A team of scientists has recreated the face of an ancient human ancestor that might offer a fresh glimpse of our distant past. This reconstructed visage of "Dragon Man" is linked to a group of early humans called the Denisovans, who roamed parts of Asia for thousands of years. 



Researchers believe these individuals may have handed down bits of genetic material that shaped the course of modern human evolution by helping our ancestors to adjust to different landscapes and climates.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dragon-man-and-the-denisovans">Dragon Man and the Denisovans</h2>



<a href="https://gurche.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">John Gurche</a>, working with National Geographic, is the paleoartist behind this striking portrait. Denisovans are known mainly from a sparse record of fossils and DNA first extracted in 2010 from a <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-018-0455-x" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">finger bone</a> in Siberia.



Scientists say these ancient humans lived between <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/115000-year-old-human-footprints-found-alathar-lake-arabian-peninsula/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">200,000 and 25,000 years ago</a>, crossed paths with Homo sapiens, and left us with genetic traces seen today in populations across Southeast Asia and Oceania. 



Neanderthals and these early humans are our closest extinct relatives, and they likely contributed to our ability to move into and adapt to new areas of the globe.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-the-harbin-skull-matters">Why the Harbin skull matters</h2>



A laborer in northeastern China uncovered a remarkably complete fossil many years ago, which became known as the <a href="https://www.science.org/content/article/stunning-dragon-man-skull-may-be-elusive-denisovan-or-new-species-human" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Harbin skull</a>. 



Some experts suspect it could have belonged to a Denisovan because it bears certain resemblances to a 160,000-year-old <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/01/science/denisovans-tibet-jawbone-dna.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">jawbone</a> that was discovered on the Tibetan Plateau.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/dragon-man_Denisovan_Harbin-skull-photo_credit-CAS_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/dragon-man_Denisovan_Harbin-skull-photo_credit-CAS_1s.webp" alt="The Harbin Skull is the cranium of a Denisovan nicknamed Dragon Man. Credit: CAS" class="wp-image-1957356"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Harbin Skull is the cranium of a Denisovan nicknamed Dragon Man. Credit: CAS</figcaption></figure>



That jawbone, found in <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2019/05/denisovan-jawbone-roof-world/588442/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Xiahe Cave</a>, could not be used to extract DNA evidence, but researchers used a method called paleoproteomics to determine its lineage.



Because the Harbin fossil dates back roughly 150,000 years and was located in the same broad region where Denisovans once roamed, many scientists think it may be the most complete example of these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/first-tools-ever-made-on-earth-hominins-3-million-years-ago-cradle-of-humankind/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">elusive people</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-clues-from-denisovan-s-face">Clues from Denisovan's face</h2>



Gurche built his <a href="https://youtu.be/eatqu7hWw5g?si=1Nav7LXrwy-Z98qU" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">model</a> by starting with a plastic replica of the Harbin skull, which he studied to gauge features like overall jaw breadth and prominent brow.&nbsp;



His aim was “To get as close as I could to looking into the eyes of these extinct species,” he told <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/other-human-species-evolution" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Geographic</a>. He estimated eye size by referencing the ratio of eyeball diameter to eye socket size that African apes and modern humans share, then used markings on the fossil to place chewing muscles in the right spots.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dragon-man-s-head-and-nose-shape">Dragon Man's head and nose shape</h2>



Studying the bone structure gave Gurche clues about the nose’s width and protrusion. 



Scientists often rely on similar methods for ancient reconstructions, since cartilage does not survive in fossils. 



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/dragon-man_Denisovan_human-ancestor_illustration_credit-Chuang-Zhao_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/dragon-man_Denisovan_human-ancestor_illustration_credit-Chuang-Zhao_1s.webp" alt="Illustration of a Denisovan named Dragon Man in his natural habitat. His large head could be an adaptation to the harsh environment in which he likely lived. Chuang Zhao" class="wp-image-1957360"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Illustration of a Denisovan named Dragon Man in his natural habitat. His large head could be an adaptation to the harsh environment in which he likely lived. Chuang Zhao</figcaption></figure>



Their logic stems from comparing multiple <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/worlds-oldest-wooden-structure-completely-rewrites-early-human-history/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hominin species</a> and applying standard patterns of human and ape anatomy. 



By layering muscle over the replicated skull, Gurche produced a model with a wide mouth, a robust brow, and a braincase in the ballpark of a modern human’s - traits that underscore both our shared lineage and the intriguing diversity of this lost group.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-evidence-of-travel-and-interbreeding">Evidence of travel and interbreeding</h2>



Denisovans likely ventured far, with fossils and DNA traces turning up from Siberia to Southeast Asia. 



Some experts point to strong signs that they interbred with Homo sapiens, possibly boosting our ancestors’ ability to cope with unfamiliar altitudes and diseases.



The story goes that our forebears met these other <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stone-tool-flint-discovery-challenges-theory-of-human-cultural-evolution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">humans</a>, passed along genes that improved survival, and then forged onward to inhabit new territories. 



However, we still do not know why Denisovans themselves vanished, or how they managed to cover such large distances in eras when travel was slow and difficult.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-next-steps-for-dragon-man-and-denisovans">Next steps for Dragon Man and Denisovans</h2>



Experts say that solving the mystery of how these people journeyed across thousands of miles - and figuring out why they vanished - requires more fossils. 



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/dragon-man_Denisovan_Harbin-skull-recreation_portrait_credit-Chuang-Zhao_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/dragon-man_Denisovan_Harbin-skull-recreation_portrait_credit-Chuang-Zhao_1s.webp" alt="Recreating the face of 'Dragon Man,' an ancient human cousin named Denisovans. Credit: Chuang Zhao/CAS" class="wp-image-1957358"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Recreating the face of 'Dragon Man,' an ancient human cousin named Denisovans. Credit: Chuang Zhao/CAS</figcaption></figure>



Compared to Neanderthals, Denisovan remains are exceptionally scarce, which is why the Harbin skull’s possible Denisovan link has excited many anthropologists. 



Any additional finds, such as teeth or skull fragments, can help refine our picture of these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/homo-juluensis-new-human-species-vanished-just-fifty-thousand-years-ago/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ancient relatives</a> and fill in details about their environment, social behavior, and diet.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-glimpse-into-the-past">A glimpse into the past</h2>



In February 2025, National Geographic featured Gurche’s Denisovan model, marking a milestone in our understanding of who these people were. Some see this lifelike creation as a vital leap for anyone curious about human origins.&nbsp;



The crossbreeding evidence, the scattered remains, and now this reconstructed face provide a chance to reflect on how many human groups once shared our planet. 



The Denisovans’ disappearance still mystifies scientists, but every new bit of data reveals more about their place in our lineage.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-dragon-man-and-denisovans">Understanding Dragon Man and Denisovans</h2>



While we might never get every answer about the Denisovans, the puzzle pieces we do have hint at a world filled with varied human populations. 



Each group may have contributed to the genetic tapestry that makes our species what it is today. 



The Harbin skull’s similarities to that jawbone in Xiahe Cave underscore how a single fossil find can reshape our thinking on early humans. 



As more studies zero in on these and other artifacts, a fuller narrative of the Denisovans’ story may surface - one that reminds us of our interwoven past.



A version of this story will appear in the February 2025 issue of <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/other-human-species-evolution" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Geographic magazine</a>.



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Recreating the face of 'Dragon Man,' an ancient human cousin

A team of scientists has recreated the face of an ancient human ancestor that might offer a fresh glimpse of our distant past. This reconstructed visage of "Dragon Man" is linked to a group of early humans called the Denisovans, who roamed parts of Asia for thousands of years.  Researchers believe these individuals may have handed down bits of genetic material that shaped the course of modern human evolution by helping our ancestors to adjust to different landscapes and climates. Dragon Man and the Denisovans John Gurche,...

Beneath the skin of Mercury, the smallest planet in our solar system, expect the unexpected. Reaching out across the cosmos with this fascinating revelation is a new study that points to a 9-mile-thick layer of diamonds concealed beneath the planet's surface.



While instance of such valuable encrustation might sound tantalizing, turning these precious stones into fashionable jewelry remains an impossibility due to their inaccessible location deep within the planet. 



However, these gems could hold the key to unraveling some of the big unanswered questions circling around Mercury' composition and its rather <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/milky-way-galaxy-is-surrounded-by-massive-magnetic-fields/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">curious magnetic field</a>.



The scientist leading the charge is Yanhao Lin, a staff scientist based out of the <a href="http://www.hpstar.ac.cn" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Center for High Pressure Science and Technology Advanced Research</a> in Beijing. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mercury-s-hidden-diamond">Mercury’s hidden diamond</h2>



Oddly enough, for a planet its size, Mercury has a magnetic field. It is weaker than its Earth counterpart, but is still intriguing considering the planet's overall inactivity in geological terms. 



What truly sparked Lin's interest, however, were the unusually dark patches on the surface of Mercury that were identified as graphite by NASA's <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/mission/messenger/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Messenger mission</a>. 



This revelation triggered exploration into the possibility of something unique brewing within the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/thousands-of-worlds-do-not-fit-the-definition-of-a-planet/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">planet</a>'s interior.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-birth-of-mercury-s-diamond-layer">Birth of Mercury's diamond layer</h2>



Utilizing a team comprised of Chinese and Belgian researchers, Lin sought to explore the possibility of diamond formation deep in Mercury’s core. 



The team began by creating chemical mixtures that replicated Mercury's magma ocean. The concoction included iron, silica, and carbon, elements similar to certain kinds of meteorites, and was subjected to crushing pressures and extreme temperatures.



The team's rigorous experiments and computer simulations confirmed that Mercury's mantle would indeed be conducive to forming diamonds, especially under the revised conditions that the team established. 



If these diamonds do exist, they could form a 9-mile average thick layer at the core-mantle boundary of Mercury, which is approximately 300 miles below the surface.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mercury-s-magnetism">Mercury's magnetism</h2>



The hypothesized existence of this layer of diamonds is more than just an intriguing fact. It could potentially explain the origin of Mercury’s magnetic field. 



These diamonds may facilitate heat transfer between the core and mantle, thereby creating temperature differences and causing liquid iron to circulate – a process that would kickstart the creation of a magnetic field.



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



The discovery of a potential diamond layer within Mercury opens new avenues for planetary research and composition studies not only of Mercury but also of other celestial bodies. 



Understanding the unique geological characteristics of Mercury could provide deeper insight into the formation and evolution of the solar system. 



Future missions to Mercury may focus on directly exploring its interior structure through advanced geophysical measurements and remote sensing techniques to verify the existence of this diamond layer and its impact on the planet's magnetic field.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-planetary-formation-and-mercury-s-diamonds">Planetary formation and Mercury's diamonds</h2>



This revelation also prompts a reconsideration of the processes involved in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/planet-formation-new-insights-mechanics-physics/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">planetary formation</a>. 



Diamonds are typically associated with high-pressure environments, suggesting that similar conditions may exist in other distant rocky <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/exoplanet-discovery-nasa-identifies-over-5500-distant-worlds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">exoplanets</a> and moons within our solar system. 



Lin and his team's findings underline the importance of studying extreme planetary conditions, which can reveal not only the composition of these bodies but also the historical processes that formed them, leading to a more comprehensive understanding of geology across the cosmos.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-evolution-of-exoplanets">Evolution of exoplanets</h2>



The potential discovery casts a new light on the evolution of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/exoplanet-discovery-nasa-identifies-over-5500-distant-worlds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">carbon-rich exoplanets</a>. According to Lin, the process that led to the formation of a diamond layer on Mercury could also be at play on other planets, possibly leaving similar traces.



The arrival of the <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/mission/bepicolombo/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BepiColombo</a> spacecraft, a joint mission of the European Space Agency and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, in 2025 will provide better opportunities to delve deeper into this intriguing discovery.



Mercury, it seems, continues to dazzle us with new surprises, keeping the scientific community and general public on their toes. 



Who'd have thought that this small, seemingly quiet planet could hold such vast volumes of precious stones deep within its confines?



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-49305-x" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications</a>.



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Planet Mercury is covered with 9-mile thick layer of diamonds

Beneath the skin of Mercury, the smallest planet in our...

Traditionally, we have always believed that&nbsp;photosynthesis&nbsp;by plants and algae fuel our planet's oxygen supply, even in the deep ocean, providing the essential gas for life on Earth.&nbsp;However, an international team of scientists has made a startling discovery, finding "dark oxygen" in the deep ocean that challenges this long-held premise.



Their critical finding proves that the Earth's oxygen could also be generated by metallic minerals on the deep-ocean floor, some 13,000 feet below the surface, where no sunlight penetrates.&nbsp;



This revelation opens up exciting new possibilities. We can now better understand the origins of oxygen on our planet. It also sheds light on its distribution.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-oxygen-with-photosynthesis-the-norm">Oxygen with photosynthesis -- the norm</h2>



Have you ever wondered why we call plants the "lungs" of the Earth? It's simple: they breathe out what we breathe in. This happens through a fantastic process called <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-have-finally-decoded-the-process-of-photosynthesis/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">photosynthesis</a>.



Imagine a world without trees, plants, or algae. It's not just a barren, lifeless landscape. It’s a world without oxygen. 



Thanks to photosynthesis, plants, algae, and some bacteria are like busy little factories, turning sunlight into the very air we breathe. They're the unsung heroes of life on Earth.



Here's an interesting twist. The waste product of our respiration, carbon dioxide, is like gold for plants. They transform it back into oxygen and nutrients in what's known as the Calvin cycle.



The oxygen we enjoy today didn't always exist. Thanks to a unique group of photosynthesizing bacteria, our planet's atmosphere underwent a dramatic makeover 2.4 billion years ago, known as the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/it-took-200-million-years-for-earth-to-get-its-oxygen/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Great Oxygenation Event</a>. This poured oxygen into our atmosphere, paving the path for more complex forms of life to evolve.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-oxygen-without-photosynthesis-not-normal">Oxygen withOUT photosynthesis -- not normal</h2>



Discovering that oxygen is produced at the bottom of the deepest parts of Earth's ocean, without sunlight or photosynthesis, is stunning as it singles out an unlikely <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/oxygen-may-have-come-from-ancient-rocks-of-early-earth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">source of oxygen</a> -- the seafloor, an area completely devoid of light. 



Previously, it was unthinkable that oxygen-breathing (aerobic) marine life could exist in such darkness. Yet, this discovery is astonishing. It could reshape our understanding of aerobic life's origin on Earth.



Researcher Andrew Sweetman, who spearheads the Seafloor Ecology and Biogeochemistry research team at the Scottish Association for Marine Science (<a href="https://www.sams.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SAMS</a>), was instrumental in this discovery.&nbsp;



"For aerobic life to begin on the planet, there had to be oxygen, and our understanding has been that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/it-took-200-million-years-for-earth-to-get-its-oxygen/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earth’s oxygen</a>&nbsp;supply began with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/key-to-life-on-earth-photosynthesis-begins-on-the-quantum-level-with-a-single-photon/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">photosynthetic</a> organisms," Sweetman explains.



"But we now know that there is oxygen produced in the deep sea, where there is no light. I think we, therefore, need to revisit questions like: Where could aerobic life have begun?”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-polymetallic-nodules-in-ocean">Polymetallic nodules in ocean</h2>



Polymetallic nodules - natural mineral accumulations on the ocean floor, possessing a mix of various minerals, are central to this discovery.&nbsp;



These nodules, varying in size, contain critical metals like cobalt, nickel, copper, lithium, and manganese -- elements used in batteries.



“The polymetallic nodules that produce this oxygen contain metals such as cobalt, nickel, copper, lithium, and manganese -- which are all critical elements used in batteries," asserts Franz Geiger, professor of Chemistry at the <a href="https://www.northwestern.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Northwestern University</a> and lead experimenter in the electrochemistry tests. 



"Several large-scale mining companies now aim to extract these precious elements from the seafloor at depths of 10,000 to 20,000 feet below the surface. We need to rethink how to mine these materials, so that we do not deplete the oxygen source for deep-sea life.” 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unearthing-oxygen-in-deep-ocean">Unearthing oxygen in deep ocean</h2>



Sweetman recounts the tale of his initial incredulity upon <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/summer-storms-stir-oxygen-into-the-deep-ocean/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">detecting oxygen</a> during his seabed sampling in the Pacific Ocean's Clarion-Clipperton Zone.&nbsp;



He initially suspected faulty equipment, given that conventional wisdom dictates oxygen consumption rather than production in deep-sea environments.



“When we first got this data, we thought the sensors were faulty because every study ever done in the deep sea has only seen oxygen being consumed rather than produced,” Sweetman said. 



“We would come home and recalibrate the sensors, but, over the course of 10 years, these strange oxygen readings kept showing up."



The scientists decided to take a back-up method that worked differently to the optode sensors they were originally using. When both methods came back with the same result, they realized they were onto something big.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-geobatteries-from-deep-ocean-oxygen">Geobatteries from deep ocean oxygen</h2>



To better comprehend the oxygen production, the researchers explored a hypothesis that relates to the concept of Geobatteries.&nbsp;



Through a chemical process known as seawater electrolysis, they wondered if the deep-ocean’s polymetallic nodules generated enough electricity to produce oxygen.&nbsp;



The results were conclusive. “It appears that we discovered a natural ‘geobattery.’ These geobatteries are the basis for a possible explanation of the ocean’s dark oxygen production,” stated Geiger.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-deep-ocean-oxygen-and-mining-implications">Deep ocean oxygen and mining implications</h2>



This revelation could have significant implications for the mining industry.&nbsp;



The researchers emphasize the importance of considering the potential impact on the ocean's dark oxygen production before planning&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/deep-sea-mining-has-deadly-consequences-for-marine-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">deep-sea mining</a>&nbsp;activities.&nbsp;



“In 2016 and 2017, marine biologists visited sites that were mined in the 1980s and found not even bacteria had recovered in mined areas. In unmined regions, however, marine life flourished. Why such ‘dead zones’ persist for decades is still unknown," Geiger concludes.



"However, this puts a major asterisk onto strategies for sea-floor mining as ocean-floor faunal diversity in nodule-rich areas is higher than in the most diverse tropical rainforests."



In summary, discovering dark oxygen production in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-can-deep-ocean-microbes-survive-without-sunlight/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">deep-ocean</a>&nbsp;sets a new direction for our understanding of Earth's oxygen supply. The implications of this discovery, for both science and industry, are profound.



The full study was published in the journal&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41561-024-01480-8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Geoscience</a>.



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Discovery: "Dark oxygen" is produced on the ocean floor without sunlight

Traditionally, we have always believed that&nbsp;photosynthesis&nbsp;by plants and algae fuel...

Grassland ecosystems, contributing to over a quarter of the world's land surface and containing a third of terrestrial carbon, are a lifeline for food production, wildlife habitat, and overall <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/grassland-ecosystem-stability-is-driven-by-biodiversity/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">biodiversity</a> in the face of climate change.&nbsp;



These vast landscapes provide essential ecosystem services, such as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/grasslands-can-be-managed-to-benefit-biodiversity-and-soil-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">soil</a>&nbsp;stabilization, water filtration, and carbon sequestration.&nbsp;



The future of these vital ecosystems is uncertain. Two major environmental shifts are contributing to this crisis. First, land use is intensifying. And the second, the impacts of climate change are escalating.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-grassland-use-and-climate-change">Grassland use and climate change</h2>



Grasslands, particularly in Europe, are experiencing intensified use, including higher levels of fertilization, more frequent mowing, and concentrated grazing.&nbsp;



This intensified agricultural activity is driven by the demand for increased productivity and efficiency in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/food-production-more-difficult-climate-change-plant-pollinators/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">food production</a>.&nbsp;



Furthermore, farmers often limit their sowing to a few grass varieties that promise high yields. This shift in agricultural practices dramatically alters the species composition and functionality of meadows and pastures, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/grassland-ecosystem-stability-is-driven-by-biodiversity/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reducing biodiversity</a> and impacting ecosystem health.



Climate change adds another considerable layer of threat, with precipitation patterns changing and climatic extremities, like heavy rainfall and droughts, predicted to escalate.&nbsp;



These changes in climate not only affect the growth and survival of plant species but also disrupt the delicate balance of grassland ecosystems.&nbsp;



When these two changes intersect, they can intensify each other. This creates a synergistic effect that worsens the challenges faced by grassland ecosystems. As a result, the future of these vital landscapes becomes uncertain.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-land-use-and-climate-change-interaction">Land-use and climate change interaction</h2>



A unique large-scale, long-term experiment conducted at the <a href="https://www.ufz.de/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UFZ</a> in Bad Lauchstädt near Halle, known as the Global Change Experimental Facility (<a href="https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=42385" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">GCEF</a>), has assisted in understanding the combined effects of these changes. 



The experiment manipulated varying degrees of land use intensity, temperatures, and precipitation levels on 50 plots, each sized 16 x 24 m.&nbsp;



Specific plots were given 10% more rainfall during spring and autumn and 20% lesser in summer, mirroring the climatic conditions expected for Central Germany.



This experiment yielded an eight-year data collection, used to conduct an in-depth study between 2015 and 2022, included in the research publication.&nbsp;



The period constituted three of the driest years in recorded regional history. The droughts seemingly had greater impact on the plants than the simulated climate change during the study period.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-diverse-grassland-for-intense-climates">Diverse grassland for intense climates</h2>



The study revealed that species-rich grassland, which is less frequently mown or sparsely grazed, coped better with heat and drought than the high-yielding meadows under heavy use.&nbsp;



The difference lies in biodiversity, which varied greatly depending on the land use of the grasslands.



The less intensively used meadows and pastures had a diverse mix of over 50 native grasses and herbs, while the high-intensity grassland had only five types of grass recommended for drier sites.&nbsp;



These high-yield varieties are bred for maximum productivity. They are heavily fertilized and perform exceptionally well under favorable climatic conditions. However, they struggle during drought.



In such situations, the high-intensity meadows saw a marked decrease in these grasses and an increase in short-lived species that survive as seeds.&nbsp;



These new species are usually of lower fodder quality, reducing the productivity of the land.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-migration-in-high-performance-grassland">Migration in high-performance grassland</h2>



Farmers are familiar with this degradation of high-performance grasslands due to migrating species and regularly plough up and re-seed their land.



However, climate change might accelerate this process, adding extra costs and unpredictable conditions. Farmers relying solely on intensive grassland stand to bear higher economic risks.



On the contrary, low-intensity meadows and pastures not only help preserve biodiversity but also stabilise grassland productivity during&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/understanding-the-impact-of-climate-change-at-the-national-level/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate change</a>.&nbsp;



Understanding these findings is crucial. Implementing solutions accordingly is essential. This helps preserve our invaluable grassland ecosystems. Responsible management is key.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-native-species-and-genetic-diversity">Native species and genetic diversity</h2>



Planting a variety of native species that are well-adapted to local conditions can improve the resilience of grasslands.&nbsp;



These species are more likely to withstand climatic variations and pest outbreaks, reducing the need for chemical interventions.&nbsp;



Maintaining genetic diversity in livestock herds is crucial. It helps animals cope with environmental stressors. This support leads to a more robust agricultural system.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-policy-and-community-engagement">Policy and community engagement</h2>



Effective grassland management requires supportive policies and community involvement.&nbsp;



Governments and organizations need to offer incentives for sustainable practices. They should also educate farmers about the benefits of biodiversity. Additionally, understanding ecosystem services is crucial for long-term success.



Community engagement programs can foster a sense of stewardship and collective action towards preserving these vital landscapes.



By incorporating these sustainable practices, we can ensure that grassland&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/grasslands-crucial-role-global-agriculture-environment-ecosystems/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ecosystems</a>&nbsp;remain productive, resilient, and rich in biodiversity, securing their role in food production and environmental health for future generations.



The full study was published in the journal&nbsp;<a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/gcb.17418" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Global Change Biology</a>.



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Some grassland ecosystems handle climate change better than others

Grassland ecosystems, contributing to over a quarter of the world's...

For centuries, the seemingly stable world of zooplankton, specifically the water flea, Daphnia pulex, has captivated biologists interested in natural selection. 



These minute yet fascinating crustaceans, often invisible to the naked eye, play a critical and multifaceted role in aquatic ecosystems. 



They are a primary food source for many fish species. They also help regulate the populations of algae and other microorganisms. This regulation maintains the delicate balance of their habitats.



A recent study has reaffirmed the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-deep-sea-crustacean-species-discovered-in-the-bahamas/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ecological significance</a> of our environment. It offers a unique perspective on the mystery of evolution.



This research provides new insights into the intricate mechanisms behind genetic adaptation and also sheds light on the importance of biodiversity.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-daphnia-s-genetic-secrets">Daphnia's genetic secrets</h2>



This groundbreaking research, conducted over a decade, involved scientists from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.asu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Arizona State University</a>&nbsp;(ASU),&nbsp;<a href="https://english.ccnu.edu.cn/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Central China Normal University</a>, and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nd.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Notre Dame</a>.&nbsp;



The team analyzed DNA samples from nearly 1,000 Daphnia, aiming to understand the dynamics of natural selection in this species.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fluctuating-force-of-natural-selection">Fluctuating force of natural selection</h2>



The researchers made a very significant discovery. The strength of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/coexisting-lizards-challenge-what-we-know-about-natural-selection/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">natural</a> selection on individual genes fluctuates drastically from year to year, even in seemingly constant environments. 



This surprising and dynamic oscillation could be key for better adaptation to changing environments. It allows populations to stay flexible and responsive. Over time, this helps them cope with varying selective pressures.



Such insights deepen our understanding of evolutionary processes. They highlight the complex interplay between genetics and environmental factors.



"Even in seemingly constant environments, we detected profound fluctuations in the frequency of gene variants at specific chromosomal regions over time," explains Michael Lynch, the lead author of the study and director of the Biodesign Center for Mechanisms of Evolution at ASU.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rethinking-natural-selection">Rethinking natural selection</h2>



These findings challenge the conventional belief. Analyzing genetic diversity and divergence does not easily reveal how natural selection operates. The evidence suggests a more complex relationship than previously understood.



Instead, natural selection appears to function with a higher level of subtlety and complexity than previously acknowledged.



The study revealed that most genetic sites experience varying selection, with an average effect close to zero, indicating little consistent selection pressure over different times.&nbsp;



This fluctuation in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sea-ice-decline-changes-the-behavior-of-zooplankton/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">genetic variation</a> allows populations to remain highly adaptable to environmental changes. 



Gene variants, also known as alleles, are different versions of the same gene that can result in different traits.



Furthermore, the research showed that genes located near each other on chromosomes tend to evolve in a coordinated manner.&nbsp;



This linkage allows for beneficial combinations of gene variants to be inherited together, potentially accelerating the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tiny-songbirds-are-masters-of-memory-and-adaptation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">adaptation</a>&nbsp;process.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-from-water-fleas-to-ecosystem-resilience">From water fleas to ecosystem resilience</h2>



Understanding how Daphnia evolve through natural selection offers valuable insights. It reveals the resilience of entire ecosystems. 



This knowledge could help us predict the impacts of environmental changes. It can also aid in mitigating effects on biodiversity and food webs.



By examining the genetic variations and adaptations of these&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tiny-crustaceans-have-what-it-takes-to-survive-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tiny crustaceans</a>, scientists can better grasp the underlying mechanisms that enable ecosystems to endure and thrive amidst shifting environmental conditions.&nbsp;



"This study has, for the first time, given us a glimpse into the kinds of temporal changes in gene frequencies that occur even in seemingly constant environments, a sort of ongoing churn of genetic variation distributed across the genome," Lynch states.



This research is crucial for predicting how species might adapt to changing environments, including those caused by climate change.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-harnessing-daphnia-insights-for-modern-environmental-challenges">Harnessing Daphnia insights for modern environmental challenges</h2>



This groundbreaking research on Daphnia pulex not only enhances our understanding of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ecosystem-behavior-earth-first-sea-creatures-stirring-water-drove-evolution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">evolution</a> but also has far-reaching potential applications in various fields, ranging from conservation biology to climate change adaptation strategies. 



We are facing unprecedented environmental challenges. Habitat loss, pollution, and global warming are major issues. Understanding nature's remarkable ability to adapt and be resilient is more important than ever.



This study reveals important insights about genetic variability and natural selection. These findings provide a strong foundation for new methods in biodiversity conservation. They also pave the way for improved ecosystem management.



By deepening our understanding of evolutionary dynamics, we can anticipate environmental stressors more effectively. 



This knowledge helps us mitigate their impacts. Ultimately, it contributes to the health and stability of our planet's ecosystems.



The full study was published in the journal&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2307107121" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.



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Life's rules of natural selection change significantly and very often

For centuries, the seemingly stable world of zooplankton, specifically the water...

Thought Mars was just a barren, rusty desert? Well, it may be time to rewrite the science textbooks. NASA's Perseverance rover has thrown us a curveball, a potentially discovering remnants of microbial life in a rock on Mars that may revolutionize our understanding of life beyond Earth.



Enter the 'Cheyava Falls' -- an oddly intriguing rock discovered on Mars, bearing tantalizing hints pointing towards the possibility of ancient microbial life.



“We have designed the route for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mars-perseverance-rover-now-uses-ai-search-minerals-life-on-mars/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Perseverance</a> to ensure that it goes to areas with the potential for interesting scientific samples,” explained Nicola Fox, associate administrator, Science Mission Directorate at <a href="https://www.nasa.gov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA Headquarters</a> in Washington.



“This trip through the Neretva Vallis riverbed paid off as we found something we’ve never seen before, which will give our scientists so much to study.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-life-on-mars-in-cheyava-falls-rock">Life on Mars in Cheyava Falls rock?</h2>



Located on the northern edge of the Neretva Vallis, an ancient Martian river valley, the Cheyava Falls rock is unique. Its characteristics have tickled the curiosity of scientists and have led to the detection of organic compounds within it.



The rover's scientific instruments, including <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/centers-and-facilities/jpl/the-detective-aboard-nasas-perseverance-rover/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SHERLOC</a> (Scanning Habitable Environments with Raman &amp; Luminescence for Organics &amp; Chemicals), have detected organic compounds within the rock.



These compounds, considered the building blocks of life, raise the <a href="https://youtu.be/I7v_xuCDwnM?list=PLTiv_XWHnOZqCrMU2ppcLjRn1zlDkNx3q" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tantalizing possibility that Mars may have once harbored life</a>.



“This is the kind of key observation that SHERLOC was built for -- to seek organic matter as it is an essential component of a search for past life,” enthused SHERLOC’s principal investigator Kevin Hand of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (<a href="https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">JPL</a>) in Southern California, which manages the mission.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-extraordinary-rock-in-jezero-crater">Extraordinary rock in Jezero Crater</h2>



Cheyava Falls is no ordinary rock, as described by Ken Farley, the Perseverance project scientist from Caltech, "the most puzzling, complex, and potentially important rock yet <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/lake-sediments-found-in-jezero-crater-hint-at-past-life-on-mars/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">investigated by Perseverance</a>."



This unusual rock sports several intriguing features including colorful spots that hint at chemical reactions, evidence of past water flow, and the presence of organic material.



These elements, in combination, suggest that Cheyava Falls may be a link to Mars' ancient past and its mysteries.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/mars-rock_Cheyava-Falls_Jezero-Crater_leopard-spots_ancient-life_Perseverance-rover_NASA_1s.jpg" alt="&quot;Leopard spots&quot; hint at microbial life on Mars in reddish rock named &quot;Cheyava Falls&quot; in Jezero Crater on Mars. Credit: NASA" class="wp-image-1939965"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">"Leopard spots" hint at microbial life on Mars in reddish rock named "Cheyava Falls" in Jezero Crater on Mars. Credit: NASA</figcaption></figure>



“On the one hand, we have our first compelling detection of organic material, distinctive colorful spots indicative of chemical reactions that microbial life could use as an energy source, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/perseverance-rover-samples-bunsen-peak-rock-jezero-crater-martian-lake/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">clear evidence that water</a> -- necessary for life -- once passed through the rock," Farley expounded.



"On the other hand, we have been unable to determine exactly how the rock formed and to what extent nearby rocks may have heated Cheyava Falls and contributed to these features.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-building-blocks-of-life-in-mars-cheyava-falls-rock">Building blocks of life in Mars' Cheyava Falls rock</h2>



The rock features large white veins of calcium sulfate running along its length. Between these veins are reddish bands, indicating the presence of hematite, a mineral that contributes to Mars' characteristic rusty color.



Upon closer inspection, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mars-curiosity-rover-makes-surprising-find-under-martian-rock-sulfur-crystals/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Perseverance discovered</a> numerous irregularly shaped, millimeter-sized off-white splotches surrounded by black material, resembling leopard spots. 



Using the <a href="https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/heres-how-ai-is-changing-nasas-mars-rover-science" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PIXL</a> (Planetary Instrument for X-ray Lithochemistry) instrument, Perseverance found that these black halos contain iron and phosphate.



What adds another layer of complexity to the mystery is the presence of iron, phosphate, and possibly hematite -- minerals often linked to biological processes.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/mars-rock_Cheyava-Falls_Jezero-Crater_leopard-spots_ancient-life_annotated_Perseverance-rover_NASA_1s.jpg" alt="&quot;Leopard spots&quot; hint at microbial life on Mars in reddish rock named &quot;Cheyava Falls&quot; in Jezero Crater on Mars. Credit: NASA" class="wp-image-1939963"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">"Leopard spots" hint at microbial life on Mars in reddish rock named "Cheyava Falls" in Jezero Crater on Mars. Credit: NASA</figcaption></figure>



David Flannery, an astrobiologist from the <a href="https://www.qut.edu.au/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Queensland University of Technology</a>, chimes in, "On Earth, these types of features in rocks are often associated with the fossilized record of microbes living in the subsurface."



This discovery has sparked a flurry of questions and hypotheses.



Was Cheyava Falls the result of mud with organic compounds hardening into rock, with subsequent fluid flows depositing the calcium sulfate veins?



Or could the olivine crystals in the veins actually be magma remnants, suggesting a wholly different formation process?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-returning-rocks-a-giant-leap-in-space-exploration">Returning Rocks: A Giant Leap in Space Exploration</h2>



To crack this Martian mystery, the scientific community needs more than just remote data.



“We have zapped that rock with lasers and X-rays and imaged it literally day and night from just about every angle imaginable,” Farley concluded.



“Scientifically, Perseverance has nothing more to give. To fully understand what really happened in that Martian river valley at Jezero Crater <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mars-may-have-once-been-a-cradle-for-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">billions of years ago</a>, we’d want to bring the Cheyava Falls sample back to Earth, so it can be studied with the powerful instruments available in laboratories.”



The return of Martian samples marks a significant milestone in planetary science. With these samples on Earth, researchers can use advanced technologies to examine the rock's composition, structure, and potential biological signatures more closely.



This could finally answer questions about the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/searching-for-life-on-mars-quest-continues/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">presence of ancient life on Mars</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-uncharted-territory-where-do-we-go-from-here">Uncharted territory: Where do we go from here?</h2>



As the Perseverance mission ventures further into the Martian landscape, we wait with bated breath for the next reveal. Its methodical, inch-by-inch exploration adds to our knowledge about Mars' past and its potential to support life.



The Cheyava Falls discovery has brought with it an exhilarating mixture of challenges that scientists are chomping at the bit to solve.



Whether or not life ever existed on Mars, the contributions of the Perseverance and future missions will continue to enrich our understanding of Mars and the wider cosmos.



As we delve deeper into the Martian mysteries and set our sights on other celestial bodies, we can expect to uncover more secrets about our solar system's history and the potential for life beyond Earth.



So, the next time you're stargazing, remember: The universe is full of mysteries, and we've only just started the journey. Imagine what we’ll find next!



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NASA: Perseverance rover finds best evidence yet for life on Mars

Thought Mars was just a barren, rusty desert? Well, it...

Neutron stars, the remnants of massive stellar bodies that shoot massive jets as they undergo gravitational collapse, are among the most fascinating enigmas in the night sky.



These incredibly dense objects, formed from the cores of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/supernova-explosions-could-damage-distant-planets/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">supernova explosions</a>, pack a mass greater than that of our Sun into a sphere just a few miles across, often emitting powerful jets.



Recently, astronomers at the <a href="https://www.ox.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Oxford</a> captured an extraordinary spectacle for the first time—an S-shaped jet bursting forth from a neutron star, resembling a humble garden sprinkler. 



This intriguing discovery occurred in the Circinus X-1 binary system, nearly 30,000 light-years from Earth.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-circinus-x-1-neutron-star-reveals-s-shaped-jet">Circinus X-1: Neutron star reveals S-shaped jet</h2>



The Circinus X-1 system itself is a marvel, hosting a neutron star that is estimated to be one of the youngest known <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/truth-behind-ultraluminous-x-ray-source-of-cygnus-x3-revealed/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">X-ray binaries</a>, at about 4,600 years old.



The discovery of the S-shaped jet is a first for neutron stars. This phenomenon provides astronomers a unique study opportunity. 



They can now explore the extreme physics behind these jets. It also allows them to examine the intense gravitational and magnetic fields at play.



This breakthrough not only enhances our understanding of neutron stars but also opens new avenues for <a href="https://youtu.be/cN-DQe4MGJ0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">exploring the dynamic processes of our universe</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cosmic-ballet-of-dual-star-systems">Cosmic ballet of dual star systems</h2>



For those unfamiliar with astronomical jargon, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/supermassive-binary-black-holes-secrets-revealed/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">binary systems</a> are essentially a duet of stars that gravitate towards each other. 



In the case of Circinus X-1, one player in this cosmic band is a neutron star. 



Both neutron stars and black holes are born when the universe's most <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-clues-about-the-brightest-gamma-ray-burst-of-all-time/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">gargantuan</a> stars meet their end and crumple under their own weight. 



However, black holes are considerably more massive and elusive, only detectable via their gravitational effects. On the other hand, neutron stars, despite their density, can be directly observed.



Using the MeerKAT radio telescope in South Africa, the researchers captured the highest resolution pictures of Circinus X-1 to date.



These photographs, unveiled at a recent National Astronomy Meeting, capture an S-shaped jet emanating from a confirmed neutron star for the first time, a significant step towards deciphering the mind-bending physics behind these cosmic occurrences.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-neutron-stars-and-extreme-physics">Neutron stars and extreme physics</h2>



According to the lead researcher, Fraser Cowie, this isn't the first instance of S-shaped jets discovery. An object known as SS433 also boasted similar jets, but recent findings suggest it's likely a black hole. 



"This image is the first time we have seen strong evidence for a precessing jet from a confirmed neutron star," Cowie affirmed. 



The piece de resistance of their findings is the high-speed, wide shockwave, indicative of a shift in direction for these jets, which throws light on the complex physics behind their launch.



An intense gravitational force, due to the star's immense density, siphons gas from its partner star, forming a swirling hot disc around it. 



This phenomenon, termed as 'accretion,' generates more energy per second than a million Suns. A portion of this energy results in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wild-discovery-twin-stars-with-parallel-disks-and-jets/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">jets</a>, beams of outflowing matter from the binary system, hurtling close to the speed of light.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-s-shaped-jet-in-circinus-x-1">S-shaped jet in Circinus X-1</h2>



Installing latest upgrades to the <a href="https://www.sarao.ac.za/gallery/meerkat/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MeerKAT telescope</a> brought about well-defined images, and clear evidence of an S-shaped jet, akin to water spiraling out from a garden sprinkler, was seen in Circinus X-1's jet.



Moreover, the researchers also discovered moving termination shocks for the first time in an X-ray binary. These shocks appear when the jet collides with its surroundings at a high velocity, creating a shockwave.



According to Cowie's team's measurements, these shock waves are moving at around 10% of the speed of light, solidifying their belief of the shockwaves being a consequence of the high-speed jet. 



The wide span of these shockwaves concurs with their model, providing further proof of the neutron star jet's precession.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-golden-era-for-astronomical-exploration">A golden era for astronomical exploration</h2>



Circinus X-1, despite being one of the brightest objects in the X-ray sky and having been studied for over half a century, remains a mystery. 



"Several aspects of its behavior are not well explained, so it's very rewarding to help shed new light on this system, building on 50 years of work from others," said Cowie.



The journey does not end here, though. The next steps involve monitoring jets over time, leading to a precise measurement of their distinct properties and unveiling more of their enigmatic nature. 



This groundbreaking exploration is part of the X-KAT and ThunderKAT projects on the MeerKAT telescope operated by the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (<a href="https://www.sarao.ac.za" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SARAO</a>), with observations executed using the recently installed S-band receivers from the Max-Planck Institute (<a href="https://www.mpg.de/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MPG</a>).



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Extraordinary garden-sprinkler-shaped jet found in distant neutron star

Neutron stars, the remnants of massive stellar bodies that shoot...

Earth’s atmosphere contains an immense amount of water, enough to fill Utah’s Great Salt Lake 800 times. This vast resource has the potential to pull clean drinking water out of thin air for billions of people facing global shortages.



Existing atmospheric water harvesting (AWH) technologies are hindered by size, cost, and efficiency issues. 



However, research led by a team of scientists at the <a href="https://www.utah.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Utah</a> has offered promising advancements that could revolutionize this field. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-transforming-dry-air-into-water">Transforming dry air into water</h2>



The study introduces a compact, fuel-fired AWH device that relies on adsorbent materials to draw <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stunning-discovery-earths-building-blocks-contained-water/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">water molecules</a> from the air and release them as liquid through heat application.



This amazing prototype, developed by senior author Sameer Rao and graduate student Nathan Ortiz, uses a specific type of hygroscopic material called a metal-organic framework. 



“Hygroscopic materials intrinsically have affinity to water. They soak up water wherever you go,” Rao explained. This material, similar to the absorbent found in diapers, is designed to selectively adsorb water vapor from the air.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rearranging-molecules">Rearranging molecules</h2>



Rao compares the metal-organic frameworks to Lego blocks, which can be rearranged to create molecules ideal for gas separation. 



“They can make it specific to adsorb water vapor from the air and nothing else. They're really selective,” he said. The prototype employs aluminum fumarate, fashioned into panels that collect water as air is drawn through. 



“The water molecules themselves get trapped on the surfaces of our material, and that's a reversible process. There are so many sites for water molecules to get stuck,” Ortiz added.



Just a gram of this material holds as much surface area as two football fields, enabling it to capture a significant amount of water. “All of this surface area is at the molecular scale,” Rao said. 



“And that's awesome for us because we want to trap water vapor onto that surface area within the pores of this material.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-water-from-air-for-soldiers-and-civilians">Water from air for soldiers and civilians</h2>



The research received funding from the <a href="https://www.t2.army.mil/T2-Laboratories/Designated-Laboratories/DEVCOM-Soldier-Center/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">DEVCOM Soldier Center</a>, a Department of Defense program aimed at technology transfer to support Army modernization. 



The Army’s interest lies in providing soldiers with a compact water generation unit, reducing the need to carry large water canteens. 



“We specifically looked at this for defense applications so that soldiers have a small compact water generation unit and don’t need to lug around a large canteen filled with water,” Rao explained. “This would literally produce water on demand.”



Rao and Ortiz have filed for a preliminary patent on the technology, which also addresses civilian needs. 



“As we were designing the system, I think we also had perspective of the broader water problem. It's not just a defense issue, it's very much a civilian issue,” Rao said. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-addressing-global-water-shortages">Addressing global water shortages</h2>



The goal is to provide households with enough drinking water, approximately 15 to 20 liters per day.



The proof-of-concept prototype successfully produced five liters of water per day per kilogram of adsorbent material. 



In field conditions, this device would outperform the practicality of packing water within three days, according to Ortiz.



The device’s second step involves precipitating water into liquid by applying <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-system-pulls-clean-water-from-the-air-using-only-heat/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">heat</a>, using a standard Army camping stove. 



“As it collects water, it's releasing little bits of heat. And then to reverse that, we add heat. We just put a flame right under here, anything to get this temperature up. And then as we increase the temperature, we rapidly release the water molecules,” Ortiz explained.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sustainable-solution-turns-air-into-water">Sustainable solution turns air into water</h2>



While there are many emerging technologies for atmospheric water harvesting, they are typically effective in humid environments but not practical in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/deserts-as-carbon-sinks-study-reveals-potential-for-greening-arid-regions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">arid regions</a>. 



Ortiz believes their device can be the first to succeed in arid conditions, primarily because it uses energy-dense fuel like white gasoline. 



The team decided against using solar panels due to limitations related to daytime operation and battery storage. 



“If you're reliant on solar panels, you're limited to daytime operation or you need batteries, which is just more weight. This technology is superior in arid conditions, while refrigeration is best in high humidity,” Ortiz said.



The study, published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/cell-reports-physical-science/fulltext/S2666-3864(24)00393-X?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS266638642400393X%3Fshowall%3Dtrue" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cell Reports Physical Science</a>,  marks a significant step toward practical atmospheric water harvesting, offering a potential solution for areas facing chronic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tackling-the-worlds-climate-driven-water-crisis/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">water shortages</a>. 



With continued development, this technology could play a crucial role in providing sustainable water sources in both military and civilian contexts.



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New machine harvests water from thin air in dry environments

Earth’s atmosphere contains an immense amount of water, enough to...

New research led by the <a href="https://www.uea.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of East Anglia</a> (UEA) and the <a href="https://www.pml.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Plymouth Marine Laboratory</a> (PML) has revealed that the Southern Ocean absorbs significantly more carbon dioxide (CO2) than previously estimated. 



The study, published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adn5781" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science Advances</a>, used direct measurements of CO2 exchange between the air and sea, uncovering that the ocean around Antarctica takes in 25% more CO2 than earlier indirect estimates suggested.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-southern-ocean-co2-absorption-nbsp">Southern Ocean CO2 absorption&nbsp;</h2>



The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-southern-ocean-has-the-cleanest-air-on-earth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Southern Ocean</a> plays a critical role in absorbing CO2 produced by human activities, a vital process for regulating Earth's climate. However, previous estimates of this CO2 absorption have been plagued by uncertainty, largely because they relied on indirect measurements from research ships, sail drones, profiling floats, and global ocean biogeochemistry models. These methods produced widely varying results.



To address this issue, the new study employed a technique called eddy covariance, which involves mounting flux systems on ships’ foremasts to directly measure air-sea CO2 fluxes. This method was applied during seven research cruises in the region, providing more accurate data.&nbsp;



The results indicate that the Southern Ocean is likely a stronger <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/good-news-plants-are-absorbing-more-human-produced-co2-than-expected/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CO2</a> sink than previously thought, especially during the summer.



“This is the first time a large number of direct air-sea CO2 flux observations have been used to assess existing flux products in the Southern Ocean. Our findings provide direct observational evidence that this ocean may take up more CO2 than previously recognized,” explained lead author Yuanxu Dong, a scientist at the <a href="https://www.geomar.de/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">GEOMAR Helmholtz Center for Ocean Research Kiel</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-underestimated-co2-uptake-in-southern-ocean-nbsp">Underestimated CO2 uptake in Southern Ocean&nbsp;</h2>



Accurate measurement of the Southern Ocean’s CO2 absorption is crucial for assessing Earth's climate. The study suggests that previous models underestimated the CO2 uptake due to factors like temperature variations in the upper ocean and insufficient resolution in data sampling.&nbsp;



Dong emphasizes the need for future estimates to include temperature adjustments and higher resolution reconstruction and modeling.



The research team, which included scientists from the <a href="https://www.awi.de/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alfred Wegener</a> and <a href="https://www.mpg.de/institutes?category=environment-and-climate&amp;tab=institutes" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Max Planck Institutes</a> in Germany, the <a href="https://www.vliz.be/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Flanders Marine Institute</a> in Belgium, and the <a href="https://manoa.hawaii.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Hawai'i</a> in the US, tackled inconsistencies in existing CO2 flux estimates. 



The experts utilized the eddy covariance technique to assess these datasets, covering approximately 3300 hours of measurements during the Antarctic summer of 2019 and 2020. These measurements, taken hourly, provided a much clearer picture compared to the less frequent data from floats.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-significance-of-the-study">Significance of the study</h2>



Dr. Mingxi Yang, a co-author and Chemical Oceanographer at PML, highlighted the significance of these findings. “The Southern Ocean is a key sink of CO2, but the magnitudes and the locations of this ocean uptake are uncertain. PML's autonomous and high-frequency eddy covariance system has significantly increased the number of direct air-sea CO2 flux measurements in this region.”



The study’s comparison between direct CO2 flux measurements and estimates from coarse data products and global models is a first on such a large spatial and temporal scale. It has helped validate these estimates and highlighted ways to improve them.



However, the study also points out a significant gap in winter data, which is challenging to collect due to the harsh conditions in the region. The authors suggest that expanding measurements to more ships and deploying additional buoys and sail drones, particularly during winter, could help fill this gap.&nbsp;



Professor Tom Bell, a co-author and PML Ocean-Atmosphere Biogeochemist, noted the importance of continued high-quality observations.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-forecasting-future-climate-changes-nbsp">Forecasting future climate changes&nbsp;</h2>



“We have recently moved our flux system onto the new ice breaker, the RRS Sir David Attenborough, and collected the first set of flux measurements during a research cruise in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-is-sea-ice-loss-affecting-biodiversity-in-the-weddell-sea/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Weddell Sea</a> earlier this year. We aim to continue this valuable work over the coming years, which is essential for monitoring the current climate and forecasting future changes.”



The researchers also raised concerns about the decline in shipboard surface ocean CO2 measurements in recent years, partly due to the COVID-19 pandemic and reduced funding.&nbsp;



Dr. Dorothee Bakker, of UEA’s COAS and chair of SOCAT, stressed the need for sustained and expanded funding for these measurements to better understand and constrain Southern Ocean CO2 uptake and support global climate monitoring initiatives.



This groundbreaking research underscores the importance of the Southern Ocean in absorbing CO2 and the need for improved and continuous measurements to refine our understanding of its role in the global carbon cycle and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-surprising-role-of-low-relief-mountain-ranges-in-climate-regulation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate regulation</a>.



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



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h--0">-----</h3>

Southern Ocean absorbs more CO2 than previously thought

New research led by the University of East Anglia (UEA)...

There's a new neighbor in our cosmic backyard. In what is nothing short of a cosmic revelation, the Webb telescope (JWST) has captured the image of a gargantuan super-Jupiter, Eps Ind Ab, lurking in the vicinity of our solar system.



"We were excited when we realize we had imaged this new planet," said the seasoned researcher Elisabeth Matthews from the <a href="https://www.mpia.de/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Max Planck Institute for Astronomy</a> in Heidelberg, Germany.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-discovery-of-super-jupiter-eps-ind-ab">Discovery of super-Jupiter 'Eps Ind Ab'</h2>



The thrill of discovery was, however, coupled with surprise as the bright spot in the Webb Telescope images did not match the expected position of the planet.&nbsp;



This discrepancy led Elisabeth Matthews and her team to dig deeper, resulting in the revelation that previous studies had underestimated the planet's weight and orbit. But thanks to <a href="https://webb.nasa.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">JWST</a>, the record was set straight.



The planet, now identified as Eps Ind Ab, revolves around the prime star of the triple star system Epsilon Indi.&nbsp;



Eps Ind Ab is a super-Jupiter, having a mass six times that of our solar system's Jupiter. Its eccentric, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/exoplanet-discovered-with-bizarre-cucumber-shaped-orbit/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">elliptical orbit</a> takes it on a journey between 20 and 40 astronomical units away from its sun, Eps Ind A.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-significance-of-super-jupiter-discovery">Significance of super-Jupiter discovery</h2>



Understanding this exotic planet's existence and location brings a new dimension to our understanding of planetary evolution. 



Until now, only a few <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/exoplanet-discovery-nasa-identifies-over-5500-distant-worlds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cold gas-giant planets</a> have been identified around stars of solar age, and these were inferred indirectly from radial velocity measurements.



The colder the planet, the more challenging it is to find with classical detection methods. And large, wide orbits are seldom aligned with our line of sight to provide a transit signal. Hence, the discovery and imaging of super-Jupiter is indeed a rare feat.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-astronomers-found-eps-ind-ab">How astronomers found 'Eps Ind Ab'</h2>



How did the team manage to circumvent these challenges and image Eps Ind Ab? They employed innovative technology - JWST's MIRI (Mid-Infrared Instrument) camera equipped with a coronagraph.&nbsp;



The coronagraph acts as a light-blocking mask, allowing distant, faint celestial bodies to be observed without the blinding starlight interference. 



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/super-jupiter_Eps-Ind-Ab_Webb-telescope_NASA_1s.jpg" alt="Super-Jupiter exoplanet Epsilon Indi Ab (Eps Ind Ab) directly imaged by Webb telescope. Credit: NASA" class="wp-image-1939945"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Super-Jupiter exoplanet Epsilon Indi Ab (Eps Ind Ab) directly imaged by Webb telescope. Credit: NASA</figcaption></figure>



Couple this with the fact that Eps Ind is only 12 light-years away from Earth, and you have a perfect setup to observe and image an exoplanet.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mysteries-of-super-jupiter">Mysteries of super-Jupiter</h2>



Upon closer analysis of the data, Elisabeth Matthews and her team observed that the point of light in the image was not in the predicted location for the exoplanet. 



After careful scrutiny and comparison with previous data, the team concluded that the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-have-identified-85-new-exoplanets-that-could-harbor-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">planet</a> was indeed a super-Jupiter.



As we delve deeper, we find that it’s not just the size and location of Eps Ind Ab that is intriguing. Its atmosphere is also a matter of interest to the astronomers.&nbsp;



The data suggests that the exoplanet may have significant amounts of heavy elements, including carbon. This translates to the likely presence of molecules such as methane, carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide, typically seen in gas-giant planets.&nbsp;



Alternatively, the super-Jupiter could have a cloudy atmosphere. Researchers are eager to explore the atmospheric composition further through ongoing studies. This could reveal more about its characteristics.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-eps-ind-ab-and-the-next-frontier">'Eps Ind Ab' and the next frontier</h2>



While this revelation is a giant leap in exoplanet research, the road ahead is long.



“Our next goal is to obtain spectra which provide us a detailed fingerprint of the planet’s climatology and chemical composition,” says Thomas Henning, Emeritus Director at MPIA, co-PI of the MIRI instrument, and a co-author of the underlying article.



“In the long run, we hope to also observe other nearby planetary systems to hunt for cold gas giants that may have escaped detection,” says Matthews. 



“Such a survey would serve as the basis for a better understanding of how gas planets form and evolve.”



So, as we gaze up into the night sky, let's take a moment to marvel at the exciting mysteries it holds and the scientific pursuits aiming to unravel them.&nbsp;



After all, the universe is not just about stars and galaxies; it's also about the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nearby-exoplanet-lhs-1140-b-best-chance-yet-finding-alien-ocean-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cold gas giants</a> like Eps Ind Ab that offer a new perspective on our understanding of the cosmos.



The study is published in the journal&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07837-8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a>.



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Super-Jupiter exoplanet 'Eps Ind Ab' directly imaged by Webb telescope

There's a new neighbor in our cosmic backyard. In what...

Woman,And,Ai,Robot,Working,Together,In,The,Office,,Automation

Large language models (LLMs) have impressive, yet sometimes confusing capability. These tools have the power to help graduate students draft emails, or guide a clinician in diagnosing cancer. 



Their applications are endless, but so are the questions on how best to evaluate these models.



The research is coming to us from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (<a href="https://www.mit.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MIT</a>), a group of researchers has taken a different approach to understand LLM’s better. 



Let's learn about their new perspective, which places <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/can-ai-systems-learn-like-the-human-brain/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">human beliefs</a> and expectations center stage in the evaluation process.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-machine-learning-and-language-models">Machine learning and language models</h2>



The research team hailing from MIT involved a trio of specialists from diverse fields. 



The study’s co-author Ashesh Rambachan, an assistant professor of economics, and a principal investigator in the Laboratory for Information and Decision Systems (LIDS), was a driving force behind this research. 



He was joined by lead author Keyon Vafa, a postdoc at <a href="https://www.harvard.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Harvard University</a>, and Sendhil Mullainathan, an MIT professor. 



This unique perspective of their research will be presented at the International Conference on Machine Learning.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-human-belief-and-generalization">Human belief and generalization</h2>



The research pivoted around the concept of human generalization - how we form and update our beliefs about an <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ai-outperforms-humans-in-creativity-tests/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LLM’s capabilities</a>.



You've probably done it yourself; you see someone ace grammar correction and generalize that they would also be great at sentence construction.



That's precisely what we do with language models. However, Rambachan points out that these LLMs aren’t, in fact, human, which is why our generalizations can lead to unexpected model failures. 



Gearing their research around this, the team introduced a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/people-perform-better-when-they-think-ai-is-helping-them/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">human generalization</a> function to evaluate the alignment between humans' beliefs and LLM performance.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-survey-says">The survey says. . .</h2>



So, how did the team approach this exciting endeavor? The researchers designed a survey to measure how people generalize when they interact with LLMs. 



Participants were shown questions that a person or LLM got right or wrong and were asked to predict the performance on a related question. 



As a result, a dataset of nearly 19,000 examples was generated to provide an insight into how humans form beliefs about LLM performance across 79 diverse tasks.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-measure-misalignment-in-language-models">Measure misalignment in language models</h2>



The survey results unfolded a fascinating pattern. Participants did pretty well at predicting a human's performance but fumbled when it came to foreseeing the LLM’s performance. 



"Human generalization gets applied to language models, but that breaks down because these language models don’t show patterns of expertise like people would," Rambachan rightly pointed out.



Another interesting finding was that humans were more likely to update their beliefs about an LLM's performance when it got a question wrong. 



Simpler models seemed to outperform very large models, like GPT-4, in such scenarios. The researchers speculate that this could be because we are not as accustomed to interacting with LLMs as we are with humans.



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



The findings from this research hold significant implications for the future development of language models. 



As the researchers highlight, understanding how human beliefs shape our expectations of LLMs can inform model design and training methodologies. 



By incorporating insights into human generalization patterns, developers can create models that are not only more robust but also align more closely with user expectations. 



This could lead to enhanced transparency in model capabilities, facilitating better integration of LLMs into real-world applications.



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



As this investigation underscores the complex relationship between human belief systems and LLM performance, a wealth of opportunities for future research emerges. 



Questions surrounding how different demographics interact with LLMs, or how context affects human generalization, remain largely unexplored. 



Additional studies could focus on refining the human generalization function to improve alignment measures or delving deeper into the psychological aspects of belief formation and adjustment in response to LLM capabilities. 



Exploring these avenues could ultimately lead to more effective and user-friendly <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/artificial-intelligence-boosts-creativity-but-reduces-variety/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">artificial intelligence technologies</a>.



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



Armed with these insights, the researchers are excited to conduct further studies on how people's beliefs about LLMs evolve over time as they interact with a model more frequently. 



They also aim to understand how human generalization could be incorporated into the development of LLMs right from the start.



In the meantime, they hope that their dataset could be used as a benchmark to measure the LLM's performance related to the human generalization function. This could indeed revolutionize the performance of models deployed in real-world situations.



"When we are training these algorithms in the first place, or trying to update them with human feedback, we need to account for the human generalization function in how we think about measuring performance," the researchers remind us.



This research was funded, in part, by the Harvard Data Science Initiative and the Center for Applied AI at the <a href="https://www.chicagobooth.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Chicago Booth School of Business</a>.



The study is published in the journal&nbsp;<a href="https://arxiv.org/abs/2406.01382" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">arXiv</a>.



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Humans often misjudge and place too much trust in AI performance

Large language models (LLMs) have impressive, yet sometimes confusing capability....

Climate change brings numerous challenges, with 'managed retreat' emerging as a crucial strategy for adaptation. 



As communities worldwide face escalating&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/seeking-ways-to-prevent-flooding-caused-by-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">flooding</a>&nbsp;risks, many are considering or being advised to relocate to safer, more resilient areas.&nbsp;



This proactive approach to managing risk is already in action. Flood-prone regions like Louisiana and Alaska are leading the way. Communities are taking decisive steps to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/can-we-outrun-the-flood-risks-of-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">protect their futures</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-strategic-retreat-from-risk">Strategic retreat from risk</h2>



The concept of managed retreat focuses on strategically retreating from areas at high risk of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/aral-sea-dust-emissions-have-doubled-with-major-climate-impacts/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate impacts</a>.



“It's retreating from risk, and we hope to provide decision support for the equitable implementation of retreat to build climate resilience,” said Elaina Sutley, associate professor of civil, environmental &amp; architectural engineering at the&nbsp;<a href="https://ku.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Kansas</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-global-partnership">Global partnership</h2>



Sutley is leading a comprehensive three-year study on managed retreat, valued at approximately $650,000.&nbsp;



This research is titled “Retreating from Risk (RFR): Decision-supports for the equitable implementation of retreat to build <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/green-yards-promote-climate-resilience-in-urban-areas/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate resilience</a>.” 



It is part of a collaboration funded by the <a href="https://www.nsf.gov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Science Foundation</a> and Canada’s New Frontiers in Research Fund.



This initiative is through the 2023 International Joint Initiative for Research on Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Competition. Each agency supports scientists at institutions in their respective countries.



“This is multidisciplinary collaboration between partners in the United States, Canada, and Indonesia, who are all faced with flood disasters, whether that's coastal flooding associated with a hurricane or not,” Sutley said.



“Inland flooding, seasonal flooding, and repeated nuisance flooding -- all three of these countries are facing it. Managed retreat has become a somewhat common <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-climate-adaptation-lacks-coordination/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">adaptation strategy</a>, particularly for flooding. The U.S. team will also consider retreating from wildfire disasters.”



The KU-headed partnership extends beyond the <a href="https://ku.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Kansas</a>, involving <a href="https://www.stonybrook.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stony Brook</a> and <a href="https://www.ttu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Texas Tech</a> universities, as well as researchers abroad. 



This collaborative effort aims to develop effective and fair retreat strategies to address various types of flooding and other <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/people-want-to-fight-climate-change-more-than-you-think/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate-related risks</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-managed-retreat">Understanding managed retreat</h2>



The focus of this research extends beyond communities grappling with floods and wildfires; it also aims to inform decision-making for those facing a range of recurrent natural disasters.&nbsp;



The researchers are committed to understanding managed-retreat approaches. They are exploring how these methods are considered and implemented in various geographies, cultures, and nations. 



By examining global practices, they aim to identify common strategies. They also want to highlight necessary adaptations tailored to specific regional challenges.



This comprehensive analysis will help in developing effective, context-sensitive approaches for communities around the world, enhancing their resilience to various climate-related risks.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-respecting-indigenous-knowledge">Respecting indigenous knowledge</h2>



In this extensive effort, the team is deeply committed to seeking and incorporating Indigenous knowledge and practices wherever applicable.&nbsp;



They aim to work closely with Indigenous communities, building trust and fostering meaningful partnerships.&nbsp;



By integrating Indigenous perspectives and traditional ecological knowledge, the researchers hope to ensure that their strategies are not only effective but also culturally respectful and inclusive.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-identifying-barriers-to-managed-retreat">Identifying barriers to managed retreat</h2>



The researchers will also document a range of barriers to adopting managed retreat, including political, financial, cultural, and policy-related challenges.&nbsp;



To gain a comprehensive understanding, data will be collected through a variety of methods, such as surveys, interviews, focus groups, and roundtable discussions. 



This approach ensures that the research captures diverse perspectives from all levels of decision-making.



The ultimate goal is to provide actionable guidance for communities considering managed retreat as a strategic option.&nbsp;



By examining the nuances and varying viewpoints from different communities and stakeholders, the researchers aim to offer tailored recommendations that address specific needs and concerns, facilitating a more informed and equitable decision-making process.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-practical-tools-and-immediate-relevance">Practical tools and immediate relevance</h2>



The findings will be instrumental in guiding policymakers, community leaders, and future research efforts.



The ultimate aim is to develop "contextually relevant decision-support tools" that empower community leaders to effectively engage their constituents on managed retreat strategies.



Given the pressing nature of the managed retreat issue, the research is designed to offer practical and timely guidance.&nbsp;



By studying communities at various stages of addressing this challenge, the researchers seek to understand how managed retreat processes unfold in different contexts.&nbsp;



The results are intended to provide both immediate and long-term relevance, ensuring that the recommendations are adaptable to the evolving needs of diverse communities.



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Effective 'managed retreat' strategies for climate-threatened areas

Climate change brings numerous challenges, with 'managed retreat' emerging as a...

When you think about butterflies and moths, what comes to mind? A peaceful scene of these creatures fluttering around flowers, their delicate bodies brushing against petals while they seek nectar. Well, it's time to add another scene to that mental canvas -- one with static electricity.



New research reveals that these insects amass so much static electricity while in flight that they pull pollen towards them from several millimeters or even centimeters away.



Dr. Sam England from <a href="https://www.bristol.ac.uk/biology/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bristol's School of Biological Sciences</a> leads a team of researchers that has made this striking discovery. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-butterflies-moths-and-static-electricity">Butterflies, moths, and static electricity</h2>



This fascinating finding holds implications for these insects' effectiveness as high-efficiency pollinators.



Dr. England's team also discovered that the extent of static electricity varies amongst different species of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/people-love-pretty-butterflies-and-that-complicates-data-for-scientists/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">butterflies and moths</a>. 



These differences align with aspects of their ecology, such as whether they visit flowers, hail from a tropical environment, or are day or night flyers.



This evidence suggests that the quantity of static electricity an animal accumulates is an adaptive trait, making it a candidate for natural selection's <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-twist-in-the-evolution-of-plant-pollinator-relationships/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">evolutionary process</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-accumulation-in-butterflies">Accumulation in butterflies</h2>



“We knew many species accumulate static electricity as they fly, likely through friction with the air. It had been suggested that this static electricity might enhance the pollination capabilities of flower-visiting animals, like bees and hummingbirds, by using electrostatic attraction for pollen," Dr. England elaborates.



So, the intriguing question was whether this principle extends to an array of crucial pollinators such as butterflies and moths. If they, too, accumulate significant charge, could that charge attract pollen onto them?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-factors-behind-static-electricity-in-butterflies">Factors behind static electricity in butterflies</h2>



The team studied 269 butterflies and moths across 11 different species, native to five continents and found in various ecological niches. 



Scientists then compared these species to determine whether ecological factors correlated with their charge. This investigation helps establish static charging as a trait upon which evolution can act.



"A clearer picture is developing of how static electricity's influence in pollination might be powerful and widespread," Dr. England shared. 



"By establishing electrostatic charging as a trait upon which evolution can act, it opens up numerous questions about how and why natural selection might lead to animals benefiting or suffering from the quantity of static electricity they accumulate."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-invisible-power-of-pollinators">Invisible power of pollinators</h2>



"We've discovered that butterflies and moths accumulate so much static electricity when flying, that pollen is literally pulled through the air towards them as they approach a flower," Dr. England concluded. 



These creatures can pollinate without even touching flowers, making them incredibly effective at their job and highlighting their crucial contribution to our <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/massive-butterfly-migration-sparked-by-a-surge-in-vegetation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ecosystems</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-innovation-triggered-by-nature">Innovation triggered by nature</h2>



This study's practical implications are far-reaching. Technology might harness this knowledge to artificially increase pollinators or pollen's electrostatic charges, thereby enhancing pollination rates in natural and agricultural settings.



The insights gained from Dr. England's study could pave the way for innovative strategies in agriculture, particularly in the context of increasing crop yields. 



By manipulating the electrostatic properties of pollen or enhancing the natural static electricity in pollinators like butterflies and moths, farmers could potentially improve the efficiency of pollination processes.



This approach may lead to a reduced need for chemical pollinators and support more sustainable farming practices. 



Moreover, understanding how static electricity influences interactions between flowering plants and their pollinators can <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pollinators-face-extinction-risk-due-to-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">inform conservation efforts</a> aimed at preserving diverse ecosystems that rely on these critical relationships.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-research-on-butterflies-and-electricity">Future research on butterflies and electricity</h2>



As the study opens new avenues of inquiry, future research may delve deeper into the genetic and ecological factors that influence the accumulation of static electricity among pollinators. 



Investigating the molecular mechanisms behind this phenomenon could shed light on the evolutionary history of these species and their interactions with various plants. 



Additionally, examining the effects of environmental changes -- such as climate change and habitat loss -- on the electrostatic charging capabilities of butterflies and moths will be crucial in assessing the resilience of pollination systems.



This line of research may also contribute to our understanding of how biodiversity loss impacts ecosystem functionality, emphasizing the need for comprehensive conservation strategies.



“For me personally, I would love to do a wider survey of as many different species of animal as possible, see how much static electricity they accumulate, and then look for any correlations with their ecology and lifestyle. Then we can really begin to understand how evolution and static electricity interact!” Dr England concluded.



So, the next time you see a butterfly or a moth flutter by, remember, there's a whole lot of science in that seemingly simple flight!



The study is published in the <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsif.2024.0156" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of The Royal Society Interface</a>. 



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Butterflies use static electricity to catch pollen without touching it

When you think about butterflies and moths, what comes to...

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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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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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

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

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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How does salt makes things taste better?

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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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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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

[sendtonews key="6HyfrAJTBI-1831843-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

[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...