Invasive species pose a significant challenge to ecosystems and agriculture, often spreading unnoticed until they have caused considerable damage. Conservationists and growers now have an unusual new ally in the fight against the invasive spotted lanternfly - trained dogs.



A recent study published in the journal Ecosphere highlights how these detection dogs outperform humans in identifying lanternfly egg masses in challenging environments, offering a novel strategy to curb the pest’s spread.



"Preventing the introduction of invasive species is championed as the most cost-effective and efficient strategy for avoiding negative impacts on systems," noted the researchers.



"However, once a species has been introduced, the next best option is to detect the population and eliminate it before it becomes established and spreads more widely across the landscape."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-spotted-lanternfly-infestations">Spotted lanternfly infestations </h2>



First detected in Pennsylvania in 2014, the spotted lanternfly has now infested 19 states, including New York. This invasive insect feeds on woody plants like grapes, apples, hops, and various trees, causing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/growing-threat-of-invasive-species-requires-immediate-action/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">widespread destruction</a>.



“A spotted lanternfly infestation in a vineyard can cause 80% to 100% mortality of the vines in one growing season,” said study co-author Angela Fuller, a professor in Cornell’s Department of <a href="https://cals.cornell.edu/natural-resources-environment" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Natural Resources and the Environment</a>.



Fuller also noted the financial burden of infestations. “Infestations also increase the amount of insecticide that growers need to use, which can increase costs by up to 170% in a growing season.” 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-training-dogs-for-invasive-species-detection">Training dogs for invasive species detection</h2>



In collaboration with the <a href="https://www.nynjtc.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New York-New Jersey Trail Conference</a> and <a href="https://wd4c.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Working Dogs for Conservation</a>, researchers trained a Labrador retriever and a Belgian malinois to sniff out the lanternfly’s egg masses.



These organizations have previously trained dogs to detect invasive <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cats-have-become-one-of-the-worlds-most-invasive-predators/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">species</a> and pathogens, making them well-equipped for this task.



The study compared the efficiency of human and canine detection in 20 vineyards across Pennsylvania and New Jersey. 



The researchers mapped transects in vineyard rows and adjacent forests, where egg masses are likely to overwinter. Humans and dogs surveyed the areas on separate days to prevent cross-contamination of scents.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dogs-outperform-humans-in-forests">Dogs outperform humans in forests</h2>



While humans excelled in detecting invasive egg masses in vineyards, dogs proved superior in forested areas. In vineyards, humans detected 1.8 times more egg masses than dogs, finding 31 egg masses per hour compared to the dogs’ 24. 



Fuller attributed this to humans’ ability to systematically search vines and poles, whereas dogs relied on scent and conducted more random searches. In forests, however, dogs excelled, finding 3.4 times more egg masses than humans. 



“The dogs find egg masses by smell,” Fuller explained. “In a very <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/unseen-crisis-37000-alien-species-have-been-introduced-by-human-activities/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">complex environment</a>, it’s easier for a dog to smell something than it is for a human to see something that is small and cryptic.” 



Dogs located 7.6 egg masses per hour in forests compared to humans’ 6.7 per hour.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-importance-of-invasive-species-detection">Importance of invasive species detection</h2>



The study emphasizes the importance of early detection in managing the lanternfly’s spread. Dogs performed exceptionally well in areas with low egg mass densities, making them invaluable for rapid response efforts. 



Fuller noted that while dogs take more time to search than humans, the added time is worth it. 



“The extra time that dogs take to find them is not as important as it is to find them in the first place, because you need to detect the egg masses in order to eradicate them,” she said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-insights-into-lanternfly-behavior">Insights into lanternfly behavior</h2>



Using computer modeling, the researchers identified patterns in lanternfly egg mass distribution. They found higher occupancy rates in vineyards than forests, particularly on metal poles. 



Vineyards near forests had higher lanternfly populations, likely because the insects don’t disperse far and often migrate from nearby trees.



“If you’re searching in a vineyard close to the forest, that’s more likely where they’re going to be,” Fuller said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-combating-invasive-species-with-dogs">Combating invasive species with dogs </h2>



This innovative approach offers hope for combating invasive species like the spotted lanternfly. 



By combining human surveys with trained detection dogs, growers and conservationists can strengthen their defense against this destructive pest.



The integration of canine detection into pest management strategies represents a significant step forward in protecting vital ecosystems and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/non-native-species-are-spreading-at-an-exponential-rate/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">agricultural resources</a>.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ecs2.70113" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ecosphere</a>.



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Trained dogs can sniff out invasive pests in forests

Invasive species pose a significant challenge to ecosystems and agriculture, often spreading unnoticed until they have caused considerable damage. Conservationists and growers now have an unusual new ally in the fight against the invasive spotted lanternfly - trained dogs. A recent study published in the journal Ecosphere highlights how these detection dogs outperform humans in identifying lanternfly egg masses in challenging environments, offering a novel strategy to curb the pest’s spread. "Preventing the introduction of invasive species is championed as the most cost-effective and efficient strategy for avoiding...

Oak savannas are grassy and shrubby areas, featuring oaks as the dominant <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/heat-makes-pine-trees-more-susceptible-to-disease/">tree</a> species. Since oaks require a dry environment, in North America these savannas are frequently found in the rain shadow of the West Coast’s mountain range. Oaks host a vast diversity of insect species, such as oak gall wasps, which form striking growths known as galls. However, the expansion of this invasive wasp species has usually been kept in check by a wide range of parasitoid wasps, which lay their eggs inside the galls, and, after hatching, their larvae feed upon the oak gall wasp larvae.&nbsp;



According to a new study led by <a href="https://www.binghamton.edu/">Binghamton University</a> in New York, climate change has led to warming temperatures in the Pacific Northwest, leading some insect species – including the oak gall wasps - to expand their range into more northerly oak savannas, where they encounter less competition and they can proliferate. “In the native range, you might find a handful of galls on a single leaf. In the expanded range, sometimes you’re finding thousands on a single tree,” said study senior author Kirsten Prior, an assistant professor of Biological Sciences at Binghamton. “This is pretty prevalent throughout Vancouver Island.”



Biodiversity tends to work on a latitudinal gradient: while there is a vast multitude of species closer to the equator, their numbers gradually decrease at higher latitudes. Thus, when species expand their range northwards due to warming temperatures, they often move into areas without a diversity of predators and competitors, eventually overwhelming the ecosystems they encounter.



“When species undergo poleward range expansions in response to anthropogenic change, they likely encounter less diverse communities in new locations. If low diversity communities provide weak biotic interactions, such as reduced competition or predation, range-expanding species may experience high niche opportunities,” the study authors explained.



This seems to happen currently with oak gall wasps, which exhibit unusual population growths at higher latitudes, where they need to face less competition – a phenomenon highlighting the importance of biodiversity for keeping invasive species in check, as well as the potential long-term ramifications of climate change.



“Biodiversity can be really important in potentially protecting areas from invading species. If we have strong competitors and predators, this might make areas less susceptible to invading species,” concluded study lead author Dylan Jones, a doctoral student in Biology at Binghamton.



The study is published in the <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1365-2656.13780">Journal of Animal Ecology</a>.&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer&nbsp;&nbsp;

Invasive wasps are expanding northward on the West Coast

Oak savannas are grassy and shrubby areas, featuring oaks as...

Bats are known to have relatively long lifespans, with some common species living an astonishing 30–40 years. Longevity in mammals is usually related to body size, with larger species living for longer, but <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wild-bats-have-a-long-term-memory-of-sounds/">bats</a> as a group fall above the regression line for mammals as they live longer than other mammals of similar body size. House mice, which have a weight similar to that of some bats, live only two years in captivity.&nbsp;



Scientists have long wondered why there is this difference, and a new study led by <a href="https://www.umd.edu/">University of Maryland</a> researchers has identified one of the potential reasons; it has to do with genes involved in hibernation.&nbsp;



“Hibernation has allowed bats, and presumably other animals, to stay in northerly or very southerly regions where there’s no food in the winter,” said study senior author Professor Gerald Wilkinson. “Hibernators tend to live much longer than migrators. We knew that,&nbsp;but we didn’t&nbsp;know if we would detect changes in epigenetic age due to hibernation.”



The researchers worked on big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) kept in a research colony at McMaster University. These are the most common bats in the United States and they can live up to 19 years of age. The research colony contained individuals of between one and ten years old. Data was collected by taking a small sample of wing tissue from the 20 captive bats on two occasions. One sample was taken in summer when the bats were active, and the other in winter, when the bats were hibernating.&nbsp;



During the genetic analysis, the researchers investigated changes in DNA methylation between samples taken from the same animal during active and hibernating periods. Methylation is a process whereby methyl groups are added to a DNA molecule, thereby changing the activity of a gene. Their results, published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B, Biological Sciences, showed that changes in DNA methylation occurred at certain sites in the bat’s genome, particularly sites involved in regulating metabolism during hibernation.&nbsp;



“It’s pretty clear that the sites that decrease methylation in the winter are the ones that appear to be having an active effect,” said Professor Wilkinson. “Many of the genes that are nearest to them are known to be involved in regulating metabolism, so they presumably keep metabolism down.”



Some of these genes are the same ones that Wilkinson and fellow researchers identified as “longevity genes” in a&nbsp;<a href="https://cmns.umd.edu/news-events/features/4745">previous study</a>. Wilkinson said that there is significant overlap between the hibernation genes and the longevity genes, further highlighting the link between hibernation and longer lifespans.&nbsp;



The earlier study also established the first epigenetic clock for bats, capable of accurately predicting the age of any bat in the wild. That clock was applied in this latest study, enabling the researchers to demonstrate that hibernation reduces a bat’s epigenetic age in comparison to a non-hibernating animal of the same age. In fact, the researchers found that by hibernating over just one winter, a big brown bat’s epigenetic clock – a biological marker of aging – extends by three-quarters of a year.&nbsp;



This, say the researchers, may be one of the secrets to the extraordinary longevity found in some species of bats.&nbsp;



“We still don’t have a very good understanding of why some bats can live a really long time and other ones don’t,” said Professor Wilkinson. “We’ve shown that the ones that live a really long time all share the ability to hibernate, or to go into torpor frequently. That seems to be a corollary, but it’s not sufficient because hibernating rodents don’t live 20 years.”



Wilkinson said he is planning a follow-up study to compare epigenetic aging in big brown bats in Canada, where they hibernate, with the same species in Florida, where they do not hibernate. In doing so, Wilkinson hopes to get an even clearer picture of the role that hibernation plays in prolonging lifespans.&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:bosman@truewan.co.za">Alison Bosman</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Hibernation may be key to extraordinary longevity in bats

Bats are known to have relatively long lifespans, with some...

Dry,Drought,Stricken,Farm,Corn,Field,Dirt

Scientists have identified an “exquisite” natural mechanism that helps plants limit their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/transforming-sunlight-and-water-into-renewable-energy/">water</a> loss with little effect on carbon dioxide (CO2) intake. The study, led by <a href="https://www.anu.edu.au/">Australian National University</a> (ANU), touches on an essential process for photosynthesis, plant growth and crop yield.&nbsp;



The discovery is expected to help agricultural scientists and plant breeders develop more water-efficient crops that are resilient to extreme weather events such as drought.&nbsp;&nbsp;



“Plants continuously lose water through pores in the ‘skin’ of their leaves. These same pores allow CO2 to enter the leaves and are critical to their survival,” said study co-author Dr Marquez.&nbsp; “For every unit of CO2 gained, plants typically lose hundreds of units of water. This is why plants require a lot of water in order to grow and survive."



“The mechanism we have demonstrated is activated when the environment is dry, such as on a hot summer day, to allow the plant to reduce water loss with little effect on CO2 uptake."



The researchers believe this water preserving mechanism can be manipulated to breed more water-efficient crops.&nbsp;&nbsp;



According to study lead author Dr. Chin&nbsp; Wong, the ANU team’s findings are a “dream discovery” from a scientific and agricultural perspective. The agricultural industry has long waited for a way to deliver crops that use water efficiently.&nbsp;



Although the researchers have confirmed there is a system in place that is working to limit the amount of water being lost from the leaf, they still do not know what’s causing it.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



“Our main target now is to identify the structures inside the plant that allow this control. We think that water conduits, called aquaporins, located in the cell membranes are responsible,” said Dr. Marquez.&nbsp;



Once this can be confirmed, the team will continue to explore how these systems can become an asset for the agriculture industry.



Dr. Wong first alluded to this water preserving mechanism 14 years ago, but the research team has only now been able to officially confirm its existence thanks to years of experimentation and corroboration of their results.&nbsp;&nbsp;



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/nplants/">Nature Plants</a>.&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:katherinebucko@gmail.com">Katherine Bucko</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

"Exquisite" mechanism will help plants survive drought

Scientists have identified an “exquisite” natural mechanism that helps plants...

Researchers from <a href="https://www.lsu.edu/">Louisiana State University</a> have discovered that oil spilled during the Deepwater Horizon tragedy was still present in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/biodiversity-loss-weakens-ecosystem-functioning/">ecosystem</a> ten years later, although the environment significantly altered it. The study, published in the journal <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2022.928576/full">Frontiers in Marine Science</a>, details how the scientists tracked the various components of leaked crude oil.&nbsp;



Study first author Professor Edward Overton said that knowing how the chemicals interact with the environment can aid us when the next inevitable spill occurs.



“Our paper describes the most abundant chemicals that make up typical crude oil and their potential fates in the environment,” said Professor Overton.



“The better we understand the chemicals and their chemical reactive properties as well as their physical properties, the better we will be able to mitigate oil spills and understand and detect environmental damages from oil spills,”&nbsp;



The researchers analyzed the most concentrated and toxic chemical components released during the spill. From 2010 to 2020, they collected samples from the shoreline, water, and seafloor.



The study revealed that 30-40 percent of the spilled oil evaporated into the air and that water-soluble chemicals were dissolved and degraded by aquatic organisms. Moreover, these solar-dependent processes degraded a lot of the oil. However, there were still components left in the environment for at least ten years.&nbsp;



“The important point about oil spills is that the oil’s compounds are a type of material that can be degraded by sunlight and marine bacteria (biodegradation), in contrast to other types of pollutants such as the chlorinated pesticides like DDT,” explained Professor Overton. “Oil spills release lots of chemicals quickly and most damage from oil spills occurs fairly soon after the spill.”



However, the chemical processes that break down oil are not universal, and more research is necessary.&nbsp;&nbsp;



“Environmental circumstances surrounding specific spills greatly affect how quickly the compounds can react, what they cover or coat and how much oxygen can be taken up in critical habitats,” said Overton.



“Therefore, broad generalization about oil spills requires understanding what was spilled and what are the environmental conditions of the spill. Hopefully this paper will help expand our understanding of the types of chemicals that are found in oil and their ability to cause environmental damages.”



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By <a href="mailto:nire518@gmail.com">Erin Moody </a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Ghosts of Deepwater Horizon oil spill still haunt the ecosystem

Researchers from Louisiana State University have discovered that oil spilled...

Synthetic cannabinoids are “designer drugs” that mimic the effects of cannabis and are popularly used as an alternative to natural cannabis. Typically synthetic cannabinoids are sprayed onto plant leaves and then smoked; they are often marketed as “herbal smoking blends” and sold under such common names as K2, spice or synthetic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/legalization-of-marijuana-linked-to-rise-in-traffic-crashes/">marijuana</a>. In fact, they are not cannabis at all, but have been designed to bind to the same brain receptors that are responsible for the psychoactive effects of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in cannabis.



A new study, led by researchers from <a href="https://wsu.edu/">Washington State University</a>, has now investigated whether the use of synthetic cannabinoid drugs has changed in recent years and whether this is linked to the status of cannabis legalization in different U.S. states. They hypothesized that in states with more liberal cannabis policies which allow access to THC-containing products for recreational and other purposes, there would be a decrease in the use of synthetic cannabinoid drugs.&nbsp;



It is not easy to monitor the use of these drugs because they are often designed to be undetectable in urine. In addition, their chemical structure is constantly being changed by illicit manufacturers as new versions are developed, so standard drug tests commonly don’t identify them. Instead, the researchers used data from the National Poison Data System (NPDS), a data management system owned by the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC). Cases of poisoning in people who take synthetic cannabinoids and end up needing medical care, or who die, are reported to the NPDS by clinicians and the general public, via regional poison control centers.&nbsp;



This approach provided the researchers with comprehensive coverage of poisoning due to synthetic cannabinoids in the U.S., and they were then able to investigate any links between cases of poisoning and the type of legislation pertaining to cannabis use in each state.&nbsp;



They analyzed data on poisoning for the years 2016 to 2019 and looked only at states that had stable policies concerning cannabis use during those years. In this connection, they placed states in one of three categories: those that had permissive legislation, like Washington State, allowing both medical and recreational adult use of cannabis; those that allow medical use of cannabis only, like Hawaii; and those that had restrictive legislation, like Idaho, where nearly all cannabis use is prohibited.&nbsp;&nbsp;



The researchers found that.during the years 2016 to 1019, there were 7,600 calls that reported poisoning due to synthetic cannabinoid use - about 65 percent of which required medical attention. There were also 61 deaths. The results of the analysis, published in the journal <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15563650.2022.2099887">Clinical Toxicology</a>, showed that cases of synthetic-related poisoning decreased overall during this time period but, while there were 13 percent fewer cases in states where only medical use of cannabis was allowed, there was a much more significant decrease (37 percent) in permissive states, which allow recreational or “adult use” of cannabis. 



“This study shows some potential public health benefits to the legalization and regulation of adult use of cannabis,” said study lead author Tracy Klein, a WSU associate professor of nursing. “Based on both past research and this current study, it's evident that users who have a choice to use a less toxic product would potentially do so.”



People who use synthetic cannabinoids actually report a preference for natural cannabis products, due in part to their lower negative effect profile including less hangover effects, less paranoia and more ability to function. The synthetic substances bind up to 100 times more readily with the brain receptors and lack any mediating constituents of whole plant cannabis, such as cannabidiol (CB). As a result, synthetic cannabinoids have a high toxicity and can lead to severe impairment, and even death.



An earlier study&nbsp;found that poison control calls related to natural cannabis use also increased between 2017 and 2019 across the U.S. but were driven mainly by manufactured products, such as plant-based vaping materials and edibles, which can contain high levels of THC. In contrast, poison control calls for whole plant cannabis declined during the same time period.



More research is needed to understand the use of these drugs better and the differences between them, Klein said. She pointed out that the study’s data set does not contain the rising popularity of synthetically derived Delta-8, marketed as a less strong form of Delta-9, which is the psychoactive cannabinoid found in naturally produced plant products.



“We know that there are many cannabinoids being developed and on the market – and the regulators are struggling to catch up,” said Professor Klein, who is also the assistant director of WSU’s Center for Cannabis Policy, Research and Outreach.



The current study likely underestimates the use of these drugs, the authors note, because the drugs are difficult to detect.



“You can’t easily test for illicit cannabinoids. A lot of times, we only find out if a patient has been using them because they’re hospitalized or because they’re dead,” said Professor Klein.



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By <a href="mailto:bosman@truewan.co.za">Alison Bosman</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Cannabis legalization reduces designer drug poisonings

Synthetic cannabinoids are “designer drugs” that mimic the effects of...

A comprehensive assessment of a vast array of scientific studies led by the <a href="https://manoa.hawaii.edu/">University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa</a> has unearthed empirical evidence that over 58 percent of human pathogenic diseases have been at a certain point aggravated by climatic hazards, including global warming, droughts, heatwaves, massive precipitation, floods, storms, sea level rises, ocean biochemical change, and shifts in land cover. By examining the impact of these climate-related factors on all known pathogenic diseases, the experts found that 218 out of 375 of these diseases have been affected at some point by at least one climatic hazard, via 1,006 unique pathways.



“Given the extensive and pervasive consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic, it was truly scary to discover the massive health vulnerability resulting as a consequence of greenhouse gas emissions,” said&nbsp;study lead author Camilo&nbsp;Mora, a professor of Geography at the University of Hawaiʻi. “There are just too many diseases, and pathways of transmission, for us to think that we can truly adapt to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/study-reveals-human-health-impacts-of-climate-change/">climate change</a>. It highlights the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions globally.”



The analysis revealed that climatic hazards are bringing pathogens closer to people by facilitating the spatial and temporal expansion of vectors and pathogens. For instance, global warming and precipitation changes are associated with the range expansion of disease vectors such as mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, birds, and certain mammals that are implicated in outbreaks of viruses, bacteria, or protozoans, including malaria, dengue, Lyme disease, West Nile virus, or the plague bacterium.&nbsp;&nbsp;



On the other hand, climatic hazards are also frequently bringing people closer to pathogens. Forced displacements and migrations of people after storms, floods, or sea level rises have led to massive outbreaks of infectious diseases, such as cholera, typhoid and Lassa fever, Legionnaire’s disease, salmonellosis, gastroenteritis, or a vast number of respiratory and skin diseases.



Moreover, climatic hazards have also enhanced specific aspects of certain pathogens, such as improved climate suitability for reproduction, acceleration of the life cycle, rises in virulence, or increasing length of likely exposure. For example, heatwaves can act as natural selective forces leading to heat-resistant pathogens that can better cope with the human body’s main defense mechanism, fever. In addition, heavy storms and floods often create stagnant pools of water, which are perfect breeding and growing grounds for mosquitoes and the large number of pathogens that they transmit.



Finally, climatic hazards have also diminished humans’ capacity to cope with pathogens by altering body conditions, adding stress from exposure to extreme weather events, forcing people to live in unsanitary conditions, and damaging protective infrastructure. For instance, prolonged droughts are known to be conducive to poor sanitation, which often leads to diseases such as cholera, dysentery, scabies, chlamydia, E.coli, or salmonella.&nbsp;



While the majority of pathogenic diseases were exacerbated by climatic factors, some of them (63 out of 286) were diminished. Global warming, for example, seems to have reduced the spread of certain viruses that thrive in colder climates. However, most diseases that were diminished by a certain climatic hazard were at times aggravated by another, or even the same hazard.&nbsp;



“We knew that climate change can affect human pathogenic diseases,” said study co-author Kira Webster, a doctoral student in Geography at University of Hawaiʻi. “Yet, as our database grew, we became both fascinated and distressed by the overwhelming number of available case studies that already show how vulnerable we are becoming to our ongoing growing emissions of greenhouse gases,” she concluded.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-022-01426-1">Nature Climate Change</a>. In addition, the researchers also created an interactive <a href="https://camilo-mora.github.io/Diseases/">web-page</a> showing the connections between specific hazards and diseases.



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By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer&nbsp;&nbsp;

Climate change heightens risk of most infectious diseases

A comprehensive assessment of a vast array of scientific studies...

Rapid <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-warming-will-compound-health-risks-in-children/">warming</a> in the Gulf of Maine has reversed cooling trends of the previous 900 years, according to a new study from the <a href="https://www.whoi.edu/">Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution</a>.&nbsp;



By examining shells from long-lived ocean quahogs, the researchers found that the Gulf began warming in the 20th century. The likely cause of warming was identified as increased atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations and changes in western North Atlantic circulation.



“The observed rate of warming in the Gulf of Maine over the last century has outpaced average global ocean warming. This has extensive consequences for the region's ecosystems and fisheries, and thus for the local economy,” said study co-author Caroline Ummenhofer.



“What this paper shows – both from the clams and also from the climate model simulations – is that in the late 1800s there were some pretty dramatic changes and the Gulf of Maine began to warm, reversing 900 years of cooling that had been primarily driven by volcanos,” said study lead author Nina Whitney.



Ocean quahogs (clams) can live up to about 500 years and grow their shells in annual increments similar to tree rings. This provided records of ocean conditions and allowed the researchers to study changes over time.



“Both the clams and the climate model simulations suggest that greenhouse gas forcings are not only likely causing surface temperature changes affecting the Gulf of Maine, but also causing changes in ocean circulation. The pathways and the strengths of different ocean currents bringing water into the Gulf of Maine have changed as the region has warmed,” said Whitney.



According to the experts, the climate model simulations suggest that the warming over the last century was more rapid than almost any other 100-year period in the last 1,000 years in the region. It reverses multi-century cooling trends since the late 1800s.&nbsp;



Understanding long term changes is important for managing natural resources and adapting fisheries in vulnerable ecosystems.&nbsp;



“The reality is that it took about 900 years to cool by 2°C and only 100 years to warm by 2°C," said study co-author Professor Alan Wanamaker of Iowa State University. "Unfortunately, warming in the Gulf of Maine will likely continue and worsen in the coming decades with negative impacts on the entire ecosystem.”.



The <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-022-00504-8">study</a> is published in the journal Communications Earth &amp; Environment.



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By <a href="mailto:katherinebucko@gmail.com">Katherine Bucko</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Centuries of cooling have been reversed in the Gulf of Maine

Rapid warming in the Gulf of Maine has reversed cooling...

In a series of studies led by the <a href="http://www.wne.edu/">Western New England University</a>, scientists found that grape consumption has a remarkable impact on health and lifespan. According to the experts, adding just under two cups of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/red-wine-grapes-have-unexpected-gut-health-benefits/">grapes</a> per day to a high-fat diet can have astonishing health benefits, yielding reductions in fatty liver, boosting levels of antioxidant genes, and significantly increasing longevity. Although the studies have been performed on mice, their results could be reliably translatable to human health-related issues.



The first study, published in the journal <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/11/13/1984">Foods</a>,&nbsp;focused on the potential of dietary grape consumption to modulate the adverse effects caused by high-fat diets. The analysis revealed that, in mice on a high-fat diet, grape powder consumption led to a significant modulation of hepatic gene expression, successfully prevented oxidative damage, ameliorated non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and increased longevity.



In a second study published in the journal <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/11/2/414">Antioxidants</a>, the researchers found that grape consumption altered gene expression in the brain and had positive effects on behavioral and cognitive structures that were impaired by high-fat diets.&nbsp;



Finally, a third study published in the journal <a href="https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlehtml/2022/fo/d2fo00961g">Food &amp; Function</a> has shown that in addition to changes in genetic expression, grape consumption can boost metabolism by reprogramming gut microbiota activity. This reduces the hepatic oxidative stress of high-fat diets, and increases the efficiency of glucose utilization by the liver for energy production.



“We have all heard the saying ‘you are what you eat’ which is obviously true since we all start out as a fetus and end up being an adult by eating food,” said John Pezzuto, a professor of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at the Western New England University and senior author of the studies. “But these studies add an entirely new dimension to that old saying. Not only is food converted to our body parts, but as shown by our work with dietary grapes, it actually changes our genetic expression. That is truly remarkable.”



“Many people think about taking dietary supplements that boast high antioxidant activity. In actual fact, though, you cannot consume enough of an antioxidant to make a big difference. But if you change the level of antioxidant gene expression, as we observed with grapes added to the diet, the result is a catalytic response that can make a real difference,” he concluded.



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By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer&nbsp;&nbsp;

Grapes have astonishing health benefits

In a series of studies led by the Western New...

Hotter nighttime temperatures will increase the global mortality rate by up to 60 percent in the coming decades, according to an international study led by <a href="https://www.unc.edu/">UNC Chapel Hill</a>. The experts report that the burden of disease will increase as normal <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/lack-of-sleep-impacts-brain-development-in-children/">sleeping</a> patterns are disrupted by excessively hot nights.



Sleep disruption can lead to a cascade of dangerous health risks, ranging from immune system damage to a higher risk of heart disease, chronic illness, and mental health issues.&nbsp;



The study is the first of its kind to estimate the impact of hotter nights on climate change-related mortality risk. The results show that the average intensity of hot nights will nearly double by 2090, from 68.7℉ to 103.5℉ across 28 cities in east Asia. With this in mind, the mortality rate will jump much higher than predicted based on average temperature increases alone.&nbsp;



“The risks of increasing temperature at night were frequently neglected," said study co-author Dr. Yuqiang Zhang. “However, in our study, we found that the occurrences of hot night excess (HNE) are projected to occur more rapidly than the daily mean temperature changes. The frequency and mean intensity of hot nights would increase more than 30% and 60% by the 2100s, respectively, compared with less than 20% increase for the daily mean temperature.”



The researchers analyzed the number of deaths associated with heat in 28 cities throughout China, South Korea and Japan between 1980 and 2015. By modeling this data with two future climate scenarios, the experts estimated that the risk of death from excessively hot nights would increase nearly six-fold between 2016 and 2100.



“From our study, we highlight that, in assessing the disease burden due to non-optimum temperature, governments and local policymakers should consider the extra health impacts of the disproportional intra-day temperature variations," said study co-author Dr. Haidong Kan of Fudan University in China. "A more complete health risk assessment of future climate change can help policymakers for better resource allocation and priority setting."



“To combat the health risk raised by the temperature increases from climate change, we should design efficient ways to help people adapt,” said Dr. Zhang. “Locally, heat during the night should be taken into account when designing the future heatwave warning system, especially for vulnerable populations and low-income communities who may not be able to afford the additional expense of air conditioning. Also, stronger mitigation strategies, including global collaborations, should be considered to reduce future impacts of warming.”



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/home">The Lancet Planetary Health</a>.



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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

Hot nights could increase global mortality rate by 60 percent

Hotter nighttime temperatures will increase the global mortality rate by...

A new study from <a href="https://www.hamilton.edu/">Hamilton College</a> has revealed that "brain fog" affects <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/key-ocean-species-on-the-west-coast-face-an-uncertain-future/">species</a> across the animal kingdom. While it is known that infections such as COVID-19 can impair learning, memory, and problem-solving in people, the researchers set out to investigate whether infected animals may suffer from brain fog as well.&nbsp;



Study lead author Professor Andrea K. Townsend was previously interested in learning how infectious disease impacts the problem-solving performance of American crows. She was surprised to discover that very few studies had compared the cognitive effects of disease in other species.&nbsp;



After analyzing the existing evidence, the experts found that a wide range of species - from rats to birds - show signs of cognitive impairment when they are fighting an infection.



The researchers noted many possible causes of brain fog in animals, including damage by the parasite, certain immune responses, lack of motivation, malnutrition, and even alterations to the host microbiome.



“I think one surprising thing for me was how little is known. We're seeing an accelerated emergence of all of these infectious diseases, and yet we know very little about how disease might affect cognition and the implications of this for wild animals as well as for humans,” said Professor Townsend.



Cognitive impairment can potentially affect entire communities. For instance, bees may have difficulty finding food when they are fighting an infection.&nbsp;



“This is really a bad outcome, if you are a bee, because foraging success depends on the ability to efficiently find the most productive flowers,” explained Professor Townsend. In this scenario, bee populations could suffer, as well as the flowers that depend on them for pollination.



The experts warn that climate change will only make matters worse by causing animals to become stressed and more vulnerable to disease and brain fog.



“So, here you might have a snowball effect where animals in stressed environments are more likely to get sick and their cognitive abilities are impaired.&nbsp; Then they are less able to deal with these stressful, changing environments because of their impaired cognitive abilities.&nbsp; It could increase the costs of environmental change for some wild animals,” said Professor Townsend.&nbsp;



“We’re also living in a period of accelerating disease emergence, which is likely to have lots of contributing factors. For example, climate change is altering the range of many insects that carry diseases. In North America, the ranges of mosquitoes, ticks, and other vectors are extending northward. This is a problem because these ranges are extending into populations of naive hosts that have never experienced the diseases that they carry before. Therefore, they don’t have immunity to these infections and are likely to be highly susceptible to them."



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/">Cell</a>.



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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

"Brain fog" affects a wide range of animals

A new study from Hamilton College has revealed that "brain...

The <a href="https://welcome.miami.edu/">University of Miami</a> Frost School of Music is about to embark on a new research study that will help at-risk mothers to engage with their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/adult-bonobos-cry-like-babies-to-elicit-the-support-of-others/">babies</a> through singing. The research will be led by Shannon de l’Etoile, professor of Music Therapy at the school, and funded by the GRAMMY Museum Grant Program.



De l’Etoile is no stranger to the benefits of singing lullabies to babies. As a young music therapist in Colorado, she saw that when disadvantaged mothers were encouraged to sing to their babies, the positive responses they received were remarkable. She realized that music could be a powerful tool to help mothers learn more about their infants and to build a relationship with their new child.



In her previously published research, de l’Etoile states that: “Mothers around the world intuitively utilize and modify specific musical elements when singing to their infants. In response, infants show alterations in attention and arousal as well as clear preferences for their mothers' unique singing style.” De l’Etoile found that infant-directed singing has a number of benefits, most importantly that it helps babies learn to regulate their emotions. This, in turn, enables them to navigate socialization, school and the professional world more effectively, according to de l’Etoile, who has spent her career studying the habit.



“If a mother can sing in a way that captures the infant’s attention, it can help them tap into those brain structures that they need to develop for self-regulation,” said de l’Etoile, a board-certified music therapist and associate dean of graduate studies at the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music.



Infants appear to be biologically predisposed to perceive the nuances of music and this form of input can provide developmentally appropriate sensory stimulation. While singing to an infant comes naturally for most mothers, it is not as easy for mothers who find themselves in difficult circumstances. De l’Etoile has observed that mothers impacted by depression, domestic violence, or substance exposure may need encouragement and guidance to provide this unique form of caregiving.&nbsp;&nbsp;



“Infant-directed singing is a way that mothers communicate with their babies that most infants can recognize and respond to. But to be most effective, the mother needs to be attentive and sensitive to infant cues,” said de l’Etoile. “For some moms that may not be happening and that impacts the infant.”



De l’Etoile has been working with the College of Arts and Sciences Department of Psychology’s early intervention program at the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fdlrs-um.miami.edu/">Linda Ray Intervention Center</a>&nbsp;to create a coaching program that will guide mothers in the practice of infant-directed singing. Her efforts have now received financial support from the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220628005416/en/GRAMMY-Museum%C2%AE-Grant-Program-Awards-200000-for-Music-Research-and-Sound-Preservation">GRAMMY Museum</a>&nbsp;Grant Program, according to a news release from the University of Miami. Her program is one of just six scientific research projects that earned funding from the organization this year.



The Linda Ray Intervention Center has conducted cutting-edge research over the past three decades, focused specifically on the needs of children from birth to the age of two years. De l’Etoile’s new intervention program will be aimed at improving the developmental outcomes of at-risk infants by supporting their mothers to develop secure bonds with these infants, particularly through the use of infant-directed singing.&nbsp;



Through singing, mothers and infants demonstrate reciprocal behaviors considered necessary for the development of secure attachment, including maternal sensitivity and infant affect regulation. Consequently, infant-directed singing may serve as an effective treatment intervention for mothers and infants who are at-risk for insecure attachment.



“We want to give moms and caregivers these tools they can use, so that they can feel empowered to help their babies thrive,” de l’Etoile said. “Building self-regulation at an early age is so important because it helps children deal with adversity. Children who don’t regulate well are lacking in resilience, and they may have problems later in life, like obesity, addiction, and aggression.”



De l’Etoile and the center’s executive director, Isabel Chica, are now in the process of identifying and training staff members at the Center, who will coach mothers for a month in the most beneficial ways to sing to their infants. This will involve making video recordings of the mothers as they sing to their infants and then identifying how the mothers can be more sensitive to their infants’ emotions and also how they can assess if the infant is benefitting by observing how long it gazes at the mother.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



“One of our main goals is to provide families with opportunities to learn new strategies and techniques that support positive parent-child interactions, and this pilot may strengthen parenting skills as well as a parent’s ability to help their child self-regulate,” Chica said. “We believe this is a great way for healthy attachments to develop between parent and child.”



In addition to analyzing videos of the mother-infant interactions, de l’Etoile will also work with the Frost School’s music engineering program to analyze recordings of the mother’s voice. She hopes the analysis will reveal changes over time in the mother’s ability to modify her singing according to the infant’s emotions, as well as in the extent to which the infant is engaged and comfortable.&nbsp;



“For an infant to make progress toward self-regulation, they need focused attention on the mother. And they also need to have achieved an optimal level of arousal where they are not excited, or fussy, but comfortable,” she said.



Both Chica and de l’Etoile are eager to begin with the training, now that they have spent more than two years working closely together to develop the program so that it aligns with the needs of the Center’s families.&nbsp;



“We want this project to have a lasting legacy and impact, not just for us to have positive outcomes but to create a model for how a program like this could be implemented in other early intervention facilities,” de l’Etoile said.



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By <a href="mailto:bosman@truewan.co.za">Alison Bosman</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Mothers can use singing to engage with infants

The University of Miami Frost School of Music is about...

In a new study, researchers from the <a href="https://www.vancouver.wsu.edu/">Washington State University, Vancouver</a> have found that dry lightning outbreaks – which occur with less than 2.5 millimeters of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/major-heatwave-caused-unprecedented-rainfall-in-greenland/">rainfall</a> – are the leading cause of some of the largest wildfires in the history of modern California.



“Wildfires are a growing threat in California as the climate continues to warm. Unlike human-caused fires that originate in a single location, lightning outbreaks can strike multiple locations and start numerous simultaneous wildfires, creating a substantial challenge for fire response,” said study lead author Dmitri Kalashnikov, a PhD student specializing in Climate Extremes at WSU Vancouver.



“This happened recently in 2020 when multiple lightning-caused fires burned nearly one million hectares across this region, and other prominent widespread lightning-caused wildfire outbreaks also occurred in 1987 and 2008.”&nbsp;



Together with his colleagues, Kalashnikov used daily lightning counts from the <a href="https://www.vaisala.com/en/products/national-lightning-detection-network-nldn">National Lightning Detection Network</a> and precipitation observations from 1987 to 2020,&nbsp;in combination with analyses of the climatology of dry lightning and associated meteorological conditions during the warm season (May to October), when wildfires are more frequent.&nbsp;



The investigation revealed that moisture and instability high in the atmosphere - above the hotter and drier lower atmosphere - were the key drivers of dry lightning outbreaks in central and northern California. Nearly half (46 percent) of lightning that struck the ground in this period was under dry conditions. Although dry lightning was more likely to occur at higher elevations (greater than 2,000 meters), with activity more concentrated in July and August, the scientists discovered that this pattern usually reverses towards autumn, when lower elevations are struck more frequently. Since natural fuels are drier during this period, there is a larger risk of wildfire outbreaks.



“Understanding the meteorology of dry lightning across this region can inform forecasting of possible wildfire ignitions, helping to better constrain future risk of wildfire ignition in California and can aid fire suppression efforts, as firefighting resources can be strategically pre-positioned in at-risk areas,” concluded co-author Deepti Singh, an assistant professor of Environmental Science at WSU Vancouver.



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/2752-5295/ac84a0">Environmental Research: Climate</a>.



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By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer&nbsp;&nbsp;

Dry lightning sparks the most destructive California wildfires

In a new study, researchers from the Washington State University,...

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

[sendtonews key="X0f6OHYoI4-2310561-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky" Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features northwest Lesotho in South Africa.



According to ESA, Lesotho is the only nation in the world that lies completely above 1,000 m in elevation. The country is famous for its tall mountains and narrow valleys, and is known as Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky."



Out of a population of around two million people, about 80 percent live in rural areas. More than 75 percent of these people are engaged in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-will-have-a-global-impact-on-agriculture/">agriculture</a>, including rainfed cereal production and animal grazing.&nbsp;



ESA reports that the country’s agricultural system faces a growing number of issues, with climate-related vulnerabilities such as drought, floods and extreme temperatures occurring more frequently. 



Diamonds are amongst the minerals found in the mountains. Indeed, Lesotho can truly be called the Kingdom in the Sky. Beautiful, culturally rich, safe, affordable, and easily accessible from Durban and Johannesburg, mountainous Lesotho is a vastly underrated travel destination. the Kingdom of Lesotho (Sotho: 'Muso oa Lesotho) is an enclaved country in southern Africa. It is just over 30,000 km2 (11,583 sq mi) in size and has a population of around 2 million.



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

[sendtonews key="oL4FnPTGCV-2384527-12187" 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> reveals the evolution of the Columbia Glacier in southeastern Alaska. Columbia is among the fastest shrinking glaciers in the world, and the video documents its rapid retreat over the years.&nbsp;



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

[sendtonews key="0879czfG3k-1785905-12187" 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> features the Pyrenees Mountains, which form a natural boundary between France and Spain in southwest Europe.



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

[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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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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

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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

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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

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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...