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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Todd highlighted the practical applications of this knowledge. 



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

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

One of the largest genetic studies ever conducted on humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) was published today. This study was used to clarify management decisions in the Southern Hemisphere, following calls to protect unique and threatened populations by the <a href="https://www.wcs.org/">Wildlife Conservation Society</a>, the <a href="http://www.amnh.org/">American Museum of Natural History</a>, <a href="http://www.columbia.edu/">Columbia University</a>, and others.

Using data gathered from more than 3,000 individual humpback whales found from the South Atlantic to the Indian Oceans, the research team has uncovered huge degrees of relatedness between various whale populations. The study is set to inform ongoing conservation reassessments of humpback whale populations. It reaffirms the highly distinct nature of a small, non-migratory population of humpback whales living in the Arabian Sea who are still in need of continued protection.

Field research on marine mammals is one of the most challenging methods of biological study. Scientists are often unable to follow oceangoing species, such as whales, across their full range; the humpback whale, for example, undertakes far-flung migratory movements. Remote sensing techniques, photo-recognition of individuals, and other methods may help answer some questions, while molecular technologies reveal secrets at a broader level and can be representative of entire populations.

"By comparing carefully selected markers in the DNA of thousands of whales in the Southern Hemisphere, we can begin answering questions about the movements of these animals and how different populations are related," said lead author Dr. Francine Kershaw, science fellow at the <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/">Natural Resources Defense Council</a>. "Genetic data provide unique information necessary for effective species management and conservation."

The collected samples were analyzed by the technique called polymerase chain reaction, or PCR. Overall, the results will help to evaluate the validity of current definitions used by the <a href="https://iwc.int/home">International Whaling Commission</a>. They are also being used to demonstrate how to better identify Important Marine Mammal Areas in need of protection, which is an initiative led by the <a href="https://www.iucn.org/">International Union for Conservation of Nature</a>.

&nbsp;

Source: <a href="http://www.wcs.org/">WCS</a> (Wildlife Conservation Society)

Humpback whales genetic study will inform conservation

One of the largest genetic studies ever conducted on humpback...

With the transition of United States leadership only days away, many have been left speculating on what this could mean for the future of clean energy technologies. As he prepares to leave office, President Barack Obama has worked to assuage environmentalist fears that the next administration may reverse much of the progress made in the development of green energy. 

This week, President Obama penned an article for the journal <a href="http://science.sciencemag.org/content/early/2017/01/06/science.aam6284.full?utm_source=sciencemagazine&amp;utm_medium=twitter&amp;utm_campaign=obamaPF-10288">Science</a> titled “The irreversible momentum of clean energy,” in which he outlined four main points that illustrate why he believes “trends toward a clean energy economy that have emerged during [his] presidency will continue.” 

In his first point, titled “Economies grow, Emissions fall,” the President describes how since 2008, the economy has grown by more than 10% while carbon dioxide emissions have dropped by 9.5%. Obama argues that this result should “put to rest the argument that combatting climate change requires accepting lower growth or a lower standard of living.”

Second, President Obama points to how businesses can benefit fiscally by reducing emissions. “Businesses are coming to the conclusion that reducing emissions is not just good for the environment- it can also boost bottom lines, cut costs for consumers, and deliver returns for shareholders,” Obama writes. 

In his third point, titled “Market Forces In The Power Sector,” Obama describes how market forces are shifting the U.S. electric-power sector from a coal-based system to one centered around natural gas. He argues that because renewable electricity costs have dropped so significantly, companies like Google have been prompted to power 100% of their operations using renewable energy.

Lastly, Obama points to how global momentum surrounding clean energy has made U.S. involvement no longer optional. “It’s good business and good economics to lead a technological revolution and define market trends,” writes Obama. “The latest science and economics provide a helpful guide for what the future may bring.”

Obama calls U.S. clean energy trend “irreversible”

With the transition of United States leadership only days away,...

A London street was underwater Sunday, but it wasn’t torrential rains or rising sea levels that brought the scene of destruction. It was a burst water main – the third in less than a week.

When the main burst just after noon, around 350 people living on Stoke Newington High Street had to evacuate. More than 150 properties suffered damage. 

A similar scene played out on Islington’s Upper Street last week, and there was also a water main break in south London’s Blackheath area on Saturday.

Officials with <a href="https://www.thameswater.co.uk/">Thames Water</a>, the company that maintains the pipes, have launched a full investigation into the water main breaks. At first glance, however, the breaks may be simply due to the pipes’ age.

Many of the pipes in London are 100 years old or older, and without continued investments in replacing old pipe, the system can become fragile, said Bob Collington, director of Thames Water. 

The private water utility  will do its best to make sure customers aren’t stuck with bills for repairing any damage, he said.

Thames Water and the <a href="http://www.london-fire.gov.uk/">London Fire Brigade</a> are working to clean up the spilled water on Stoke Newington High Street. The fire brigade was also using sandbags to try and keep the water outdoors, and retrieving necessary belongings for evacuees. 

Aside from wasting thousands of gallons of water – leaky pipes and water main breaks cost the U.S. alone as much as 6 billion gallons of purified drinking water every day, according to the <a href="http://www.cnt.org/publications/the-case-for-fixing-the-leaks-protecting-people-and-saving-water-while-supporting">Center for Neighborhood Technology</a> – water main breaks can be dangerous to public health. 

Health hazards come not just from the initial flooding, but from toxic mold and mildew that can grow in the walls of flood-stricken homes. Additionally, water main breaks and repairs create temporary openings where contaminants can enter the pipes, according to the <a href="https://www3.epa.gov/">Environmental Protection Agency</a>.

By Sunday evening, the water was receding. The burst main shouldn’t affect water access in the area, Thames Water officials said.

---

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

London water main bursts, flooding street

A London street was underwater Sunday, but it wasn’t torrential...

Hit BBC series <a href="http://www.bbcchannels.com/earth/planetearth2">Planet Earth II</a> has broken its own rule to never interfere with nature after a particularly emotional scene involving lost baby turtles. 

Sir David Attenborough, creator of the <a href="http://www.bbcamerica.com/all-shows">Planet Earth</a> series, had been quoted just last year remarking on the importance of nature documentaries staying on the sidelines while filming wildlife. “If you’re a film cameraman you are trained, as it were, to be the observer, a non-participant. That’s very important.” 

Wildlife cameraman Doug Allen echoed this sentiment, saying, “For me, at least, my job is to look and not interfere. If I feel my presence is tilting the balance of the predator or the prey, then I’m doing something wrong.”

The policy has resulted in viewers getting a very candid look at the brutality of nature and the animal experience. Said Attenborough, “Of course you see really tough things, but there’s nothing you can do about them.”

This time, however, it was a man-made occurrence disturbing the natural flow of nature.

After hatching from their eggs, natural instinct guides baby turtles to make their way into the ocean. In this instance, however, bright city lights along the beachfront caused the baby turtles to migrate in the opposite direction and became stranded far from the water. 

According to the show, 4 out of every 5 baby hawksbill turtles failed to make it through the night. Without water, the baby turtles became disoriented and fell down drains or were run over by cars. The scenes generated a loud emotional response from viewers on Twitter. 

In response, the BBC Earth tweeted on Sunday: “Every turtle that was seen or filmed by the Planet Earth 2 crew was collected and put back into the sea.”

The network also released a short film about the <a href="http://www.barbadosseaturtles.org/">Barbados Sea Turtle Project</a>, an initiative focused on gathering lost baby turtles and bringing them back into the water.

Planet Earth II premiered on The BBC on November 6th and has been met with record-breaking ratings.

Planet Earth II intervenes to save baby turtles

Hit BBC series Planet Earth II has broken its own...

Bill Gates, alongside a dream team of the some of the world’s wealthiest men, will spearhead a $1 billion fund to invest in green energy. The group of backers also includes Sir Richard Branson, Alibaba founder Jack Ma, and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, boasting a combined net worth of over $171 billion.

This week, the team of investors launched<a href="http://www.b-t.energy"> Breakthrough Energy Ventures</a> (BEV), which aims to invest $1 billion in green energy over the next 20 years. The initiative began brewing last year at the <a href="http://www.cop21.gouv.fr/en/">Paris Climate Summit</a>, and plans to take a more long-term, nuanced approach to backing affordable and reliable green energy sources. The BEV fund will began making investments in 2017.

Said Gates, "Our goal is to build companies that will help deliver the next generation of reliable, affordable, and emissions-free energy to the world. I am honored to work along with these investors to build on the powerful foundation of public investment in basic research."

Afters Gates left Microsoft in 2014, he has made a new career in philanthropy and has already invested several clean energy initiatives. 

As Gates told <a href="http://qz.com/859860/bill-gates-is-leading-a-new-1-billion-fund-focused-on-combatting-climate-change-through-innovation/">Quartz</a>, “Anything that leads to cheap, clean, reliable energy we’re open-minded to."

Gas trader John Arnold is another backer of Breakthrough Energy Ventures. Arnold believes that because prior clean energy investors have seen small returns, there is now a shortage of funding for green energy technology. 

"The dearth of venture funding for clean energy technologies threatens to create a valley of death for the industry, with emerging ideas unable to find the necessary capital to reach commercialisation," said Arnold. “As an investor-led effort, Breakthrough Energy Ventures is designed as a source of patient capital to spur innovation to meet the growing demand for low-cost, clean energy solutions."

---

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Bill Gates and billionaire dream team announce green energy initiative

Bill Gates, alongside a dream team of the some of...

The Polar Vortex got an early start this year, and those months of warm-up have it ready to lay a freezing smackdown on the the upper Midwest and East Coast in the U.S.

The weekend is expected to bring the first breath of winter to the Northeastern U.S. this weekend, and could close roads by Monday, according to meteorologists with <a href="http://www.accuweather.com/">Accuweather.com</a> and <a href="http://www.weatherbell.com/">WeatherBELL Analytics</a>, two private forecasting firms. 

The weather will likely be mild in the beginning of next week, but it won’t last. By Wednesday or Thursday, freezing air will drift south from Canada into the northern Plains and upper Midwest. By next weekend, it will work its way east.

After looking at models of the current Arctic blast gathering above Canada, Ryan Maue of WeatherBELL <a href="https://twitter.com/RyanMaue/status/806176153031602176?lang=en">tweeted</a> that it looked similar to the Polar Vortex of 2014, the first time most Americans were introduced to the weather event. The Northwest might get some cold weather late next week, too, he <a href="https://twitter.com/RyanMaue/status/807298971471376385?lang=en">tweeted</a>.

The Polar Vortex is swirling mass of frigid air that usually stays high in the atmosphere above the North Pole – hence the name.

But in recent years, instability in the Polar Vortex combined with unusual behavior in the jet stream has allowed tentacles of icy air from the vortex to unfurl over parts of North America, Europe and Asia, bringing record freezing temperatures with them. 

Some scientists studying the phenomenon think <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/polar-vortex-linked-loss-arctic-sea-ice/">melting sea ice</a> in the Arctic Circle could be playing a role in the unstable vortex, making the freezing air break free for the south more often. However, the <a href="http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/cold/polar_vortex.shtml">National Weather Service</a> points out that the U.S. has suffered cold weather from the vortex in the past, with notable cold in 1977, 1982, 1985, and 1989.

The Arctic blasts this weekend and next week – which Accuweather meteorologists say with bring <a href="http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/snow-wintry-mix-may-cause-delays-and-closures-in-northeastern-us-by-monday/70000234">piles of snow</a> from Chicago north, sleet or rain to the rest of the East Coast, and <a href="http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/rain-snow-to-hammer-northwestern-us-into-the-weekend/70000231">snow and heavy rain</a> in the Pacific Northwest – are expected to bring single-digit or below-zero temperatures to much of the northern U.S.

---

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Polar Vortex is back and it's going to get ugly

The Polar Vortex got an early start this year, and...

A massive earthquake struck the Solomon Islands on Friday, leaving hundreds homeless and triggering small tsunamis throughout the country and other nearby Pacific islands.

No deaths have been reported, according to the aid organization <a href="http://www.wvi.org/">World Vision</a>. However, hundreds of Solomon Islanders reported their homes were badly damaged or completely destroyed in the 7.7-magnitude earthquake. 

Communication has not been restored with some of the more remote communities, so a full assessment of the damage has not yet been made, World Vision officials said.

As many as 3,000 people may have been affected, said Suzy Sainovski, the organization’s Pacific Timor-Leste spokeswoman. Many of the damaged homes were traditional stilt homes, she added.

On the island of Makira, closest to the quake’s epicenter, a hospital was damaged and 20 patients were evacuated, Sainovski said. A church and other buildings were damaged, including the World Vision office. 

A World Vision employee who witnessed the earthquake called it terrifying, in a statement the organization released to the press. People panicked and fled toward high ground, the employee said.

Aftershocks and power outages continued through Friday. Though there were some small tsunami waves in the Solomon Islands and nearby, no larger waves materialized and a tsunami warning throughout the Pacific islands – including Hawaii – was canceled. 

The epicenter of the earthquake was deep, about 30 miles below the surface, according to the <a href="https://www.usgs.gov/">U.S. Geological Survey</a>. Deeper earthquakes tend to cause less damage, the USGS said. 

The Solomon Islands, located on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” are a common site for large quakes. In 2013, an 8.0-magnitude earthquake struck the Solomon Islands, triggering a 4.9-foot tsunami and killing 9 people. Four villages were completely destroyed. 

A 7.1 temblor in 2010 left as many as 1,000 people homeless on the islands, and an 8.1-magnitude quake and tsunami killed 52 in the island nation in 2007.

Hundreds affected by massive earthquake in Solomon Islands

A massive earthquake struck the Solomon Islands on Friday, leaving...

Paris pollution problem worsens

The city of Paris is experiencing its worst bout of winter pollution in at least a decade. Citizens have begun using face masks commonly seen in notoriously polluted cities like Beijing. 

The pollution problem culprit is tiny particulate matter that has filled the air, creating a brown haze that blankets the city. <a href="http://www.airparif.asso.fr/en/">Airparif</a>, an organization responsible for monitoring air quality in Paris, says this “very fine dust” is mostly due to car emissions and wood-burning heating. Spokeswoman Amelie Fritz attributes the combination of a high-pressure weather system and a low-altitude blanket of warmer air over the city traps the pollution, acting like a saucepan lid. “An anticyclone with very little wind that prevents the dispersion of pollutants,” said Fritz.

The PM10 particles, or particulate matter 10 micrometers or less in diameter, are breathed in and absorbed into the bloodstream and lungs. According to the <a href="http://www.who.int/">World Health Organization</a>, they can cause lung cancer, heart disease, asthma, and acute respiratory infection. 

In response to the pollution problem, Paris officials have introduced new measures to cut down on emissions. To incentivize commuters to switch to public transportation, the Metro, trains, and buses have been free since Tuesday. This is said to have cost the city approximately 4 million euros ($4.3 million) per day.


Speed limits have also been reduced, in addition to a ban on outdoor and indoor fires. Home heating has been limited to no more than 18 degrees Celsius (64 degrees Fahrenheit). 

Officials have also introduced an alternating vehicle ban, depending on whether they have odd or even-numbered license plates. Violations cost drivers between 22 and 75 euros ($23 and $80), though the rules do not apply to small trucks carrying food and essentials.

But it remains to be seen how many citizens are actually adhering to the new restrictions. "We've noticed that the measures haven't been followed that much," said Fritz. "We've noticed only 5 to 10 percent less traffic."

---

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Paris pollution problem worsens

Paris pollution problem worsens The city of Paris is experiencing...

Giraffes wander the wild in a few parts of the African savannah – but that may not be the case for much longer. Scientists have put the stately creature on the extinction watchlist.

Over the past three decades, the number of giraffes in the wild has shrunk by almost 40 percent, according to the <a href="https://www.iucn.org/">International Union for the Conservation of Nature</a>, which maintains the extinction watchlist. They reported the giraffe population, which is made up of nine subspecies, at 151,000 to 163,000 members in 1985. By 2015, that number had dropped to just over 97,000. 

There are now fewer giraffes in the world than there are elephants, the IUCN said. In fact, elephant numbers are almost four times higher.

The population drop has led biologists with the IUCN to designate giraffes as “vulnerable,” two steps closer to extinction than their previous designation of “species of least concern,” and add it to the group’s Red List of species in danger of disappearing.

Habitat loss is the likely cause for giraffes’ dwindling numbers, the organization said.

The giraffe population is shrinking in central and eastern Africa, where more people are moving into areas that were previously wild savannah. Giraffes have disappeared from several countries, including Nigeria, Malawi, Eritrea, and Senegal, according to the IUCN.

At a biodiversity meeting in Mexico this week, the IUCN added 35 species total to the Red List, including giraffes. The group also received bad news about two other species. The Lacepede’s ground snake of Martinique and the trondo mainty fish of Madagascar are both believed to be extinct. The agency is awaiting confirmation from biologists.

About 860 species of plants and animals have gone extinct in the past 500 years, and another 68 are extinct in the wild, according to the IUCN. About 13,000 species have landed on the endangered or critically endangered lists. Giraffes and other vulnerable species are in the next tier.

There was some good news from the meeting, too, however. First, the threat level for seven species was lowered. Second, two species that were believed to be extinct have been rediscovered: the Acmadenia candida plant, and the freshwater fish Ptychochromoides itasy.

---

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Giraffes step onto extinction watchlist as numbers dwindle

Giraffes wander the wild in a few parts of the...

Bad seed sows havoc on conservation land. The reports had been coming in for years. Seed mixes sold by outside companies for use in the <a href="http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome">U.S. Department of Agriculture</a>’s Pollinator Habitat Initiative and its Conservation Reserve Program contained aggressive weeds.

Turns out, they were right.

Crop scientists who investigated the claims found that seed packets from at least one Midwestern company contained Amaranthus palmeri, also called Palmer’s amaranth or Palmer’s pigweed. Smooth pigweed and waterhemp, two other non-native amaranth species, were also found.

The researchers did things the old-fashioned way: they germinated seeds from the suspected packets to see what they got.

The seed mix was promised to be “100 percent weed-free,” according to the team of scientists, led by Dr. Aaron Hager of the <a href="http://illinois.edu/">University of Illinois</a>, but it contained the three species of amaranth.

The investigators are not naming the company responsible, because they believe other companies may have seeds from the weed in their pollinator mixes.

Palmer’s amaranth is native to the Southern United States, but not to Iowa, Minnesota, or other Midwestern states where it has been found. While it was introduced to some states in the Midwest through agriculture, it has appeared on conservation land in others, and was traced to the tainted pollinator seed mixes. 

The weed has been found in dozens of counties across the Midwest, and while many of the appearances can be traced back to agricultural seed, 41 counties reported that the first appearance was on land that was part of the USDA conservation and pollinator programs.

Palmer’s amaranth is incredibly aggressive, even in the Southern states where it’s a native plant. It can grow up to 7 feet, and is a prolific seed producer.

It’s also often herbicide-resistant, making it nearly impossible to get rid of once it’s established in an area. 

Cotton farmers have reported that the plant can ruin good farmland in a few short years, and it’s driven some farms out of business, Hager said. 

Growers need special training on how to eradicate the stubborn plant, Hager said, but he worried that those enrolled in the USDA programs may not be able to properly fight the invasive species under the program rules. 

The USDA, which runs the programs through its <a href="https://www.fsa.usda.gov/">Farm Service Agency</a>, do not license or inspect the seed mixes sold by companies for use in the program. They do review the seed tags to make sure each mix is representing itself correctly, and to check for the presence of weeds.

The Palmer’s amaranth may have spread to thousands of acres of land, Hager said.

While he and the other crop scientists support the concept behind the pollinator program and conserving wild land, but the USDA needs to let farmers do whatever necessary to eradicate the invasive plants spread by tainted seed packets.

Any in the USDA conservation program who finds suspected amaranth plants in their pollinator plots should immediately contact their FSA administrator to find out their next steps, agency officials said.

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By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Bad seed sows havoc on Midwest conservation land

Bad seed sows havoc on conservation land. The reports had...

There are still modern hunter gatherer societies: the Hadza of Tanzania, the Tsimine of Bolivia, the San of Namibia, the Pirahã of Brazil.

For most of us, though, hunting and gather is something our ancestors stopped doing generations ago – or even as the last ice age came to an end and agriculture took hold, 10,000 to 11,000 years ago.

According to anthropologists <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ajhb.22919/full">studying the lives</a> of the Hadza people, however, that switch to farming, then industrialization may have harmed our health. 

In the Hadza village, men leave the village on foot each day to hunt and bring home that night’s main course. Women spend their days gathering tubers and fruits. The community moves every month or two.

This extremely active lifestyle means the Hadza spend a lot of time in “moderate to vigorous physical activity” each day. U.S. officials recommend 150 minutes of vigorous exercise each week. Hadza people get, on average, 14 times that much exercise.

The Hadza aren’t going overboard on exercise, the researchers said. Instead, humans in industrialized countries with sedentary lifestyles are exercising far less than the species has evolved to handle, which the researchers have dubbed physical activity mismatch. 

The mismatch hypothesis explains why physical health declines with a lack of activity and usually improves once regular exercise is in the picture, the study found. 

Anthropologists and other scientists have long suspected that hunter-gatherers have better health than people in industrialized communities because they get more exercise. However, until recently, there was no real measurement of just how much more exercise they were getting, the research team said.

Participants were fitted with chest strap heart monitors and GPS trackers at the beginning of each day; when they returned home at night, they gave the monitoring devices back to the researchers, who lived with the Hadza during the study.

Members of the Hadza who participated in the study showed biomarkers for good cardiovascular health and no signs of risk factors like hypertension, the researchers reported. They did acknowledge that other factors in the Hadza lifestyle, such as diet, may play a role in their health. 

Their findings were published in the <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1520-6300">American Journal of Human Biology</a>.

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By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Hunter gatherers are healthier because they exercise more, study finds

There are still modern hunter gatherer societies: the Hadza of...

This holiday season, a few families will be rockin’ around the stolen Christmas tree. Theft of Christmas trees is a growing problem, and at a woodland park in Scotland, it meant the death of five “extremely rare” Serbian conifers.

<a href="http://www.kinnoull.org.uk/">Kinnoull Woodland Park</a>, just across the River Tay from Perth, Scotland, is home to hundreds of trees, an arboretum full of specimens that can be planted in the garden, and miles of trail.

It is also the site of a project by the <a href="http://www.pkct.org/">Perth and Kinross Countryside Trust</a> to protect threatened conifers – evergreen trees like cedars, firs, pines, and junipers – from extinction. 

Last week, thieves stole five of those rare trees, specimens of the species Picea omorika. Officials said that although it appears they tried to dig up the five spruces, most of the roots were left behind and the trees were probably killed.

“Until these trees were stolen, we probably had the greatest concentration of these trees outside of their native range,” PKCT Project Officer Tim Christian said in a statement on the organization’s website. “Because of the nature of these collections, the trees are irreplaceable: there is no way to recover the missing genetic material.”

Each of the trees was grown from seed collected from the species’ native range in Serbia, and represents years of work, he said.

Collecting these particular seeds involved traveling to remote locations, and often climbing steep trails or rock faces to ensure a wide variety of genetic material for the <a href="https://www.pkct.org/conifer-conservation-programe">Perthshire Big Tree Country Conifer Conservation Programme</a>. The program then sends seeds back to programs in each tree’s native range so that each species can be preserved in its home country.

While it’s rare for Christmas tree thieves to target priceless specimens from conservation projects, the theft of Christmas trees is not a new problem.

In a surprisingly similar case the Kinnoull Woodland Park theft last week, two valuable trees were swiped from <a href="http://www.cornellbotanicgardens.org/">Cornell Botanic Gardens</a> in 2014 – and it wasn’t the first time. 

"We know from past history that from around Thanksgiving to Christmas time, from time to time, we have trees stolen," gardener Phil Syphrit told <a href="http://ithacavoice.com/2014/12/grinches-steal-20-foot-white-spruce-christmas-tree-cornell-plantations/">The Ithaca Voice</a> at the time. 

One of the trees was a 20-foot spruce, and the other was a 3-foot red cedar. Syphrit believed the trees were stolen to serve as Christmas trees, he told the newspaper, and <a href="https://www.cornell.edu/">Cornell University</a> seemed to agree.

“[Cornell Botanic Gardens] collections have been carefully cultivated to provide visitors with a world class public garden experience.  When a tree or plant is lost to theft it is like losing a unique work of art,” a statement from the university read. “Please go to your local Christmas tree stand to purchase a tree that was harvested for this purpose.”

The same year, a Maine Christmas tree farm reported the theft of <a href="http://www.centralmaine.com/2014/12/14/christmas-trees-stolen-from-norridgewock-tree-farm/">more than 30 trees</a> over several days, and a club in Georgia that fundraises for children with illnesses and youth sports teams with a Christmas tree sale was the victim of a <a href="http://chronicle.augusta.com/news-metro-crime-courts/2016-10-18/community-assists-north-augusta-optimist-club-after-christmas">nearly 50-tree heist</a>.

Last year, a thief in Waterbury, Conn. made off with 10 trees from a lot at <a href="http://wtnh.com/2015/12/01/christmas-tree-theft-at-waterbury-school/">Saints Peter and Paul School</a> in two separate thefts. The stolen trees were intended for a school fundraiser. 

In most cases, though, these kinds of crimes rarely shatter the Christmas spirit. 

In the U.S., Christmas tree farms don’t report many thefts, said High Whaley, spokesman for the <a href="http://www.realchristmastrees.org/">National Christmas Tree Association</a>. There might be the occasional theft from a lot or a farm, he said, but the NCTA hasn’t heard of anything on a larger scale.

“It’s not a nationwide trend,” Whaley said.

Despite the availability of artificial Christmas trees, real trees are still very popular. The <a href="http://www.bctga.co.uk/">British Christmas Tree Growers Association</a> estimates that about 6 million trees are sold each Christmas season in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. In the U.S., 25.9 million real trees were sold in 2015, according to the National Christmas Tree Association, more than double the number of fake trees.

Not all wood poaching is for so innocent a reason as cutting down an evergreen to celebrate the Christmas season, however. In California and the Pacific Northwest, “burl poaching” has become a major problem in old growth redwood forests.

Burl poachers cut large portions out of the trunks of redwood trees, then sell the wood to furniture makers and other artisans. The swirls of the wood grain and large size of old-growth redwood burls make them particularly attractive to poachers. Cutting them out can badly damage a tree and sometimes lead to its death.

In 2015, four men were accused of illegally cutting down <a href="http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Feds-Music-wood-poachers-targeted-6427888.php">old-growth maple trees</a> in Washington state and using it to produce and sell high-priced musical instruments.

Officials estimate about 1,000 cords of wood or more are <a href="http://www.mercurynews.com/2014/02/03/wood-poaching-santa-cruz-mountains-little-known-but-widespread-crime/">illegally logged</a> in the Santa Cruz Mountains of California each year.

And illegal logging is a major cause of deforestation around the world. Illegal operations account for 80 percent of logging in Peru, 85 percent of logging in Myanmar, and nearly 65 percent in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, according to the <a href="http://www.worldwildlife.org/initiatives/stopping-illegal-logging">World Wildlife Fund</a>.

Some parks are taking unique approaches to combatting wood poaching. In 2014, the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/redw/">Redwood State and National Parks</a> in California gated one of the main roads through the park and began closing it each night, after several burl poaching incidents.

At the Kinnoull Woodland Park program, officials are now weighing the use of surveillance cameras to protect their trees.

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By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Grinch steals five rare 'Christmas' trees from Scottish park

This holiday season, a few families will be rockin’ around...

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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?

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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"

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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



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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...