Fungi are often overlooked in the grand tapestry of life, yet they play an essential role in ecosystems around the world. From decomposing organic matter to forming symbiotic relationships with plants and animals, fungi are nature’s silent architects. 



Recently, a discovery involving a fungus growing on a spider has added a new layer of understanding to the story of these remarkable organisms.



During this research, scientists identified a previously unknown <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fungi-can-think-and-make-smart-decisions-without-a-brain/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">species of fungus</a> that has been named in honor of a legendary figure in natural history. 



This discovery adds to our knowledge of fungal diversity and is a reminder of how much there is still to learn about the intricate connections between fungi and their hosts.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-species-gibellula-attenboroughii">New species Gibellula attenboroughii</h2>



Dr. Harry Evans, an Emeritus Fellow at CAB International, led a team of researchers from institutions such as the <a href="https://snm.dk/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Natural History Museum of Denmark</a> and the <a href="https://www.kew.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Royal Botanical Gardens Kew</a>. 



The investigation began during the filming of the <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p012msk2/episodes/guide" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BBC Winterwatch series</a> in Northern Ireland, where a peculiar fungus was found growing on a spider.



Using both morphological and molecular evidence, the scientists confirmed that this fungus represented a novel species. 



In recognition of his profound impact on natural history programming, the team decided to name it after Sir David Attenborough.



"[The species is] named after the broadcaster and natural historian Sir David Attenborough, a pioneer of BBC natural history programs, who - in his role as controller of BBC 2 - helped to develop the Natural History Unit," noted Dr. Evans.



This led, indirectly, to the filming of the present nature series, during which the new species was first discovered.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gibellula-attenboroughii-and-spiders">Gibellula attenboroughii and spiders</h2>



The spider that hosted the fungus was later identified as Metellina merianae, an orb-weaving cave spider belonging to the family Tetragnathidae.



With the help of a local speleologist, the researchers extended their search and discovered more specimens of the newly named species, Gibellula attenboroughii, in cave systems across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. 



Interestingly, the fungus was also found to infect another spider species, Meta menardi, which occupies different ecological niches within the caves. 



Like the original specimen, which was located on the ceiling of a gunpowder store, all of the infected spiders were found on the roof or walls of the caves.



These typically reclusive creatures had abandoned their usual hiding spots or webs, and migrated to exposed areas before dying.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-connection-to-zombie-ant-fungi">Connection to zombie-ant fungi</h2>



This behavior mirrors what has been observed in ants that are similarly infected by fungi of the genus Ophiocordyceps in Brazil's Atlantic rainforest. 



In those cases, the fungi manipulated their ant hosts to position themselves in locations ideal for spore dispersal, which led to the use of the term "zombie-ant fungi."



This phenomenon has captured the public's imagination, inspiring books, video games, and even the popular television series The Last of Us. 



Scientists have since identified behavioral-changing metabolites, such as dopamine, in cultures of zombie-ant fungi.



The discovery of similar behaviors in spiders infected by Gibellula attenboroughii suggests that these fungi may employ comparable mechanisms to control their hosts.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fungus-and-spiders-in-the-british-isles">Fungus and spiders in the British Isles</h2>



Published in the journal Fungal Systematics and Evolution, the study went beyond identifying the new species. 



The researchers conducted extensive historical herbarium records and literature searches, and revealed a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/secrets-of-fungi-diversity-can-be-pulled-out-of-thin-air/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hidden diversity</a> within the genus Gibellula in the British Isles.



The experts also uncovered evidence of widespread disease epidemics among spiders in Norfolk and Wales. 



The findings suggest that fungi like Gibellula attenboroughii may play a significant role in regulating spider populations.



"Their role in spider-population dynamics warrants further study, as do the metabolites they produce which enable them to exploit such a highly specific ecological niche," noted the researchers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-zombie-fungus-controls-spiders">How zombie fungus controls spiders</h2>



The discovery of Gibellula attenboroughii highlights the importance of studying fungi not only for their ecological roles but also for their potential applications. 



Understanding how these fungi influence spiders could provide insights into broader <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tipping-point-discovered-in-fungi-evolution-that-impacts-their-shape-and-growth-rate/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ecological dynamics</a>.



For instance, if certain fungi regulate spider numbers, they might indirectly affect other species within the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rare-frost-beard-ice-formation-exidiopsis-effusa-fungi-discovered-by-hiker/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ecosystem</a>. 



Additionally, investigating the metabolites produced by these fungi could lead to discoveries with implications beyond ecology. 



Such compounds might have pharmaceutical or industrial uses, which makes this area of research particularly promising.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tribute-to-sir-david-attenborough">Tribute to Sir David Attenborough</h2>



Naming the fungus after <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0041003/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sir David Attenborough</a> serves as a fitting tribute to his lifelong dedication to exploring and sharing the wonders of the natural world. 



His work has inspired countless individuals, including the scientists involved in this study, to examine the mysteries of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/deadly-fungus-found-in-garden-soils-across-america/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">nature</a>. 



By honoring Sir Attenborough in this way, the researchers not only celebrate his contributions but also emphasize the interconnectedness of scientific discovery and public engagement. It is a reminder that science thrives when curiosity is shared and nurtured.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-is-gibellula-attenboroughii-important">Why is Gibellula attenboroughii important?</h2>



The identification of Gibellula attenboroughii opens up numerous avenues for future research. Scientists are eager to explore how these fungi manipulate their hosts and what chemical compounds they produce to achieve such precise control. 



Furthermore, understanding the role of fungi in regulating spider populations could provide valuable insights into ecosystem stability.



In a time when biodiversity is under threat, studies like this remind us of the importance of preserving ecosystems and the species within them. 



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/wfbi/fuse/pre-prints/content-f1_fuse_vol15_art7;jsessionid=dd632sclfekn9.x-ic-live-03" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Fungal Systematics and Evolution</a>.



Image Credit: CABI



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Newfound fungus infects and controls spiders, turning them into 'zombies'

Fungi are often overlooked in the grand tapestry of life, yet they play an essential role in ecosystems around the world. From decomposing organic matter to forming symbiotic relationships with plants and animals, fungi are nature’s silent architects. Recently, a discovery involving a fungus growing on a spider has added a new layer of understanding to the story of these remarkable organisms. During this research, scientists identified a previously unknown species of fungus that has been named in honor of a legendary figure in natural history. This...

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...

Some of the world’s favorite celebrities passed away in 2016. Alan Rickman, Muhammad Ali, Carrie Fisher, and Debbie Reynolds were just a few of those we mourned as the year came to a close.

It wasn’t just human celebrities we lost last year, though. Let’s not forget the favorite celebrities of the Animal Kingdom who left us in 2016, too.
<ol>
 	<li><a href="http://www.slate.com/content/dam/slate/blogs/the_slatest/2016/05/30/full_video_shows_harambe_the_gorilla_dragging_child_before_he_was_shot/harambecincinnatizoo.jpg.CROP.promo-xlarge2.jpg">Harambe the gorilla</a></li>
</ol>
The most memorable loss of 2016 was Harambe, who was shot after a toddler fell into his enclosure at the <a href="http://cincinnatizoo.org/">Cincinnati Zoo</a>.

His death sparked grief and outrage, along with some truly strange Internet memes. It also inspired discussions about the ethics of keeping animals in zoos, safe animal handling practices, and conservation of endangered species.

“For people who want to know more about what was going on in Harambe’s head and heart, think about your companion dog, for example. How do they respond when someone trespasses into where they feel safe?” Merc Bekoff wrote in <a href="https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/why-was-harambe-the-gorilla-in-a-zoo-in-the-first-place/">Scientific American</a>.
<ol start="2">
 	<li><a href="http://images.csmonitor.com/csmarchives/2009/11/article_photo1_315.jpg?alias=standard_600x400">Courage the turkey</a></li>
</ol>
Courage was the first turkey President Barack Obama ever pardoned, during his first Thanksgiving as president in 2009.

The tom turkey went on to live a long life at the Happiest Place on Earth: Big Thunder Ranch at Disneyland in California.

Courage died just before Thanksgiving – and just after Election Day – in November 2016. The average male turkey lives about two years; Courage was at least 7 when he died of old age.
<ol start="3">
 	<li><a href="https://www.nps.gov/features/yell/slidefile/mammals/wolf/Images/17120.jpg">778M, the last of the Druid wolves</a></li>
</ol>
The Druid wolf pack was once one of the largest and most famous of the wolf packs that made Yellowstone home. 778M, born in 2007, was its last surviving member. He split off from the pack a short time before the other members were wiped out by mange.

“He would fight at the drop of the hat, and he was willing to run right into battle,” Yellowstone biologist Rick McIntyre told the <a href="http://www.mailtribune.com/entertainmentlife/20161211/last-of-druids">Mail Tribune</a>.

He was shot and killed by a hunter outside the park in November.
<ol start="4">
 	<li><a href="http://static.seattletimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/11022015-grizzly-1020x661.jpg">Scarface, the Yellowstone grizzly</a></li>
</ol>
778M wasn’t the only one of Yellowstone’s favorite celebrities to pass away in 2016.

Scarface was 25, old in bear years, but he didn’t die of natural causes. He was killed by a hunter right outside of the park’s northern border in April.

Scarface got his nickname from, well, his scarred face and ragged ear, earned in battle with other bears.

He was a favorite of park visitors – and biologists. With more than 15 captures and releases, he was one of the country’s most studied bears.
<ol start="5">
 	<li><a href="http://img2-azcdn.newser.com/image/1086311-12-20161003102314.jpeg">Toughie, the last of his species</a></li>
</ol>
Toughie was the last Rabb’s fringe-limbed treefrog on Earth.

The frog species was discovered in 2005, just before it was wiped out by habitat loss and disease. The last wild member of the species was heard in 2007.

Toughie was a survivor. He was 12 when he died at the <a href="http://atlantabg.org/">Atlanta Botanical Garden</a> in September, and his species died with him.
<ol start="6">
 	<li><a href="http://i2.cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/161230115744-02-pan-pan-china-panda-super-tease.jpg">Pan Pan, the panda patriarch</a></li>
</ol>
Pan Pan broke the mold for pandas. Scientists have struggled to convince pandas to reproduce in captivity.

Pan Pan, on the other hand, is estimated to have more than 130 descendants, a quarter of the population of pandas in captivity. His virility and age – he was the oldest male panda in captivity – earned him the nickname “Panda Grandpa.”

“I think the pandas in captivity and in the zoos will be helpful to educate people about the importance of conservation,” Dr. Jianguo Liu of Michigan State University told <a href="http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/12/30/507539383/-panda-grandpa-pan-pan-dies-in-china">NPR</a>.
<ol start="7">
 	<li><a href="http://www.oneindia.com/img/2016/05/tiger-601-30-1464603333.jpg">Machli, the tiger matriarch</a></li>
</ol>
The Bengal tigress called the Queen of Ranthambore was believed to be the oldest in the wild when she died, between 19 and 20 years old.

She was also one of India’s favorite celebrities, due to her role in helping to repopulate the tiger community in <a href="http://www.ranthamborenationalpark.com/">Ranthambore National Park</a>.

“Amongst the 62 tigers of Ranthambore, what made Machli so special was her comfort level with the humans, and how she held lensmen (and women) in awe of her grace,” the park wrote on its website.

The Indian government issued a commemorative stamp in her honor. She passed away from old age on August 18.
<ol start="8">
 	<li><a href="http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.1936301.1410453934!/img/httpImage/image.JPG_gen/derivatives/article_750/bretagne.JPG">Bretagne, the last 9/11 rescue dog</a></li>
</ol>
On Sept. 11, 2001, after a terror attack brought down the World Trade Center, rescuers poured into Ground Zero to try and find survivors. Search-and-rescue dogs like Bretagne also did their part.

But at 16, she had severe arthritis and was showing signs of cancer. The Cy-Fair Volunteer Fire Department made the tough decision to have her put to sleep in June.

“Some may say that the most a dog could be is a pet. However, to the over 400 members of the Cy-Fair Volunteer Fire Department, Bretagne was a civil servant, a hero and is family,” the department told the <a href="http://www.houstonchronicle.com/neighborhood/cyfair/news/article/Firefighters-bid-farewell-to-last-known-9-11-7966974.php">Houston Chronicle</a>.
<ol start="9">
 	<li><a href="http://qatar.com/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/scooter-the-siamese-cat.jpg">Scooter, the world’s oldest cat</a></li>
</ol>
Just days after the Guinness Book named 30-year-old Scooter the world’s oldest cat, he died of old age. According to veterinarians, in human years, he would have been 136.

Scooter’s owner credited the Siamese cat’s long life to staying active. He also reportedly traveled with his owner to 45 of the 50 states.
<ol start="10">
 	<li><a href="http://static.lakana.com/media.fox29.com/photo/2016/12/30/african%20lion%20Zenda_1483121592509_2480841_ver1.0.png">Zenda, the oldest lion in the U.S.</a></li>
</ol>
As the year came to a close, the <a href="http://www.philadelphiazoo.org/">Philadelphia Zoo</a> was forced to say goodbye to one of its favorite celebrities, a 25-year-old lion who was loved by her keeper and the zoo’s guests alike.

Zenda was known as a peacemaker – an odd role for a lion.

“She was the one that held everyone together,” Kay Buffamonte, her keeper for 24 years, told <a href="http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/real-time/Philadelphia-Zoo-lion-Zenda-dies-Dec-29-2016.html">Philly.com</a>.

After her health rapidly declined, the zoo was forced to make the difficult decision to end her life on Dec. 30, 2016.
<ol start="11">
 	<li><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/news/2017/01/18/Gorilla-Colo-2006-0001-Grahm-S-Jones-Columbus-Zoo-and-Aquarium-large_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqqVzuuqpFlyLIwiB6NTmJwfSVWeZ_vEN7c6bHu2jJnT8.jpg">Colo, America's oldest Gorilla </a></li>
</ol>
Beloved Colo died just earlier this week after leading a long and happy life at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. She died in her sleep overnight less than a month after her 60th birthday. In a statementzoo president Tom Stalf said "Colo touched the hearts of generations of people who came to see her and those that cared for her over her long lifetime, she was an ambassador for gorillas and inspired people to learn more about the critically endangered species and motivated them to protect gorillas in their native habitat."

—

By Kyla Cathey / Earth.com staff writer

&nbsp;

Remembering 10 favorite animal celebrities we lost last year

Some of the world’s favorite celebrities passed away in 2016....

2016 rising temperatures cite it as the hottest year yet! Recent data from <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/nasa-study-man-made-fires-drought/">NASA</a> and the <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/arctic-blast-uk-week/">UK Met Office</a> has climate change experts saying, “I told you so!” While 2015 had been on the record as the hottest year yet, 2016 just surpassed it.

The difference was only 0.07 degrees Celsius, but the increase is significant from a scientific standpoint. 

"2015 has been the warmest year on record up until now, so 2016 has just beaten that and it's beaten that by about 0.1- 0.12 of a degree Celsius, which doesn't seem like a lot, but in terms of the year to year variations it's actually huge,”<a href="http://www.nasa.gov"> NASA</a> scientist Gavin Schmidt said to BBC News. Scientists first started tracking yearly temperatures back in 1880.

Researchers say that the <a href="http://www.earth.com/video/el-nino/">El Niño</a> weather phenomenon was partly to blame for the temperature increase. They calculate that it helped raise temperatures by around 0.2 degrees Celsius.

The rest of the increase, scientists say, was caused by humans and CO2 emissions. Professor Ellie Highwood from the<a href="http://www.reading.ac.uk"> University of Reading</a> says that even if scientists removed the El Niño effect, “we would expect 2015 and 2016 to still be the warmest years we've seen, so a majority of it is coming from global warming and the greenhouse effect.”

Schmidt agrees that increasing levels of greenhouse gasses have helped the 2016 temperatures rise.

Scientists don’t expect the record-breaking temperature increase to continue through 2017, but they do expect it to rank among the top five hottest years ever recorded. Data shows that the Earth is 1 degree warmer than it was before industrial times, and the overall warming trend concerns scientists. They insist that we are moving closer to the 1.5-degree threshold laid out in the Paris climate pact. Only time will tell if the 2016 rising temperatures can hold their current record.

–

By Dawn Henderson,<a href="http://earth.com"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Sources: Gavin Schmidt,<a href="https://www.nasa.gov/"> NASA</a>, UK Met Office, Ellie Highwood,<a href="http://www.reading.ac.uk"> University of Reading</a>

2016 rising temperatures: Data shows it was hottest year yet

2016 rising temperatures cite it as the hottest year yet!...

Were Neanderthals the first interior decorators?. When thinking of Neanderthals, no-one considers them as interior decorators in fact many think of Neanderthals as unthinking, uni-browed beasts that were singularly focused on survival. Could it be that they shared something in common with Martha Stewart? Researchers believe they have found evidence that Neanderthals had an interest in home decoration.

They base their theory on the discovery of a piece of brown limestone found at an archeological dig site in Croatia. The brown stone has many interesting black markings on it and scientists think that Neanderthals may have collected it because it was beautiful.

This differs from the previous belief that Neanderthals were incapable of assigning symbolism to objects. Because the rock had not been modified in any way, researchers don’t believe it was collected to be used as a tool. While it does have a piece that was broken away, that break likely happened while the rock was being stored or transported after it was excavated around 1900.  

At the same <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/fossilized-footprints-show-reptiles-rise/">dig</a> site, teams have also found <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/mining-will-expand-at-alaska-bald-eagle-preserve/">eagle</a> talons that were fashioned into crude jewelry. At other sites, they’ve found shells colored with pigment. Because these items would have served no purpose as tools, it’s quite striking that Neanderthals made an effort to collect and keep them. This suggests that they had a sense of curiosity, as well as the ability to recognize beauty.

Over 1,000 items were collected from the site, but the piece of limestone went overlooked for years. It’s a subtle decoration, not as attention-getting as the 25,000-year-old cave paintings that have been discovered in what is now modern-day France. The cave paintings were made by modern day humans. By comparison, the Neanderthals who collected the piece of rock did so nearly 130,000 years ago. This rock was collected more than 100 years ago and added to the <a href="http://www.hismus.hr/en/">Croatian Natural History Museum</a> in Zagreb.

It recently attracted attention from preeminent researchers including David Frayer, a professor emeritus of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/american-alligators-6-million-years-older-previously-believed/">anthropology</a> at the University of Kansas. He reexamined the rock and wrote a paper which was published in<a href="https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&amp;rls=en&amp;q=Comptes+Rendus+Palevol&amp;ie=UTF-8&amp;oe=UTF-8"> Comptes Rendus Palevol</a>

Talking of the rock, he said: "If we were walking and picked up this rock, we would have taken it home… It is an interesting rock."

It appears we have a thing or two to learn from the first interior decorators and their style.

–

By Dawn Henderson,<a href="http://earth.com"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Credit: David Frayer, <a href="https://www.ku.edu/">University of Kansas</a>

Image credit: David Frayer, <a href="https://www.ku.edu/">University of Kansas</a>

Were Neanderthals the first interior decorators?

Were Neanderthals the first interior decorators?. When thinking of Neanderthals,...

Reopened Silk Road route swaps horses for trains. Hundreds of years ago, merchants traveled the Silk Road from <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/china-ivory-trade-ban/">China</a> to <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/european-union-celebrates-paris-agreement-climate-change/">Europe</a>, bringing silk, paper, gunpowder, and various exotic goods to trade. Today, the route is being revived with the introduction of a 7,456-mile train route from China to London. 

China’s East Wind train company is celebrating the debut of its Silk Road route that will run from Yiwu, a manufacturing town in East China, to Great Britain. It will take the train 16 days to complete the journey, and it will bring 34 carriage loaded with goods made in Yiwu.  

The new train route is expected to herald in a new era in trade relations between the UK and China. Goods sent via the train route will travel faster than if they traveled via a container ship. Train shipping is also less expensive than shipping by air. 

The East Wind from Yiwu to London will start out running once a week on a trial basis. East Wind, owned by China’s Yiwu Timex Industrial Investment, also features a route from Madrid to Spain that runs twice a week.

The Silk Road journey has always been a difficult one. It features a route that winds through treacherous mountains, around blazing deserts, and across endless miles of the Russian steppe. Before the advent of wheeled travel, merchants who ventured on the Silk Road had to have a constant supply of fresh horses to complete their journey.

Today’s Silk Road may not require fresh horses, but it does require different trains. The route pushes through Russia, Kazakstan, Belarus, Poland, Belgium, and finally France, all before it arrives in London. Because each country has different rail gauges on its train lines, the same train can’t complete the entire journey.

--

By Dawn Henderson, Earth.com Staff Writer

Reopened Silk Road route swaps horses for trains

Reopened Silk Road route swaps horses for trains. Hundreds of...

Ever wonder how Leonardo DiCaprio’s character in The Revenant would have fared during that <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/ecological-traps-pose-big-risks-grizzly-bears/">grizzly bear</a> attack if he had been able to transform into a pack of wolves? Thanks to spectacular photographs from British vacationer Tom Littlejohns, you can almost picture it.

On a snow covered hilltop in the Rocky Mountains of Montana, a lone deer nibbles on the foliage of an evergreen. Deer are browsers, feeding primarily on young leaves and soft twigs.

The serenity of the scene swiftly gives way to violence as a pack three wolves ambush the deer, cornering her on a clearing near the edge of a cliff. She tries to run back into the thicket of the woods, but they have her surrounded. There is no escape.

Moments later, the three wolves feed greedily on the carcass of the deer. 

Thanks to expanding human populations, North American gray wolves had almost disappeared from the continental United States by the 1940s. However, a program based in central Idaho and Yellowstone Park proved successful in reintroducing the species to regions in northern Minnesota, northern Wisconsin, northern Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and Montana.

One of them moves too close to the deer leg in another’s mouth on and a brawl ensues. Noise from the fight and the smell of the deer’s fresh blood attract the attention of a six and a half foot long grizzly bear.

The wolf not involved in the tussle turns and moves to pounce on the would-be plunderer. But she quickly discovers she is no match for the lumbering giant and runs off to hide the woods.  

The other two wolves move in to defend their food, but even at their most ferocious, the wolves cannot match the grizzly’s size and strength. The bear chases the wolves away and enjoys the fresh deer dinner.

All that is to say Leonardo’s character would have still lost.

<a href="http://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Screen-Shot-2017-01-16-at-3.12.40-PM.png"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-130388" src="http://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Screen-Shot-2017-01-16-at-3.12.40-PM-300x199.png" alt="screen-shot-2017-01-16-at-3-12-40-pm" width="300" height="199" /></a>

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<a href="http://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Screen-Shot-2017-01-16-at-3.13.19-PM.png"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-130385" src="http://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Screen-Shot-2017-01-16-at-3.13.19-PM-300x198.png" alt="screen-shot-2017-01-16-at-3-13-19-pm" width="300" height="198" /></a>

<a href="http://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Screen-Shot-2017-01-16-at-3.12.52-PM.png"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-130387" src="http://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Screen-Shot-2017-01-16-at-3.12.52-PM-300x219.png" alt="screen-shot-2017-01-16-at-3-12-52-pm" width="300" height="219" /></a>

<a href="http://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Screen-Shot-2017-01-16-at-3.13.41-PM.png"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-130384" src="http://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Screen-Shot-2017-01-16-at-3.13.41-PM-300x223.png" alt="Photos taken by a British vacationer capture wolves hunting down a deer, only to have their meal stolen by a hungry grizzly bear." width="300" height="223" /></a>

--

Photos: Tom Littlejohns

Written by Darryl Joseph, Earth.com Staff Writer

Grizzly bear caught stealing dinner from wolves

Ever wonder how Leonardo DiCaprio’s character in The Revenant would...

Two years ago, the former prime minister of Oslo urged drivers in the city to purchase diesel cars because they emit less carbon dioxide. On Tuesday, the city council will ban <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/four-major-cities-diesel-ban/">diesel-fueled vehicles</a> from Oslo’s streets for 48 hours in an attempt to cut down on <a href="http://www.earth.com/image/a-decade-of-change-for-nitrogen-dioxide/">nitrogen dioxide</a>, another harmful gas.

While some cities like Paris have implemented occasional driving bans in order to combat smog, the Oslo ban is different in that it only targets vehicles that run on diesel. This has many drivers upset, taking to the internet to voice their displeasure and ask politicians to make up their minds. 

Mazyar Keshvari from Oslo’s populist right Progress Party thinks citizens have a right to be angry after they were encouraged to ditch their gasoline-guzzlers for diesel-fueled cars. He calls the government’s push towards diesel vehicles a “swindle of Norwegian motorists” in an interview with TV2. 

Other politicians disagree. Lan Marie Nguyen Berg, a city councillor in Greens, reminds citizens that the ban works to protect those with respiratory problems that are aggravated by CO2. This is a particular concern for small children and the elderly. These concerns aren’t unfounded: the<a href="https://www.fhi.no/en/"> Norwegian Institute of Public Health</a> reports that in Oslo, 185 people die prematurely each year due to health issues caused by air pollution. 

Despite the controversy, the ban has generated multi-party support. In 2016, a city council made up of Greens and Labour party members laid the framework for the ban. Response from citizens hasn’t been completely negative. One man took to the Facebook page of Verdens Gang, a Norwegian newspaper, to voice his support for a permanent ban on all diesel vehicles in large cities.

--

By Dawn H., Earth.com Staff Writer

Two-day ban leaves Oslo diesel drivers fuming

Two years ago, the former prime minister of Oslo urged...

For the past 5 years, California has been plagued with a catastrophic <a href="http://www.earth.com/image/southern-california-drought-continues/">drought</a> that has led to water restrictions and serious concerns about crop production. But recent photos taken from space indicate that the Golden State's water woes may finally be over. 

The photos, released by <a href="http://visibleearth.nasa.gov/view.php?id=84099">NASA</a>, show the striking difference between the effects of the catastrophic drought on the California landscape in January 2014 and January 2017. Satellite images show a deep snowpack, a good indication for lakes and rivers as it melts during the warmer months. The images also reveal gloriously green vegetation and rivers that are now running freely.

<a href="http://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/2014-CA.png"><img class="alignleft wp-image-130366 size-medium" src="http://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/2014-CA-250x300.png" alt="2014-ca" width="250" height="300" /></a> <a href="http://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/2017-CA.png"><img class="alignright wp-image-130365 size-medium" src="http://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/2017-CA-251x300.png" alt="2017-ca" width="251" height="300" /></a>

This abrupt turnaround comes mostly due to a series of strong storms that hit the state last week. They brought intense rains that caused rock slides, accidents, and destruction that included the toppling of the iconic <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/tunnel-tree-final-bow/">Pioneer Cabin Tree</a> in Big Trees State Park. The storms dumped 21 inches of water onto northern California in just two weeks, putting some neighborhoods underwater. The Russian River overflowed its banks, closing roads and stalling cars that ventured into the flooded roadways.

Despite the destruction, the rainfall has been a welcome relief for climatologists, farmers, and people who enjoy California’s rivers and lakes. Reservoirs in Northern California have reclaimed nearly one million acres of storage according to a climatologist for the California Department of Water Resources. Before and after photos of Brown’s Ravine and Lake Oroville show a striking difference in water levels.

<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/13/us/california-drought/index.html">CNN</a> reports that the state is currently only 42 percent drought free. Talking to the New York Times, Felicia Marcus, the head of California’s Water Control Resources Control Board, was cautiously optimistic. “It’s a little early to have a drought’s over party,” she said. However, with more heavy rain expected, the numbers will likely continue to improve.

&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Screen-Shot-2017-01-16-at-10.27.11-AM.png"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-130368" src="http://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Screen-Shot-2017-01-16-at-10.27.11-AM-300x214.png" alt="screen-shot-2017-01-16-at-10-27-11-am" width="300" height="214" /></a> <a href="http://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Screen-Shot-2017-01-16-at-10.27.21-AM.png"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-130367" src="http://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Screen-Shot-2017-01-16-at-10.27.21-AM-300x214.png" alt="screen-shot-2017-01-16-at-10-27-21-am" width="300" height="214" /></a>

--

Photos: NASA, Kelly M. Grow/California Department of Water Resources

California’s thirst: is the catastrophic drought finally over?

For the past 5 years, California has been plagued with...

A new study offers an intriguing new possibility for the formation of life on planet Earth: ancient viruses infecting single-celled bacteria.

Scientists have known for a while that when a virus infects a cell, it reprograms it from its original function and turns it to replicating the virus. HIV, for example, turns white blood cells that help protect the body from infections into virus factories.

A group of scientists from the <a href="http://www.ucsb.edu/">University of California, Santa Barbara</a> found that this re-purposing of cells may go a lot farther, though.

In most cases, when a virus replicates enough copies, the cell ruptures and the copies are released to infect other cells. Sometimes, however, viruses can "bud" through the cell membrane, leaving cell structure intact. Scientists have theorized that in some of these cases, a virus could take control of the cell.

The researchers studies how viruses affect the bacteria Pseudomonas chlororaphis, which is used to protect against certain types of fungus in agriculture.

During infection, the virus created a special compartment within the cell. It broke down the bacteria’s DNA, then began rebuilding. That’s when it destroyed the cell's nucleus and assembled its own structure, similar to the nucleus in a plant or animal cell, the scientists said.

The new nucleus was radically different than anything that had been seen in bacteria before, the scientists said.

The research team spotted the new structure on a specialized microscope that allowed them to watch how the virus infected the bacteria as it happened. They used fluorescent markers on the viral proteins to keep track of them.

The study was the first to show that viruses can transform bacterial cells to look and act more like animal cells.

However, it supports a hypothesis with a name that’s a mouthful: “viral eukaryogenesis.” The idea is that complex, multi-cellular life grew out of interactions between ancient viruses and single-celled microbes like bacteria.

Scientists who support the hypothesis point to complex DNA viruses that infect single-celled organisms like amoebas. Ancient viruses that behaved in similar ways may have reprogrammed tiny microbes to behave more like plant and animal cells, according to the idea’s backers.

The study by the UC Santa Barbara researchers was published in the journal <a href="http://science.sciencemag.org/content/355/6321/194">Science</a>.

—

By Kyla Cathey / Earth.com staff writer

Did ancient viruses and bacteria spark complex life?

A new study offers an intriguing new possibility for the...

You may think you’ve been feeding puss perfectly with gourmet cat food twice a day – but scientists beg to differ and have outlined a new cat feeding schedule. The proper feeding schedule for your furry friend is actually closer to five bite-size meals a day, which more closely replicates how kitty dines in the wild.

Large meal sizes mean that our favorite pets are getting overweight and sluggish, and suffering from diseases like diabetes in their older years.

The new report suggests that:
<ul>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Cats should be fed five times a day, which includes a night feed.</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Dining on many small meals throughout the day stops cats from overeating.</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Eating “little and often” replicates the way that cats naturally eat in the wild.</li>
</ul>
Chomping down on large-portioned meals means a cat overrides its inclination to stop eating when it feels full. As our feline companions are active after dark, scientists also suggest using timed feeders to assure cats get their energy after we go to bed. 

In addition to adopting the new cat feeding schedule the experts also suggested gamifying meal times to give the impression of a hunt. In the wild, cats can hunt for up to 12 hours a day. Without the stimulation of the hunt, cats become bored and frustrated, and engage in attention-seeking behaviours.

The scientists suggested creating “puzzle feeders” for the pets to help stimulate them mentally.

Puzzle feeders were the subject of a recent <a href="http://journals.sagepub.com/loi/jfm">Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery</a> review. These nifty tools helped reduce feline stress, curbed weight loss, reduced aggressive behavior, and eliminated attention seeking. The same journal also advised to keep water bowls separate from food, as in the wild cats prefer to drink water far away from a food source. It is presumed that water near food is considered contaminated by the cats.

Feline behavior specialist Sarah Ellis said: “The way we feed our cats generally does not match the lifestyle they were designed for. Cats have undergone little in the way of selective breeding during the domestication process and therefore have an instinctive need to hunt. This modern lifestyle could be dangerous to pets, but by making a few simple changes to the way we feed them, we can help our cats to live longer, healthier and happier lives. The plan, based on scientific evidence, helps every cat owner mimic the conditions cats would usually contend with to get their food.”

This research and the subsequent cat feed plan was authored by Dr. Sarah Ellis and Dr. Lizzie Rowe for the charity <a href="http://www.icatcare.org/">International Cat Care</a>. You can read all their excellent tips for taking care of your nearest and dearest furry friend on their website. Follow this new cat feeding schedule and see your pussy prosper!

By Frances Levine/ Earth.com Editor-in-Chief

What's new pussycat? Science suggests new cat feeding schedule

You may think you’ve been feeding puss perfectly with gourmet...

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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

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

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features 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?

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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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

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Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

The history of Mars is much more complex than we thought

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research



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



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

Cavefish are healthy despite their sedentary lifestyle

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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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



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

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