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.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-ralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.



-----

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)...

Protesters at the Women's March in Washington DC showed up for a number of causes. Some went to show their support for women’s reproductive rights. Others marched to raise awareness about programs that fund domestic violence intervention. Some attended for their mothers, daughters, sisters, and themselves. Meanwhile, some marched for science. 

A group of researchers were greeted with enthusiasm from the crowd when they appeared at the Women's March on Saturday. Wearing white lab coats, they posed for photographs with supporters and spoke of their concerns about the impact that newly-elected President Trump could have on the scientific community as a whole. 

Among the female scientists was geoscientist Erin DiMaggio of <a href="http://www.psu.edu/">Pennsylvania State University</a>. She expressed alarm at the Trump administration “not supporting evidence-based anything,” according to <a href="http://nature.com">Nature</a>.

Protesters discussed their concerns about a variety of comments made by Trump, as well as promises he made while on the campaign trail. From worries about government policy on vaccinations to fears that anti-immigrant resolutions could quell international collaborations between scientific researchers, the march gave women a chance to make their voices heard.

Approximately 150 to 200 of the participants were with 500 Women Scientists, a group that was formed in November 2016 to network female <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/climate-scientists-save-data/">scientists</a>, as well as defend science and equality for women. “Our scientific work may be global,” the the organization’s website says, “yet we will take action in our own communities and we will work towards an inclusive society, where science and knowledge can be embraced and everyone has the opportunity to reach their potential.”

Female scientists demonstrated on other continents. A group of 95 people participated from the McMurdo Station in Antarctica. They marched from the US research base to Hut Point, the location where British explorer Sir Robert Scott set up camp with his team in the early 1900s. 

--
By Dawn Henderson, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Scientists show up to Women's March to protest Trump

Protesters at the Women's March in Washington DC showed up for...

From toxic waste due to manufacturing to improper disposal of smartphones, laptops, and other hardware, there’s plenty of reasons for people who love gadgets to feel guilty about their technology addiction. Fans of Apple products can breathe a tiny bit easier, however, as a new report has deemed it the most earth-friendly tech company for the third year in a row. 

The report comes from environmental group <a href="http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/">Greenpeace</a>, which has been rating technology companies on their energy performance since 2009. Apple, Google, and Facebook all signed eco-friendly pledges in 2012, promising to transition to 100% renewable energy. 

Apple has really put its money where its mouth is, planning a new headquarters that will be completely run with renewable energy. The Apple complex will have around 700,000 square feet of solar panels to help power it. 

Greenpeace applauded Apple not only for the changes that have been made within the tech giant itself, but also for encouraging other companies to make decisions in regards to their impact on the environment. Apple has “played a catalytic role within its IT supply chain, pushing other IT data center and cloud operators who help deliver pieces of Apple’s corner of the internet to follow their lead in powering their operations with renewable energy,” said the report. 

Despite encouraging others in the tech industry to join them in seeking out renewable energy resources, Apple received a B in the advocacy category of the Greenpeace report. They received high scores overall, however, with A’s in categories like energy transparency, energy efficiency, and renewable procurement. Its clean energy index lies at 56%. Greenpeace highlighted Apple and Google as companies that consistently match their growth with equivalent or larger supplies of renewable energy.

Another high on the Greenpeace list was data center company Switch. They received all A’s and have a 100% clean energy index. On the other end of the scoring spectrum was Netflix, which rated all D’s and F’s. 

--
By Dawn Henderson, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Apple rated as most eco-friendly tech company in the world

From toxic waste due to manufacturing to improper disposal of...

“Unfit for human contact” – that’s how China’s Ministry of Environmental Protection described 28% of the rivers in China according to a 2015 report in <a href="http://cen.acs.org/index.html">Chemical and Engineering News</a>. Now, the government is working to do something about it, including jailing executives of companies that pollute. 

Dystar, a Chinese textile firm, was fined $2.9 million for dumping 2,700 tons of untreated liquid acid into the Grand Canal between September 2013 and May 2014. As part of the criminal verdict, the court system also jailed some of Dystar’s key managers.

The company denies the charges, telling Chemical and Engineering News that “management has neither authorized nor tolerated the illegal disposal of waste material at any time.”

In May of 2014, authorities boarded a ship operated by Dystar and noted a chemical odor lingering about. It was, they said, the same chemical smell that they had noticed in the river.

The court said that Dystar’s actions had damaged the local environment “beyond measure,” as the waste had washed into local rivers. It polluted water in surrounding districts, and several water plants were forced to suspend production. The acid, a waste product common to textile and dye manufacturing plants, also caused severe, long-term damage to aquatic ecosystems in the area. 

The move by the court system is indicative of China’s ongoing push towards improving environmental protections including air quality. Smog has long been a problem there, and the government is working to combat it through controlling things such as garbage incineration and open-air barbecues.

Besides cracking down on air pollution and environmental crime, the government of China is also working to transition the country from coal – a primary energy source – to cleaner fuel sources. In fact, China is investing $361 billion into renewable energy, working towards a 2020 goal. 

--

By Dawn Henderson, <a href="http://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

&nbsp;

China fines company, jails execs for dumping acid in river

“Unfit for human contact” – that’s how China’s Ministry of...

Waste-to-energy plants come under fire from environmentalists. Certain kinds of waste are impossible to reuse or recycle, and waste disposal companies like Covanta say that incineration is the best way to get rid of this refuse. Burning the waste is a wonderful way to turn trash into treasure and is a great source of renewable energy, proponents say. Opponents disagree, pointing to air pollution and fire dangers as a reason that waste-to-energy plants are a bad idea. 

These kinds of plants are more common in <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/aurochs-extinct-supercow-coming-back/">Europe</a>, but aren’t seen as widely in the U.S. The state of Maryland is home to a number of waste-to-energy facilities. One of those plants – the Montgomery County Resource Recovery Facility – was the site of a fire on December 8.

Covanta, which owns the plant, is now the subject of complaints alleging that they didn’t take proper safety precautions or properly evaluate hazards at the facility. The fire burned for 11 days and some firefighters required medical intervention after working to put the fire out. Covanta disputes the allegations that conditions at the facility were at fault for the fire. 

Another reason that waste-to-energy facilities are coming under fire is that they release nitrogen oxide (NOx). Baltimore-area environmental groups say that incinerators in the area are to blame for the elevated ground-ozone levels in the city. They suggest that nearly 80% of the refuse burned at a nearby facility owned by Baltimore Refuse Energy Systems Co. can be composted or recycled.

In an interview with<a href="https://www.baltimorebrew.com"> BaltimoreBrew</a>, Covanta’s chief sustainability officer Paul Gilman said that waste-to-energy programs are responsible for helping companies like Subaru and American Airlines achieve zero waste to landfill numbers. Program proponents point to<a href="https://www.epa.gov"> EPA</a> data indicating that burning waste generates less greenhouse gases than dumping it in landfills.

The global waste-to-energy market has surged in the past few years. Numbers were at $25.3 billion in 2013 and are expected to reach $43.96 billion by 2024. 

–

By Dawn Henderson,<a href="http://earth.com"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Environmental groups fired up over waste-to-energy plants

Waste-to-energy plants come under fire from environmentalists. Certain kinds of...

Climate scientists leap into action as <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/president-trump-takes-action/">President Donald Trump’s</a> administration has taken office. They’re working hard to save data gathered through years of taxpayer-funded research into climate change. 

Scientists fear the Trump team will potentially purge climate change data stored on government sites and databases. In addition to this, they expect to see budget cuts to various scientific and research programs within the<a href="https://energy.gov"> Department of Energy</a>,<a href="https://www.nasa.gov"> NASA</a>,<a href="http://www.noaa.gov"> NOAA</a>, and the<a href="https://www.usgs.gov"> United States Geological Survey</a>.

Experts are concerned that if they don’t take action, the data could be lost, destroyed, put into deep storage, or degrade in quality as the agencies that maintain them lose funding. Even if the information still exists, climate <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/leopards-roommates-scientists/">scientists</a> worry that it could become difficult or impossible for them to access.  

Furthering scientists’ concerns are what happened on the official White House website on Friday. Immediately after Donald Trump took office, all references to climate change and global warming disappeared from the site. 

The Trump administration replaced the pages that referenced climate change science with information about the administration’s plans to boost the fossil fuel industry by lessening regulations and increasing development, as well as opening up public lands to mining and drilling.

All of this flies in the face of a large community of defense experts and military leaders who suggest that climate change research is crucial to America’s national security. 

In a 2014 report titled “<a href="https://www.cna.org/cna_files/pdf/MAB_5-8-14.pdf">National Security and the Accelerating Risks of Climate Change</a>,” the <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/israeli-desert-military-site/">Military</a> Advisory Board called for “cooperation and change” around issues of climate change. The report said that impacts from climate change “are already accelerating instability in vulnerable areas of the world and are serving as catalysts for conflict.” 

From dealing with global conflict to predicting the weather and discovering ways to better grow crops, a wide range of experts agree that climate change data is a valuable tool in America’s military and economic power.

–

By Dawn Henderson,<a href="http://earth.com"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

As Trump takes office, climate scientists rush to save data

Climate scientists leap into action as President Donald Trump’s administration...

In a<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcone"> BBC1</a> interview with journalist Andrew Marr, British Prime Minister Theresa May refused to comment on whether or not she knew about the malfunction of a Trident nuclear deterrent missile in June.

The incident involved an unarmed <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/us-air-force-ignored-climate-change-warnings-at-space-fence-radar-site/">Trident II D5 missile</a> that veered off course after it was fired from a British submarine last summer. The submarine was off the coast of Florida. Rather than heading for its intended target off the west coast of Africa, the missile headed towards the U.S. When working correctly, the system serves as a nuclear deterrent.

Last summer, May engaged in a parliamentary debate on the renewal of Britain’s nuclear deterrent – during which she made no mention of the incident. She caused controversy during the debate when she indicated that she would sign off on a nuclear strike capable of killing 100,000 people.

After news of the test malfunction became widely known, the Labour and Scottish National Party have begun asking why May failed to mention it.

Pressed on the issue during an appearance on <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/10-movies-showcase-wild-world/">BBC1’s </a>Andrew Marr Show, May refused to comment on whether she knew about the test during the debate.

“There are tests that take place all the time, regularly, for our nuclear deterrents. What we were talking about in that debate that took place was about the future,” she said.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn expressed concern over why May chose not to discuss the incident with Parliament.

“It’s a pretty catastrophic error when a missile goes in the wrong direction and whilst it wasn’t armed, goodness knows what the consequences of that could have been,” he said to<a href="http://news.sky.com"> Sky News</a>. “I think we need a serious discussion about that.”

Because these types of tests are incredibly rare and missiles are extremely expensive – around £17m – a failure of this kind is a significant event.

–

By Dawn Henderson,<a href="http://earth.com"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

UK refuses to comment on Florida missile malfunction

In a BBC1 interview with journalist Andrew Marr, British Prime...

The evening after being inaugurated, President Trump went to work signing executive actions addressing the economic burden of the Affordable Care Act. 

The executive order was titled “Minimizing the Economic Burden Of The Patient Protection And Affordable Care Act Pending Repeal” and was intended to create more flexibility for states, health insurance companies, hospitals, medical device manufacturers, and patients as Congress works to repeal the healthcare law. The order used very general language, leaving much to interpretation.

The memo regarding regulation freezes orders all governmental agencies not to publish any new regulations until Trump cabinet members can approve and sign off on them. As of Thursday, only two of Trump’s 15 cabinet nominees had been granted Congressional approval. Matters involving issues such as health, safety, financial, or national security can be granted exceptions from the current administration. 

Such regulatory freezes are not unusual. A similar memo was sent by the Obama administration, as well as the administrations of Presidents George W. Bush, Ronald Reagan, and Jimmy Carter.  

Meanwhile, Vice President Mike Pence swore in James Mattis as the new Secretary of Defense and John Kelly as Homeland Security Secretary.

Regulatory changes weren’t the only ones afoot. The<a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov"> White House website</a> immediately changed from the <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/obama-clean-energy-irreversible/">Obama</a> administration to reflect the incoming Trump team. Under the Presidential Records Act, the National Archives and Records Administration will archive the Obama site.

The new Trump website reflected a variety of President Trump's campaign positions and promises – from renegotiating trade deals and increasing cyber warfare capabilities.

Although some pages that had existed on the Obama site disappeared entirely, some pages remained. Those included ethics pledge wavers, financial disclosures, and staff salaries, among others. The “We the People” petition website also remained. The first petition filed on the site was a request for Trump to release his tax returns. Only time will tell what this action means for the <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/current-energy-systems-shuttered-paris-agreement-goals/">Paris Agreement</a>.

–

By Dawn Henderson,<a href="http://earth.com"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

&nbsp;

President Trump takes action on Obamacare, regulation freeze and confirmations

The evening after being inaugurated, President Trump went to work...

Apples turn brown within a short time of being sliced open. This has been a frustrating fact of life for as long as anyone can remember. However, the newly designed GMO apples are about to change fruit salad as we know it. Scientists have created an apple that won’t turn brown if it’s cut or damaged. 

When an apple’s insides are exposed to air, it sets in motion a process called oxidative browning. This is caused by an enzyme known as polyphenol oxidase (PPO). Most varieties of apples have a gene that’s responsible for manufacturing PPO.

That’s what makes the Arctic Apple different. Canadian scientists have modified its genetics to silence the gene that makes PPO.

The process of creating the new GMO apples involved introducing new genes into apple leaf tissue. They then grew the tissue into plantlets and grafted it onto rootstock, creating plants that can be planted grown just like regular apple trees.

The Arctic Apple won’t be the only one hitting store shelves soon. <a href="http://www.okspecialtyfruits.com">Okanagan Specialty Fruits</a>, the company behind this development, has also created three other non-browning varieties. The Arctic Granny, Arctic Golden, and Arctic Fuji have also been approved for sale in the U.S. and Canada. 

Many people avoid purchasing apples that look discolored. Okanagan founder Neal Carter said that the new apples will be a boon to growers who have to dispose of large amounts of damaged fruit each year due to browning caused by bruising. 

Customers who are concerned about the sale of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/new-device-will-hunt-gmos-that-escape-into-the-environment/">GMO foods</a> can breathe a sigh of relief, as the apples will be marked with a QR scanning code. The code will identify them as GMO and allow customers to find out additional information about them. 

–

By Dawn Henderson, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

New GMO apples won’t turn brown after you bite ‘em

Apples turn brown within a short time of being sliced...

The end of the earth is a constant plot point for Science fiction movies however scientists have their theories about the possible ways tour planet could meet its maker. It may come as a surprise that <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/migratory-geese-climate-change/">climate change</a> and <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/nuscale-power-designs-nuclear-reactor/">nuclear</a> annihilation aren’t among them. In fact, according to Daniel Brown, lecturer in astronomy at<a href="https://www.ntu.ac.uk"> Nottingham Trent University</a>, the dangers don’t come from anything on our planet – they come from outer space.

While the sun is an important part of life on earth, it’s also one of our greatest threats. This is because it creates sunspots – strong magnetic fields – as well as streams of radiation and particles. Luckily, Earth’s magnetic field keeps the sun in check. However, a magnetic solar storm on par with the 1859<a href="http://www.swsc-journal.org/articles/swsc/pdf/2013/01/swsc130015.pdf"> Carrington Event</a> could completely wipe out the electronic equipment around which our lives revolve. 

The next concern is asteroids. We’ve repeatedly seen it as the plot of Hollywood movies: a giant asteroid is heading for planet Earth. In reality, there are asteroids floating around that could pose a real threat. Just like in the movies, scientists are working on designing systems to protect our planet against the smaller ones. However, if a big one hits, humanity can say goodbye. 

As the sun ages, it grows larger and cooler. In time, scientists expect it to completely engulf Venus, as well as Mercury. As it does this, it will create a solar wind that will slow Earth’s movement. Eventually, our planet will melt as it’s engulfed by the outer layers of the sun. Don’t worry, though – that event is roughly 7.59 billion years away. 

Gamma ray bursts are caused when two stars orbit a common center (binary star systems) or when stars explode (supernovas). No matter the cause, they’re bad news because the radiation emitted from a gamma ray burst can destroy our ozone layer. 

As discussed above, supernovas emit massive amounts of radiation. This becomes a concern if a large star like Betelgeuse meets its end while within 50 light years of us. 

Finally, Brown suggests that a moving star might divert one of the rocks that float near the edge of the solar system, sending it careening into planet Earth creating the end of the earth.

–

By Dawn Henderson,<a href="http://earth.com"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: Daniel Brown,<a href="https://www.ntu.ac.uk"> Nottingham Trent University</a>

The end of the earth as we know it! Fears from space

The end of the earth is a constant plot point...

In previews of the film, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1753383/">A Dog’s Purpose</a> promises to be a tear-jerker, telling the story of a loving canine who is reborn again and again as he learns and seeks out his purpose in this world. But a recently-released behind-the-scenes video has outraged pet lovers and animal rights activists due to alleged animal cruelty.

In the video, an animal trainer on the <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/animal-abuse-allegations-hollywood/">set of the film</a> pushes a frightened German Shepherd into a pool of churning water. A voice can be heard off camera telling the trainer,  “He ain’t gonna calm down ‘til he goes in the water. Just got to throw him in.” The dog frantically tries to claw its way back up the side of the pool to no avail.

The video is edited and cuts to another part in which the dog, immersed and struggling to keep its head above the turbulent water, suddenly goes under. A voice yells, “Cut it!” as onlookers rush towards the edge of the pool.

<a href="http://www.peta.org/">PETA</a> is calling for a boycott of the film “in order to send the message that dogs and other animals should be treated humanely, not as movie props."

The <a href="https://www.americanhumane.org">American Humane Society</a>, which had a representative present on the set of the film, told the <a href="https://www.ap.org/en-us/">Associated Press</a> that they are hiring an independent investigator to look into the alleged animal cruelty incident. They have put the representative who was involved with the film on administrative leave.

Director Lasse Halström said on Twitter that while he did not witness the incident, he was “disturbed by the video” that was released.

“We were all committed to providing a loving and safe environment for all the animals in the film,” he tweeted. “I have been promised that a thorough investigation into this situation is underway and that any wrongdoing will be reported and punished.”

--

By Dawn Henderson, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Animal cruelty video sparks calls to boycott ‘A Dog’s Purpose’

In previews of the film, A Dog’s Purpose promises to...

Thirty people are missing and feared to be dead after <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/earthquake-research-italy/">earthquakes</a> caused an avalanche that buried a hotel high in the mountains of central Italy on Wednesday night. The Italian avalanche has left emergency services scrambling.

The four-story Hotel Rigopiano is located in the town of Farindola. The town sits in Abruzzo, a region in central Italy that was shaken by four earthquakes that hit in quick succession and measured as high as 5.7 in magnitude.

Emergency personnel have been working to get to the hotel, fighting their way through snow-covered roads in order to join rescue efforts started by local alpine rescue squads. Those teams were able to use skis to access the hotel, which they reported was eerily silent as they approached it.

So far, rescuers have recovered three bodies. Antonio Crocetta, the head of a mountain rescue squad told Italian news agency<a href="http://www.ansa.it/english/"> ANSA</a> that “there are many dead.” Italy’s national fire brigades have begun dropping rescuers in via helicopter.

Meanwhile, the people who have been found alive are telling of their narrow escapes.

Giampiero Parete says that he only survived because he went outside to retrieve something from his car. Another survivor, Fabio Salzetta, managed to escape the building along with a maintenance worker but knew that others remained trapped and that the avalanche had knocked down some walls of the hotel.

Some people are criticizing the emergency response after the avalanche hit. Restaurant owner Quintino Marcella says that his calls to emergency personnel were met with confusion and skepticism. Marcella had received a frantic call from one of his chefs who had been vacationing at the hotel with his family. The chef escaped, but his wife and kids remained trapped inside.

Hotel Rigopiano is located approximately 90 kilometers from Montereale, where a series of earthquakes killed almost 300 people in August. We are still waiting to hear how many people this Italian avalanche has affected.

–

By Dawn Henderson,<a href="http://earth.com"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

People missing, feared dead, after Italian avalanche hits hotel

Thirty people are missing and feared to be dead after...

Male <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/baboon-ancient-human-speech/">baboons</a> may resort to murder in order to reproduce faster 

Male baboons are so determined to sow their wild oats that they may consider bloodthirsty measures, a new study reveals.

When faced with a group that consists of low numbers of fertile females, male baboons resort to violence – killing infant baboons sired by other males, as well as attacking pregnant females in an attempt to cause them to miscarry. 

This behavior helps ensure that the male will be able to sire its own offspring while preventing successful reproduction by other males in the group. It’s the baboons’ way of trying to “survive and reproduce,” said study author Matthew Zipple of<a href="https://www.duke.edu"> Duke University</a>. 

Male baboons typically engage in this type of violent behavior in situations where they have few opportunities to mate. Low populations of fertile females can be caused by food shortages, among other factors.

"When reproductive opportunities abound, this behavior is less frequent,” Zipple said.

The study was published in the journal<a href="http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org"> Proceedings of the Royal Society B</a>. It came about after researchers, while looking through baboon census records, noticed an increase in infant deaths shortly after a new male was introduced to the group. The deaths were only limited to infants; the numbers did not reflect similar statistics amongst one- and two-year-old baboons.

While past studies have shown that animals such as <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/study-trophy-hunting-lions-can-save-species/">lions</a>, dolphins, and <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/ticklish-rats-researchers-tickeled-pink/">rodents </a>also commit infanticide, this data helps back theories about why these killings occur. Researchers believe that when a male baboon kills an infant or a fetus, it shortens the time they must wait to mate with the mother.

If a mother baboon gives birth to a baby, it takes at least a year for her to be ready to reproduce again. If that baby dies as a fetus or infant, she can be ready in a mere 41 days.

–

By Dawn Henderson,<a href="http://earth.com"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: Matthew Zipple,<a href="https://www.duke.edu"> Duke University</a>

Male baboons will kill to reproduce faster

Male baboons may resort to murder in order to reproduce...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="0ynNMYkMKa-2340414-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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

[sendtonews key="0ynNMYkMKa-2340414-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="G9bUoxcjr4-2511624-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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

[sendtonews key="G9bUoxcjr4-2511624-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="3upvlAaHgO-2256633-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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

[sendtonews key="3upvlAaHgO-2256633-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="LvS8v8bp9z-2564889-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="X0f6OHYoI4-2310561-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="JRaP49ISmm-2357509-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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

[sendtonews key="JRaP49ISmm-2357509-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="e4ZG0Jawp3-2374785-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="uV9Lh2fQbV-1760058-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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"

[sendtonews key="uV9Lh2fQbV-1760058-12187" type="single"] Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky" Today’s...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="qjvhBOBnY8-2426650-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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

[sendtonews key="qjvhBOBnY8-2426650-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="oL4FnPTGCV-2384527-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

[sendtonews key="oL4FnPTGCV-2384527-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="0879czfG3k-1785905-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

[sendtonews key="0879czfG3k-1785905-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from NASA...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="6HyfrAJTBI-1831843-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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

Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="QIoVYJqRBi-2434608-12187" type="single"]</div>



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)



---



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="JbW4VsY53O-1632195-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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

[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



---



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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="qARzJPSabQ-2270617-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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



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

Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

[sendtonews key="qARzJPSabQ-2270617-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="qas3EhyI0Y-2220951-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="vpljfR2VBX-2560867-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="MHyhtebibJ-2200368-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="761m2QQvR1-2035772-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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...