Is there only one ideal configuration an organism can achieve through evolution? Can a single mathematical formula predict the trajectory toward this optimal state?&nbsp;



A team of researchers, including scientists from the <a href="https://ista.ac.at/en/home/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Institute of Science and Technology Austria</a> (ISTA), has tackled these fundamental questions. The findings suggest that evolution may have had multiple optimal solutions at its disposal.



Their mathematical model forecasts the ideal body plan of a fruit fly embryo, offering new insights into how evolution optimizes biological processes.&nbsp;



The results indicate that rather than following a single trajectory, evolution might allow for multiple optimal solutions, depending on the constraints and conditions under which an organism <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/discovery-evolution-not-random-gene-families-pangenome-influence-called-revolutionary/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">evolves</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-optimization-in-evolution-a-universal-principle">Optimization in evolution: A universal principle?</h2>



The principle of optimization is often seen as nature’s guiding force, driving systems toward minimal energy consumption, maximum efficiency, or highest fitness.&nbsp;



Whether in whale pods, cellular collectives, or ecosystems, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/lifes-rules-natural-selection-change-significantly-often-daphnia/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">natural selection</a> appears to favor structures that operate close to peak efficiency.



One area where this principle might be particularly relevant is the development of animal embryos. From a small cluster of cells to a fully developed organism, embryonic growth has likely been fine-tuned over millions of years. However, until now, no precise mathematical model had successfully predicted the optimal embryonic structure.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-evolution-allows-for-multiple-solutions-nbsp">Evolution allows for multiple solutions&nbsp;</h2>



Researchers from ISTA, the <a href="https://fias.institute/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies</a>, and <a href="https://www.princeton.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Princeton University </a>have now developed such a model.&nbsp;



The study, nearly two decades in the making, presents a theoretical framework for understanding the gene-regulation network that controls early developmental processes in fruit flies.



"Adaptation can be seen as an optimization process, or at least as a process that requires optimization of certain traits and functions," explained Thomas Sokolowski, a scientist at ISTA and the study’s first author.



Unlike physical systems, where optimization typically leads to a single, lowest-energy state, biological systems seem to allow for multiple optimal solutions.&nbsp;



The evolution of eyes is a classic example: although they evolved independently in multiple species, their overall structure remains remarkably similar due to the fundamental requirement of maximizing light absorption and neural encoding.



“Eyes were optimized for the same well-defined objective function, which is maximal uptake of light and its encoding into neural spikes. They are therefore strongly dictated by the laws of physics,” Sokolowski explained. “Nuanced differences between animals may be explained by differences in the side circumstances under which they evolved.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-many-paths-to-success">Many paths to success</h2>



The same principle appears to apply to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/embryo-formation-is-shaped-by-electric-fields/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">embryonic development</a>. Different evolutionary strategies have emerged, yet they all lead to the same highly precise and reproducible body plan. The challenge lies in identifying which selective pressures drove the optimization process.



“It is increasingly clear how an embryo develops, but it is not clear which mathematical function guides the system to come together,” Sokolowski noted. “It’s like finding a mathematical needle in a biological haystack.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-fruit-fly-as-a-model-organism">The fruit fly as a model organism</h2>



The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fruit-flies-have-a-new-weapon-to-defend-against-parasitic-wasps/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fruit fly</a> (Drosophila melanogaster) has long been a cornerstone of biological research. The 1995 Nobel Prize-winning work of Eric Wieschaus, Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard, and Edward B. Lewis identified the genes crucial for fly development, particularly gap genes and morphogen gradients that regulate embryogenesis.



The gap gene network functions like a genetic positioning system (GPS), determining cell fate along the embryo’s head-to-tail axis.&nbsp;



The precise activation levels of these genes form a highly accurate positional code, giving each cell exact information about its location within the embryo.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-decades-of-research">Decades of research</h2>



The new study builds on 20 years of work by scientists such as William Bialek, Gašper Tkačik, Curtis Callan, Aleksandra Walczak, and Thomas Gregor.&nbsp;



The team's earlier research suggested that the gap gene network is optimized to provide high positional accuracy using minimal signaling molecules - similar to how a GPS system functions efficiently with fewer satellites.



The goal was to define a mathematical function that explains this phenomenon. Initially, researchers explored simplified theoretical models that incorporated only parts of the gap gene regulatory mechanisms. These early models were limited but paved the way for a more comprehensive approach.



“Our early work showed that it was possible to obtain nontrivial and originally unexpected predictions for gene regulatory interactions by optimizing them for maximal information throughput under realistic biophysical and molecular resource constraints,” Tkačik explained.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-modeling-gene-expression-patterns">Modeling gene expression patterns</h2>



Building on this foundation, Sokolowski and colleagues developed detailed stochastic models, incorporating the randomness that occurs in real biological systems.&nbsp;



When Sokolowski joined Tkačik’s group at ISTA in 2014, they combined optimization techniques with spatial-stochastic modeling, creating a realistic yet computationally efficient simulation of gap gene interactions.



Initially, their model featured just two genes but was later expanded to include the full set of four gap genes and three morphogen gradients. The resulting optimized networks closely matched the actual gene expression patterns observed in real fruit fly embryos.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-multiple-paths-to-evolutionary-optimization">Multiple paths to evolutionary optimization</h2>



One of the study’s most significant findings is that there is more than one way to achieve optimal positional encoding in the gap gene network. While only a small subset of all possible genetic configurations are truly optimal, even within this subset, significant variability exists.



“We believe this is not a detriment, but an advantage for evolution, as the same fitness can be potentially reached by many imaginable evolutionary paths,” Sokolowski explained.



The findings suggest that while fruit flies followed one particular evolutionary trajectory, many alternative pathways could have led to equally viable organisms. This flexibility increases the likelihood that evolution can select for functional adaptations, even in changing environments.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-modeling-evolution-beyond-optimal-solutions">Modeling evolution beyond optimal solutions</h2>



Despite the success of their optimization-based approach, the researchers acknowledge that a full understanding of embryonic evolution will require additional modeling.&nbsp;



Future studies must account for environmental influences, natural selection mechanisms, and genetic constraints to build a more accurate picture of how evolution shapes functional body plans.



The team’s work represents a major step forward in theoretical biology, providing a mathematical framework that helps explain how embryos develop and why evolution selects for specific genetic configurations. 



The findings could also offer insights into other biological systems where optimization plays a role.



By demonstrating that multiple optimal solutions exist in evolution, the research challenges traditional views of a single evolutionary path, highlighting the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/microfossils-reveal-a-leap-in-lifes-complexity-2-4-billion-years-ago/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">complexity</a> and adaptability of life’s developmental processes.



The study is published in the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2402925121" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a> (PNAS).



-----



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Evolution’s many solutions: Nature finds multiple paths to success

Is there only one ideal configuration an organism can achieve through evolution? Can a single mathematical formula predict the trajectory toward this optimal state?&nbsp; A team of researchers, including scientists from the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), has tackled these fundamental questions. The findings suggest that evolution may have had multiple optimal solutions at its disposal. Their mathematical model forecasts the ideal body plan of a fruit fly embryo, offering new insights into how evolution optimizes biological processes.&nbsp; The results indicate that rather than following...

As Americans celebrate Thanksgiving this year, it’s time to put aside our worries for a day and remember that we have a lot to be grateful for – including these five incredible scientific breakthroughs that taught us more about the planet we all live on. Happy Thanksgiving:
<ol>
 	<li><a href="http://www.earth.com/video/images-photosynthesis-action/">Scientists capture images of photosynthesis in action</a>: Humans have known about photosynthesis – the process through which plants use light, air and the nutrients absorbed from the soil to create their own food – for a while. We don’t really understand how it works, though. Now, scientists are using ultrafast X-ray lasers to get a better picture of the process, and their results could lead to cleaner, more plentiful fuel sources.</li>
</ol>
<ol start="2">
 	<li> Researchers investigate alternative sources of fuel: Scientists at the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory may have discovered a way to <a href="http://www.earth.com/video/scientists-sewage-future-biofuel/">turn sewage into biofuel</a> using a process called hydrothermal liquefaction. Meanwhile, researchers at Tel Aviv University believe they’ve figured out how <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/algae-may-soon-be-a-source-of-clean-energy/">microalgae produces hydrogen</a>, the first step in increasing its output of this clean fuel source.</li>
</ol>
<ol start="3">
 	<li><a href="http://www.earth.com/news/asteroid-impacts-responsible-life-earth/">Asteroid impacts may be responsible for seeding life on Earth</a>: A group of researchers studying the effects of an asteroid suspected wiping out the dinosaurs 66 million years ago made a surprising discovery. The asteroid impact caused some changes in surrounding rock that might explain how much earlier asteroids created conditions for life to take hold on Earth.</li>
</ol>
<ol start="4">
 	<li><a href="http://www.earth.com/news/human-occupation-actually-improves-some-environments/">Human occupation actually improves some environments</a>: While scientists normally seek to minimize the human impact on the environment, from litter to greenhouse gas emissions, some ecosystems have actually benefited from human residents. One of these is the temperate rainforest along the coast of British Columbia, which benefited from First Nations people living there.</li>
</ol>
<ol start="5">
 	<li><a href="http://www.earth.com/news/study-eco-friendly-wines-taste-better/">Study: Eco-friendly wines taste better</a>: A study at the University of California, Los Angeles, found that wines grown by “eco-friendly” vintners got better reviews from wine experts in blind taste-tests. They’re also often cheaper to produce, the study found.</li>
</ol>
---

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

5 Earth stories we were grateful for in 2016

As Americans celebrate Thanksgiving this year, it’s time to put...

Scientists can now get a very close look at how plants make oxygen using water molecules, thanks to an international team of researchers.

Led by Dr. Johannes Messinger from <a href="http://www.umu.se/english">Umea University</a> in Sweden, the scientists used experimental molecular studies to produce high-resolution images of photosystem II, a protein complex in the light-dependent reactions of the process of photosynthesis.

The images will allow researchers to take a close look at the step-by-step conversion of two water molecules into one oxygen molecule that takes place during this part of photosynthesis, Messinger said.

Plants play a large role in mitigating the effects of climate change, according to the researchers. In addition to absorbing atmospheric carbon from the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide, plants also convert water molecules into oxygen and hydrogen.

If humans can learn how plants split water molecules, they can do the same, providing more oxygen in the atmosphere and hydrogen as a cleaner source of energy than carbon-based fuels, Messinger said.

The visualization of the plants’ process was created with the help of the X-ray free electron laser at Stanford University’s <a href="https://www6.slac.stanford.edu/">SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory</a>.

The team grew microcrystals of the photosystem II protein, then placed them on a conveyor belt. The laser was used to stimulate the crystals similar to sunlight and jumpstart the water splitting process. 

The crystals were then hit with superfast X-ray pulses to visualize them. The study describes how the scientists were able to use the data gathered during this experiment to produce high-resolution images showing the structural differences in the photosystem II protein at different stages of the water splitting process.

Messinger has since joined the Molecular Biometrics Programme at <a href="https://www.uu.se/en/">Uppsala University</a>.

—

Researchers on verge of solving how plants make oxygen

Scientists can now get a very close look at how...

The Brazilian free-tailed bat is the fastest flyer of all aviators. 

There is a brand-new world-record holder for fastest speed of horizontal flight in the animal kingdom: the noble title previously had been held by the common swift, which flies up to 100 kilometers per hour. But scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology in Radolfzell have learned that the Brazilian free-tailed bat can fly up to 160 kilometers per hour, due in large part to an especially aerodynamic body shape and long wings.

Honorable mention goes to peregrine falcon, reaching up to 300 kph while diving. Comparatively, modern aircrafts have to reach 300 kilometers per hour in order to take off.

Bats are typically considered to be slower flyers because of their less efficient wing structure; animals with wider wings generate greater wind resistance than those with long, narrow wings. Against all odds, the Brazilian free-tailed bat still finished first.

Kamran Safi from the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology noted, “Initially, we could hardly believe our data, but they were correct: at times, the female bats, which weigh between 11 and 12 grams, flew at speeds of over 160 kilometres per hour – a new record for horizontal flight.”

The speeds were recorded through a radio transmitter attached to the back of the bat that falls off after two days. Added Dina Dechman of the Planck Institute, "It was not easy for the pilot to follow the fast-flying animals so that we could localize them accurately and measure their flight path continuously.”

---

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Brazilian free-tailed bat flies at breakneck speeds

The Brazilian free-tailed bat is the fastest flyer of all...

During the past 200 years, the human population exploded – a new animation from the <a href="http://www.amnh.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">American Museum of Natural History</a> aims to show just what that looks like.

The animation, posted on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUwmA3Q0_OE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">YouTube</a>, follows humanity from Africa as it spreads around the world. Then, beginning in 1 A.D., the video shows the rises (and very rare falls) in human population across the globe.

The population in 1 A.D. was 170 million; today, it’s 7.2 billion, according to the museum, which worked with <a href="http://www.populationconnection.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Population Connection</a>, the <a href="https://esa.un.org/unpd/wpp/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">U.N.’s World Population Prospects</a>, <a href="http://www.worldometers.info/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Worldometers</a> and <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NASA</a> on the project. 

As it follows the population explosion, the American Museum of Natural History points out specific events that encouraged population growth, such as the advent of farming, travel and trade on the Silk Road, and the development of modern medicine. It also highlights occurrences that reduced the global population, such as the bubonic plague epidemic known as the Black Death.

Cities and areas with more than 1 million residents appear and, less often, disappear from the map as the animation travels along the timeline from 1 A.D. to the present day.

As late as 1700 A.D., global population was just 590 million, but the Industrial Revolution, which brought advances in medicine, agriculture and technology, spurred growth. In just 316 years, humanity has reached more than 7 billion people worldwide.

Scientists believe that number will begin to level off by 2100. Fertility rates are already falling in many countries, the museum reports.

However, the Earth’s ecosystems are already showing the strain of supporting 7.2 billion people. 

Construction of cities, expansion of industry, and even clearing land for agricultural use have reduced the number of habitats available for other animals and plants around the world, leading to species becoming endangered or extinct. Pollution has contributed to <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/aqa_pre_2011/evolution/humansrev2.shtml" target="_blank" rel="noopener">illness and death among wildlife</a> and even other humans, and <a href="https://www.epa.gov/air-research/air-quality-and-climate-change-research" target="_blank" rel="noopener">air pollution may contribute to climate change</a>.  

As scientists study how human population exploded, they can help humanity make better choices about family planning, consumption, habitat protection and other issues, to better preserve the Earth for future generations, the museum said.

Human population has exploded since 1 A.D., animation reveals

During the past 200 years, the human population exploded – a...

Fossil evolution study evidence suggests that organisms may have populated land much earlier than we thought.

When did living organisms first leave the water for land? Just 20 years ago, scientists believed microscopic life first emerged onto land 1.2 billion years ago. However, fossil evidence has been steadily pushing that estimate earlier over the past two decades, with a recent theory showing the earliest evidence of life on land 2.9 billion years ago.

Now, it’s taking another leap backwards. 

A team of scientists led by Sami Nabhan of the <a href="http://www.fu-berlin.de/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Freie Universität Berlin</a> has discovered signs that microbes lived on land as early as 3.2 billion years ago. The team has been studying ancient rock formations in the Barberton greenstone belt of South Africa.

Though the formations they were studying range to 3.5 billion years old, the layer that showed signs of microbial life was dated to 3.22 billion years ago. 

Elements in the layer, including grains of iron pyrite, showed evidence of microbe activity. Instrumentation showed that a number of crystals had signs of “biogenic fractionation” – when microbes process sulfur from the exterior of the grains. 

The fossil evolution study was conducted by Michael Wiedenbeck at the <a href="http://www.gfz-potsdam.de/en/home/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences</a>’ secondary ion mass spectrometry lab.

The rock formations where the fossil evidence was found appear once to have been the floodplain of an ancient river. Scientists believe the microbes may have been carried onto land in sediment carried by the river, then adapted to living out of water due to the cycling between flooding and dry conditions.

In 1999, NASA scientist Dr. Hiroshi Ohmoto discovered evidence of rock formations – “laterites” that indicate microbe activity – dated to 2.3 billion years old. In 2002, <a href="http://www.astrobio.net/news-exclusive/the-oldest-life-on-land/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">an international team of scientists</a> discovered fossilized microbial mats that were approximately 2.6 billion years old. A <a href="https://ecologicalprocesses.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/2192-1709-2-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2013 paper by Hugo Beraldi-Campesi</a> pointed to the abundance of microbial life in water 3.5 billion years ago and suggested that the microbes could have adapted to terrestrial life in coastal areas between 3.4 and 3.5 billion years ago.

Determining when and why microbes first adapted to dryland conditions may help scientists better understand why species evolve and adapt to previously hostile conditions, as well as the impact these adaptations have on other species and environments.

Fossil evolution study sheds new light on life's transition from water to land

Fossil evolution study evidence suggests that organisms may have populated...

Oklahoma 4.5 magnitude earthquake was reported today.

A series of seismic events which culminated in an Oklahoma 4.5 magnitude earthquake early this morning have shaken the state, a new United States Geological Survey reported.

On September 3rd, the shale-rich state saw a magnitude-5.6 quake whose epicenter was 8 miles southeast of Pawnee, Oklahoma.

A USGS study stated that the disposal of oil- and gas-related wastewater is the primary reason these events have taken place.

As a response to the Sept. 3 earthquake, the Oklahoma Corporation Commission's Oil and Gas Division claimed it was doubling its “area of concern.” Working with the Environmental Protection Agency, the state government ordered the closure of 32 wells.

The wastewater injected into the ground near Pawnee poses a huge potential danger for more earthquakes in the region. A mandatory special order ruled that wastewater injections cannot exceed 40,000 barrels per day after reviewing data from the Oklahoma Geological Survey and the USGS.

Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin issued a declaration of a state of emergency for Pawnee County following the September quake.

Oklahoma is one of the largest crude oil producers in the United States, making a whopping 4 percent of the nation's supplies. It hosts some of the largest deposits of shale oil in the country, with the trade epicenter in Cushing acting as the largest of its kind in North America.

Oklahoma 4.5 magnitude earthquake due to oil wastewater

Oklahoma 4.5 magnitude earthquake was reported today. A series of...

A new UNICEF air pollution report claims almost 2 billion children are affected by air quality issues around the world.

Shocking news came from UNICEF today as they report recent statistics indicating almost 2 billion children in the world are breathing polluted air. These air pollution levels exceed international guidelines and are the result of fossil fuel use, vehicle emissions, dust and burning. Almost 1 in 7 of the children at risk live in areas with the most toxic air, at a whopping six or more times higher than guidelines recommend. These dangerous levels of pollution increase bronchial illnesses such as asthma, stroke, and lung cancer. Sadly, children are the most susceptible to the effects of these pollutants.

Using satellite imagery, the UNICEF air pollution report shocked the world today by showing how many children are exposed to pollution exceeding guidelines set out by the World Health Organization (WHO). The biggest offenders are South Asia, East Asia, and the Pacific region. It is claimed that 620 million children are breathing in polluted air in South Asia.

“Air pollution is a major contributing factor in the deaths of around 600,000 children under five every year – and it threatens the lives and futures of millions more every day. Pollutants don’t only harm children’s developing lungs – they can actually cross the blood-brain barrier and permanently damage their developing brains – and, thus, their futures. No society can afford to ignore air pollution. We protect our children when we protect the quality of our air. Both are central to our future,” UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake commented.

As children’s bodies are still developing, they are more vulnerable to these positions. Juveniles breath faster than adults and inhale more air – toxic particles drill deep into their lungs and circulatory system, which can develop into disease.

“Air pollution is a major contributing factor in the deaths of around 600,000 children under five every years – and it threatens the lives and futures of millions more every day,” Dr. Lake added.

Experts say the poorest people are the most defenseless to these risks, as they already suffer from poor health. In New Delhi, India, air pollution is thought to be amongst the worst in the world, spiking each winter as residents use garbage fires to stay warm. This morning, New Dehli was reported at PM 2.5 levels above 900 mcg per cubic meter – 90 times higher than the WHO recommendation – and it was recommended for residents to stay indoors.

UNICEF wants world leaders to take four steps towards a cleaner air for our world:
<ol>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Reduce fossil fuel consumption and move towards renewable energy.</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Expand children’s access to health care, including health education.</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Reduce children’s exposure to toxic air pollutants by building schools far away from pollution-causing industry and using clean energy in homes.</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Improve the monitoring of air pollution.</li>
</ol>
In New Dehli, local surveys reveal that up to a third of children suffers with respiratory ailments. New Delhi has taken steps to clean its air by creating restrictions on the type of vehicles which can drive on its busy city streets. However, large-scale construction creating dust and other pollution still continues.

The city recently launched a smartphone app called <a href="http://changetheair.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Change the Air</a>, which asks residents to contribute photos and complaints pertaining to illegal pollution sources, from the burning of leaves and garbage in public parks to construction crews working without dust control measures.

The UNICEF air pollution report comes after research last month found more than 90 percent of the UK’s population are living in areas where air pollution exceeds safe limits.

—

You can read the full report over at <a href="http://www.unicef.org/media/media_92979.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UNICEF</a>.

UNICEF air pollution report: 2 billion children affected

A new UNICEF air pollution report claims almost 2 billion...

NASA pumpkin carving contest shows that NASA engineers are good at most things. Earlier today their pumpkin carving contest went viral. See why<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasa-jpl/sets/72157672207667603/with/30490806042/"> here.</a>

Happy Halloween from Earth.com.

NASA pumpkin carving contest puts us all to shame

NASA pumpkin carving contest shows that NASA engineers are good...

Earth news review: Earth-related stories from other parts of the web this week

Crustaceans in the scariest part of the ocean wear bacteria as camouflage to hide from predators – read the full article on <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3878602/Crustaceans-ocean-s-twilight-zone-wear-CAMOUFLAGED-Bacteria-coating-helps-creatures-avoid-predator-s-gaze.html">Daily Mail</a>.

Latest Global Warming prediction: Southern Spain to turn into a desert – read the full article at <a href="http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_GLOBAL_WARMING_MEDITERRANEAN?SITE=AP&amp;SECTION=HOME&amp;TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&amp;CTIME=2016-10-27-15-16-57">The Associated Press</a>.

Sea in Antarctica to become the world’s largest protected zone – read the full story over at the <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-37789594">BBC</a>.

The War On Salmon: More Pacific Coast Hatchery Salmon to be added to the Endangered Species List – full article at <a href="http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_LISTED_SALMON_HATCHERIES?SITE=AP&amp;SECTION=HOME&amp;TEMPLATE=DEFAULT">The Associated Press</a>.

Scandal: Gene study shows ancient interbreeding between chimpanzees and bonobos – read the full article on <a href="https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-10/wtsi-gsr102116.php">EurekAlert!</a>

80,000 acres off the New York coast cleared for wind energy – read the full article on <a href="http://www.upi.com/New-York-set-for-offshore-wind-after-environmental-review/9101477650265/?nll=1">UPI</a>.

141 Arrested in North Dakota Pipeline protest following tense police standoff – read more at <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-pipeline-regulations-idUSKCN12R2GI">Reuters</a>.

Awesome Video: Monkeys make their own tools from stone – watch over at Nature Video <a href="https://youtu.be/j0jqJUF1nOs">YouTube</a>.

Caitlyn Clownfish: How clownfish can actually change sex for survival – read the full article on <a href="http://blogs.nature.com/houseofwisdom/2016/10/how-changing-sex-helps-nemo-survive-and-adapt.html">houseofwisdom</a>.

Hundreds of blackbirds organize flash mob in Walmart parking lot – just in time for Halloween, read more at <a href="http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2016/10/28/Hundreds-of-blackbirds-descend-on-Texas-Walmart-parking-lot/5221477660825/?nll=1">UPI</a>.

Mosquitos armed with bacteria released in South America to combat Zika – read the full article on <a href="http://www.nature.com/news/rio-fights-zika-with-biggest-release-yet-of-bacteria-infected-mosquitoes-1.20878?WT.ec_id=NEWS-20161027&amp;spMailingID=52628621&amp;spUserID=MjI5MDcwMTc5OTg1S0&amp;spJobID=1025167321&amp;spReportId=MTAyNTE2NzMyMQS2">Nature.com</a>.

Goopy Mummies: Climate Change turning ancient Chilean mummies into black slime – get the full picture at the <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3879760/Chile-seeks-help-protect-worlds-oldest-mummies.html">Daily Mail</a>.

NASA’s Operation IceBridge to study changing polar landscape – read more at <a href="https://blogs.nasa.gov/earthexpeditions/2016/10/18/nasa-icebridge-fit-to-fly/">NASA</a>.

White House holds summit for experts studying arctic changes – read the full article at <a href="http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=88989&amp;src=iotdrss">NASA</a>.

The real story behind “Fall” vs “Autumn” – join the debate at <a href="http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2012/09/29/why_does_autumn_have_two_names_how_the_third_season_became_both_autumn_and_fall_.html?nl=morning-briefing&amp;em_pos=large&amp;emc=edit_nn_20161028">Slate</a>.

Earth news review

Earth news review: Earth-related stories from other parts of the...

Hurricane Seymour fading fast as a new image is caught.

NOAA's satellite captured an image of the post-tropical cyclone Hurricane Seymour which is fading fast in the Eastern Pacific. Seymour is expected to dissipate in a day as it moves through hostile environmental conditions.

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) issued their final advisory on the storm at 5 am EDT when they noted that Seymour had become post-tropical.

Seymour's remnants had no organized thunderstorm development when the images were captured. The storm resembled a wedge of clouds. 

National Hurricane Center (NHC) forecaster Richard Pasch said "The cyclone has lacked organized deep convection within 60-100 nautical miles of its center for over 12 hours, and no longer qualifies as a tropical cyclone. Since Seymour has become a post-tropical remnant low, advisories are being discontinued."

At 5 a.m. EDT, the center of Post-Tropical Cyclone Seymour was located near 22.4 degrees north latitude and 122.8 degrees west longitude. That's about 820 miles west of the southern tip of Baja California, Mexico. The post-tropical cyclone was moving toward the north near 8 mph. NHC said a north-northeastward motion is expected to begin later today and continue into Saturday, Oct. 29. Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 35 mph with higher gusts.

The NHC said the low-pressure area will move through "an extremely hostile environment of strong southwesterly wind shear of 40-45 knots and sea surface temperatures cooler than 73.4 degrees Fahrenheit during the next couple of days. Strong vertical wind shear can tear a storm apart, while sea surface temperatures cooler than 80 degrees Fahrenheit are too cold to maintain a tropical cyclone. These environmental factors should cause the remnant low to dissipate in a couple of days.

The image was created by the NASA/NOAA GOES Project at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland. Source, <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2016/seymour-eastern-pacific">NASA</a>.

Hurricane Seymour fading fast

Hurricane Seymour fading fast as a new image is caught....

Winter scene in Northern Idaho

Extreme cold winters may be caused by climate change.
<ul class="ul1">
 	<li class="li1">Scientists agree that climate change may be intensifying the effects of the jet stream, causing extreme cold weather in the UK and US</li>
 	<li class="li1">Study could improve long-term forecasting of winter weather in most populous parts of the world</li>
 	<li class="li1">More accurate forecasting could help communities, businesses and economies prepare for severe weather and make life and cost-saving decisions</li>
</ul>
Read more conclusions from the University of Sheffield study <a href="http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/news/nr/climate-change-cold-winters-uk-us-weather-study-1.657530" target="_blank">here.</a>

Climate change may be responsible for extreme cold winters

Extreme cold winters may be caused by climate change. Scientists...

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First look at damage caused by central Italy earthquake. Central Italy earthquake created chaos yesterday. 
Two powerful earthquakes have caused further damage to central Italian towns in Macerata. Thankfully there are few reports of serious injuries, the death toll for the August quakes in the same region reached 300.Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country consisting of a peninsula delimited by the Alps and several islands surrounding it. Italy is located in Southern Europe, and is also considered part of Western Europe. A unitary parliamentary <a href="https://www.earth.com/video/the-republic-of-maldives-in-the-indian-ocean/">republic</a> with Rome as its capital, the country covers a total area of 301,340 km² and shares land borders with France, Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia, and the enclaved microstates of Vatican City and San Marino. Italy has a territorial enclave in Switzerland and a maritime exclave in Tunisian waters. With around 60 million inhabitants, Italy is the third-most populous member state of the European Union.
Due to its central geographic location in Southern Europe and the Mediterranean, Italy has historically been home to myriad peoples and cultures. In addition to the various ancient peoples dispersed throughout what is now modern-day Italy, the most predominant being the Indo-European <a title="Italic peoples" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italic_peoples">Italic peoples</a> who gave the peninsula its name, beginning from the <a title="Classical antiquity" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_antiquity">classical</a> era, <a title="Phoenicia" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenicia">Phoenicians</a> and Carthaginians founded colonies mostly in <a title="Insular Italy" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insular_Italy">insular Italy</a>,<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italy#cite_note-WaldmanMason2006-21">[21]</a> <a title="Ancient Greece" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Greece">Greeks</a> established settlements in the so-called Magna Grae<a title="Magna Graecia" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magna_Graecia">cia</a> of <a title="Southern Italy" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Italy">Southern Italy</a>, while <a title="Etruscan civilization" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etruscan_civilization">Etruscans</a> and <a title="Celts" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celts">Celts</a> inhabited <a title="Central Italy" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Italy">central</a> and <a title="Northern Italy" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Italy">northern</a> Italy respectively. An Italic tribe known as the <a title="Latins (Italic tribe)" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latins_(Italic_tribe)">Latins</a> formed the <a title="Roman Kingdom" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Kingdom">Roman Kingdom</a> in the 8th century BC, which eventually became a <a title="Roman Republic" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Republic">republic</a> with a government of the Senate and the People. The <a title="Roman Republic" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Republic">Roman Republic</a> initially conquered and assimilated its neighbours on the Italian peninsula, eventually expanding and conquering parts
Image Credit: Tiziana Fabi, <a href="http://www.gettyimages.com/">Getty Images</a>
See the full photo report <a href="http://www.gettyimages.com/search/events/678709773?sort=best&amp;excludenudity=true&amp;phrase=&amp;family=editorial#license">here </a>

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First look at damage caused by central Italy earthquake

&nbsp; First look at damage caused by central Italy earthquake....

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

[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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

[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 



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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

Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

The history of Mars is much more complex than we thought

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research



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



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

Cavefish are healthy despite their sedentary lifestyle

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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites capture the world's biggest and fastest waves

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;



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

Satellites have become essential to our survival

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