/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">magnetic fields</a>.



Protons, the subatomic particles that form the core of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/impossible-quantum-effects-observed-atoms-positioned-closely-together/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">atoms</a>, were used as a diagnostic tool to track and visualize these interactions with unprecedented detail.



“Observing magneto-Rayleigh Taylor instabilities arising from the interaction of plasma and magnetic fields had long been thought to occur but had never been directly observed until now,” said Sophia Malko, a PPPL staff research physicist and lead scientist on the project. 



“This observation helps confirm that this instability occurs when expanding plasma meets magnetic fields. We didn’t know that our diagnostics would have that kind of precision. Our whole team is thrilled!”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-plasma-bends-magnetic-fields">Plasma bends magnetic fields</h2>



As the scientists conducted their measurements, they observed an unexpected and mesmerizing performance: the plasma, upon encountering the magnetic fields, exerted pressure that caused the fields to bend outward. 



"When an expanding plasma pushes against a background magnetic field, it displaces the field out of its volume and forms a diamagnetic cavity. This expansion occurs until the equipartition of vacuum and magnetic pressure at the plasma's outer boundary is reached, which determines the cavity's maximum radius," noted the researchers.



This interaction resulted in a dramatic and visually striking effect - a bubbling and frothing spectacle known as magneto-Rayleigh Taylor instabilities.



The instabilities manifested in the form of fascinating column and mushroom-like structures at the plasma boundaries, offering new insights into the fundamental behaviors that govern plasma dynamics in both natural and laboratory settings.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-mystery-of-plasma-jets">The mystery of plasma jets</h2>



When the plasma’s energy declined, the magnetic fields snapped back into their original positions, compressing the plasma into straight jets.



This is an important observation as these jets resemble those that stream from ultra-dense dead stars, known as black holes, extending for distances that are many times the size of a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/uma3-u1-faintest-star-system-found-orbiting-milky-way-galaxy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">galaxy</a>. The research suggests that these mysterious jets could be formed by similar compressing magnetic fields.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-magnetic-fields-architects-of-plasma-jets">Magnetic fields: Architects of plasma jets</h2>



"These experiments show that magnetic fields are very important for the formation of plasma jets," said Will Fox, a physicist at PPPL and the principal investigator of the research.



With their expertise in developing and building diagnostics, PPPL has been instrumental in the progress of measurement innovation in plasma physics. 



The researchers used proton radiography, making an exciting tweak to the technique for this experiment to allow for extremely precise measurements.



The scientists shot a powerful laser on a small disk of plastic to create plasma and 20 lasers at a capsule containing fuel made of hydrogen and helium atoms variants to produce <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/gluons-quarks-and-mystery-what-makes-proton-spin/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">protons</a>. The resulting fusion reactions led to a burst of protons and intense light, also known as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nasas-x-ray-telescope-discovers-the-ghostly-cosmic-hand/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">X-rays</a>.



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



The findings of this research have broadened the focus of PPPL to include research on high energy density (HED) plasma. 



“HED plasma is an exciting area of growth for plasma physics,” said Fox. “The results show how the Laboratory can create advanced diagnostics to give us new insights into this type of plasma.”



The scientists at PPPL plan to work on future experiments to improve models of expanding plasma. 



“Now that we have measured these instabilities very accurately, we have the information we need to improve our models and potentially simulate and understand astrophysical jets to a higher degree than before,” said Malko.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.aps.org/prresearch/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.6.023330" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Physical Review Research</a>.



Image Credit: Kyle Palmer / PPPL Communications Department



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Plasma can bend magnetic fields into unique shapes

Plasma, the fourth state of matter, holds many secrets yet...

As the world grapples with climate change, wildfires have taken center stage as a significant contributor to heat-trapping carbon emissions. The catastrophic forest fires in Canada in 2023 are a primary example.



These fires, fueled by the warmest and driest conditions in decades, released a staggering 640 million metric tons of carbon, which is comparable to the yearly fossil fuel emissions of a major industrialized nation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-carbon-emissions-from-canadian-wildfires">Carbon emissions from Canadian wildfires </h2>



NASA scientists, committed to understanding our ever-changing planet, have investigated this phenomenon. Using satellite observations and advanced computing, they quantified the carbon <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/canadian-fires-have-released-a-billion-tons-of-carbon-dioxide/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">emissions</a> from the Canadian wildfires.



These destructive fires destroyed an area almost the size of North Dakota between May and September 2023. To put this in perspective, the fires emitted more carbon in five months than what Russia or Japan released from burning fossil fuels during the entire year of 2022. The quantity was about 480 million and 291 million metric tons, respectively. 



Though the carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted from wildfires and fossil fuel combustion induces immediate warming, the scientists from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California emphasize a crucial difference.



As the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tropical-forests-regrow-naturally-on-abandoned-farmlands/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">forest regrows</a>, the carbon from the fires will be recaptured by Earth’s ecosystems. Meanwhile, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fossil-carbon-emissions-hit-a-record-high-in-2023/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CO2 from burning fossil fuels</a> has no natural offsetting process.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-measuring-gases-in-the-atmosphere">Measuring gases in the atmosphere</h2>



The scientists relied on data from the European Space Agency's TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI). This instrument, since 2017, has been circling Earth in the Sentinel 5P satellite.



TROPOMI has the vital job of mapping and measuring trace gases and fine particles in the atmosphere.



The analytical process started with assessing the carbon monoxide (CO) levels in the atmosphere during the <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/intense-fire-season-in-mexico-is-part-of-a-worldwide-trend/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fire season</a>. 



By "back-calculating," scientists determined the initial emissions that led to such CO levels. They could then estimate the CO2 released based on the correlation between the two gases.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-extreme-canadian-wildfire-season">Extreme Canadian wildfire season</h2>



The results of the analysis were astonishing. "What we found was that the fire emissions were bigger than anything in the record for Canada," said study lead author Brendan Byrne.



Despite their severity, wildfires play a key role in the forest ecosystem, clearing undergrowth and making way for new plants. However, factors such as extended drought, past fire management strategies, invasive species, and urban spread into lesser developed areas have increased the number and size of wildfires.



The 2023 fire season in Canada was particularly severe, resulting from extremely dry and warm conditions. 



Temperatures were over 4.5 degrees Fahrenheit above average from May through September in the northwest region, where 61% of fire emissions occurred. The lack of rainfall also exacerbated the situation.



The conditions sparked fires of monstrous sizes, scorching approximately 18 million hectares of forest from British Columbia to Quebec and the Atlantic provinces. This figure is more than eight times the 40-year average and accounted for 5% of Canadian forests.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-increasing-fire-activity">Increasing fire activity</h2>



"Some climate models project that the temperatures we experienced last year will become the norm by the 2050s,” said Byrne, "The warming, coupled with lack of moisture, is likely to trigger more fire activity in the future."



Canadian forests play a crucial role in mitigating climate change as they absorb more CO2 than they release. But, if the 2023 forest fires become a norm, it could significantly impact global climate.



The question remains: Can Canadian forests sustain their carbon absorption rate, or will increased fire activity diminish their capacity to thwart climate warming?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-ecological-duality-of-wildfires">The ecological duality of wildfires</h2>



Wildfires, often viewed through a lens of devastation, present a complex duality within <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/unexpected-changes-what-happens-to-boreal-forests-after-fire/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">forest ecosystems</a>.



On one hand, they can wreak havoc, destroying habitats, displacing wildlife, and releasing significant amounts of carbon into the atmosphere. On the other hand, they play a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance. 



Some species have evolved to thrive in post-fire environments. For instance, many conifers rely on the heat of a fire to release their seeds, ensuring the regeneration of their populations.



Additionally, wildfires help to clear out dead vegetation and underbrush, thereby promoting new growth and biodiversity.



While the immediate impact of a wildfire can be catastrophic, the subsequent recovery and regrowth of the forest can contribute to long-term ecological health. 



Nonetheless, the frequency and intensity of wildfires are escalated by climate change and human activity. The interplay between natural fire regimes and anthropogenic influences poses significant challenges for forestry management and conservation efforts. 



Recognizing the dual nature of wildfires is essential for developing effective strategies that harness their ecological benefits while mitigating their overarching threats to carbon emissions and climate stability.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07878-z" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a>.



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Canadian wildfires released 640 million metric tons of carbon

As the world grapples with climate change, wildfires have taken...

Ever been awestruck by the towering heights of skyscrapers? Now, imagine four Burj Khalifas -- the world's tallest building -- one on top of the other. That's what a team of expert oceanographers led by the Schmidt Ocean Institute in California discovered in the form of an underwater mountain.



Situated 900 miles off the coast of Chile in the Pacific Ocean, a newly mapped underwater mountain, or seamount, has taken the spotlight in recent oceanographic studies. 



This colossal undersea peak stands 1.9 miles high. To put it into context, it's bigger than Mount Olympus in Greece, yet smaller than Japan's Mount Fuji. Essentially, it's quadruple the height of Burj Khalifa in Dubai.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sanctuary-around-the-underwater-mountain">Sanctuary around the underwater mountain</h2>



This marine mountain is part of an underwater range teeming with sponge gardens, ancient corals, rare marine species, and a newly filmed type of squid. 



A diverse ecosystem flourishes in these depths, undeterred and unbeknownst to most of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bizarre-fish-can-walk-and-thrive-on-land/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">land-dwelling</a> species.



The <a href="https://schmidtocean.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Schmidt Ocean Institute</a> embarked on an exciting 28-day adventure aboard the R/V Falkor to uncover the mysteries of an incredible underwater seamount. 



Equipped with a sonar system attached to the ship's hull, the researchers set out to map this underwater wonder.



Jyotika Virmani, the institute's executive director, shared how they use sound waves that travel down to the seabed and bounce back, helping the team understand the fascinating topography below. It’s a remarkable blend of technology and exploration.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-securing-the-underwater-world">Securing the underwater world</h2>



According to Virmani, only about 26% of the seafloor has been mapped to this level of detail so far, even though the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ocean-life-100-new-sea-creatures-found-in-chile/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ocean floor</a> covers 71% of our planet's surface. 



The fact that this area hosts a wide variety of species and habitats further highlights the importance of such research. 



Moreover, the region is considered ripe for nomination as the world's first high seas marine protected area under a UN treaty, pending ratification in 2023.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-underwater-mountain-species">Underwater mountain species</h2>



The team didn't return from their expedition empty-handed - far from it. 



They documented a <a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/underwater-mountain-discovered_two-miles-high_caspar-octopus_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ghostly white Casper octopus</a> and <a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/underwater-mountain-discovered_two-miles-high_flying-spaghetti-monster_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">two rare Bathyphysa siphonophores</a> -- colloquially known as flying spaghetti monsters due to their stringy shape. 



“The (Casper) octopus has never been captured, so it doesn’t actually have a scientific name yet,” Virmani said.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/underwater-mountain-discovered_two-miles-high_caspar-octopus_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/underwater-mountain-discovered_two-miles-high_caspar-octopus_1s.webp" alt="The expedition led by the Schmidt Ocean Institute observed a rare octopus species informally named the Casper octopus in the Southern Pacific for the first time. Discovered in 2016 and nicknamed Casper, the species has not been scientifically described or formally named, as no one has collected a specimen yet. Credit: NOAA" class="wp-image-1943193"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The expedition led by the Schmidt Ocean Institute observed a rare octopus species informally named the Casper octopus in the Southern Pacific for the first time. Discovered in 2016 and nicknamed Casper, the species has not been scientifically described or formally named, as no one has collected a specimen yet. Credit: NOAA</figcaption></figure>



Moreover, the researchers managed to capture footage of a live Promachoteuthis squid, seen alive only a handful of times before.



“Across the three expeditions, we managed to map and explore 25 seamounts, which is quite a number to explore,” Virmani said. 



“I think we’ve got some good data as a community that could be put forward to make the case that this is a really interesting region for protection."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-uncharted-ecological-significance">Uncharted ecological significance</h2>



The discovery of this <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/experts-solve-the-mystery-of-a-giant-hole-in-antarctic-sea-ice/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">underwater</a> mountain not only captivates oceanographers but also holds profound ecological implications. The diverse habitats found in the seamount are crucial for maintaining the health of marine ecosystems. 



The sponge gardens and ancient corals contribute to the intricate web of life, supporting numerous species that rely on these environments for food and shelter. 



Understanding and protecting these ecosystems is pivotal, not just for the organisms that inhabit them, but for global biodiversity as well.



Each unique species uncovered could potentially offer insights into medicine, climate change resilience, and ecosystem management. 



As researchers continue to explore, the interconnectedness of these underwater realms with broader environmental health becomes increasingly apparent.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-toward-a-sustainable-future">Toward a Sustainable Future</h2>



As technology improves, we can better explore and protect our oceans. The Schmidt Ocean Institute shows us how vital the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sea-lions-are-helping-scientists-map-ocean-floor-seabeds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ocean</a> is for our climate and health. 



Creating marine protected areas, like the one suggested for this seamount, is key to fighting issues like overfishing and pollution. 



By safeguarding these regions, we help preserve marine life and ensure resources for future generations. It’s essential for all of us to get involved in ocean education and conservation efforts, so we can work together to care for our planet's most precious natural treasure.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sharing-the-knowledge">Sharing the knowledge</h2>



What's next? The findings are set to be shared with the Ocean Census, an international collaboration that aims to record marine life concealed in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ocean-warming-is-subtly-changing-the-tides/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">world's oceans</a>. 



The objective over the next decade is to identify 100,000 unknown species. This would pave the way for scientists to better understand, appreciate, and protect our planet's deep-sea ecosystems.



In conclusion, the incredible discoveries of these underwater expeditions serve as a stark reminder that even as we look to the stars, countless wonders lie beneath the waves waiting to be discovered. The ocean floors hide mountains of mysteries and scientific revelations. 



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Underwater mountain discovered is two miles high and home to 'flying spaghetti monsters'

Ever been awestruck by the towering heights of skyscrapers? Now,...

Peeking into Perseus

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has identified six potential rogue worlds - planet-like objects that are not gravitationally bound to any star. Among them is the lightest such object ever found, which also possesses a dusty disk surrounding it.



These elusive objects provide new insights into the possibility that the cosmic processes responsible for star formation might also commonly produce objects only slightly larger than Jupiter.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-planet-and-star-formation">Understanding planet and star formation</h2>



“We are probing the very limits of the star-forming process,” said lead author Adam Langeveld, an astrophysicist at <a href="https://www.jhu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Johns Hopkins University</a>. 



“If you have an object that looks like a young Jupiter, is it possible that it could have become a star under the right conditions? This is important context for understanding both star and planet formation.”



The discoveries stem from Webb's most in-depth survey of the young nebula NGC 1333, a star-forming cluster located about a thousand light-years away in the Perseus constellation.&nbsp;



<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="gTC9GFv7hQ-3819194-12187" type="single"]</div>



The European Space Agency released a new image from this survey, showcasing NGC 1333's dramatic displays of interstellar dust and clouds. The detailed findings from this survey have been accepted for publication in the <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.3847/1538-3881/ad6f0c" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Astronomical Journal</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-free-floating-objects-in-space">Free-floating objects in space</h2>



According to Webb’s data, these discovered objects are likely gas giants with masses ranging from 5 to 10 times that of Jupiter. This places them among the least massive objects known to have formed through a process typically associated with the creation of stars and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scorching-weather-temperatures-storms-measured-two-distant-brown-dwarfs/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">brown dwarfs</a>.



Existing in the middle ground between stars and planets, brown dwarfs are objects that never achieve the hydrogen fusion which powers stars and gradually fade over time.



“We used Webb’s unprecedented sensitivity at infrared wavelengths to search for the faintest members of a young star cluster, seeking to address a fundamental question in astronomy: How light an object can form like a star?” said Johns Hopkins Provost Ray Jayawardhana, an astrophysicist and senior author of the study.&nbsp;



“It turns out the smallest free-floating objects that form like stars overlap in mass with giant <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-have-identified-85-new-exoplanets-that-could-harbor-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">exoplanets</a> circling nearby stars.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-planetary-mass-objects-are-produced-nbsp">How planetary mass objects are produced&nbsp;</h2>



The telescope’s observations found no objects below five Jupiter masses, despite its ability to detect such low-mass bodies. This suggests that any stellar objects lighter than this threshold are more likely to have formed in the same way planets do.



“Our observations confirm that nature produces planetary mass objects in at least two different ways - from the contraction of a cloud of gas and dust, the way stars form, and in disks of gas and dust around young stars, as Jupiter in our own solar system did,” Jayawardhana explained.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rogue-worlds-may-form-like-stars">Rogue worlds may form like stars</h2>



The most intriguing of these starless objects is also the lightest, with an estimated mass of five Jupiters (approximately 1,600 Earths). Its dusty disk indicates that the object almost certainly formed like a star, as such disks typically form around a central body during the early stages of star formation.



Disks are also essential for planet formation, which suggests that these observations may have significant implications for the existence of potential “mini” planets.



“Those tiny objects with masses comparable to giant planets may themselves be able to form their own planets,” said co-author Aleks Scholz, an astrophysicist at the University of St Andrews. “This might be a nursery of a miniature planetary system, on a scale much smaller than our solar system.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-brown-dwarf-with-a-companion-nbsp">Brown dwarf with a companion&nbsp;</h2>



Using Webb's NIRISS instrument, the astronomers measured the infrared light profiles (spectra) of all objects in the observed portion of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/black-hole-found-in-mysterious-milky-way-star-cluster/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">star cluster</a> and reanalyzed 19 known brown dwarfs. They also uncovered a new brown dwarf with a planetary-mass companion, a rare discovery that challenges current theories of binary system formation.



“It’s likely that such a pair formed the way binary star systems do, from a cloud fragmenting as it contracted,” Jayawardhana said. “The diversity of systems that nature has produced is remarkable and pushes us to refine our models of star and planet formation.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-exploring-more-rogue-worlds">Exploring more rogue worlds</h2>



Rogue <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dark-worlds-seven-new-rogue-planets-discovered-by-euclid/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">worlds</a> may form from collapsing molecular clouds that lack the mass required for the nuclear fusion that powers stars. Alternatively, they could emerge when gas and dust within disks around stars coalesce into planet-like bodies that are later ejected from their star systems, likely due to gravitational interactions with other objects.



These free-floating objects blur the lines between classifications of celestial bodies because their masses overlap with those of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/giant-gas-planets-are-cosmic-wrecking-balls-that-wreak-havoc-in-habitable-zones/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">gas giants</a> and brown dwarfs. Although such objects are considered rare in the Milky Way galaxy, the new Webb data suggest they account for about 10% of celestial bodies in the studied star cluster.



In the coming months, the team plans to examine more of these faint objects’ atmospheres and compare them with heavier brown dwarfs and gas giant planets. They have also secured additional time on the Webb telescope to study similar objects with dusty disks to explore the possibility of forming miniature planetary systems, akin to Jupiter's and Saturn's numerous moons.



Video Credit: NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope



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Six rogue worlds discovered inside a young star-forming nebula

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has identified six potential...

When we consider the world around us, it's second nature to categorize and classify. This isn't necessarily a sinister thing. It's simply one way we streamline our understanding and make sense of the complex society in which we live. But what happens when we get it wrong? What happens when our hasty categorizations lead us to misunderstand opinions of the very individuals we're claiming to understand?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-different-opinions">Understanding different opinions</h2>



Most of us are fairly confident about understanding the minds of those with viewpoints opposed to ours. 



But a fascinating new study from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology &amp; Neuroscience (<a href="https://www.kcl.ac.uk/ioppn" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">IoPPN</a>) at King’s College London, in collaboration with the University of Oxford, shows us that we may be overestimating our abilities.



Our <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/political-views-change-our-perception-of-the-past-and-future/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">assumptions</a>, even if made confidently, are often incorrect. And that's not to say our confidence is inherently wrong. Confidence can be a great attribute, but like anything else, it may also mislead us.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-psychology-behind-misunderstandings">Psychology behind misunderstandings</h2>



We live in a world filled with diverse views and sometimes misunderstandings. The recent study in Scientific Reports explores the psychology behind these issues.



It asks an important question: Why do we often misjudge others? The study highlights ways we can change our assumptions and opinions to build a more understanding and connected society.



For the study, 256 participants from the USA with a near-equal split of left and right-leaning political orientations were recruited. 



They were asked to rate various political statements on a 5-point scale. These ranged from strong agreement to strong disagreement.



The participants were then presented with someone else's response to the same statement, forming an 'in-group' or 'out-group' based on the similarity or difference in their opinions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-confidence-in-understanding-opinions">Confidence in understanding opinions</h2>



The study found that when the participants shared similar views, they were more likely to predict accurately the other person's response and were highly confident about it. 



But when it came to differing viewpoints, the confidence didn't match the accuracy. Even with additional information about the other person, their predictions didn't quite hit the mark.



“Our study shows that people have a good understanding of people who are similar to themselves and their confidence in their understanding is well-placed. However, our understanding of people with different views to our own is demonstrably poor," explains Dr Bryony Payne, a postdoctoral researcher at King’s IoPPN, and the study’s first author.



"The more confident we are that we can understand them, the more likely it is that we are wrong. People have poor awareness of their inability to understand <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-opinions-swing-voting-and-elections-in-the-u-s/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">people that differ</a> from themselves."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-real-world-implications">Real-world implications</h2>



The implications of these misunderstandings extend beyond our personal circles and into the global sphere. 



"There are clear consequences to this lack of awareness, and we have seen countless real-world examples," Dr. Payne noted. 



The recent UK riots were borne out of a small group of people who were probably very confident in their (mis)understanding of the views and beliefs of Muslims and asylum seekers.



These types of misconceptions are often fueled by disinformation on social media or echoed back to them by others within their in-group.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-different-opinions-0">Understanding different opinions</h2>



But it's not all doom and gloom! It turns out, we are capable of change. We can reconsider our biases when our mistakes are brought to light. 



“While there is no quick fix in a real-world setting, if everyone interacted with a more diverse group of people, talked directly to them and got to know them, it’s likely we would understand each other better," suggests Dr Caroline Catmur, a Reader in Cognitive Psychology at King’s IoPPN and the study’s senior author. 



"Conversations with people who hold different beliefs could help challenge our incorrect assumptions about each other,” 



At its core, the solution lies in genuinely connecting with people who see things differently. It’s about challenging our own assumptions and making an effort to understand <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/gen-xs-attitude-toward-evolution-has-changed-over-time/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">different opinions</a> rather than jump to conclusions.



Next time you think you grasp someone else's perspective, take a moment to pause. Our brains naturally want to categorize things, but it’s important to push past those oversimplified labels. Only by doing this can we create a more empathetic and understanding society.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-67311-3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Scientific Reports</a>.



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People often overestimate their ability to understand others opinion

When we consider the world around us, it's second nature...

Have you ever stopped to consider the impact of species extinction on fish? According to the work of researchers in France, it's high time we took a deeper dive.



Researchers have recently trained their sights on marine fish species, analyzing the level of threat they face.&nbsp;



Shockingly, they have uncovered that 12.7% of these species teeter on the brink of extinction. This figure shows a five-fold increase from the previous estimates of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (<a href="https://iucn.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">IUCN</a>). Previously, their estimate stood at a modest 2.5%.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-saving-fish-from-extinction">Saving fish from extinction</h2>



This eye-opening research was led by Nicolas Loiseau and Nicolas Mouquet of the&nbsp;<a href="https://umr-marbec.fr/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MARBEC Unit</a>&nbsp;- a.k.a the Marine Biodiversity, Exploitation, and Conservation Unit located in Montpellier, France.



The IUCN's Red List of Threatened Species is a comprehensive effort aimed at tracking over 150,000 species. Its purpose? To guide conservation efforts worldwide.&nbsp;



Despite these commendable efforts, there's still a significant blind spot. It turns out that a whopping 38% of marine species have been overlooked. 



That's almost 5,000 fish species that don't have an official <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fish-stocks-are-collapsing-globally-as-overfishing-continues/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">conservation status</a> due to a lack of data.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fishing-for-solutions">Fishing for solutions</h2>



Loiseau, Mouquet, and their team devised a strategy to address this alarming data deficiency. By wielding a machine learning model with an artificial neural network, they predicted the extinction risks faced by the overlooked fish species. 



The models worked their magic on data regarding occurrence, biological traits, taxonomy, and human uses gathered from 13,195 fish species.



The results? 78.5% of the previously neglected 4,992 species were classified as either Non-Threatened or Threatened. 



There was a five-fold increase in predicted Threatened species, and the number of predicted Non-Threatened species swelled by a third.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-circumstances-leading-to-fish-extinction">Circumstances leading to fish extinction</h2>



The Threatened category included species listed as Critically Endangered, Endangered, and Vulnerable.&nbsp;



The predicted Threatened species tended to share&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/oceans-are-quickly-losing-ability-to-support-fish-due-to-plankton-loss/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">particular characteristics</a>: a limited geographic range, substantial body size, and a slow growth rate. The study also found a strong correlation between extinction risk and shallow habitats.



Researchers identified key geographical hotspots that are home to most of the predicted threatened species, highlighting areas that require urgent conservation efforts to protect biodiversity and prevent further species decline. 



Areas such as the South China Sea, the Philippine and Celebes Seas, and the west coasts of Australia and North America were highlighted. This shift in focus to these regions means a shift in conservation priority.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-applying-ai-to-conservation">Applying AI to conservation</h2>



Keep in mind that these new estimates are the product of AI analysis and don't replace direct evaluations of at-risk species. 



However, AI provides a fast, broad-ranging and cost-effective way of assessing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fish-migrating-towards-poles-escape-warming-waters/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">extinction risk</a> that we didn't have access to previously.



"Artificial Intelligence (AI) enables the reliable assessment of extinction risks for species that have not yet been evaluated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)," Loiseau explains.&nbsp;



"Our analysis of 13,195 marine fish species reveals that the extinction risk is significantly higher than the IUCN's initial estimates, rising from 2.5% to 12.7%.&nbsp;



"We propose to incorporate recent advancements in forecasting species extinction risks into a new synthetic index called 'predicted IUCN status.' This index can serve as a valuable complement to the current 'measured IUCN status.'”



In essence, this unique blend of AI and traditional research methods gives us valuable insights into our marine life's survival rate and chances of fish extinction. You might say we've just scratched the surface. There's an ocean of data out there, and our understanding continues to evolve.



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



With this breakthrough in data, the horizon of our understanding has expanded, bringing into focus areas that need&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fish-find-new-ways-to-reproduce-in-response-to-predators/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">more research and conservation efforts</a>.&nbsp;



After all, as the old saying goes - there are plenty more fish in the sea. But will there always be? This is something that Loiseau, Mouquet, and their team are working tirelessly to ensure.



As we plunge into the future, we must remember that understanding our natural world and its inhabitants is a crucial step towards preserving it. Will we rise to the challenge? Only time will tell.



The study is published in the journal&nbsp;<a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.3002773" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PLoS Biology</a>.



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Number of fish species at risk of extinction is five times higher than past estimates

Have you ever stopped to consider the impact of species...

A new study from Queen Mary University reframes our understanding of survival in the animal kingdom. The focus is on the starfish, Asterias rubens, a common European sea dweller known for regenerating limbs.



The pattern of survival often involves running, hiding or even fighting, but for some creatures, like the starfish, it skews towards a more baffling direction - they ditch parts of their bodies to cheat death.&nbsp;



This bewildering survival strategy, appropriately termed autotomy, has fascinated scientists for centuries. Popularly recognized in lizards that drop their tails to escape predators, the internal workings of this process have been ensnared in a shroud of mystery.



Well, the curtain is being lifted, slowly but surely. The diligent researchers at <a href="https://www.qmul.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Queen Mary University</a> have made a discovery that sheds light on the starfish's peculiar self-amputation secret.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-starfish-regenerating-capabilities">Starfish regenerating capabilities</h2>



The plot thickened when the scientists found a neurohormone playing the puppeteer's role in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/crown-of-thorns-starfish-gene-expression-may-help-protect-reefs/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">starfish</a>'s arm-dropping performance.&nbsp;



The neurohormone closely resembles the human satiety hormone, cholecystokinin (CCK). When faced with threats, like a lurking predator, this neurohormone activates a critical response, triggering an <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sea-stars-may-actually-be-walking-heads-with-no-bodies/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">emergency detachment mechanism</a>. 



The primary function of the hormone is to stimulate contraction in a specialized muscle located at the base of the starfish's arm. This contraction leads to a remarkable ability: the arm snaps off, allowing the starfish to escape danger.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-evolutionary-advantage-of-starfish-regeneration">Evolutionary advantage of starfish regeneration</h2>



This process not only showcases the unique survival tactics of starfish but also highlights the fascinating similarities between neurohormones across species. The ability to shed a limb in response to threats is an evolutionary advantage, ensuring the starfish's survival in the face of predation.



Overall, the interaction between this neurohormone and the starfish's muscular system exemplifies the intricate biological adaptations that enable these creatures to thrive in their environments. Understanding these mechanisms can provide insights into broader biological principles.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-regeneration-an-encore-starfish-performance">Regeneration: An encore starfish performance</h2>



The marvel doesn’t just stop at the magic act of the disappearing arm. These starfish, ever the show-stoppers, have another trick up their sleeve - or rather where their sleeve used to be.&nbsp;



They can grow back their lost limbs over time. As enchanting as this spectacle is, the underlying mechanisms that make it possible hold tremendous implications on the larger canvas of regenerative medicine and limb injury treatments.



“Our findings shed light on the complex interplay of neurohormones and tissues involved in starfish autotomy. While we’ve identified a key player, it’s likely that other factors contribute to this extraordinary ability,” said study co-author Dr. Ana Tinoco.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ecological-implications-of-autotomy">Ecological implications of autotomy</h2>



The implications of the ability to regenerate extend beyond the individual starfish, weaving into the larger tapestry of marine ecosystems. This remarkable ability can affect population dynamics, predator-prey relationships, and even the health of marine environments.&nbsp;



For instance, by allowing starfish to evade predators, autotomy may enhance their survival rates, contributing to stable population numbers.&nbsp;



Furthermore, understanding the factors that govern this ability can inform conservation strategies aimed at protecting marine biodiversity, particularly as climate change continues to exert pressure on coastal ecosystems.



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



As researchers continue to investigate <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-starfish-species-discovered-in-japan/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">starfish autotomy</a>, several intriguing questions linger, paving the way for future exploration. 



What other neurohormonal pathways are involved in this process, and how do various species of starfish adapt their regenerative strategies to specific environments? 



Additionally, by drawing parallels between starfish and other organisms with regenerative capabilities, such as salamanders and certain types of flatworms, scientists hope to unlock new avenues in regenerative medicine.&nbsp;



Investigating these questions could yield valuable insights not only for biology but also for advancing medical treatments for limb regeneration in humans, highlighting the interconnectedness of life across species.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-learning-how-starfish-regenerate">Learning how starfish regenerate</h2>



The study was led by Professor Maurice Elphick, an expert in the realm of animal physiology and neuroscience at Queen Mary University of London. 



Reflecting on the implications of the research, Professor Elphick emphasized its <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/killing-crown-of-thorns-starfish-cots-could-save-great-barrier-reef/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wider significance</a>. 



“This research not only unveils a fascinating aspect of starfish biology but also opens doors for exploring the regenerative potential of other animals, including humans. By deciphering the secrets of starfish self-amputation, we hope to advance our understanding of tissue regeneration and develop innovative therapies for limb injuries,” said Elphick.



The study is published in the journal&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(24)01079-0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Current Biology</a>.



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Starfish break off their arms to evade danger and regenerate them later

A new study from Queen Mary University reframes our understanding...

Ready to hit the snooze button and sleep for longer this weekend? You just might be doing your heart a favor. 



The hustle and bustle of our daily lives can often lead to a disruption in our sleep patterns. You're not alone if you find yourself perpetually sleep-deprived due to demanding work or school schedules.



But here's the silver lining - you could decrease your risk of heart disease by simply "catching up" on sleep during weekends. A new study reveals that a good weekend snooze could be tied to a 20% reduction in heart disease risk.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-weekend-sleep-to-the-rescue">Weekend sleep to the rescue</h2>



"Sufficient compensatory sleep is linked to a lower risk of heart disease," said Yanjun Song, a co-author of the study from the State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease at <a href="https://www.fuwai.com/Hospitals/Main?type=4#" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Fuwai Hospital</a> in China.



"The association becomes even more pronounced among individuals who regularly experience <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-sleep-day-2024-the-quest-for-a-well-rested-society/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">inadequate sleep</a> on weekdays."



It is common knowledge that those who miss out on sleep during the week tend to "sleep in" on their off days to make up for it. However, the impact of compensatory sleep on heart health has not been extensively studied.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-heart-health-benefits-of-weekend-sleep">Heart health benefits of weekend sleep</h2>



The researchers analyzed data from 90,903 subjects involved in the UK Biobank project. The objective? To decipher the relationship between compensated weekend sleep and heart disease.



Sleep data was meticulously recorded using accelerometers and neatly grouped into quartiles (from most compensated sleep to least). 



Q1 had the least compensated sleep, ranging from -16.05 hours to -0.26 hours. (Yes, it is possible to have negative sleep hours). Q2 ranged from -0.26 to +0.45 hours. Q3 stood at +0.45 to +1.28 hours, and Q4 had the most compensatory sleep, from 1.28 to 16.06 hours.



Approximately 21.8% of participants self-reported as being sleep-deprived, which meant they slept less than the recommended 7 hours per night.



The rest of the cohort could have sporadic inadequate <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/changing-sleep-patterns-reveal-insights-about-your-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sleeping hours</a> too, but their average daily sleep didn't meet the criteria for sleep deprivation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reducing-the-risk-of-heart-disease">Reducing the risk of heart disease</h2>



How, then, was heart disease diagnosis arrived at? Hospitalization records and cause of death registry information were used to diagnose various heart conditions, including ischaemic heart disease (IHD), heart failure (HF), atrial fibrillation (AF), and stroke.



Based on almost 14 years of follow-ups, the study revealed that individuals with the most compensatory weekend sleep (quartile 4) were 19% less likely to develop heart disease than those with the least (quartile 1).



Furthermore, among those with daily sleep deprivation, the ones who caught up on sleep most had a 20% lower risk of developing heart disease than those with the least compensatory <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sleep-is-essential-for-memory-formation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sleep</a>. Interestingly, the study found no gender differences in these associations.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-improving-sleep-quantity-and-quality">Improving sleep quantity and quality </h2>



The findings on weekend sleep spark an important conversation about sleep hygiene, especially in our busy lives. By making uninterrupted and sufficient rest a priority during the workweek, we can greatly improve our heart health.



Simple strategies like sticking to a regular bedtime, creating a cozy sleep environment, and cutting down on screen time before bed can make a real difference in how well we <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sleeping-less-than-seven-hours-high-blood-pressure-risk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sleep</a>. 



Even small changes can lead to better sleep quality and quantity. By understanding just how vital sleep is, we can take charge of our health and adopt habits that help us recover from the effects of not getting enough rest.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-catch-up-sleep-on-the-weekend">Catch-up sleep on the weekend</h2>



"Our results show that for the significant proportion of the population in modern society that suffers from sleep deprivation, those who have the most 'catch-up' sleep at weekends have significantly lower rates of heart disease than those with the least," noted Zechen Liu, another key contributor to the study.



So, guess what? The next time you choose to catch up on sleep over the weekend, remember, you're not just beating fatigue - you could be outsmarting heart disease too. 



The findings of the research will be presented in the session ‘Exploring cardiovascular health: lifestyle, economics, and disparities’ at <a href="https://esc365.escardio.org/ESC-Congress/sessions/11988" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ESC - Online Congress Platform</a>.



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Sleeping more on weekends can reduce heart disease risk

Ready to hit the snooze button and sleep for longer...

When you think of diamonds, what comes to mind? The sparkle of a glamorous engagement ring, perhaps, or the cutting edge of a powerful tool. But have you ever stopped to consider where these glittering gems come from? 



Scientists have recently made a fascinating discovery about the journey these captivating stones take from deep within the earth to the surface. It's like a thrilling roller coaster ride, except rather than twists and turns, it involves explosive volcanic eruptions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-deep-and-fiery-journey">Deep and fiery journey</h2>



Diamonds are fascinating geological formations that do not exist close to the Earth's surface. Instead, they form deep within the Earth's crust, around 93 miles below ground. 



When they finally <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/worlds-second-largest-diamond-found-in-botswana/">reach the surface</a>, the process is dramatic and explosive, known as a 'kimberlite eruption.'



This eruption propels diamond-laden rock at impressive speeds, ranging from 11 to 83 mph. This rapid ascent marks the ending of the remarkable journey these precious stones take from their fiery origins to the glittering gems we admire.



Understanding this process enhances our appreciation for diamonds and the natural forces that create them.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-diamonds-the-basics">Diamonds: The basics</h2>



Diamonds are famous for their incredible hardness and stunning sparkle. Made mostly of carbon atoms arranged in a crystal lattice, diamonds rank a perfect 10 on the Mohs scale, making them the hardest natural material out there. 



This unique structure is what gives diamonds their brilliant shine and fire when they reflect and refract light.



Besides their toughness, diamonds are also valued for their clarity and color, which can range from perfectly colorless to various shades of yellow or brown. 



When it comes to determining a diamond's value, people often refer to the "Four Cs": cut, color, clarity, and carat weight.



The cut affects how well the diamond reflects light, while clarity looks at any internal or external flaws. The color scale runs from D (colorless) to Z (light yellow or brown), and carat weight indicates the diamond's size. All these factors come together to define a diamond's beauty and worth.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-kimberlite-eruptions">Understanding kimberlite eruptions</h2>



Enter Thomas Gernon, a keen-eyed professor of Earth and climate science at the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.southampton.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Southampton</a>&nbsp;in England, who noticed that these kimberlite eruptions seemed to occur most frequently during periods of significant tectonic shifts, like during the breakup of the supercontinent <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthpedia-articles/supercontinents-101-pannotia-gondwana-and-pangea/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pangaea</a>.&nbsp;



Intriguingly, these eruptions often happen in the thick and hard-to-disrupt middle of continents, not the more malleable edges.



"The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/diamonds-bring-quantum-networks-one-step-closer-to-reality/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">diamonds</a>&nbsp;have been sat at the base of the continents for hundreds of millions or even billions of years," Gernon explains. 



"There must be some stimulus that just drives them suddenly, because these eruptions themselves are really powerful, really explosive."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-diamond-formation-and-volcanic-eruptions">Diamond formation and volcanic eruptions</h2>



To understand this stimulus of diamonds and eruptions, Gernon and his team began to investigate correlations between the ages of kimberlites and the degree of plate fragmentation occurring at those times.&nbsp;



Their findings revealed a fascinating pattern: plates start to pull apart, and then roughly 22 million to 30 million years later, kimberlite eruptions peak.



The researchers found that this pattern holds up over the last 500 million years and possibly even the last 1 billion years, despite difficulties in tracing geologic cycles that far back.&nbsp;



For instance, in what is now Africa and South America, kimberlite eruptions increased about 25 million years after the breakup of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/diamonds-hold-clues-about-earths-mysterious-evolutionary-tale/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">supercontinent Gondwana</a> around 180 million years ago. 



A similar surge was observed in today's North America after the rifting of Pangaea began around 250 million years ago.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-eruptions-and-diamond-formation">Eruptions and diamond formation</h2>



Seeking to understand what was driving these patterns, the researchers turned to multiple computer models of the earth's deep crust and upper mantle.&nbsp;



They discovered that when tectonic plates pull apart, the base of the continental crust thins similarly to the crust up top, allowing hot rock to rise, come into contact with this now-disrupted boundary, cool, and sink again.&nbsp;



This process creates localized areas of circulation prone to instability which activate instability in neighboring regions, gradually migrating towards the center of the continent. 



This finding aligns well with the pattern of kimberlite eruptions starting near rift zones and then moving to continental interiors.



This upheaval churns together rock with trapped carbon dioxide and water, along with many key kimberlite minerals -- including diamonds. 



The result is eruptions with explosive potential and buoyancy to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mystery-of-how-diamonds-reach-the-earths-surface-finally-solved/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">drive the diamonds to the surface</a>.



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



Gernon's research could prove useful in finding undiscovered diamond deposits. Beyond the sparkling implications for the diamond industry, these findings help explain why certain types of volcanic eruptions occur long after a supercontinent has broken up in regions that should otherwise be stable.



"It’s a fundamental and highly organized physical process," Gernon said, "so it’s likely not just kimberlites responding to it, but it could be a whole array of Earth system processes that are responding to this as well."



In a nutshell, this mind-bending research throws light on the dramatic journey of diamonds from the deep corners of the Earth right to the surface after eruptions. 



The next time you gaze at a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/diamonds-can-be-grown-in-a-lab-in-less-than-3-hours/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">diamond</a>, remember, it's not just a pretty face - it's a geological wonder with a fiery past.



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Fountains of diamonds erupt from volcanoes when Earth's continents shift

When you think of diamonds, what comes to mind? The...

Air pollution, often referred to as the "invisible killer," varies drastically across the globe. Poor air quality impacts both developed and developing nations alike, from bustling metropolitan cities to rural landscapes.



The adverse effects of air pollution contribute to millions of premature deaths annually and pose severe risks to respiratory and cardiovascular health.



A new initiative by a group of acclaimed scientists has brought this pressing issue into sharp focus with <a href="https://airqualitystripes.info/stripes/?continent=South%20America&amp;country=Peru&amp;city=Lima&amp;plot=stripes" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the creation of "Air Quality Stripes."</a>



These striking visuals provide a vivid representation of global concentrations of particulate matter, a major air pollutant known to affect human health. 



The project, a collaborative effort involving the <a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Leeds</a>, the University of Edinburgh, North Carolina State University, and the UK Met Office, highlights both the significant improvements in air quality across Europe and the alarming decline in parts of Africa and Central Asia.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-not-so-invisible-killer">The not-so-invisible killer</h2>



Dr. Kirsty Pringle from the University of Edinburgh was the co-director of this project: "Air pollution is often called the 'invisible killer,' but these images <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/painting-with-light-project-makes-air-pollution-visible/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">make the invisible visible</a>, showing the changes in particulate matter pollution over the decades.”



Dr. Jim McQuaid, another key researcher from the University of Leeds, emphasized the severity of air pollution.



"The bottom line is that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/135-million-people-died-prematurely-due-to-pm25-air-pollution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">air pollution is one of the world's leading risk factors for death</a>, it is thought to contribute to one in ten deaths globally," said Dr. McQuaid.



"The stripes demonstrate that there is still more work to be done to reduce people’s exposure to poor air quality, and in some places a great deal more!”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-air-quality-canvas-of-the-world">The air quality canvas of the world</h2>



The Air Quality Stripes followed the modus operandi of the globally recognized climate stripes graphics.



Scientists chose to illuminate the shifting trends in outdoor concentrations of particulate matter air pollution -- a mixture of microscopic liquid or solid particles found scattered in the atmosphere.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/air-pollution_air-quality-stripes_Delhi-India_new-graphs_ULeeds_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/air-pollution_air-quality-stripes_Delhi-India_new-graphs_ULeeds_1s.webp" alt="Another example chart, one of hundreds, this one showing Delhi, India air quality trends. Credit: University of Leeds" class="wp-image-1943143"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Another example chart, one of hundreds, this one showing Delhi, India air quality trends. Credit: University of Leeds</figcaption></figure>



Dr. Steven Turnock, a senior scientist from the UK Met Office, provided the crucial data for the Air Quality Stripes.



“Presenting this scientific data as Air Quality Stripes really brings into focus the stark contrast in air quality trends and people’s exposure to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/poor-air-quality-linked-to-cognitive-problems-in-infants/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">poor air quality</a> depending on where they live.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-colors-of-air-quality">The colors of air quality</h2>



The Air Quality Stripes feature every nation's capital city, with additional stripes for China, India, and the United States. The team also included their university cities – Leeds, Edinburgh, and Exeter.



The lightest blue stripes adhere to the World Health Organization Air Quality Guidelines introduced in 2021, with all other colors exceeding the guideline values.



This data project was not just a synthesis of computer simulations and satellite observations; it also involved the flair of an artist tasked with creating the color palette for the stripes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-revelations-and-future-hopes">Key revelations and future hopes</h2>



The insightful visuals reveal fascinating trends. Europe has made significant strides in reducing particulate matter levels, with substantial improvements in cities like London, Brussels, and Berlin.



In contrast, the visuals unmask a worrying surge in particulate matter pollution across many cities in central Asia and Africa, such as Islamabad, Delhi, and Nairobi.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/air-pollution_air-quality-stripes_LA-USA_new-graphs_ULeeds_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/air-pollution_air-quality-stripes_LA-USA_new-graphs_ULeeds_1s.webp" alt="Another example chart, one of hundreds, this one showing Los Angeles, USA air quality trends. Credit: University of Leeds" class="wp-image-1943145"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Another example chart, one of hundreds, this one showing Los Angeles, USA air quality trends. Credit: University of Leeds</figcaption></figure>



"The images show that it is possible to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/simple-actions-can-reduce-air-pollution-in-schools/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reduce air pollution</a>; the air in many cities in Europe is much cleaner now than it was 100 years ago, and this is improving our health. We really hope similar improvements can be achieved across the globe," said Dr. Pringle.



The Air Quality Stripes have followed in the illustrious footsteps of the climate warming stripes, reinforcing the dramatic changes in our environment through compelling visuals.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-global-awareness-and-policy-implications">Global awareness and policy implications</h2>



The introduction of the Air Quality Stripes is more than just a visual representation; it’s a powerful tool for raising awareness and driving change. 



By making air quality data visually accessible and understandable, these images can play a crucial role in informing policymakers, environmental advocates, and the general public about the urgency of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/air-quality-in-europe-has-improved-over-the-past-two-decades/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">addressing air pollution</a>. 



With air quality being a significant public health concern, leading to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, these stripes highlight the disparities in air pollution exposure between different regions and emphasize the need for targeted interventions.



Click here to see <a href="https://airqualitystripes.info/stripes/?continent=South%20America&amp;country=Peru&amp;city=Lima&amp;plot=stripes" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Air Quality Trends in Stripe Graphs for hundreds of cities around the world.</a>



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Air quality trends: Striking global images expose the 'invisible killer'

Air pollution, often referred to as the "invisible killer," varies...

Black hole research has reached a new milestone, thanks to a team of astrophysicists who have achieved an unprecedented level of detail in their observations. 



In a recent pilot experiment, scientists from the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) Collaboration conducted test observations that achieved the highest resolution scale ever obtained solely from the surface of our planet. 



The research promises to revolutionize our understanding of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-study-claims-our-universe-is-27-billion-years-old-double-the-current-age-estimate/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">universe</a> by providing sharper images of black holes and the areas immediately surrounding them.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-inching-closer-to-black-holes">Inching closer to black holes</h2>



The scientists used the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) along with other facilities. They managed to detect light from distant galaxies at a frequency of around 345 GHz, equivalent to an impressive wavelength of 0.87 mm.



This technological leap is set to transform black hole imaging, with experts estimating future images to be as much as 50% more detailed than before. The images will reveal a clearer picture of the areas immediately outside of black hole boundaries.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-observing-sagittarius-a">Observing Sagittarius A*</h2>



The EHT Collaboration is no stranger to unveiling the secrets of the cosmos. The team has previously released images of M87, the<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/red-supermassive-black-hole-found-in-the-shadows-of-the-early-universe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> supermassive black hole</a> at the center of the M87 galaxy, and of Sagittarius A*, the black hole at the core of our <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/milky-way-galaxy-is-surrounded-by-massive-magnetic-fields/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Milky Way galaxy</a>.



To image Sagittarius A*, the team created the powerful Event Horizon Telescope, which linked together eight radio observatories across the globe to form a single “Earth-sized” virtual telescope.



The EHT observed the black hole on multiple nights, collecting hours of data. The team describes this process as being similar to using a long exposure time on a camera.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-breaking-the-boundaries-of-resolution">Breaking the boundaries of resolution</h2>



For the latest investigation, the team had to think outside of the box to increase the resolution of their ground-based observations, as the EHT was already as large as our planet.



One innovative solution was to observe light of a shorter wavelength, a method the EHT Collaboration has successfully implemented.



Alexander Raymond, the study's co-lead author, described the previous challenge.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/black-hole-m87_black-hole-imaging_event-horizon-telescope_EHT_hz-montage_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/black-hole-m87_black-hole-imaging_event-horizon-telescope_EHT_hz-montage_1s.webp" alt="On left, this composite simulated image shows how M87* is seen by the Event Horizon Telescope at 86 GHz (red), 230 GHz (green), and 345 GHz (blue). On right, 345 GHz is seen in dark blue, a more compact and sharper view of the supermassive black holes, followed by 230 GHz in green, and 86 GHz in red. Credit: EHT" class="wp-image-1943138"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">On left, this composite simulated image shows how M87* is seen by the Event Horizon Telescope at 86 GHz (red), 230 GHz (green), and 345 GHz (blue). On right, 345 GHz is seen in dark blue, a more compact and sharper view of the supermassive black holes, followed by 230 GHz in green, and 86 GHz in red. Credit: EHT</figcaption></figure>



"With the EHT, we saw the first images of black holes using the 1.3-mm wavelength observations. But the bright ring we saw, formed by light bending in the black hole’s gravity, still looked blurry because we were at the absolute limits of how sharp we could make the images."



However, such challenges will soon be a thing of the past. "At 0.87 mm, our images will be sharper and more detailed, which in turn will likely reveal new properties, both those that were previously predicted and maybe some that weren’t," said Raymond. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-new-era-in-black-hole-imaging">A new era in black hole imaging</h2>



The test observations were conducted using two smaller subarrays, both of which included ALMA and the Atacama Pathfinder Experiment (APEX) in the Atacama Desert in Chile, along with other facilities.



While the team has not yet been able to obtain images, they made robust detections of light from several <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/webb-telescope-discovers-second-most-distant-galaxy-in-pandoras-cluster/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">distant galaxies</a>. These observations, with detail as fine as 19 microarcseconds, are the highest-ever resolution from the surface of the Earth.



With the potential to observe details as small as 13 microarcseconds - equivalent to seeing a bottle cap on the Moon from Earth -- the EHT promises to deliver images with a resolution about 50% higher than previous 1.3-mm images. 



Additionally, it holds the capacity to observe more distant, smaller, and fainter black holes than before.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unraveling-the-mysteries-of-black-holes">Unraveling the mysteries of black holes</h2>



EHT Founding Director Sheperd “Shep” Doeleman reflected on the broader implications of the research. 



“Looking at changes in the surrounding gas at different wavelengths will help us solve the mystery of how black holes attract and accrete matter, and how they can launch powerful jets that stream over galactic distances," said Doeleman.



Thomas Krichbaum, a co-author of the study, hails this as an important milestone. He noted that the achievement of using the VLBI technique at the 0.87 mm wavelength opens a new observing window for the study of supermassive black holes.



"In the future, the combination of the IRAM telescopes with ALMA and APEX will enable imaging of even smaller and fainter emission than has been possible thus far at two wavelengths, 1.3 mm and 0.87 mm, simultaneously," said Krichbaum.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-3881/ad5bdb" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Astronomical Journal</a>.



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Highest-resolution black hole images ever taken usher in a new era

Black hole research has reached a new milestone, thanks to...

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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

[sendtonews key="0ynNMYkMKa-2340414-12187" 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> (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

[sendtonews key="G9bUoxcjr4-2511624-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features 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



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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



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How does salt makes things taste better?

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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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 



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Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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



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The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

[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



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Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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The history of Mars is much more complex than we thought

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research



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



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Cavefish are healthy despite their sedentary lifestyle

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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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



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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...