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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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How does genome size impact evolutionary success?

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

A storm system that included as many as six tornadoes churned through southeastern Louisiana on Tuesday, injuring about 40 people. 

<a href="http://www.earth.com/news/gulf-waters-eating-away-at-small-towns-outside-of-new-orleans-levees-2/">New Orleans</a> East was hit particularly hard by the storms – quite a blow to an area that was previously devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. About 20 people were hurt there when an EF2-strength tornado touched down, tearing roofs off of houses and sending the New Orleans Police Department scrambling to assist with emergency response efforts.

The storm damaged <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/">NASA</a>’s Michoud Assembly Facility and the <a href="https://www.usda.gov/">USDA</a>’s National Finance Center’s Primary Business Center. There were only minor injuries among the people in those buildings. 

Brittany Ross lived in a trailer park in eastern New Orleans. When the storm hit, her trailer “started shaking, kind of twisting,” she told the <a href="https://www.ap.org/en-us/">Associated Press</a>. The wind lifted her home up before slamming it back down again. She and two others were able to crawl from the remains of the trailer and escape to safety. 

The six tornadoes prompted Louisiana governor John Bel Edwards to take an aerial tour of the damage. He also declared a state of disaster in order to provide relief to those affected. 

The storms also swept through Baton Rouge, damaging structures and causing minor injuries. Several homes were destroyed in Killian, a town just east of Baton Rouge. There, an elderly couple were injured, with one suffering a broken arm and the other one a broken leg. The town’s mayor, Craig McGehee, was amazed the couple survived.

“How you manage to get blown completely across the street with cinderblocks flying and no worse than a couple broken limbs — apparently the good Lord was looking after them,” he said. 

Quarter-sized hail fell in Little Rock Arkansas and high winds and waterspouts plagued the coast of northwest Florida as the storm moved eastward. Wind gusts up to 62 miles per hour were reported in Henning, Tennessee.

--

By Dawn Henderson, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Image: Max Becherer/<a href="http://bigstory.ap.org/01abe9849ed7468797cedd17ae1b3a7f">AP</a>

Six tornadoes tear through southeast Louisiana

A storm system that included as many as six tornadoes...

The bald eagle has been the U.S. national emblem for over 200 years, chosen because of its immense strength, majesty, and longevity. It’s understandable, then, that Americans become distressed at seeing one of these beautiful creatures harmed in any way. 

This was the case on Sunday when a photographer noticed a bald eagle with a leg hold trap attached to its foot.

Photographer Susan Boardman observed the bald eagle moving around on the ground in the woods in Bonneauville, Pennsylvania. She noticed that the bird seemed to be struggling before she saw the leg trap, which was attached to a long chain. Although it had trouble getting off the ground, the eagle managed to fly away, trap in tow. 

Leg hold traps are used to catch fur-bearing animals such as foxes, <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/grizzly-bear-wolves-dinner/">wolves</a>, raccoons, and bobcats. They are supposed to be placed in such a manner that the bait isn’t visible from the air. 

Wildlife rehabilitators and bird-welfare volunteers have sounded the alarm and are on the lookout for the unfortunate bird. Large birds of prey can be dangerous to people who aren’t trained in handling them, so experts urge caution to anyone who may spot the eagle. 

“There’s really not much the average person can do,” wildlife rehabilitator Wendy Ebersole told the<a href="http://www.yorkdispatch.com"> York Dispatch</a>. “Obviously, no one should try to handle the bird.”

She worries that if the bird can’t be located and the trap removed in a timely manner, the bird won’t survive. Eagles need the use of their talons in order to catch food, eat, and defend themselves from predators, she said.  

Boardman agrees. In an e-mail to the <a href="https://www.ap.org/en-us/">Associated Press</a>, she said, "Without intervention, this eagle will probably die. He can't hunt or fly high enough to get out of harm's way. It was heartbreaking to see him like this.”

--

By Dawn Henderson,<a href="http://earth.com"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Image: Susan Boardman, <a href="http://bigstory.ap.org/article/4631baf1ce3d4b21937637c05af0d381/concern-grows-bald-eagle-leg-trap-attached-foot">AP</a>

Wildlife experts concerned about bald eagle caught in leg trap

The bald eagle has been the U.S. national emblem for...

While everyone was at home watching TV on Friday night, the U.S. and Japan were shooting down a missile in space. Relax – no one was under attack. The joint effort was part of a missile block test for a $3.2 billion defense system designed to shoot down ballistic missiles. 

The test, carried out at around 10:30 p.m. off the coast of Kauai in Hawaii, was a success. The Aegis Missile Defense System and Standard Missile-3 Block IIA interceptor installed onboard the USS John Paul Jones was able to track, locate, and shoot down a ballistic missile, according to the<a href="https://www.mda.mil"> U.S. Missile Defense Agency</a> (MDA).

Friday’s test marked the third flight test of the SM-3 Block IIA guided missile. However, it was the first intercept test, as well as the first time such a missile was launched from an Aegis ship. The U.S. Navy also said this is the first intercept engagement using the Aegis Baseline 9.C2 (BMC 5.1) weapon system.

The U.S. and Japan have cooperated since 2006 on development of the Standard Missile-3. The MDA reports that America has invested $2.2. billion on the system and Japan has spent approximately $1 billion. 

The missile block test took place as tensions have escalated over North Korea’s <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/new-nuclear-reactor-design/">nuclear</a> weapons cache. U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis warned of an “effective and overwhelming” response should North Korea attack the U.S. or its allies. 

"Today's test demonstrates a critical milestone in the cooperative development of the SM-3 Block IIA missile," said MDA Director Vice Admiral  Jim Syring in a statement. 

”The missile, developed jointly by a Japanese and U.S. government and industry team, is vitally important to both our nations and will ultimately improve our ability to defend against increasing ballistic missile threats around the world.”

--

By Dawn Henderson,<a href="http://earth.com"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

U.S. and Japan conduct successful missile block test

While everyone was at home watching TV on Friday night,...

Cosmic rays sounds like something out of a Ziggy-Stardust-era David Bowie song, but they’re real. It also turns out that these radiation clouds that appear at high altitudes may be problematic for frequent airline travelers. 

Scientists have always known that people were exposed to some degree of radiation when they traveled by airplane. Things like cosmic rays and solar wind sometimes penetrate the magnetic field around the Earth, creating low levels of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/fukushima-radiation-levels-high/">radiation</a> through which air passengers soar when they fly. Levels of this radiation are higher in the polar regions, and longer flights subject passengers and crew to more radiation than shorter ones. 

How much radiation are we talking, here? Experts previously estimated that it would take a flight of approximately 12.5 hours to deliver as much radiation as a chest X-ray. That’s if the flight stays in the high latitudes and isn’t zipping past the polar regions or traveling when there are solar storms.

Meanwhile, they reported that mid-latitude flights take around 25 hours and flights around the equator take 100 hours to deliver the same amount of radiation.

New research has revealed that the levels in radiation clouds may be higher than scientists once thought, however.

W. Kent Tobiska and his team from<a href="http://www.spacewx.com"> Space Environment Technologies</a> ran tests that found surges in radiation level data that spiked as high as double what they had previously expected. He believes that radiation particle belts trapped in Earth’s magnetic field may sometimes “leak” and move into the Earth’s stratosphere. Flying through these particle clouds could cause the kinds of spikes seen in the research. 

If Tobiska’s theory is confirmed, scientists will need to find a way to identify the location of such clouds so that air crews can avoid them during flights. The team’s findings were published in the journal <a href="http://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/hub/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1542-7390/">Space Weather</a>. 

--
By Dawn Henderson, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Air travelers fly through radiation clouds, study shows

Cosmic rays sounds like something out of a Ziggy-Stardust-era David...

After the <a href="https://www.usa.gov/federal-agencies/u-s-department-of-agriculture">U.S. Department of Agriculture</a> pulled public animal welfare data from its website, the <a href="http://www.humanesociety.org">Humane Society of the United States</a> is threatening a lawsuit.

The government website had previously featured access to a public database of animal welfare records from circuses, zoos, research <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/lab-chip-costs-penny/">labs</a>, dog breeders, and other animal-related operations throughout the country. Potential dog adopters were able to access the website to check out individual dog breeders to ensure that they were purchasing from a facility that was free of violations. 

Now, all of that information has disappeared, available only via a request through the Freedom of Information Act. 

The Humane Society is fighting back. “We intend to sue them unless they take remedial action here,” Wayne Pacelle, the President and CEO of the Humane Society said in interview with<a href="http://www.apple.com"> TIME</a>. 

Animal rights advocates are concerned that without the public keeping an eye on violations, many breeders and animal handlers won’t be as concerned with compliance with animal welfare laws. The reason behind the removal of the information is concerning to animal rights organizations. 

“It’s going to impact every species of animals,” explained Elizabeth Oreck. She handles puppy mill initiatives for<a href="http://bestfriends.org"> Best Friends Animal Society</a>. “There shouldn’t be any reason to hide inspection reports for a dog breeding facility or a research lab. There shouldn’t be any need to keep from the public how many animals you have [in] your facility or whether or not you’re complying with care standards. That alone is a big red flag for everybody,” she said. 

The USDA cited “privacy rights” in a statement about the disappearance of the information. “APHIS is implementing actions to remove documents it posts on APHIS’ website involving the Horse Protection Act and the Animal Welfare Act that contain personal information,” it said. 

“Going forward, APHIS will remove from its website inspection reports, regulatory correspondence, research facility annual reports, and enforcement records that have not received final adjudication.”

Oreck says that the removal of the information has inspired advocates to fight even harder for animal welfare and safety. 

--

By Dawn Henderson, <a href="http://www.earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Claws out, Humane Society threatens suit over animal welfare data

After the U.S. Department of Agriculture pulled public animal welfare...

A leading association of hemp advocates is suing the<a href="https://www.dea.gov/index.shtml"> Drug Enforcement Administration</a> (DEA) over claims that the agency violated a court order when it started cracking down on products made with hemp in letters sent out last December.

For decades, cannabis has been illegal under U.S. federal law. However, regulation of cannabis has also lead to a crackdown on hemp, its non-psychoactive cousin. While the form of cannabis we traditionally know as marijuana has high (no pun intended) amounts of THC, industrial hemp has amounts of less than 0.3%. In other words, you could smoke a truckload of hemp and not get high.

Despite this, products like hemp seed and hemp seed oil remained illegal for years in the U.S. In 2004, the<a href="https://www.thehia.org"> Hemp Industries Association</a> (HIA) sued the DEA in a case that became known as the “Food Rules Challenge.” The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals sided with the HIA, ruling that hemp does not belong on the list of Schedule I controlled substances. In 2014, Congress passed a Farm Bill that gave permission for states to grow hemp under a special licensing program. 

Late last year, the DEA struck again, this time working with the<a href="https://www.nd.gov/ndda/"> North Dakota Department of Agriculture</a> (NDDA) to send correspondence to<a href="https://www.healthyoilseeds.com"> Healthy Oilseeds, LLC</a>. The company was informed that in order to ship their hemp protein powder and hemp seed oil products, they’d have to get a permit from the DEA.  

The HIA is fighting back, claiming that the DEA has overstepped its bounds, violating the intent of the Farm Bill, as well as the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016, which prevents authorities from using funds to stop the “transportation, processing, sale, or use of industrial hemp.” They have filed a Petition for Review with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

“It is disappointing that the industry has to revisit the issue, and take this step to compel DEA to obey the law,” said Joe Sandler, HIA’s lead counsel.

–

By Dawn Henderson,<a href="http://earth.com"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

After DEA letter, hemp advocates are hitting back

A leading association of hemp advocates is suing the Drug...

Bogus global warming data at the center of new debate. A whistleblower from the<a href="http://www.noaa.gov"> National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration</a> (NOAA) has released evidence claiming that the organization used manipulated data to influence world leaders ahead of the 2015 UN climate conference in Paris.

The paper released by NOAA denied any supposed “pause” in global warming since 1998 and instead reported that world temperatures had been rising at an unanticipated rate. 

It likely influenced top policymakers such as President Barack Obama and UK Prime Minister David Cameron when they met in Paris for the conference that year. There, world leaders came together to work on an agreement for their nations to cut back on the use of fossil fuel in an effort to prevent further warming. 

Both sets of data used to compile the report were flawed. One set focused on temperature measurements from the Earth’s surface, while the other measured the temperature at the surface of the seas. The latter set is so flawed that NOAA is calling for it to be replaced because it used unreliable methods that overstate temperatures levels and how quickly they are rising.

This information came to light when John Bates, a top scientist at NOAA, gave an exclusive interview to the<a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/ushome/index.html"> Daily Mail</a>. He objected to the publication of the Pausebuster paper, a report that he said was never subjected to NOAA’s typically-rigorous internal evaluation process. 

Bates accused Thomas Karl, the lead author of the paper, of “insisting on decisions and scientific choices that maximized warming and minimized documentation… in an effort to discredit the notion of a global warming pause.” Bates said Karl “rushed so that he could time publication to influence national and international deliberations on climate policy.”

For his part, Karl denies that the intention of publishing the Pausebuster data without putting it through further review was to influence lawmakers about to convene for the climate conference. “There was no discussion about Paris,” he said.

This scandal is sure to add fuel to the fire of the heated debate over the science behind climate change.

–

By Dawn Henderson,<a href="http://earth.com"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

World leaders swayed by bogus global warming data

Bogus global warming data at the center of new debate....

Recycle, recycle, recycle. We hear it all the time, but rarely note the repercussions of simply tossing items in the trash. Unfortunately, throwing away items like <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/beach-plastic-shampoo-bottles/">plastic</a> bags can have unintended consequences. Such was the case off the coast of Norway, where zoologists report finding a dying whale with a stomach full of plastic bags and other plastic waste. They believe that the contents of its digestive system were “probably the reason” the 2-ton goose-beaked whale fell ill. 

Plastic bags are an ecological nightmare – particularly for marine life. Sandwich bags and plastic food film are problematic, but marine biologists are alarmed over the danger that plastic shopping bags pose to a wide variety of sea creatures like the poor dying whale.

These thin, disposable bags are everywhere. Stores first started using them in the 1970s and today, more than 1 billion of them are used every day. According to the <a href="http://www.latimes.com/">Los Angeles Times</a>, they’re the most common piece of trash found littering California’s beaches.

Why is this a problem for marine creatures? A free-floating plastic bag is easily mistaken for food. In particular, the bags resemble jellyfish to hungry sea turtles. It’s an issue for more than just sea turtles, however – seabirds and whales such as the unfortunate one found in Norway are also affected. 

As plastic fills up the stomachs of sea turtles and other creatures, it leaves no room for food, causing the animal to slowly starve to death.

Terje Lislevand of the <a href="http://www.uib.no/en/node/36362">University of Bergen</a> told the <a href="https://www.ap.org/en-us/">Associated Press</a> that the whale "had no food, only some remnants of a squid's head in addition to a thin fat layer” in its intestine. The whale was suffering, beyond medical help, and had to be euthanized. 

In a report from the World Economic Forum, scientists warned that by 2050 there will be more plastic floating in our oceans than there is sea life. 

--
By Dawn Henderson, <a href="http://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Dying whale found with 30 plastic bags in its stomach

Recycle, recycle, recycle. We hear it all the time, but...

Officials insist that it’s necessary to prevent wild bison from spreading disease. Wildlife advocates decry it as misguided and unnecessary. As the two sides face off, a plan to slaughter hundreds of wild bison in <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/obama-moves-block-new-mining-near-yellowstone-national-park/">Yellowstone National Park </a>is moving forward. 

After two weeks of negotiations between the state of Montana, Yellowstone, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, all parties agreed to allow the plan, which will involve the slaughter of up to 1,300 of the 5,500 Yellowstone bison. The agreement spares 25 bison earmarked for the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, where conservationists are working to establish new herds. 

Proponents of the slaughter say that it’s a necessary part of a 16-year program developed to prevent bison from spreading brucellosis to cattle. Brucellosis, a disease that causes abortion in pregnant animals, only currently exists in among the wildlife in the Yellowstone area. It’s been eradicated throughout the rest of the nation. 

The bull bison selected for the repopulation program at Fort Peck will be quarantined and watched for disease for a year. Jody Lyle, a spokeswoman for Yellowstone, says that this is an important step in a program designed to choose disease-free bison for conservation efforts. 

Critics of the slaughter disagree. "Stop the slaughter, let them roam and manage them just like we do with elk, just like we do with deer, just like we do with other wildlife,” Stephany Seay of the Buffalo Field Campaign told the<a href="https://www.ap.org/en-us/"> Associated Press</a>. She suggests giving the Montana wildlife agency jurisdiction over wild bison. Currently, that power rests with the state’s livestock department. 

According to research, there have been no recorded instances of wild bison transmitting brucellosis to livestock. This is partly due to hunters shooting bison as the animals leave the park in search of food at lower elevations. More than 300 bison were killed this winter, and over 5,000 have been killed or captured since 1985. 

--
By Dawn Henderson,<a href="http://earth.com"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Yellowstone wild bison slaughter causes outcry

Officials insist that it’s necessary to prevent wild bison from...

When a <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/new-nuclear-reactor-design/">nuclear</a> catastrophe happens, scientists rely on robotic probes to give them an insider’s view of conditions at the site. Such is the case at Japan’s Fukushima nuclear plant. However, radiation levels are currently so high at the plant that even robotic welfare is being put in jeopardy. Why? They’ll melt. 

On March 11, 2001, a tsunami developed after an undersea earthquake shook the area off the coast of Fukushima. The giant wave killed more than 18,000 people and wiped out the nuclear plant there, sending three reactors into meltdown.

Since then, the Japanese government has worked hard to clear up the site, a process that it expects to cost as much as $190 billion and span decades. Part of the reason the cleanup is moving so slowly is the high radiation levels around the site.

Until recently, scientists at the Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO) used radiation-resistant robot probes with attached cameras to wander through reactors and monitor conditions. The robots are about two feet long and small enough to move through a 4-inch-wide pipe that leads into the reactor’s containment vessel.

Radiation levels are measured in seiverts per hour. Robot probes are made to withstand exposure levels up to 530 sieverts per hour – and levels inside one of the reactors have just hit that critical threshold. Robots sent in to operate at that exposure level will shut down within a mere two hours. 

Thankfully, TEPCO reports that the radiation is confined within the reactor and there are no leaks. They say that the high radiation levels are likely confined to a single point. This means that if a robot is moving around, it can likely continue to operate within the reactor – providing real hope for a continued monitoring and recovery process. 

--

By Dawn Henderson, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Fukushima radiation levels hit high, endangering robots

When a nuclear catastrophe happens, scientists rely on robotic probes...

The Women’s March on January 21 attracted hundreds of thousands of women around the world who, alarmed at the misogynistic language of the Trump campaign that preceded his election and inauguration, gathered to make their voices heard. Inspired by the power behind that event, supporters of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/science-advisor-trump/">science</a> are planning a similar one – a <a href="https://www.marchforscience.com">March for Science</a> in Washington D.C..

Planned for <a href="http://www.earthday.org/">Earth Day</a> on April 22, the March for Science will take Washington by storm. Only a week after it was announced, the movement’s Facebook and Twitter accounts have attracted over 1.3 supporters. 

Jonathan Berman, a postdoctoral fellow at the<a href="http://www.utexas.edu"> University of Texas</a>, worked to organize the march. He told the<a href="https://www.nytimes.com"> New York Times</a> that the march isn’t about political protest, but about holding decision makers in Washington accountable for listening to evidence. 

Berman said that when he first thought about the potential impact of a Scientists’ March on Washington, he “thought someone should do that – and I realized, I’m someone.” 

His idea quickly gained steam, garnering over 700,000 followers on social media within the first three days of its launch. Science writer and public health researcher Caroline Weinburg joined up with Berman. She says the response from supporters and volunteers has been “overwhelming” and “heartwarming.” 

This isn’t the first time scientists have gathered to speak out. A group of<a href="http://www.earth.com/news/womens-march-speak-trump/"> female scientists in lab coats</a> made waves and garnered huge support at the Women’s March.  

Although critics of the March for Science worry that it could garner negative attention and result in scientists losing their public support, organizers of the march remain undeterred. At the moment, their main problem isn’t support – it’s figuring out the logistics behind having thousands of people descend upon on the National Mall. 

--
By Dawn Henderson,<a href="http://earth.com"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

March for Science heads to Washington on Earth Day

The Women’s March on January 21 attracted hundreds of thousands...

<a href="http://www.earth.com/news/epa-volkswagen-intentionally-violates-clean-air-act/">Volkswagen</a> owners were left fuming a few years ago when they discovered that the car manufacturer had fitted emissions-cheating software to many of its diesel vehicles. They sued Volkswagen and auto supplier <a href="http://www.bosch.us/content/language1/html/2274.htm">Robert Bosch</a>, and now the defendants have reached a Dieselgate settlement and have agreed to pay out $1.22 billion and $327.5 million, respectively. 

The PR nightmare for Volkswagen began when it was discovered that for ten years, they had knowingly installed a “defeat device” that skewed its vehicles’ emissions readings whenever they were being tested. This came as the car company was proudly promoting the low emission levels of its lineup.

Volkswagen first tried to write the discovery off as testing “irregularities” before finally admitting that it installed improper software in more than 11 million of its vehicles. 

In the settlement, Volkswagen agrees to fix or buy back approximately 80,000 3.0 liter diesel-engine vehicles sold in the U.S. It’s faced with a potential payout of $4.04 billion if regulators don’t approve their bid to fix the vehicles affected. 

The settlement – which must be approved by a judge before moving forward – will compensate owners of 3.0 liter vehicles between $7,000 and $16,000 to fix their vehicles. If the fix affects a vehicle’s performance, VW will pay an additional $500. 

Meanwhile, the Bosch payout will pay $163.3 million to 2.0 liter vehicle owners and $113.3 million to 3.0 liter owners. Owners of 2.0 liter vehicles will receive $350 each, and individuals who own a 3.0 liter will each receive $1,500. 

Bosch denies any liability or wrongdoing in the scandal now known as “Dieselgate,” but it says that it settled in order to focus on the “transformation process” the company is now experiencing. 

The lead lawyer for the plaintiffs, Elizabeth Cabraser, said that the Dieselgate settlement will result in "substantial benefits to both consumers and the environment."

--

By Dawn Henderson,<a href="http://earth.com"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

VW and Bosch agree to $1.55 billion Dieselgate settlement

Volkswagen owners were left fuming a few years ago when...

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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How does salt makes things taste better?

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

[sendtonews key="e4ZG0Jawp3-2374785-12187" type="single"] Astronomers at Johns Hopkins University have created...

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

The history of Mars is much more complex than we thought

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research



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



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

Cavefish are healthy despite their sedentary lifestyle

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

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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites capture the world's biggest and fastest waves

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;



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

Satellites have become essential to our survival

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