Every living organism relies on a genetic blueprint encoded in its DNA, yet the amount of DNA - or genome size - varies dramatically across the tree of life.&nbsp;



In animals alone, genome sizes range from the minuscule genome of Intoshia variabili, a marine parasite - which is about 200 times smaller than the human genome - to the massive genome of the marbled lungfish (Protopterus aethiopicus) - which is over 40 times larger than ours.&nbsp;



Plants exhibit a similar range, with the fork fern (Tmesipteris oblanceolata) setting the record with a genome size over 50 times larger than that of humans.



This diversity in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/genome-mapping-completed-for-dozens-of-common-animals/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">genome</a> size reveals the vast variety of life forms on Earth, but it also raises a fascinating question: If smaller genomes lead to faster, more efficient growth, why do some species have larger genomes?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-advantages-of-smaller-genome-sizes">Advantages of smaller genome sizes</h2>



The replication of DNA is essential for cell production and growth, making smaller genomes more efficient as they require fewer resources and time to replicate.&nbsp;



Smaller genomes demand fewer <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/excess-nutrients-are-creating-ocean-dead-zones/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">nutrients</a>, especially the DNA-building elements nitrogen and phosphorus, making them ideal for rapid growth and reproduction.



Because of these advantages, it’s not surprising that most species have evolved with relatively small genomes.&nbsp;



However, large genomes persist in some organisms, suggesting that these genomes may confer certain benefits in specific environments, where the costs of carrying extra DNA are outweighed by unique growth advantages.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-exploring-large-genome-benefits-in-grasses">Exploring large genome benefits in grasses</h2>



A research team led by the <a href="https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Sheffield</a> has recently studied the potential benefits of large genomes in grass species. 



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fairy-circles-kill-all-newly-planted-grasses-deepening-their-mystery/">Grasses</a>, a vast plant family found worldwide from arctic tundras to tropical savannas, vary in genome size, making them an ideal group to examine how genome size affects growth in different conditions.



The study, published in the journal <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.20150" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New Phytologist</a>, examined the growth of various grass species under conditions mimicking their natural environments - high temperatures, low nutrients, and drought. 



The scientists compared growth rates to each species’ genome size and observed that while grasses with smaller genomes generally grew better across most conditions, larger genomes provided advantages in two specific scenarios.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-large-genomes-thrive-in-nutrient-rich-environments">Large genomes thrive in nutrient-rich environments</h2>



The first scenario where larger genomes proved beneficial was in nutrient-rich soils. While low nutrient levels slowed down large-genome grasses, those with large genomes thrived in high-nutrient environments.&nbsp;



Here, the extra DNA content meant larger cells that produced more biomass, such as leaves, which allowed these plants to outgrow and overshadow neighbors with smaller genomes.&nbsp;



In nutrient-poor areas, however, the demands of replicating additional DNA outweighed these benefits, making smaller genomes more favorable.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-growing-seasons-and-genome-sizes">Growing seasons and genome sizes</h2>



The second advantage for large-genome grasses occurred in cooler environments, such as temperate regions with lower growing season temperatures.&nbsp;



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-do-plants-grow-more-branches-and-become-bushy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Plant growth</a> typically has two stages: cell division, where new cells are generated, and cell expansion, where cells swell with water to help the plant grow taller or spread. 



Cool temperatures significantly slow down cell division, but they have less impact on cell expansion.&nbsp;



Consequently, grasses with larger cells, which accompany large genomes, can expand more rapidly by cell enlargement even in cooler weather, outpacing smaller-genome plants that rely on faster cell division in warmer temperatures.



This cell expansion process explains the early spring growth of plants like daffodils and bluebells, which also have large genomes.&nbsp;



These plants perform much of their cell division in warmer months, allowing them to use cell expansion to grow quickly in early spring, well before smaller-genome plants begin to compete for light and nutrients.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-genome-size-diversity">Genome size diversity</h2>



The diversity in genome sizes among grasses may be one reason for their global success, as it allows them to adapt to a wide range of environmental conditions.&nbsp;



While smaller genomes typically support efficient growth, larger genomes offer unique advantages in specific environments, enabling certain species to thrive where others cannot.&nbsp;



This genetic diversity in grasses underscores the importance of variation in supporting species’ survival and adaptability across ecosystems.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-genome-size-and-evolutionary-success">Genome size and evolutionary success</h2>



The relationship between genome size and survival is not limited to plants. Our own medium-sized genome has supported humanity’s adaptability, though we don’t face the same nutrient limitations as stationary plants.&nbsp;



Unlike grasses, humans can move to seek out food and resources, which may allow us to bear the metabolic costs associated with our DNA without significant limitation.&nbsp;



This mobility highlights how different species leverage their genetic make-up in conjunction with unique behaviors and environmental interactions to thrive across diverse habitats.



In summary, the role of genome size in evolutionary success is nuanced and complex.&nbsp;



From the efficient replication of small genomes to the adaptability enabled by larger ones, genome size continues to shape the ecological <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/asian-forests-proving-resilient-both-climate-change-human-actions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">resilience</a> and global distribution of life on Earth.



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How does genome size impact evolutionary success?

Every living organism relies on a genetic blueprint encoded in its DNA, yet the amount of DNA - or genome size - varies dramatically across the tree of life.&nbsp; In animals alone, genome sizes range from the minuscule genome of Intoshia variabili, a marine parasite - which is about 200 times smaller than the human genome - to the massive genome of the marbled lungfish (Protopterus aethiopicus) - which is over 40 times larger than ours.&nbsp; Plants exhibit a similar range, with the fork fern (Tmesipteris oblanceolata)...

As the world grappled with the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hidden-death-toll-of-covid-19-pandemic-revealed/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">outbreak of COVID-19</a> and subsequent isolation during lockdowns, a phenomenon less visible yet profoundly impactful began to emerge.



A recent study conducted during an acute phase of the pandemic, involving strict lockdowns and curfews, explored this less-discussed <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/financial-losses-during-the-pandemic-took-a-toll-on-mental-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">aftermath</a> - how isolation affected our sense of time.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-isolation-during-the-covid-19-pandemic">Isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic</h2>



Pandemic isolation refers to the enforced periods when governments worldwide implemented strict lockdowns and curfews to curb the spread of the virus.



These measures required people to stay at home, avoid social gatherings, and limit physical interactions to essential activities only. 



Schools, workplaces, and public venues were closed, leading to a sudden and prolonged separation from usual social activities and support systems. This isolation aimed to reduce infection rates and protect public health but had significant psychological consequences. 



Many experienced loneliness, anxiety, and a distorted sense of time, as daily routines were disrupted and social interactions became virtual or nonexistent. 



Pandemic isolation also encompasses the broader social and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/depression-and-cardiovascular-diseases-are-genetically-linked/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mental health</a> impacts that resulted from this unprecedented period of solitude. It is important to address these effects as part of pandemic response and recovery efforts.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-psychological-threads-of-pandemic-isolation">Psychological threads of pandemic isolation</h2>



Researchers from the <a href="https://www.york.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of York</a> delved into the psychological effects of isolation through a survey of over 3,300 participants in France.



The survey asked participants nearly 60 questions to analyze how the enforced solitude influenced their daily lives and mental states.



The results were telling. Participants noted significant difficulties in recalling the sequence of events, frequently losing track of the days of the week.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-blurring-of-time-during-covid-19-isolation">Blurring of time during COVID-19 isolation</h2>



Many reported a "blurring of time" during COVID-19 isolation, where past, present, and future seemed to meld into a continuous, indistinct flow.



This temporal disorientation wasn't just about forgetting days; it extended to a broader difficulty in planning for the future. 



The uncertainty of the days ahead left many feeling anxious and less in control - a stark contrast to life pre-pandemic.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-social-and-temporal-disorientation">Social and temporal disorientation</h2>



The research highlighted a direct correlation between feeling socially disconnected and losing track of time. 



This causal relationship suggests that not only does social isolation impact our interpersonal interactions, but it also significantly disrupts our temporal bearings.



"Feeling <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/loneliness-harms-health-more-than-alcohol-obesity-or-smoking/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">lonely and isolated</a> from others seems to warp our perception of time, with a sense of feeling lost and confused spanning the past, present, and future," noted Dr. Pablo Fernandez Velasco, the lead author of the study.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-mental-break-in-time-perception">A mental break in time perception </h2>



The issue transcended age and demographics, affecting a broad swath of the population, with young people under 25 feeling the most disoriented.



The study introduces "temporal rupture," which describes a mental break or fault line in our perception of time. This concept highlights how people experienced a clear divide between life before the pandemic and life during it. 



In simple terms, the pandemic created a distinct separation in our minds, making it difficult to connect or reconcile the two periods. The disruption in our sense of time affected how we remembered events, planned for the future, and understood the flow of days and months.



This rift illustrates how the pandemic has reshaped not just physical realities but also our mental timelines.



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



The findings underscore the need for public authorities to consider the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nature-helps-reduce-mental-health-impacts-of-the-covid-19-pandemic/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mental health impacts</a> of isolation, not only during emergencies like COVID-19 but also in everyday life.



Addressing the issue of loneliness and fostering a sense of community could help mitigate these profound effects on our perception of time and overall mental well-being.



"The larger the experienced rift between pre-pandemic and pandemic times, the more disorientated people felt," noted Dr. Fernandez Velasco.



This statement resonates with personal accounts from the study, which collectively advance our understanding of how isolation can deeply affect human psychology during extraordinary times.



The study's insights are crucial in preparing for future crises, emphasizing the importance of maintaining social bonds even in the face of physical separation.



By understanding the profound effects of isolation on our perception of time, society can better address the emotional and psychological needs that arise during such challenging periods.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://bpspsychub.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bjop.12704" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">British Journal of Psychology</a>.



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Pandemic isolation blurred our sense of time

As the world grappled with the outbreak of COVID-19 and...

A recent study published in the <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.14671" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of Applied Ecology</a> has found that the removal of hedgerows and field margins covered by wild grass and flowers significantly reduces the diversity and abundance of arthropods in agricultural landscapes. 



Researchers from the UK, Netherlands, and China conducted a six-year study on 20 rice fields in China, examining how these landscape changes impact <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rice-farming-environmental-impact/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">rice</a> pests and their natural enemies, as well as rice yield.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-natural-field-margins-nbsp">Natural field margins&nbsp;</h2>



Traditional Chinese smallholder fields are irregularly shaped and separated by areas of hedgerows, wild grass, and flowers. These features make using large-scale machinery difficult, resulting in low agricultural operation efficiency.&nbsp;



Consequently, many traditional farmlands in China are being consolidated to improve efficiency. However, these grassy margins and flowering vegetation provide crucial habitats for natural enemies of rice pests, such as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/spiders-turn-to-cannibalism-when-food-sources-are-limited/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">spiders</a> and ground beetles.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-frequent-removal-of-field-margins-nbsp">Frequent removal of field margins&nbsp;</h2>



“Hedgerows and field margins are frequently removed during the land consolidation procedure to create larger, rectangular fields and install concrete irrigation channels to facilitate the use of larger machinery. Our study suggests that removing these habitats negatively affects arthropod communities,” said senior author Yi Zou, an expert in landscape ecology and biodiversity conservation at the <a href="https://www.xjtlu.edu.cn/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University</a> (XJTLU).



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-greater-diversity-in-traditional-farmland">Greater diversity in traditional farmland</h2>



The researchers collected 141,587 individual arthropods from 80 taxonomic families, discovering that traditional farmland supported significantly higher abundance and diversity of rice pests' natural enemies compared to consolidated land.&nbsp;



Interestingly, there were no significant differences in the number of rice pests or rice yield between traditional and consolidated fields.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-land-consolidation-and-rice-arthropods-nbsp">Land consolidation and rice arthropods&nbsp;</h2>



“Land consolidation removes the natural vegetation of traditional farmlands that can provide nesting habitats and food sources for the natural enemies of rice pests. But there is a lot we still don't know, such as how land consolidation affects different groups of rice arthropods. Long-term monitoring and detailed assessment of land consolidation is still needed,” Zou explained.



The research group also experimented with insecticide application on half of each field, finding that it decreased the diversity and abundance of pests and natural enemies in both field types. However, fields not sprayed with insecticide experienced a 10.8% decrease in rice yield.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-using-field-margins-to-increase-farmland-biodiversity-nbsp">Using field margins to increase farmland biodiversity&nbsp;</h2>



The study supports agri-environmental measures (AEM) like using flowering plants in field margins to increase <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/farmland-biodiversity-pest-control/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">farmland biodiversity</a> and mitigate the negative impacts of land consolidation. While widely implemented in Europe, AEMs are rarely used in China.



“Our agricultural biodiversity monitoring in this study serves as a critical tool for assessing the impacts of land consolidation and the effectiveness of AEM on biodiversity. These measurements are needed before proposing land management recommendations for an appropriate AEM,” Zou said.&nbsp;



“As a result of our findings, we recommend the implementation of AEM or re-establishing field margin vegetation during the consolidation process to mitigate the potential negative effects on rice arthropod biodiversity.”



“This study is noteworthy because of the quality of its data and the breadth of influential factors we were able to investigate. It has been really interesting to disentangle the effects of farmland consolidation, of pesticide application, and of seminatural habitat beyond the farm,” added co-author Jenny Hodgson, a conservation biologist at the <a href="https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Liverpool</a>.



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



Dr. Shanxing Gong, the study's lead author and a postdoctoral researcher at <a href="https://english.pku.edu.cn/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Peking University</a>, acknowledges that biodiversity is not the only concern for farmers. 



“The trade-off between biodiversity improvements with labor efficiency, yield, and pest control is a balance that has to be finely tuned to ensure maximum profitability, and these factors will always need to be considered,” said Dr. Gong.



“While we did not observe a direct correlation between the increase in the number of rice pests and the reduction of their natural enemies due to land consolidation, further investigation into the effectiveness of natural enemies in biological pest control is necessary before implementing AEM strategies.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-the-long-term-impacts-of-land-consolidation-nbsp">Understanding the long-term impacts of land consolidation&nbsp;</h2>



Furthermore, the researchers found no decrease in rice yield in traditional fields compared to consolidated <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/high-yield-farming-could-preserve-wildlife-habitats/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">farmland</a>. 



“The impact of AEMs on yield depends on many factors, including agricultural management intensity, soil fertility, and pesticide application, that all need to be taken into account when assessing their suitability for land management,” added Dr. Gong.



This study highlights the need for continued research and monitoring to understand better the long-term impacts of land consolidation and the potential benefits of agri-environmental measures in maintaining arthropod biodiversity and sustainable agricultural practices.



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Removal of field margins reduces farmland biodiversity

A recent study published in the Journal of Applied Ecology...

3d,Rendering,Artificial,Intelligence,Ai,Research,Of,Robot,And,Cyborg

A frontier where computer science meets the mysteries of the human brain, neuromorphic computing represents an exciting crossover between technology and biology.



Designed to mimic the way humans process information, this technology holds the promise to stir a revolution everywhere, from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/quantum-consciousness-and-you-what-happens-when-machines-become-sentient/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">artificial intelligence</a> to robotics. But what exactly is neuromorphic computing and why is it now taking center stage?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-origins-of-neuromorphic-computing">Origins of neuromorphic computing</h2>



The concept of neuromorphic computing was first coined in the 1980s by scientist <a href="http://www.carvermead.caltech.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Carver Mead</a>, who proposed creating electronic systems inspired by the neural structure of the human brain. 



Mead, a professor at the <a href="https://www.caltech.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">California Institute of Technology</a>, based this idea on the premise that the brain is, in essence, an extremely efficient and versatile information processor. 



Since then, neuromorphic computing has evolved considerably, leveraging advances in neuroscience, engineering, and especially <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/should-robots-be-programmed-to-have-human-consciousness/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">artificial intelligence</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hardware-and-software-comprise-the-two-pillars">Hardware and software comprise the two pillars</h2>



Neuromorphic computing relies on two fundamental technological pillars: hardware and software. On the hardware side, specific neuromorphic chips are being developed, such as Intel's famous <a href="https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/research/neuromorphic-computing.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Loihi chip</a>



Now in its second generation, Loihi is designed to mimic the structure and functioning of biological neural networks. 



These chips use a radically different architecture from traditional processors, allowing for more efficient and adaptive processing.



In terms of software, algorithms and computational models are being developed that seek to replicate aspects of learning and brain processing, such as artificial neural networks and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/using-ai-to-decode-the-legacy-of-the-roman-empire/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">deep learning</a>. 



These models are inspired by the structure of the brain and its learning and adaptation mechanisms.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-impact-on-machine-learning-and-neural-networks">Impact on machine learning and neural networks</h2>



Neuromorphic computing has the potential to significantly benefit machine learning in several ways.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-efficient-data-processing-and-power-consumption">Efficient data processing and power consumption</h3>



Neuromorphic chips are designed to process data in a way that mimics the human brain, which is highly efficient at tasks such as pattern recognition, learning, and adaptation. 



This can lead to faster and more efficient machine learning algorithms, particularly for tasks that involve large amounts of complex data.



Neuromorphic systems consume significantly less power compared to traditional computing systems. This is because they process information in a highly parallel and distributed manner, similar to the human brain. 



Lower power consumption means that machine learning applications can be deployed on a wider range of devices, including mobile and edge devices.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-real-time-learning-and-scalability">Real-time learning and scalability</h3>



Neuromorphic systems can enable real-time learning, where the machine learning model can continuously adapt and improve based on new data. This is particularly useful for applications that require the model to learn and adapt in real-world environments, such as autonomous vehicles or robots.



Neuromorphic computing can enable the development of highly scalable machine learning models. This is because neuromorphic systems can be designed to scale up or down depending on the complexity of the task, without significant increases in power consumption or latency.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-biologically-inspired-learning">Biologically inspired learning</h3>



Neuromorphic systems are designed to be more robust and fault-tolerant compared to traditional computing systems. 



This is because they can continue to function even if some of the individual components fail, similar to how the human brain can continue to function even if some neurons die. This can lead to more reliable and robust machine learning applications.



Neuromorphic computing is inspired by the structure and function of biological neural networks. This means that machine learning algorithms developed for neuromorphic systems can incorporate biologically inspired learning mechanisms, such as spike-timing-dependent plasticity (STDP). 



This can lead to more efficient and effective learning, particularly for tasks that require unsupervised or semi-supervised learning.



<ol></ol>



Overall, neuromorphic computing has the potential to significantly enhance the capabilities of machine learning, enabling faster, more efficient, and more robust learning systems.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-challenges-and-hurdles-of-neuromorphic-computing">Challenges and hurdles of neuromorphic computing</h2>



Despite its promise, neuromorphic computing faces several significant challenges. A major one is the inherent complexity of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/largest-ever-3d-map-of-human-brain-created-by-harvard-and-google/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">human brain</a>. 



Replicating even a fraction of its functionality is a monumental task that requires a deep understanding of its internal mechanisms, many of which are not yet fully understood.



Integrating these systems into practical applications is also challenging. While neuromorphic chips and algorithms show great potential, their incorporation into existing technologies and their scalability remain major hurdles.



As predicted by <a href="https://www.fundacionbankinter.org/en/programs/ftf/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Future Trends Forum</a> expert Daniel Granados, "the future of computing will be hybrid and different technologies will coexist and communicate with each other. 



According to Granados, today's silicon computing and von Neumann architecture will be complemented by neuromorphic computing, photonic computing, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/quantum-computer-can-instantly-execute-a-task-that-would-normally-take-47-years/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">quantum computing</a>.



Currently, work is being done on three key fronts:



<ol start="1">
<li>Scalability: Current neuromorphic computers are relatively small and are not capable of performing complex tasks on a large scale.</li>



<li>Efficiency: Neuromorphic computers are not yet as efficient as traditional computers.</li>



<li>Robustness: Neuromorphic computers are susceptible to failure, as their components are more sensitive to disturbances than the components of traditional computers.</li>
</ol>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-advances-and-applications">Advances and applications</h2>



Despite the challenges, scientists are already seeing significant advances in the field. Neuromorphic chips, for example, are finding applications in areas such as robotics, where they enable greater autonomy and learning capabilities. 



In the field of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/lawless-superintelligence-zero-evidence-ai-control-possible/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">artificial intelligence</a>, these chips offer new forms of data processing, facilitating tasks such as pattern recognition and real-time decision making.



In particular, Intel has used Loihi to experiment with autonomous learning systems, such as traffic pattern optimization and advanced <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/robot-trained-to-read-braille-with-remarkable-speed/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">robotic control</a>. 



IBM has used its neuromorphic chip <a href="https://research.ibm.com/publications/truenorth-design-and-tool-flow-of-a-65-mw-1-million-neuron-programmable-neurosynaptic-chip" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TrueNorth</a> in applications such as pattern detection in health data and real-time sensor data processing.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-impact-of-neuromorphic-computing">Future impact of neuromorphic computing</h2>



Looking forward, neuromorphic computing is emerging as a key element in the next generation of intelligent technologies. 



Its development is expected to improve the efficiency and capability of today's machines, and to open the door to new forms of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/brainoware-computer-is-one-step-closer-to-merging-man-and-machine/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">human-machine interaction</a>, and even to create systems capable of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/psifi-wearable-ai-device-interprets-emotions-people-nearby/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">learning and adapting</a> in a similar way to humans.



The potential impact of neuromorphic computing is immense. In industry, it could lead to greater automation and smarter systems, from manufacturing to services. 



Neuromorphic computing, for example, enables robots to process <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ai-can-decipher-every-possible-facial-expression-outperforming-therapists/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sensory information</a> more efficiently, improving their ability to navigate and interact with complex environments. This could be used for industrial inspection and exploration tasks in environments inaccessible to humans.



Furthermore, neuromorphic systems are significantly improving <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-ai-system-detects-animals-on-roads-to-prevent-accidents/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">computer vision</a> capabilities, enabling machines to process and understand images and videos more efficiently. 



This has applications in security, where they are used for real-time detection and analysis of activities. In society, it could transform the way we interact with technology, making interfaces more intuitive and personalized.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dawn-of-a-new-computing-era">Dawn of a new computing era</h2>



As we stand on the cusp of this technological revolution, it's clear that neuromorphic computing is set to reshape our world. 



By bridging the gap between biology and technology, it promises to unleash a new era of intelligent systems that can learn, adapt, and interact in ways that were once the sole domain of the human brain.



While challenges remain, the rapid progress in the field is undeniable. As research continues and these technologies mature, we can expect to see increasingly sophisticated applications emerge, transforming industries and shaping the future of computing.



In the words of Carver Mead, the pioneer of neuromorphic computing, "We are at the dawn of a new era, where the boundaries between technology and biology are blurring, and the possibilities are limitless."



This article was adapted from a report by <a href="https://www.fundacionbankinter.org/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Bankinter Innovation Foundation</a>.



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Merging AI with the human brain is creating unimaginable technologies

A frontier where computer science meets the mysteries of the...

Space exploration is on the brink of a new era, and NASA's Gateway space station is at the forefront of this exciting frontier. As the first permanent piece of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nasa-aims-to-build-a-train-on-the-moon/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">lunar infrastructure</a>, Gateway promises to revolutionize our understanding of the lunar environment and pave the way for future crewed missions to Mars.



<a href="https://www.nasa.gov/mission/gateway/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">According to NASA</a>, Gateway is a next-generation space station that will orbit the Moon, enabling a wide range of research activities and serving as a vital staging point for deep space exploration. 



<a href="https://www.nasa.gov/people/kathy-lueders-associate-administrator-for-space-operations/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dr. Kathy Lueders</a>, NASA's Associate Administrator for Human Exploration and Operations, emphasizes the importance of Gateway. 



"Gateway is a crucial component of NASA's Artemis missions, which aim to return humans to the lunar surface in preparation for the first crewed missions to Mars," she explained.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hub-for-scientific-discovery">Hub for scientific discovery</h2>



Gateway will feature habitation and research facilities, crew and payload airlocks, and docking ports for visiting spacecraft, including <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/orion-spacecraft-captures-stunning-photo-of-earth-and-the-moon/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Orion</a>, lunar landers, and logistics resupply craft. 



This unique infrastructure will enable longer stays on and around the Moon, significantly expanding research and exploration opportunities beyond what was envisioned or achievable during the <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/the-apollo-program/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Apollo missions</a>.



Dr. Lueders explains that Gateway will accomplish several key objectives crucial to NASA's <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/grow-plants-on-moon-by-2026-nasa-artemis-iii-mission/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Artemis campaign</a>:



<ul>
<li>Enable a sustained presence around the Moon</li>



<li>Support human crewed missions to deep space and the lunar surface</li>



<li>Facilitate scientific research and discovery in a deep space environment</li>



<li>Enable, demonstrate, and validate technologies critical for lunar missions, with applications for Mars and other deep space destinations</li>



<li>Cultivate industry and international partnerships to lead an unprecedented global coalition to the Moon</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gateway-space-station-s-location">Gateway space station's location</h2>



NASA will locate Gateway in a polar orbit around the Moon. This highly elliptical Near Rectilinear Halo Orbit (<a href="https://engineering.purdue.edu/people/kathleen.howell.1/Publications/Conferences/2018_AAS_WhiDavBurMcCPowMcGHow.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NRHO</a>) will bring Gateway within about 1,000 miles (1,500 km) of the Moon at its closest approach and about 43,500 miles (70,000 km) at its farthest.



Gateway's unique polar orbit will provide Artemis astronauts and their spacecraft access to the entire <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nasa-plans-to-build-house-on-the-moon-by-2040/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">lunar surface</a>, including the critical lunar South Pole region, which the Artemis missions focus on. 



It will also ensure uninterrupted communications between the Moon and Earth, provide unique scientific opportunities within the deep space environment, and its high stability will enhance operational efficiency and reduce costs. 



Gateway will complete one full orbit around the Moon approximately every 6.5 days.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-one-module-at-a-time">One module at a time</h2>



Gateway will be an incrementally built and deployed spacecraft, similar to the <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/international-space-station/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">International Space Station</a> (ISS). 



However, assembling Gateway in lunar orbit will involve just four rocket launches and will take approximately six years, in contrast to the ISS's 42 assembly flights over about 13 years. 



This streamlined assembly process for Gateway is made possible by its smaller size and advancements in technology.



The first two modules of Gateway -- the Power and Propulsion Element (<a href="https://www.nasa.gov/missions/artemis/gateway/a-powerhouse-in-deep-space-gateways-power-and-propulsion-element/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PPE</a>) and the Habitation and Logistics Outpost (<a href="https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-northrop-grumman-finalize-moon-outpost-living-quarters-contract/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">HALO</a>) -- are already taking shape on the ground, with hardware fabrication actively underway in facilities worldwide. 



These components will be integrated and launched together on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket no earlier than 2025. 



Following launch, they will spend about a year traveling to lunar orbit, during which time Gateway will begin its scientific investigations, enabled by autonomous systems and remote operations.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-era-of-human-spaceflight">New era of human spaceflight</h2>



The addition of the Lunar International Habitation module (<a href="https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/Gateway_Lunar_I-Hab" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lunar I-Hab</a>) to Gateway, expected no earlier than 2028 as part of the Artemis IV mission, will mark a significant milestone in human spaceflight. 



During this mission, a crewed Orion spacecraft will transport the Lunar I-Hab to Gateway and dock it with HALO, marking the first time astronauts enter the space station.



"Astronauts aboard Gateway will conduct scientific research, prepare for lunar surface missions, and perform maintenance tasks to ensure the smooth operation of the station," says Dr. Lueders. 



"Gateway will have a minimum 15-year lifespan, with the potential for extension well beyond that initial timeframe."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gateway-space-station-compared-to-the-iss">Gateway space station compared to the ISS</h2>



While <a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/gateway-lunar-space-station_artist_NASA_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Gateway shares some similarities with the ISS</a>, there are notable differences between the two space stations. Gateway will be approximately 1/5 the size of the ISS by volume and 1/6 by mass. 



When fully assembled, Gateway will weigh around 63 metric tons (63,000 kilograms) and measure 141 feet tall (43 meters), 62 feet wide (19 meters), and 67 feet long (20 meters), with a habitable volume of about 125 cubic meters.



Unlike the ISS, which orbits at a distance of approximately 250 miles from Earth in <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthpedia-articles/what-is-low-earth-orbit-leo/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">low-Earth orbit</a>, Gateway will be located much farther away, in lunar orbit, about 1000 times farther from Earth than the ISS. This means that Gateway will not be visible from Earth like the ISS.



Another key difference between the two stations is their focus. While the ISS has been a cornerstone of space research in low-Earth orbit for over two decades, Gateway expands this legacy into the deep space environment. 



Gateway will operate in orbit around the Moon, where radiation is a greater concern due to the lack of Earth's protective magnetosphere. Additionally, while the ISS is permanently inhabited, Gateway will not be. 



Instead, Gateway will focus on pushing the boundaries of solar electric propulsion, robotics, and autonomous operations, enabling it to conduct science investigations and support missions even when crew are not present.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-road-to-mars-and-gateway-space-station">Road to Mars and Gateway space station</h2>



NASA has selected <a href="https://www.spacex.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SpaceX</a> as the initial U.S. commercial provider for Gateway's logistics services. SpaceX will deliver critical pressurized and unpressurized cargo, science experiments, and supplies to Gateway, with one logistics services delivery anticipated for each crewed Artemis mission to Gateway.



This partnership, along with the international collaborations and industry involvement in the development and operation of Gateway, underscores the global effort to advance space exploration and scientific discovery.



Beyond its role in lunar exploration, Gateway is part of a broader strategy for sustained and permanent lunar exploration, playing a vital role in NASA's preparations for future <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/could-a-nuclear-powered-spacecraft-shorten-the-trip-to-mars/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">missions to Mars</a>. 



The knowledge and experience gained from operating Gateway will prove invaluable for these endeavors, as NASA continues to push the boundaries of human spaceflight and exploration.



As Dr. Lueders concludes, "Gateway represents a new era in space exploration, one that will not only deepen our understanding of the Moon and its potential but also serve as a stepping stone to even greater adventures beyond, to Mars and the depths of our solar system."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-artemis-program-and-the-gateway-space-station">Artemis program and the Gateway space station</h2>



As mentioned previously, NASA launched the Artemis program to return humans to the Moon and establish a sustainable presence on the lunar surface by 2028. 



The program takes its name from Artemis, the twin sister of Apollo in Greek mythology, symbolizing the agency's goal to land the first woman and the next man on the Moon.



The Artemis program serves as a crucial stepping stone for future crewed missions to Mars. NASA will use the knowledge and experience gained from exploring the Moon to prepare for the challenges of sending humans to the Red Planet.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-learning-to-live-and-work-in-deep-space">Learning to live and work in deep space</h3>



Through the Artemis program, NASA will develop and test new technologies, such as advanced spacesuits, lunar rovers, and habitats, which will be essential for deep space exploration and long-duration missions to Mars.



By establishing a sustainable presence on the Moon, NASA will learn how to live and work in deep space for extended periods. This experience will be invaluable when planning and executing crewed missions to Mars, which will require astronauts to spend months or even years in space.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-international-cooperation">International cooperation</h3>



The Artemis program seeks to build and strengthen international partnerships in space exploration. NASA will collaborate with space agencies from around the world, as well as commercial partners, to achieve its ambitious goals and foster a shared vision for lunar exploration.



In October 2020, NASA and seven partner countries signed the Artemis Accords, a set of principles that will guide cooperation among nations participating in the Artemis program. The Accords cover topics such as peaceful exploration, transparency, interoperability, and the protection of heritage sites on the Moon.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nasa-s-gateway-to-the-future">NASA's Gateway to the future</h2>



In summary, as NASA forges ahead with the development and assembly of the Gateway space station, the agency is laying the foundation for a sustainable presence on and around the Moon while setting the stage for future crewed missions to Mars and beyond. 



Through its innovative design, cutting-edge technologies, and collaborative partnerships, Gateway space station will serve as a testament to human ingenuity and the unwavering spirit of exploration. 



As we stand on the brink of this new era in space exploration, Gateway will undoubtedly inspire a new generation of scientists, engineers, and adventurers to push the boundaries of what is possible and continue our journey into the depths of the cosmos.



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NASA's new "Gateway space station" will soon orbit the moon

Space exploration is on the brink of a new era,...

Recent research conducted by the Department of Ethology at <a href="https://www.elte.hu/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eötvös Loránd University</a> (ELTE) has revealed that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/some-dogs-have-exceptional-learning-capacities/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dogs' learning success</a> improves significantly when they are rewarded with food, praise, and petting. 



Published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-60166-8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Scientific Reports</a>, this study delves into the relationship between emotions, learning, and sleep in dogs. The findings indicate that incorporating social reinforcement such as praise and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/petting-a-dog-even-when-its-not-your-own-can-boost-your-health-for-months/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">petting</a> can enhance dogs' performance in learning tasks.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-emotionally-charged-learning-in-dogs">Emotionally charged learning in dogs</h2>



Earlier research had established that emotionally charged events are better remembered, but these studies were primarily conducted in controlled laboratory settings.&nbsp;



This new research aimed to explore this phenomenon in real-life scenarios involving family dogs learning from their owners or dog trainers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-studying-how-family-dogs-learn">Studying how family dogs learn</h2>



“It is natural and ordinary for family dogs to learn in emotionally charged social situations, either from their owners or from dog trainers. However, our knowledge of this phenomenon so far is mainly based on studies in humans and laboratory rodents (rats, mice),” said study lead author Viviene Reicher, an ethologist at ELTE.



“Our aim was to study the phenomenon in dogs, as it is not only exciting to research the species as a model animal, but also in its own right.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-different-styles-of-training-nbsp">Different styles of training&nbsp;</h2>



The scientists developed a novel methodology wherein dog trainers taught new command words for familiar tricks in the presence of the dogs' owners.&nbsp;



For instance, trainers used the English command “High five” instead of the Hungarian “Pacsi.” Each dog underwent two types of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dog-training-is-more-effective-when-nice-voice-tone-is-used/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">training</a> sessions: a “permissive” style with praise and petting in addition to treats, and a “controlling” style with only treats and scolding for unwanted behavior.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-measuring-the-dogs-learning-success-nbsp">Measuring the dogs’ learning success&nbsp;</h2>



After the training sessions, the dogs' learning success was tested before and after <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dogs-can-have-sleep-apnea-too/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sleep</a> in a sleep lab, with EEG scans analyzing brain function related to memory consolidation. 



The study found that the controlling style of training induced greater stress in the dogs, leading them to seek proximity to their owners and sleep more after training. This aligns with previous research indicating that sleep plays a crucial role in processing emotions.



Interestingly, the study revealed that learning success was more pronounced the first time regardless of training style, likely due to the well-documented phenomenon that information learned first is easier to remember.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-importance-of-social-reinforcement-nbsp">The importance of social reinforcement&nbsp;</h2>



However, the most exciting result was observed when dogs initially exposed to controlling training were later trained in a permissive style. The combination of positive surprise and sleep significantly improved their learning success.



Dr. Márta Gácsi, senior research fellow, highlighted the importance of social reinforcement in dogs' well-being and learning. The lack of social reinforcement or the presence of scolding can cause stress, particularly when dogs are being taught by a trainer, which should be considered when selecting teaching methods.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tangible-rewards-and-emotional-support-nbsp">Tangible rewards and emotional support&nbsp;</h2>



This study not only provides a deeper understanding of dog learning but also offers insights into human learning processes. It underscores the importance of rewarding dogs with both food and social reinforcement, further supporting the view that these practices positively impact dogs' well-being and learning success.&nbsp;



The findings are valuable for dog owners and trainers, emphasizing the need for a balanced approach to training that includes both tangible rewards and emotional support.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-learning-capacity-of-dogs-nbsp">Learning capacity of dogs&nbsp;</h2>



Dogs have an amazing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/typical-american-dog-knows-18-words-and-love-is-at-the-top-of-the-list/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">capacity to learn</a> through various intriguing methods. One interesting aspect is their ability to understand human gestures and vocal tones almost as naturally as they understand the body language of other dogs. This ability makes them exceptional companions and highly trainable.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-associative-learning">Associative learning</h3>



Dogs also learn through associative learning, where they connect a specific stimulus with a particular outcome. For instance, they quickly learn that the sound of a leash can lead to a walk, or that the rustle of a treat bag means a snack is coming.&nbsp;



This form of learning is why dogs can respond to cues like dinner bells or doorbells with such enthusiasm or anticipation.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-social-learning-nbsp">Social learning&nbsp;</h3>



Dogs are also capable of social learning. They can observe and imitate the behaviors of other dogs and even humans, learning complex actions without direct training.&nbsp;



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dog-breed">Dog breed</h3>



Dogs' learning abilities are influenced by their breed as well. Some breeds, like Border Collies, are renowned for their problem-solving skills and quick learning, making them excellent at tasks that require intelligence and agility. In contrast, breeds like Greyhounds might excel in tasks that involve speed and visual cues.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-human-emotions">Human emotions</h3>



Moreover, dogs can read human emotions quite well, which affects how they learn from us. They are more likely to learn in a positive, supportive atmosphere where they feel safe.&nbsp;



Stress, fear, or anxiety can hinder their learning processes, demonstrating how sensitive they are to our emotional states.



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Dogs learn better with praise and petting

Recent research conducted by the Department of Ethology at Eötvös...

The ocean can be a turbulent place, especially for small fish trying to navigate strong currents. However, new research suggests that fish have developed an ingenious solution to this problem: swimming in schools. 



Scientists have long been fascinated by the complex and coordinated movements of fish schools, but the reasons behind this behavior have remained somewhat of a mystery. 



A new study reveals that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/can-three-fish-make-a-school-study-offers-surprising-insights/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">schooling fish</a> expend significantly less energy when swimming in turbulent water compared to their solitary counterparts.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-turbulent-sheltering-hypothesis">Turbulent sheltering hypothesis</h2>



Researchers from <a href="https://www.harvard.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Harvard University</a>, led by Yangfan Zhang, proposed the "turbulent sheltering hypothesis." 



This theory suggests that fish swimming in groups effectively shield each other from the full force of disruptive water currents, making it easier to navigate through rough waters. Essentially, fish have figured out that there's strength in numbers when it comes to battling the elements.



To test this hypothesis, the researchers conducted experiments with giant danios (Devario aeqipinnatus). They observed these fish swimming alone and in groups of eight, both in turbulent and calm water conditions. 



Using high-speed cameras and a respirometer (a device that measures respiration rates and energy expenditure), the researchers were able to meticulously analyze the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/in-schools-fish-have-mastered-the-skill-of-moving-without-sound/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">movements</a> and energy consumption of the fish.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fish-teamwork-while-swimming">Fish teamwork while swimming</h2>



The experimental findings provided compelling evidence for the energy-saving benefits of schooling behavior in fish.



Schooling fish,&nbsp;those swimming in cohesive groups,&nbsp;were observed to have a drastically reduced energetic cost compared to fish swimming alone.&nbsp;Specifically,&nbsp;in turbulent water conditions,&nbsp;fish swimming in schools demonstrated a remarkable 79% reduction in energy expenditure compared to solitary individuals.



This reduction in energy expenditure was accompanied by behavioral adaptations in response to turbulence.&nbsp;Schooling fish were observed to swim in tighter formations,&nbsp;minimizing their exposure to disruptive currents.&nbsp;



This clustering behavior allowed them to effectively utilize the hydrodynamic advantages of group swimming,&nbsp;reducing the individual effort required to maintain speed and stability.



Conversely,&nbsp;solitary fish were forced to compensate for the lack of collective sheltering by increasing their tail-beat frequency and amplitude.&nbsp;This increased effort to maintain the same speed as their schooling counterparts highlights the significant energetic burden faced by fish swimming alone in turbulent <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fish-migrating-towards-poles-escape-warming-waters/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">environments</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fish-ecology-and-conservation">Fish ecology and conservation</h2>



This research has significant implications for our understanding of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fish-are-getting-smaller-as-waters-temperatures-rise/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fish ecology</a> and behavior. It also has practical applications in conservation efforts. 



The findings could inform the design and maintenance of habitats for protected fish species and aid in managing invasive ones.



The insights gained from this research hold significant implications for various fields,&nbsp;including fish ecology,hydrodynamics,&nbsp;and conservation.&nbsp;



By understanding how fish schools utilize collective movement to mitigate the energetic costs of swimming in turbulent environments, experts can gain a deeper understanding of fish behavior and ecological interactions.



Additionally,&nbsp;the study contributes to the field of hydrodynamics by shedding light on the complex interactions between fluid flow and biological organisms.&nbsp;



The observations of fish adjusting their swimming patterns and formations in response to turbulence provide valuable data for refining mathematical models and simulations of fluid dynamics.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-collective-movement-in-fish-swimming">Collective movement in fish swimming</h2>



The study of collective movement, not just in fish but also in birds and other animals, has always captivated scientists and nature enthusiasts. This research adds another layer to our understanding of how animals have evolved to overcome environmental challenges through cooperation.



"What is the function of schooling behavior in fishes? We show that being in a school substantially reduces the energetic cost for fish swimming in a turbulent environment, compared to swimming alone, providing support for the hypothesis that schooling behavior protects individual fish from the increased energetic cost associated with swimming in turbulence," noted the study authors.



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



The research also raises intriguing questions about the energy dynamics of group movement in other aquatic and aerial animals. Could similar principles of energy conservation apply to flocks of birds flying in formation or pods of dolphins swimming together?



Future studies will likely delve deeper into these questions and explore the broader implications of collective movement across various species.



In sum, fish schools have revealed yet another secret: the power of teamwork to overcome the challenges of a turbulent environment. 



This research not only enhances our understanding of fish behavior but also opens new avenues for conservation efforts and inspires further exploration into the fascinating world of collective movement in the animal kingdom. 



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.3002501" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PLoS Biology</a>.



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Fish use 79% less energy when they swim in a group

The ocean can be a turbulent place, especially for small...

When NASA's Lucy spacecraft whizzed past the asteroid known as "Dinky" in November 2023, it wasn't just a routine flyby. Researchers found that the asteroid was not traversing the cosmos alone; <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/asteroid-selam-dinkinesh-moonlet-baby-very-young/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">a moon</a>, whimsically named "Selam," was orbiting Dinky.



But the surprises didn’t stop there. Further data revealed that Selam itself was no ordinary moon but a contact binary -- essentially, two tiny moons that had merged into one.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-complexities-of-asteroid-dinky-and-its-moons">Complexities of asteroid Dinky and its moons</h2>



This revelation, detailed by the Lucy team in a recent study, has intrigued astronomers and challenged our existing theories on the formation of celestial bodies. 



The team, including <a href="https://umd.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Maryland</a>'s Professor Jessica Sunshine, suggests that the internal structure and dynamics of these tiny moons could reshape our understanding of how terrestrial bodies come into existence.



Jessica Sunshine highlighted the complexity uncovered by the spacecraft’s observations. "We’ve seen Dinkinesh’s rotation speed and analyzed Selam’s orbit pattern more closely," she noted. "This helps us hypothesize about their composition and brings us closer to understanding the creation of terrestrial bodies."



The story of how Selam came to be is as dramatic as it is fascinating. 



<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/asteroid-Dinkinesh_Selam-satellite_montage_SWRI_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lucy's images showed</a> that about a quarter of Dinky asteroid had broken off, likely due to its fast spinning motion, which might have been influenced by the uneven reflection of sunlight.



This ejection of rocky debris likely helped form Selam. Meanwhile, other fragments fell back onto Dinky, forming visible ridges on the asteroid’s surface.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-broader-implications-for-planetary-science">Broader implications for planetary science</h2>



The study’s lead scientist, Hal Levison from the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/shock-discovery-saturns-moon-enceladus-has-all-of-the-ingredients-necessary-for-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Southwest Research Institute</a>, emphasized the broader significance of these findings.



Understanding the interaction between colliding celestial objects, like asteroids, is crucial for understanding how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/oceans-of-water-vapor-may-be-involved-in-planet-formation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">planets</a>, including Earth, were formed.



"Whether these objects break apart or coalesce during collisions tells us much about their internal strength and structure," Levison explained.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-comparison-with-other-celestial-bodies">Comparison with other celestial bodies</h2>



The dual moons of Dinkinesh also invite comparisons with similar systems, such as the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nasa-will-crash-a-spacecraft-into-an-asteroid-tomorrow/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Didymos</a> binary system, which is located much closer to Earth.



Despite their distance from each other, these systems may have undergone similar processes. 



"I’m personally very excited to compare the two systems," said Sunshine, who also worked on NASA’s DART mission that successfully altered the trajectory of Didymos' moon, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nasa-dart-mission-proves-humanity-can-be-saved-from-asteroid-collision/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dimorphos</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lucy-s-continuing-journey-through-space">Lucy's continuing journey through space</h2>



Dinkinesh and Selam are just the beginning of Lucy's cosmic itinerary. The spacecraft is slated to explore a total of 11 asteroids over its 12-year mission. 



After its initial observations, Lucy will utilize a gravity assist from Earth to propel it deeper into space, where it will continue its observations, including a planned encounter with the asteroid Donaldjohanson in 2025, and later, the Trojan asteroids in 2027.



"The goal is to peel back the layers of how planets are formed. By studying these smaller celestial bodies, we gather crucial data on the material interactions that might mirror those that formed larger planetary bodies like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-discovery-about-earths-formation-raises-probability-of-finding-life-on-other-planets/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earth</a>," Sunshine concluded.



The journey of Lucy not only enriches our understanding of the universe but also continues to pose intriguing questions about the very processes that may have shaped our own planet. 



The findings from Dinkinesh and Selam serve as a testament to the dynamic and ever-evolving nature of space exploration, providing us with insights that could one day answer some of the most fundamental questions about our place in the cosmos.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-on-dinky-and-asteroid-moon-systems">More on Dinky and asteroid-moon systems</h2>



Asteroid-moon systems, like Dinky and Selam, are of great interest to astronomers as they offer crucial insights into the mechanics of celestial interactions. 



These systems are often formed through complex processes such as collisions, gravitational captures, and material ejections.



Studying these systems helps scientists understand the dynamics of binary systems and the evolution of the solar system.



Future research can focus on the detailed dynamics of these systems, exploring how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/moon-is-shrinking-moonquakes-potential-problems-for-astronauts/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">moons influence</a> the rotational and orbital characteristics of their parent asteroids. 



Advanced missions could utilize high-resolution imaging, spectroscopic analysis, and even landers to study the surface composition and internal structure of both the asteroids and their moons.



Asteroid-moon systems also provide a natural laboratory for studying the effects of the Yarkovsky and YORP (Yarkovsky–O'Keefe–Radzievskii–Paddack) effects, which influence the spin and orbit of small bodies. 



Understanding these processes is critical for predicting the long-term behavior of near-Earth objects, potentially improving our ability to mitigate asteroid impact threats.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07378-0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a>.



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How asteroids named 'Dinky' and 'Selam' became bound together forever

When NASA's Lucy spacecraft whizzed past the asteroid known as...

A rare <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-class-of-exoplanets-discovered/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">exoplanet</a>, nicknamed “Phoenix,” has defied expectations by developing a puffy atmosphere despite being bombarded by intense radiation from its nearby host star. This discovery challenges existing theories about how planets evolve and perish in extreme environments.&nbsp;



The study, published in <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.3847/1538-3881/ad4149" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Astronomical Journal</a>, was led by Sam Grunblatt, a <a href="https://www.jhu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Johns Hopkins University</a> astrophysicist.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hot-neptune-planets">Hot Neptune planets</h2>



“This planet isn’t evolving the way we thought it would, it appears to have a much bigger, less dense atmosphere than we expected for these systems,” he said.



Phoenix, officially named TIC365102760 b, belongs to the rare “<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/neptune-like-exoplanets-atmospheres-interesting-earth-size-neighbors/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hot Neptunes</a>” category, sharing characteristics with Neptune but being much closer to its star and significantly hotter. The planet, which is 6.2 times larger than Earth, orbits its star every 4.2 days, at a distance six times closer than Mercury is to the Sun.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-defying-all-expectations">Defying all expectations</h2>



Despite its age and high temperatures, Phoenix has managed to retain a low-density atmosphere, which has perplexed scientists. They estimate that Phoenix is 60 times less dense than the densest known hot Neptune and predict it will only survive another 100 million years before spiraling into its host star.



“It’s the smallest planet we’ve ever found around one of these red giants,” Grunblatt said. “We don’t know why it still has an atmosphere when other ‘hot Neptunes’ that are much smaller and much denser seem to be losing their atmospheres in much less extreme environments.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-detecting-the-exoplanet-s-puffy-atmosphere">Detecting the exoplanet's puffy atmosphere </h2>



Grunblatt and his team used a new method to analyze data from NASA’s <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/mission/tess/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite</a>, filtering out unwanted light and combining the data with additional measurements from the <a href="https://www.keckobservatory.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">W.M. Keck Observatory</a> in Hawaii. This approach allowed them to detect the planet’s puffy atmosphere and gain insights into its unusual characteristics.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-evolution-of-planetary-atmospheres-nbsp">Evolution of planetary atmospheres&nbsp;</h2>



The discovery of Phoenix could improve our understanding of how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hubble-finds-a-water-rich-planet-with-a-steamy-atmosphere-named-gj-9827d/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">planetary atmospheres</a>, including Earth’s, might evolve. Scientists predict that the Sun will eventually expand into a red giant star, potentially engulfing Earth and other inner planets.&nbsp;



“We don’t understand the late-stage evolution of planetary systems very well,” Grunblatt said. “This is telling us that maybe Earth’s atmosphere won’t evolve exactly how we thought it would.”



Puffy planets are rare, with scientists estimating that only about 1% of stars host them. These planets are composed of gasses, ice, or other lighter materials, making them less dense than any planet in our solar system.&nbsp;



The smaller size of exoplanets like Phoenix makes them harder to detect, but Grunblatt’s team is actively searching for more. They have already identified a dozen potential candidates using their new technique.&nbsp;



“We still have a long way to go in understanding how planetary atmospheres evolve over time,” Grunblatt concluded.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rare-planets-with-puffy-atmospheres">Rare planets with puffy atmospheres</h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/puffy-exoplanets-have-the-density-of-a-marshmallow-but-how-is-it-possible/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Puffy planets</a>, often referred to as "inflated gas giants," are a type of exoplanet notable for their extremely low densities relative to their sizes.&nbsp;



These planets are generally larger than expected for their mass, akin to having the volume of Jupiter but a significantly lesser mass, which makes them less dense and hence "puffy." This characteristic can sometimes result in these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-planet-is-as-light-as-cotton-candy-but-bigger-than-jupiter/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">planets</a> having radii much larger than standard gas giants under similar conditions.



The puffiness of these planets is primarily attributed to their proximity to their host stars. They orbit very close to their stars, and the intense stellar radiation they receive can heat their atmospheres to extremely high temperatures.&nbsp;



This heat adds energy to the planet's atmosphere, causing it to expand and bloat. In essence, the thermal energy overcomes the gravitational pull of the planet to an extent, leading to a larger radius than would typically be expected for a planet of similar mass.



Another factor contributing to the puffiness could be tidal heating, where gravitational interaction between the planet and its star (or other planets) generates additional internal heat, further causing the atmosphere to expand.



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‘Weird’ exoplanet has puffy atmosphere despite intense radiation

A rare exoplanet, nicknamed “Phoenix,” has defied expectations by developing...

The planet just experienced a “shocking” new milestone, enduring 12 consecutive months of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-environment-day-humans-are-warming-the-planet-faster-than-ever-before/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">unprecedented heat</a>, according to <a href="https://www.copernicus.eu/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Copernicus</a>, the European Union’s climate monitoring service. From June 2023 to May 2024, each month set a new record for the hottest such month globally.  



This streak of extreme heat, driven by human-caused climate change, was described as “shocking but not surprising” by Carlo Buontempo, Copernicus' director, who warned of worse to come unless fossil fuel pollution is significantly reduced.&nbsp;



Buontempo emphasized that without drastic action, this series of hottest months could be seen as relatively cool in the future.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-on-the-highway-to-climate-hell">On the highway to climate hell</h2>



On the same day, UN Secretary General António Guterres delivered a passionate speech in New York about climate change, criticizing fossil fuel companies as “the godfathers of climate chaos” and for the first time explicitly calling for a global ban on advertising <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/air-pollution-from-fossil-fuels-kills-5-million-people-each-year/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fossil fuel</a> products. 



Guterres urged world leaders to take immediate action to manage the escalating climate crisis. He compared humanity's current trajectory to playing “Russian roulette with our planet” and called for an “exit ramp off the highway to climate hell.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-severe-climate-impacts-to-come">More severe climate impacts to come </h2>



Copernicus data showed that each month since July 2023 has been at least 1.5 degrees Celsius warmer than pre-industrial levels, with the average global temperature over the past year being 1.63 degrees above these levels.&nbsp;



This alarming breach signals progressively more dangerous climate impacts on the horizon.&nbsp;



According to Richard Allan, a climate professor at the <a href="https://www.reading.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Reading</a>, this is just a harbinger of more severe impacts to come.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-heat-waves-and-extreme-weather">Heat waves and extreme weather</h2>



The western United States is experiencing its first heat wave of the summer, with temperatures reaching triple digits.&nbsp;



Globally, unprecedented heat has already caused significant mortality and damage this spring. India, Southeast Asia, and Mexico have all faced extreme temperatures leading to deaths, school closures, and crop failures.&nbsp;



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-will-climate-change-affect-extreme-weather-events/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Extreme weather</a> events, such as heavy rainfall and destructive storms, have also battered various countries this year, exacerbated by warmer air and ocean temperatures.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-window-into-the-future-of-our-climate">Window into the future of our climate </h2>



Ben Clarke, a researcher at <a href="https://www.imperial.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Imperial College London</a>'s Grantham Institute, argued that the recent heat offers “a window into the future,” with extreme temperatures challenging human survivability. 



Clarke stressed the importance of understanding that each tenth of a degree of warming exposes more people to dangerous and potentially deadly heat.



Guterres, in his speech, compared humanity's impact on the planet to the meteor that caused the extinction of the dinosaurs. “We are the meteor. We are not only in danger. We are the danger,” he warned.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-global-warming-trend-will-continue-nbsp">Global warming trend will continue&nbsp;</h2>



Global temperatures are expected to dip below record-breaking levels in the coming months as the natural climate phenomenon <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/el-nino-event-may-push-earth-towards-its-hottest-year-ever/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">El Niño</a> weakens. However, this will not alter the long-term trend of rising temperatures due to continuous fossil fuel combustion. 



Carlo Buontempo noted that while the sequence of record-breaking months may be interrupted, the overall trend of climate change remains unaltered.



New data from the <a href="https://wmo.int/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">World Meteorological Organization</a> (WMO) referenced by Guterres indicates a nearly 86% chance that at least one year between 2024 and 2028 will set a new record for the hottest year. 



Additionally, there is almost a 50% chance that the global average temperature over the five-year period will exceed 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels, inching closer to breaching the long-term limit set by the Paris Agreement.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fossil-fuel-companies-are-to-blame-for-the-crisis">Fossil fuel companies are to blame for the crisis</h2>



Guterres blamed fossil fuel companies for the impending climate hell, stating that they “rake in record profits and feast off trillions in taxpayer-funded subsidies” while distorting the truth and deceiving the public. He called for a global ban on fossil fuel ads, similar to bans on advertising harmful products like tobacco.



Guterres concluded by urging world leaders to take immediate action, including drastic cuts in greenhouse gas emissions and an end to new coal projects. He pressed rich countries to commit to phasing out coal by 2030, reducing oil and gas by 60% by 2035, and increasing financial support for the poorest and most climate-vulnerable nations.&nbsp;



“We cannot accept a future where the rich are protected in air-conditioned bubbles, while the rest of humanity is lashed by lethal weather in unliveable lands,” said Guterres.



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UN chief: We are on the ‘highway to climate hell’ 

The planet just experienced a “shocking” new milestone, enduring 12...

NASA's latest venture, the Farside Seismic Suite (FSS), is poised to revolutionize our understanding of seismic activities on the Moon's far side, an area still <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/orion-spacecraft-captures-stunning-photo-of-earth-and-the-moon/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">shrouded in mystery</a>.



This project utilizes advanced seismometers originally developed for the InSight Mars mission, which detected over a thousand <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/secrets-of-mars-seismic-discoveries-and-the-quest-for-past-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">marsquakes</a>.



These instruments are now being adapted to withstand the Moon’s unique environmental challenges.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-far-side-of-the-moon-still-holds-mystery">Far side of the Moon still holds mystery</h2>



The Moon's far side, often called the "dark side," remains largely uncharted and mysterious. 



Unlike the near side, which always faces Earth, the far side is rugged and heavily cratered, with few of the large, flat maria (basaltic plains) that characterize the near side. This terrain results from its unique geological history.



The far side of the Moon was first glimpsed by humanity in 1959, when the Soviet Luna 3 spacecraft transmitted images back to Earth.



Since then, various missions, including those from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA</a>, the <a href="https://www.esa.int" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">European Space Agency</a>, and more recently China’s Chang’e missions, have provided additional data.



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/china-landing-moon/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chang’e-4</a>, launched by China, made history by landing the first rover, Yutu-2, on the far side in 2019. This mission has provided valuable information about the far side's surface composition and lunar regolith.



Most recently, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/china-has-launched-a-spacecraft-to-the-far-side-of-the-moon/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">China's Chang’e-6</a> lunar probe landed on the less-explored far side of the moon. This initiative, a key part of China’s ambitious <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/china-landing-moon/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">lunar agenda</a>, aims to explore and unravel the mysteries of this region hidden from Earth’s view.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-the-moon-s-far-side-is-important">Why the Moon's far side is important</h2>



Research on the Moon’s far side is crucial for several reasons. It offers a pristine environment to study the impact history of the inner solar system. 



The far side's lack of maria suggests a different thermal and geological history compared to the near side, which could provide clues about the Moon's formation and evolution.



Furthermore, the far side is a potential site for future radio astronomy. Its location, shielded from Earth's radio interference, makes it an ideal spot to place radio telescopes to observe the universe in ways not possible from Earth.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mars-to-the-moon">Mars to the Moon</h2>



The suite for studying Moon's far side comprises two highly sensitive seismometers that mark a significant technological leap over their Apollo-era predecessors.



One of these, the Very Broadband (VBB) seismometer, is capable of detecting vibrations smaller than a single hydrogen atom. The other, the Short Period (SP) sensor, captures motion in three dimensions using advanced silicon chip sensors.



Together, these devices will be nestled within a robust cube structure, insulated and protected, ready to endure the harsh lunar conditions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-strategic-lunar-landing-in-moon-s-far-side">Strategic lunar landing in Moon's far side</h2>



Scheduled for deployment in 2026, the FSS will touch down in the Schrödinger basin, a vast impact crater near the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/contact-lost-with-chandrayaan-3-placing-the-moon-mission-in-jeopardy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Moon's South Pole</a>.



This self-sufficient, solar-powered suite is equipped with its own computer and communications hardware and is engineered to operate through both the scorching lunar days and the freezing nights.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-historic-contributions">Historic contributions</h2>



Upon deployment, FSS will deliver NASA's first seismic data from the Moon's far side in nearly half a century, offering unprecedented insights into lunar internal activity and structure.



This data will not only enhance our understanding of the Moon but also provide valuable comparisons with Earth and Mars, contributing to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nasa-building-space-station-called-gateway-will-orbit-moon/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">broader planetary science</a>.



Mark Panning, the FSS principal investigator, shared his enthusiasm about the suite's capabilities, saying, “FSS will offer answers to questions we’ve been asking about the Moon for decades. We cannot wait to start getting this data back.”



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



The development of FSS was a collaborative effort involving multiple international partners. 



The VBB seismometer, originally a backup for the <a href="https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/insight" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">InSight Mars mission</a>, was developed by the French space agency, CNES, while the SP sensor was a joint effort by Kinemetrics, the <a href="https://www.ox.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Oxford</a>, and <a href="https://www.imperial.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Imperial College London</a>.



The robust testing and assembly processes these instruments underwent ensure they are prepared for the challenges of space travel and <a href="https://www.earth.com/video/artemis-launch-a-new-era-of-lunar-exploration/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">lunar exploration</a>.



As the FSS prepares for its lunar mission, the teams involved look forward to the wealth of data it will provide. 



Ed Miller, the FSS project manager at JPL, expressed a sentiment shared by many involved, explaining, "We went to Mars together, and now we’ll be able to look up at the Moon and know we built something up there. It’ll make us so proud.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unraveling-moon-mysteries-with-fss">Unraveling Moon mysteries with FSS</h2>



The deployment of the Farside Seismic Suite represents a significant milestone in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/future-space-exploration-could-be-shut-down-by-orbiting-debris/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">space exploration</a>, bridging past achievements with future ambitions.



As we await its launch, the potential scientific discoveries hold the promise to illuminate not just the moonquakes of the lunar far side but also the fundamental processes that govern all rocky bodies in our solar system.



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New NASA mission will study the Moon's far side and moonquakes

NASA's latest venture, the Farside Seismic Suite (FSS), is poised...

Adopting methods from the dairy industry, researchers have discovered that a slow-growth diet prior to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/national-pig-day-honoring-the-role-of-an-underappreciated-animal/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">breeding</a> can result in more offspring and healthier, longer-lived mother pigs.



This innovative approach appears to offer significant benefits for the reproductive health and longevity of pigs through multiple breeding cycles.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-impact-of-a-slow-growth-diet">Impact of a slow-growth diet</h2>



Charles Maxwell is a professor of animal science for the experiment station, the research arm of the <a href="https://uada.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture</a>. 



Maxwell revealed that the slow-growth diet, inspired by practices used for dairy cows since the 1980s, involves reducing the weight gain of female pigs before breeding.



Traditionally, female breeding pigs were fed similarly to non-breeding pigs, often leading to issues of overweight and associated complications during the breeding phase.



The study carried out by Maxwell and his colleagues introduced two distinct diets for young female pigs.



The first, a low-nutrient diet, reduced the intake of lysine, an essential amino acid, and lowered the diet's energy density through the inclusion of wheat middlings and dried corn distiller's grain with solubles. 



In contrast, the control group received a standard diet that surpassed typical industry nutritional standards.



The results were telling. Gilts (female pigs pre-breeding) on the low-nutrient diet were allowed to eat as much as they wanted yet ended their 26-week development period about 15 pounds lighter than those on the normal diet. However, at the time of breeding, both groups averaged the same body weight.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-long-term-benefits-observed">Long-term benefits observed</h2>



The low-nutrient diet not only prevented excessive weight gain but also supported better nutritional absorption during lactation. 



"The gilts fed a lower nutrient diet retained more backfat at weaning, suggesting they managed their reserves more efficiently than those on a normal diet," explained Maxwell. 



Monitoring backfat at the 10th rib provided a simple method to gauge body fat changes, a critical factor in swine health.



Moreover, the low-nutrient group boasted superior reproductive outcomes over four breeding cycles, with significant increases in the number of piglets born and weaned. 



"Feeding low-energy and reduced protein diets during gilt development can promote their ability to restore body condition during lactation, which boosted survivability throughout the four parity cycles and thus extended their longevity," Maxwell noted.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-advantages-of-a-slow-growth-diet-in-pigs">Advantages of a slow-growth diet in pigs</h2>



The implications of these findings are vast, particularly for regions like Arkansas, where swine production is a major industry. 



The state has developed a robust "sow farm concept," producing high-health replacement females to supply the broader swine industry. 



The study, which explored the benefits of a slow-growth diet in collaboration with major industry players like JBS and supported by institutions like the <a href="https://www.usda.gov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">U.S. Department of Agriculture</a>, indicates a potential shift towards more sustainable and efficient breeding practices.



This could revolutionize standard practices and enhance the economic viability of swine production.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-moving-forward-in-swine-research">Moving forward in swine research</h2>



Despite the success, Maxwell acknowledges that the approach is not foolproof. "We're not there yet. Even with that treatment, we didn't have 100% survival. So, we still have a lot of questions to minimize the loss," he admitted. 



The ongoing search for improvements in sow longevity underscores the complex challenges in swine nutrition and reproductive health.



This research is part of a broader mission by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture to connect trusted research with the adoption of best practices in agriculture, aiming to enhance community and family livelihoods through science-driven solutions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-other-benefits-of-slow-growth-diet-in-pigs">Other benefits of slow-growth diet in pigs</h2>



A slow-growth diet in pigs offers several benefits beyond the immediate findings of this research. Such a diet can improve overall <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/animal-welfare-biggest-concern-people-making-food-choices/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">animal welfare</a> by reducing the risk of obesity-related health issues, which are common in pigs fed traditional high-energy diets. 



This approach can also enhance the immune system, making pigs less susceptible to diseases and reducing the need for antibiotics.



Moreover, a slow-growth diet can lead to better meat quality. Pigs that grow more slowly tend to have better marbling and meat texture, which can result in higher market value. 



Environmental benefits also arise, as pigs on this diet produce less waste and require fewer resources, contributing to more sustainable farming practices.



Additionally, implementing slow-growth diets can lead to cost savings for farmers by reducing feed costs and improving the efficiency of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/national-pig-day-honoring-the-role-of-an-underappreciated-animal/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">feed conversion</a>. 



Overall, this approach supports healthier pigs, better product quality, and more sustainable and cost-effective farming operations.



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Slow-growth diet for pigs increases longevity and productivity

Adopting methods from the dairy industry, researchers have discovered that...

Thailand,Rain,Forest,Landscape

The resilience of Asian forests in the face of escalating disturbances from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/forests-rich-tree-diversity-adapt-better-changing-climate/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate change</a> and human activities is nothing short of remarkable. 



Since the mid-19th century, the world has witnessed a steady increase in global temperatures, fueled largely by human-driven greenhouse gas emissions. 



These changes have put immense pressure on forests across Asia, challenging their stability and ecological functions. 



Despite these adversities, new findings suggest that these ecosystems are not only enduring but also demonstrating significant resilience.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-forest-dynamics-in-climate-change">Forest dynamics in climate change</h2>



The foundation of this optimistic outlook stems from a recent study by ecologists from <a href="http://bjfu.admissions.cn/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Beijing Forestry University</a> and the <a href="http://english.iap.cas.cn/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Institute of Atmospheric Physics</a> in China. 



Published in Atmospheric and Oceanic Science Letters, their research utilized satellite remote sensing data to undertake a thorough analysis of forest disturbances and their resilience across East Asia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.



Forests play a crucial role in absorbing about 33% of carbon dioxide emissions from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/good-news-plants-are-absorbing-more-human-produced-co2-than-expected/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">human activities</a>, a key factor in mitigating climate change impacts. 



The study employed the Breaks For Additive Seasonal and Trend (BFAST) method to detect abrupt changes and analyze the Enhanced Vegetation Index time series. 



This approach has shed light on how forests respond to various external pressures, providing critical insights into their dynamic nature.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-asian-forests-response-to-climate-change-disturbances">Asian forests' response to climate change disturbances</h2>



"20% of forests in Asia's low and middle latitudes experienced disturbances between 2000 and 2022, with Southeast Asian countries being particularly affected," notes Yiying Zhu, an ecology master at Beijing Forestry University and the first author of the study.



Despite these challenges, 95% of the forests showed robust resilience and recovered from disturbances within a few decades.



Interestingly, Asian forests that faced <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/forests-play-an-overlooked-role-in-the-climate-system/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">greater disturbances</a> tended to exhibit stronger resilience, recovering more rapidly than those with less severe impacts.



This suggests a promising capacity for these ecosystems to adapt to future extreme events driven by climate change or human activities.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-human-impacts-and-recovery-processes">Human impacts and recovery processes</h2>



The study further highlighted the causes and recovery processes of these disturbances. 



"Almost half of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/complex-canopies-help-forests-recover-from-disturbances/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">forest disturbances</a> were driven by commodity-driven deforestation, and it typically takes a forest ecosystem about 16.2 years to return to its pre-disturbance state," noted Prof. Hesong Wang, a global change ecology researcher.



These findings emphasize the significant effects of land-use changes due to human activities and underline the importance of understanding ecosystem recovery to mitigate forest damage.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-role-of-technology-in-forest-conservation">The role of technology in forest conservation</h2>



The application of satellite remote sensing is pivotal in monitoring and managing forest ecosystems. 



"Satellite remote sensing provides valuable insights for sustainable forest management practices in the region and should be employed globally," stated Prof. Anzhi Zhang, an associate professor at the Institute of Atmospheric Physics.



This technology is instrumental in elucidating the relationship between disturbances and forest recovery, offering a powerful tool for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wealthy-nations-are-making-more-progress-toward-sustainable-development/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sustainable management</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-resilience-and-recovery-of-asian-forests">Resilience and recovery of Asian forests</h2>



The resilience demonstrated by Asian forests is a testament to their ability to withstand and recover from significant environmental disturbances. 



This research not only advances our understanding of forest ecology but also informs conservation strategies critical for preserving these vital ecosystems. 



The continued application of advanced technologies like satellite remote sensing will be crucial in these ongoing efforts, ensuring that Asian forests remain robust in the face of global environmental challenges.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-significance-of-forest-resilience-to-climate-change">Significance of forest resilience to climate change</h2>



Forest resilience holds immense significance. Resilient forests contribute to climate stability by absorbing large amounts of carbon dioxide, mitigating global warming. 



Their ability to recover from disturbances ensures the continued provision of essential ecosystem services, such as water purification, soil stabilization, and habitat for biodiversity.



Additionally, resilient forests support local economies by sustaining resources for timber, medicine, and food, benefiting millions who rely on these ecosystems for their livelihoods. 



They also act as natural buffers, reducing the impact of extreme weather events like floods and landslides, thus protecting human communities.



Understanding and enhancing forest resilience can inform better conservation strategies, promoting sustainable management practices. It encourages global cooperation to combat deforestation and climate change, ensuring these vital ecosystems thrive for future generations. 



Ultimately, resilient forests play a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance and supporting life on Earth.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674283424000606?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Atmospheric and Oceanic Science Letters</a>.



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Many forests are proving to be resilient to both climate change and human actions

The resilience of Asian forests in the face of escalating...

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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How does salt makes things taste better?

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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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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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"

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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



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

Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

[sendtonews key="qARzJPSabQ-2270617-12187" 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> describes a new map of Mars that is providing insight into the planet’s watery past. The map also reveals where future missions could safely land on Mars.&nbsp;



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

The history of Mars is much more complex than we thought

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research



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



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

Cavefish are healthy despite their sedentary lifestyle

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

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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites capture the world's biggest and fastest waves

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

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> describes why satellite images and measurements of our planet have become "essential to our survival, offering a new outlook of our world."&nbsp;



Rising sea levels pose one of the biggest societal threats associated with climate change. According to ESA, satellite altimeter missions such as Copernicus Sentinel-6 are essential in monitoring global and regional changes in sea level.



"Unbeknown to many, the island of Crete, Greece, plays an important role in the Copernicus satellite altimetry constellation and on an international stage," reports ESA.



"Satellite altimetry data have to be continuously monitored at the ESA’s Permanent Facility for Altimetry Calibration where different techniques have pioneered the use of transponders to provide the best measurements to validate satellite altimeters in space soon after launch."



Dr. Craig Donlon explains that, by understanding planet Earth through satellite measurements, we are able to find evidence of change.&nbsp;



Video Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;



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

Satellites have become essential to our survival

[sendtonews key="761m2QQvR1-2035772-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...