Recent research highlights the link between air pollution and an increased risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children, particularly those with a genetic predisposition.&nbsp;



The study explores the role of nitric oxide (NO) and other pollutants in triggering complex biological responses that can impact neurodevelopment.



The research was led by Dr. Haitham Amal, head of the Laboratory of Neuromics, Cell Signaling, and Translational Medicine at the <a href="https://en.huji.ac.il/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hebrew University</a> of Jerusalem.



“Meeting families and children with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/autism-diagnoses-have-almost-tripled-in-the-us-over-the-past-ten-years/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">autism</a> in Boston during my time at MIT inspired me to focus on a single goal: to help develop biological diagnostics and treatment for autism spectrum disorder,” Amal said.&nbsp;



This encounter shaped his career, leading him to investigate the ways environmental and genetic factors combine to influence ASD risk.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pollution-s-impact-on-neurodevelopment">Pollution’s impact on neurodevelopment</h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/understanding-how-air-pollution-forms-may-help-us-prevent-it/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Air pollution</a> contains several harmful elements, including particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and ozone. 



These pollutants, when inhaled, can bypass the blood-brain barrier, leading to inflammation and changes in neural functioning. 



The research emphasizes how particles such as PM2.5 - microscopic particles from sources like construction and car exhaust - and NO products can cross the placenta, directly impacting fetal brain development.&nbsp;



“My lab has shown that nitric oxide plays a major role in ASD,” Amal said, highlighting NO’s key role in brain health.



The review notes how urban areas with high pollution levels, such as Phoenix, San Jose, and Eugene, expose residents, particularly expectant mothers, to levels of pollution that may impact early childhood development.&nbsp;



A report from the <a href="https://www.lung.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">American Lung Association</a> shows that 39 percent of the U.S. population lives in areas with concerning air quality, which, combined with genetic predispositions, could be a driving factor behind rising autism rates.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pollution-exposure-and-biological-pathways">Pollution exposure and biological pathways</h2>



The review presents evidence of several biological pathways that may link pollution exposure to increased autism risk.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nitrosative-stress-and-nitric-oxide">Nitrosative stress and nitric oxide</h3>



Nitrosative stress caused by NO has been shown to affect neurological development. This was one of Dr. Amal’s foundational discoveries.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-neuroinflammation-and-oxidative-stress">Neuroinflammation and oxidative stress</h3>



Inhaled pollutants can prompt inflammation within the brain, which interferes with nerve development, potentially contributing to the behavioral symptoms associated with autism.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-neurotransmitter-disruption">Neurotransmitter disruption</h3>



Pollutants may interrupt the balance of crucial brain chemicals like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dopamine-helps-us-learn-from-positive-and-negative-experiences/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dopamine</a> and norepinephrine, which play a role in decision-making and overall cognitive development.



The experts reviewed studies on both human and animal models to examine these biological effects, linking the presence of certain pollutants to changes in neural functioning. 



The findings show that pollutants, particularly NO, can cross the placenta and directly affect the fetus.&nbsp;



This sensitivity during prenatal and early childhood development stages, when the brain is rapidly growing, makes the body especially vulnerable to external factors.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-convergence-of-genetics-and-environment">Convergence of genetics and environment</h2>



Autism has a strong genetic component, with estimates suggesting that 40-80% of cases may have a genetic basis. However, the scientists argue that genetics alone cannot explain the condition’s rising prevalence.&nbsp;



“The timing of exposure appears crucial, with heightened vulnerability during prenatal development and early childhood,” Amal explained.&nbsp;



The review suggests that while a genetic predisposition to autism can increase sensitivity to pollutants, environmental triggers -- especially air pollution -- may interact with genetics to further elevate autism risk.



A separate Harvard study showed that exposure to fine particulate matter early in life may increase the risk of autism by up to 64 percent, and prenatal exposure may elevate risk by 31 percent. 



This interaction between genes and environment presents a new model for understanding autism’s etiology.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-early-interventions-for-at-risk-populations-nbsp">Early interventions for at-risk populations&nbsp;</h2>



As air quality deteriorates with urban expansion, there is an urgent need to assess pollution’s impact on vulnerable populations.&nbsp;



Amal’s findings suggest that governments may need to adjust urban planning and pollution monitoring to safeguard <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/prenatal-pollution-exposure-linked-to-cognitive-impairment/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">prenatal</a> health.



The study also points to future research opportunities, particularly in developing biomarkers for early ASD detection.&nbsp;



By identifying specific indicators of pollution-related neurological stress, doctors may one day be able to screen infants and at-risk populations with greater accuracy.



“Different kinds of neurological disorders, including autism spectrum disorder, can be associated with this environmental factor,” Amal said.&nbsp;



His team is examining whether combining genetic and environmental data can improve diagnostics, which could enable earlier intervention for at-risk populations.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pollution-and-autism-prevalence">Pollution and autism prevalence </h2>



The study calls for extensive research to explore how various pollutants impact brain development.&nbsp;



“The research suggests that individuals with genetic predisposition to ASD may be more vulnerable to the harmful effects of air pollution exposure,” Amal said.&nbsp;



As ASD prevalence rises worldwide, this research may drive the development of preventive policies, such as targeted air quality monitoring in cities.



In addition, Amal’s work highlights the need for preventive strategies in communities facing heightened pollution levels.&nbsp;



His insights may prompt city planners, healthcare providers, and families to prioritize air quality improvements, especially in high-risk areas.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pollution-and-neurological-disorders">Pollution and neurological disorders</h2>



Amal’s pioneering work not only contributes to autism research but has implications for other neurological conditions.&nbsp;



The connections he draws between nitric oxide, ASD, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/alzheimers-disease-attacks-the-brain-in-two-separate-phases/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alzheimer’s disease</a> suggest shared molecular pathways. By addressing NO-related neuroinflammation, treatments may eventually target multiple brain conditions.



The study ultimately underscores the power of interdisciplinary research in addressing complex conditions like autism.&nbsp;



As Amal concludes, his laboratory’s commitment to examining environmental factors alongside genetic predispositions could significantly impact the landscape of neurological disorder treatment, benefiting both current and future generations.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://bm.genomicpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BM0115-Amal-2024.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brain Medicine</a>.



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Air pollution discovered to be a "critical risk factor" for autism

Recent research highlights the link between air pollution and an increased risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children, particularly those with a genetic predisposition.&nbsp; The study explores the role of nitric oxide (NO) and other pollutants in triggering complex biological responses that can impact neurodevelopment. The research was led by Dr. Haitham Amal, head of the Laboratory of Neuromics, Cell Signaling, and Translational Medicine at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. “Meeting families and children with autism in Boston during my time at MIT inspired me to...

Your world: our top instagram profiles of the week

Sometimes, the most breathtaking images of the planet are the...

It’s been 70 years since the rare Pacific fisher, a member of the weasel family, has been seen in the wild near Mount Rainier, Washington.

Last week, that all changed. 

Ten of the small, dark-brown mammals were carried out to <a href="https://www.nps.gov/mora/">Mount Rainier National Park</a> in wooden crates, where they scurried out into the forest. Onlookers cheered them on as they sniffed out their new home, and First Nations and Native American tribal representatives sang and drummed to welcome them.

Some of the fishers were captured on First Nations land in Canada, and First Nations members traveled with them to Mount Rainier, where they were released on land designated for the local Nisqually people’s use. 

The little weasels had been captured in British Columbia, Canada and brought down to Washington in an attempt to reintroduce the species that was once native to the area. Wildlife biologists in the national park see it as part of an effort to correct past mistakes.

The Pacific fisher was found throughout much of the Pacific Northwest and forested areas of the West Coast generally until the fur trade became popular. Between trapping and deforestation of their home habitats, the Pacific fisher shrunk in numbers. 

Washington had no more Pacific fishers to call its own by the mid-1900s. However, they’ve been making a recent comeback, thanks to the <a href="http://wdfw.wa.gov/">Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife</a>, <a href="http://www.conservationnw.org/">Conservation Northwest</a>, the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/">National Park Service</a>, and other organizations.

In 2008, a group of 90 Pacific fishers was reintroduced to <a href="https://www.nps.gov/olym/">Olympic National Park</a>. That first wave has made themselves right at home, reproducing, growing in numbers, and expanding their range. 

The second surge – which this group of fishers has volunteered for – involved relocating furry immigrants from Canada to the Cascades in Washington. Organizers hope to release 80 fishers each to the North Cascades and southern Cascade Mountain regions.

So far, the program appears to be a success, though it’s too early to tell if the little visitors will become a permanent, self-sustaining population.

But environmental groups and conservationists are concerned that the Washington weasels will simply be wiped out again, because the state has declined to give them endangered status. 

While the Pacific fishers no longer lived in historic ranges in Washington, Oregon, and California, the <a href="https://www.fws.gov/">U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service</a> said the decision was a sound one, since the wee weasels are plentiful elsewhere and in no danger of going extinct. 

The furry little weasels hunt porcupines – one of the only species that does – along with snowshoe hares and rodents.

---

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Pacific fishers weasel their way back into Washington state's hearts

It’s been 70 years since the rare Pacific fisher, a...

By the end of the century, torrential downpours in some areas of the U.S. could lead to more flash floods, mudslides, and other disasters, according to a new study from the <a href="http://ncar.ucar.edu/">National Center for Atmospheric Research</a>.

The torrential downpours are expected to hit the Southwest, Gulf Coast, and parts of the Atlantic Coast the hardest, researchers said, and could increase rainfall in some areas up to 70 percent. A storm that drops 2 inches of rain today could drop 3.5 inches in the future, <a href="http://www.nature.com/nclimate/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nclimate3168.html">the study</a> found.

The additional rain is expected if the Earth continues its current warming trend, because warmer air can hold more water, the research team said. Increases in intense downpours have already been recorded across the U.S., they pointed out. 

Average global temperatures have been <a href="http://climate.nasa.gov/vital-signs/global-temperature/">on the rise</a> since about 1880, except for a dip in the 1910s.

The NCAR researchers built a new dataset using current trends to create a new computer climate model that could simulate intense downpours. They then used the dataset to examine changes in storms and downpours over recent years, and to predict how these changes might affect future storm intensity. 

They used predictions of a climate that is 9 degrees Fahrenheit warmer in 2100, which some scientists warn may be the case if greenhouse gas emissions continue at the current rate.

The team found that summertime storms could increase all over the country, but areas like Nebraska, North Dakota, and Iowa are likely to see less of an effect than the Gulf Coast or Southwest. The latter regions could see storms that are 200 to 400 percent more intense in the summer months, the researchers said. 

Storms could occur in hotter weather than they do normally, too, the scientists found. 

The next step is determining how rain-fueled extreme weather events might affect infrastructure in those areas, and working to make changes before disaster strikes, said Anjuli Bamzai, director of the <a href="https://www.nsf.gov/">National Science Foundation</a> Directorate of Geosciences, which co-funded the research. 

The study was published in the journal <a href="http://www.nature.com/nclimate/">Nature Climate Change</a>. Additional funding came from the <a href="http://www.rpsea.org/">Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America</a>.

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By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

U.S. could see more torrential downpours, flash floods by 2100

By the end of the century, torrential downpours in some...

Australia is taking a new look at charging power companies for the greenhouse gases they produce, two and a half years after scrapping the national carbon tax.

The possibility of charging companies that use fossil fuels like coal and natural gas comes as the government looks for new ways to meet its carbon gas reduction goals, Environment and Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg said.

It’s a shift from the government’s previous stance on greenhouse gases. In July 2014, the country’s 3-year-old carbon tax on industrial polluters was repealed, and officials rejected the idea of a national polluter-pays system. 

The taxes were replaced with taxpayer-funded incentives to companies encouraging them to cut emissions. The fund, which was originally $1.9 billion in U.S. dollars, now holds less than $300 million.

Australian electric companies produce a full third of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions, and the government is now seeking ways to curb that pollution. Possibilities could include a tax or an international trade in carbon credits, Frydenberg said. 

Australia is among the worst carbon gas emitters in the world, according to a <a href="https://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/news/greenhouse-gas-rise-leads-to-scathing-report/2642598/">2015 study</a> by <a href="http://next10.org/">Next 10</a>. Among other findings, the study noted that Australia is the top coal consumer in the world, per capita, as well as the fifth-highest coal producer. 

It also found that, unlike most other developed nations worldwide, Australia not only did not reduce per capita greenhouse gas emissions, they actually went up 21 percent.

Australia seeks to cut greenhouse gas emissions to 26 percent lower than its 2005 levels over the next 14 years, according to officials. The government plans to begin a review of its current environmental policies in February.

The incentives alone are not enough to help the country reach its targets, said John Connor, who heads the <a href="http://www.climateinstitute.org.au/">Australian Climate Institute</a>.

---

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Australia weighs charging power companies for greenhouse gases

Australia is taking a new look at charging power companies...

The mayors of four major international cities have unveiled plans for a diesel ban by 2025. 

To prepare for the diesel ban, the leaders of Mexico City, Paris, Madrid, and Athens plan to offer incentives to those who switch to alternative vehicles, and to launch campaigns encouraging walking and cycling.

The mayors committed to a move away from diesel at the sixth biennial <a href="http://www.c40.org/">C40 Mayors Summit</a> in Mexico City. C40 is a network of more than 80 megacities that have joined together to try to fight pollution. C40 represents more than 600 million city residents worldwide.

The cities are banding against diesel after the fuel came under fire from the <a href="http://www.who.int/en/">World Health Organization</a> for adding to air pollution. While more fuel efficient, diesel exhaust contains more nitrogen oxides than other vehicle types. Nitrogen oxides are linked to higher rates of asthma, lung disease, and heart disease.

It also contains particulate matter such as fine soot, which can enter the lungs and cause lung and heart disease and death.

WHO has linked about three million deaths each year to air pollution.

As evidence of the harm caused by air pollution mounts, more cities and nations are taking step to reduce the problem. Mexico City, Paris, Madrid and Athens are vowing to encourage drivers to switch from diesel to electric, hydrogen, and hybrid vehicles, including incentives programs.

Mexico City’s mayor, Miguel Angel Mancera, says the city will expand public transportation and fund more cycling paths and infrastructure. Mexico City has some of the world’s worst air pollution.

Paris, another city with major air pollution problems, has already taken similar steps with restrictions keeping vehicles registered before 1997 out of the city. It also occasionally closes public roadways with traffic problems for short periods.  

In Barcelona, Spain, another C40 member, making bicycles publicly available reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 9,000 metric tons per year.

Diesel engines were initially encouraged because they produce less carbon dioxide, the greenhouse gas linked by a number of agencies to climate change. However, manufacturers have been unable to cut down the nitrogen oxides and clean up the particulate matter in diesel exhaust.

---

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Four major cities plan diesel ban

The mayors of four major international cities have unveiled plans...

Many vegetarians and vegans go a step beyond choosing not to eat meat. They often avoid other animal products, like leather shoes and jackets, silk ties, wool coats, and in England, money like the five pound note.

Wait, what?

The Bank of England has folded to pressure from vegans and vegetarians and will change its new fiver, after it was revealed the note contains trace amounts of animal fat.

“We are aware of some people’s concerns about traces of tallow in our new five pound note. We respect those concerns and are treating them with the utmost seriousness,” the bank said in <a href="http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/publications/Pages/news/2016/085.aspx">a statement</a> released on its website.

The new five pound note was released in September, the first polymer banknote released by the Bank of England. A plastic ten pound note is expected to come out this summer.

The switch led to sturdier currency that is easier to clean, rip-resistant, and lasts more than twice as long as traditional paper notes.

But beyond the issues that might be expected from plastic currency – they can stick together, they can melt at temperatures about 248 Fahrenheit (like in very hot dryer cycles), and folding them can damage the polymer – they were found to have trace amounts of animal fat. 

The fat comes from tallow used by Innovia, the company contracted by the Bank of England, in the plastic pellets that are part of the polymer fiver’s production process. Tallow usually comes from cattle and sheep fat leftover from butchering. 

After the strange ingredient came to light, the Bank of England began receiving complaints from vegans and vegetarians, and a <a href="https://www.change.org/p/bank-of-england-remove-tallow-from-bank-notes">petition on Change.org</a> has gathered more than 126,000 signatures. 

The bank said it didn’t realize tallow was used in the production process when it signed the contract to produce the banknotes. 

The bank plans to address the production issue and remove tallow from the process if possible.

“Innovia is now working intensively with its supply chain and will keep the Bank informed on progress towards potential solutions,” the bank said in its statement.

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By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Bank of England bows to vegan pressures on new five pound note

Many vegetarians and vegans go a step beyond choosing not...

Not all shorebird parents handle their family responsibilities the same way, a <a href="http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v540/n7631/full/nature20563.html">new study</a> of the feathered families revealed.

The study found that bonded shorebird parents tackle their parenting schedules very differently across species – and also within the same species, scientists said.

An international team of biologists found what they called “unexpected diversity” among shorebirds’ synchronized biorhythms, the pattern of when and how often parents switch incubation duties at their nests. 

Some flighty birds switched every hour or two, the study found. Others went nearly 48 hours before trading places. The average time most birds spent on the nest was between two and 24 hours.

The team was led by Dr. Brett Sandercock of <a href="https://www.k-state.edu/">Kansas State University</a> and Dr. Eunbi Kwon, postdoctoral researcher at <a href="https://www.vt.edu/">Virginia Tech University</a>. The pair are part of the <a href="https://www.manomet.org/program/shorebird-recovery/arctic-shorebird-demographics-network-asdn">Arctic Shorebirds Demographic Network</a>, and their portion of the team’s data came from birds nesting within the Arctic Circle. 

The study used data from 729 nests in 91 shorebird populations worldwide. 32 shorebird species were studied and most of them laid three to four eggs in a ground nest.

To monitor the birds, the scientists used light-sensitive geolocator tags. The tags normally track location, but in this case, the scientists used them to track when birds were on the nest – signaled by long periods of darkness – and when they had a chance to briefly fly the coop – signaled by light, which is plentiful in Arctic summers.

The researchers hoped to find out how, when, and why birds determine the length of time each half of a mating pair will stay on the nest. While more research needs to be done, Sandercock said, initial data points to predation risk and nest location, as well as each species’ evolutionary history.

For example, if birds switch frequently, it will be easier for predators to spot their nest than if they switch only once every 24 hours or more, he explained. The day-night schedule of the Arctic could also play a role; very long days and only a couple of hours of night in the summer would discourage the birds from following a day-night pattern, Sandercock said.

The study was published in the December 1st issue of the journal <a href="http://nature.com/">Nature</a>.

---

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Shorebird parents show not all families look alike

Not all shorebird parents handle their family responsibilities the same...

Chimpanzees appear to recognize rear ends with as much ease as faces, according to <a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0165357">a new study</a> on face processing among the primates.

Face processing is a brain shortcut that allows humans to recognize and process faces more quickly than other objects – as long as they are upright. 

This varies from other objects, which humans recognize in about the same amount of time regardless of their orientation.

Chimps also place some importance on faces, but scientists were aware that buttocks also played a role in how they recognize each other, as well as attraction between males and females. 

So Dr. Mariska Kent of <a href="https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en">Leiden University</a> set out to see if chimpanzees have the same processing “shortcut” for butts that humans do for faces. 

They conducted a series of matching tests with both humans and chimpanzees. In the experiments, humans and chimps were asked to match faces, buttocks and feet (as a control) of both species. Some of the images were in colors, and some were in grayscale. Several of the images were inverted, or upside down, to test whether recognition was more efficient right side up.

The study found that humans recognize and are able to match upright faces faster than other body parts, both with and without color.

Chimps showed some interesting results, however. In color, they were able to process upright images of chimpanzee buttocks faster than faces or feet. However, when the color was removed, their facial processing skills improved. 

According to Kret, this indicates that buttocks play a large role in chimpanzee socialization, but especially in sexual attraction. When female chimps are in the fertile part of their menstrual cycle, areas of their buttocks turn dark pink, which may explain why, in color images, chimps are better at recognizing individual pairs of buttocks.

This could be why chimpanzees evolved to have bare behinds, with little hair growing on them, as well as why primate eyes in general are good at spotting the color red, Kret said. 

The study was published in the November 30 issue of the journal <a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosone/">PLOS ONE</a>.

---

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Chimpanzees help us get to the bottom of face processing

Chimpanzees appear to recognize rear ends with as much ease...

Princess Cruises, one of the world’s largest cruise line companies, has been found to be polluting our oceans. The Californian company will plead guilty to seven felony charges relating to pollution and a cover-up operation, announced the <a href="https://www.justice.gov/">U.S. Department of Justice </a>on Thursday.

The Limited Liability Company which owns the cruise line has made a plea agreement to pay a $40 million penalty, the largest ever relating to vessel pollution.

Assistant Attorney General John Cruden said, "Let’s be very clear: Princess engaged in exceptionally serious criminal offenses. It deliberately violated the international law regime designed to make sure that our precious oceans are protected."

Five ships of the Princess fleet were involved in the illegal activity, which started in 2005. The investigation has been underway for several years, revealing that a 3192-passenger vessel, the Caribbean Princess, discharged oily waste into the sea through a "magic pipe," bypassing the ship's waste treatment system. A whistleblower reported the discharges to the UK authorities in 2013. After the crew learned they had been reported on, the chief and first engineers ordered cover-up operations, coercing their subordinates to lie. On one day in 2013, the same ship discharged more than 4,000 gallons of waste off the coast of England.

Cruden said, "Princess itself is to blame because the nature, extent and scope of the crimes involve a striking failure of corporate culture and a serious failure in ship management," finally stating that Princess is “a company that knew better and should have done better."

As part of the agreement reached, vessels operated by Princess and seven other Carnival Corporation-owned brands will be under a strict, court-supervised Environmental Compliance Program for five years.

Princess expressed remorse in a statement. "We are extremely disappointed about the inexcusable actions of our employees who violated our policies and environmental law when they bypassed our bilge water treatment system and discharged untreated bilge water into the ocean. Although we had policies and procedures in place, it became apparent they were not fully effective," the statement said. "We are very sorry that this happened."

This ruling is an embarrassing turn of events for the cruise line, who tout environmental responsibility in their advertising. However, the DoJ didn’t present any evidence that the executive team behind Princess cruises knew of these activities.

Princess Cruises found to be polluting our oceans

Princess Cruises, one of the world’s largest cruise line companies,...

According to <a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2016/11/ivanka-trump-climate-czar-232031">Politico</a>, Ivanka Trump is looking for ways to use her new role to combat climate change, despite her father's previous comments that global warming was a “hoax.”

The report goes on to state that Ms. Trump may have an even more public role than the future first lady. The president-elect’s ambitious daughter will take over running the Trump businesses alongside her brothers, but as of yet she has no plans to move to Washington. Politico reported that she may be planning to hire a chief of staff and additional team members.

Trump himself has warmed to the concept that humans may have affected the world’s climate recently, stating in a <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/23/us/politics/trump-new-york-times-interview-transcript.html?_r=0">New York Times interview</a> that he thinks there is “some connectivity” between global warming and human activity.

Ivanka and Donald Trump are reported to have an incredibly close relationship, with some commentators believing he may move on climate if pushed by his ambitious daughter. The former fashion model is thought to have more left-leaning views than her father, with an emphasis on women's rights, climate change, family leave and pay equality. Ivanka Trump commented earlier this year, “Policies that allow women with children to thrive should not be novelties – they should be the norm.” In July, she promised her father would change labor laws put in place years before women were a major part of the workforce.

Ivanka Trump makes plans to combat climate change

According to Politico, Ivanka Trump is looking for ways to...

While residents of coastal communities and Pacific island nations worry over how rising seas could change their lives, others are trying to find the bright side of climate change – like the UK wine industry.

If weather patterns in England, Wales and Scotland change as climate scientists are predicting, it could soon be prime real estate for vintners looking to grow Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. 

A new study by <a href="https://www.ucl.ac.uk/">University College London</a> and <a href="http://www.laithwaiteswine.com/">Laithwaite’s Wine</a> found that rising temperatures and increased rainfall, which climatologists are suggesting could be in the UK’s future if climate change isn’t curbed. In that case Britain becomes wine country.

The researchers looked at climate models through 2100, as well as the ideal growing conditions for a number of grape varietals. These models suggest temperatures will rise by 2.2º C and rainfall could increase up to 5.6% by 2100.

According to the researchers, this would provide excellent growing conditions for Pinot Noir, Pinot Grigio, Malbec, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Merlot in various locations throughout the UK. There would still need to be studies of soil quality and other variables, the researchers admitted.

England’s wine industry is already growing quickly, with the number of vineyards doubling over the past 10 years.

It’s not just new possibilities in the UK wine industry – a <a href="http://www.nature.com/nclimate/journal/v6/n7/full/nclimate2960.html">study earlier this year</a> found the effects of climate change appeared to be improving French wine.

The research is a silver lining for a climate change future that has looked stormy for the UK. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/oct/08/potential-impacts-climate-change-uk">Computer models</a> have predicted a wet future for the country, with more winter rain, more intense downpours, and a loss of coastline due to sea levels rising. Hotter, drier summers may also become the norm, if climatologists’ predictions play out.

The researchers shared their findings through <a href="http://blog.laithwaites.co.uk/wine-climate-change-uk-margaux-margate-chateau-petrus-chateau-peckham/#.WECNG-ArLnC">Laithwaite’s blog</a> and with a number of news outlets.

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By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Climate change could be good news for UK wine industry

While residents of coastal communities and Pacific island nations worry...

Fruit fly fights illustrate social behavior patterns

A fruit fly fight club may sound like a terrible sequel idea, but it turns out much can be learned about social evolution by these fruit fly fights. For several months, Julia Saltz, assistant professor of biosciences at <a href="http://www.rice.edu/">Rice University</a>, observed fruit fly fights in different scenarios to determine how their aggression altered their social environment.  

Psychologists have long believed that human behavior isn’t simply a reaction to the environment we happen to fall into. Rather, people choose and create their environment through social interactions. Saltz wanted to examine how a fruit fly’s genotype affected its phenotype. In other words, how the flies’ genetic code influences social behavior. 

In a study published in the <a href="http://nature.com/">Nature</a> journal <a href="http://www.nature.com/hdy/">Heredity</a>, Saltz placed male fruit flies in different stressful situations and observed how stress altered their behavior. Using a process called social-environment construction, she moved a stressed fly into a different group for observation.

Said Saltz, "The main takeaway is that individuals' behaviors affect their social environments. In other words, when you pick your friends, it matters to you and it affects both what happens in the group and your behavior at a later time."

Due to the aggressive nature of the study, Saltz used fruit flies, in part because humans punching each other would quickly get messy. Fruit flies, however, can be easily manipulated and observed.

Saltz observed the male fruit flies for two days each, both alone and in groups of 2 to 8. She placed genetically identical fruit flies in their preferred or non-preferred environments and observed their aggression, finding that different genotypes have different group size preferences. After determining preference, she put individual males into variously sized groups.

"For day one, I put a 'genotype one' focal male with a group of flies, and a 'genotype two' with a replica group with the same sex ratio, number and genotype, reared under standard lab conditions," said Saltz. "That way, I knew the social environment was the same for both focal males. If there was something different about how the groups behaved, it had to be due to the genotype of that one extra male. Arguably, the focal male would influence the behavior of other individuals in the group, which is what we saw.”

It turned out that males in their preferred groups were attacked more often than males in non-preferred groups. 

One the second day, Saltz took the focal males into a new environment with a “naive” male and found the previous day made the focal male less aggressive. Saltz calls this “the loser effect,” in which males who lose a confrontation are subsequently less aggressive.  

"That seems to be true here,” she said. “Except that there's no good definition of losing. That's why I like to think of it as being attacked more often."

"The male actually rears up. The front two legs and part of its body go up and it slams its legs onto another male. It's not ambiguous, and a male can only lunge at one other male at a time, so you know exactly who was being aggressive and who was the recipient."

While the long-term effects are impossible to determine using fruit flies as they only live for about 70 days, Saltz hopes to use larger sets with more genotypes in future studies. 

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By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Fruit fly fights illustrate social behavior patterns

Fruit fly fights illustrate social behavior patterns A fruit fly...

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Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.igb.illinois.edu/">Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology</a> reveals how scientists can modify common crops like soybean, rice, and wheat to protect them from heat stress.



“We need to double crop production by 2050 to feed a growing global population, and not only are we not on track to do that, but climate change is further complicating things,” said Amanda Cavanagh, a lecturer at the University of Essex. 



The study is part of Realizing Increased Photosynthetic Efficiency (RIPE), an international research project that aims to develop food crops that turn the sun’s energy into food more efficiently.



“Using an engineering approach we designed multiple alternative metabolic pathways to photorespiration. Testing them in the field showed increases in productivity which led Amanda to significantly move the project forward by showing our engineered plants can withstand pretty extreme temperature stress,” said study co-author and RIPE researcher Paul South.&nbsp;



“As the climate changes and temperature stresses increase the pressure on our global food supply, farmers will need every tool available including engineering approaches like the synthetic biology used here to maintain safe and productive harvests.”



The experts tested plants modified to have more efficient photorespiration to see if they were better adapted to warmer temperatures.&nbsp;



The team found that the engineered plants produced 26 percent more biomass than the wild-type plants exposed to the same temperatures, and had 15 percent less yield loss under the higher temperatures.



Video Credit: Amanda Nguyen/University of Illinois



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



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Designing crops that can beat the heat

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Today's Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard</a> describes the first comprehensive estimate of carbon density in the Saharan, Sahel, and Sudanian zones of Africa. In an effort to measure the amount of carbon stored across these drylands, a team of scientists used high-resolution satellite images and artificial intelligence to map nearly 10 billion individual trees. 



"The high spatial resolution (50 cm) combined with AI and field measurements used in this study is key to improving tree inventories in drylands," said Pierre Hiernaux, a French researcher working for NASA. "The ever-increasing availability of very high-resolution satellite imagery will make it possible to assess carbon pools and their dynamics at the individual tree level on a global scale."



"This study is exceptional because it is pioneering a type of approach that will revolutionize the monitoring of trees and forests on a global scale: in the short term, it will be possible to map the world's trees from the centre of the Amazon to our schoolyards," said <a href="https://www.inrae.fr/en">INRAE</a> researcher Jean-Pierre Wigneron.



"Many fields of application will become much more efficient and accurate, such as tracking carbon stocks, biodiversity, monitoring logging and protection against illegal forest degradation, in near real time.”



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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Remote sensing will revolutionize the way we monitor trees

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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Today's Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard</a> features a visual dataset of.methane emissions from wetlands across the globe. Atmospheric methane levels have reached record highs in recent years, and wetlands are a major source of these emissions.&nbsp;



"Methane is an important greenhouse gas that contributes substantially to global warming. On a molecule by molecule basis, methane is much more efficient at trapping heat than carbon dioxide, the main driver of warming," says NASA.



"Though human activities, including agriculture, oil and natural gas production and use, and waste disposal, collectively contribute the majority of methane to the atmosphere, about a third of total methane emissions comes from wetlands."&nbsp;



According to NASA, understanding methane emissions from wetlands and other natural sources is critically important for scientists and policymakers who are working to combat climate change by reducing emissions from human activities.



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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Wetlands are a major source of methane emissions

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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Today's Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard</a> describes how record-breaking heat expressed itself around the world in 2022.



Scientists have determined that 2022 was the 5th warmest year since 1880. Furthermore, the last nine consecutive years have been the warmest on record.



From devastating floods and wildfires to natural disasters like Hurricane Ian, 2022 showed us yet again how a warming climate affects people across the globe.&nbsp;



"As we look back at 20:22 and years past, we see that each year we better understand the challenges we face and how important it is to meet them," says NASA.



Video/ Image Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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2022 illustrated the consequences of a warming climate

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> describes how Earth is unique in our solar system for its ability to sustain liquid water on its surface. But now, the water cycle is shifting as the climate warms, and scientists must find ways to predict how these changes will affect water availability.



Overall, 96 percent of Earth's water is saltwater, and nearly all of freshwater is found in ice and groundwater. These sources of water are linked as it passes through solid, liquid and gas phases.



In a warmer climate, the water cycle will be transformed. It will be easier for water to evaporate and form clouds, and storms will become more frequent and intense. Some regions will get too much water, while others will be left without enough water. In addition, soil moisture will be lost - which threatens food security.



Scientists are using satellite data from over the last 40 years to track changes that are happening in the water cycle. This will ultimately help us prepare for extreme events and better manage our water resources, according to ESA.



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



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Tracking changes in Earth's water cycle

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Today's Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard Space Flight Center</a> features images of Saturn from NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope. The photographs capture the start of the mysterious "spoke season" on Saturn - when unexplained features appear on its rings. 



According to NASA, both the cause of the spokes and their seasonal variability have yet to be fully explained by planetary scientists.



"Like Earth, Saturn is tilted on its axis and therefore has four seasons, though because of Saturn's much larger orbit, each season lasts approximately seven Earth years. Equinox occurs when the rings are tilted edge-on to the Sun," explains NASA.



"The spokes disappear when it is near summer or winter solstice on Saturn. (When the Sun appears to reach either its highest or lowest latitude in the northern or southern hemisphere of a planet.) As the autumnal equinox of Saturn's northern hemisphere on May 6, 2025, draws near, the spokes are expected to become increasingly prominent and observable."



Experts believe that the spokes may be a product of the planet's variable magnetic field. When magnetic fields interact with solar wind, an electrically charged environment is created. This phenomenon is visible on Earth as the northern lights.&nbsp;



"Scientists think that the smallest, dust-sized icy ring particles can become charged as well, which temporarily levitates those particles above the rest of the larger icy particles and boulders in the rings," says NASA.



The spokes were first observed in the early 1980s by NASA's Voyager mission. Depending on the angle of the rings, the spokes can appear dark or light.



"Thanks to Hubble's OPAL program, which is building an archive of data on the outer solar system planets, we will have longer dedicated time to study Saturn’s spokes this season than ever before," said NASA senior planetary scientist Amy Simon, head of the Hubble Outer Planet Atmospheres Legacy (OPAL) program.



"Despite years of excellent observations by the Cassini mission, the precise beginning and duration of the spoke season is still unpredictable, rather like predicting the first storm during hurricane season."



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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Mysterious "spoke season" captured on Saturn

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Closeup,Of,Fresh,Green,The,Napier,Bush,Grass,As,Animal

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Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="http://www.ntu.edu.sg/">NTU Singapore</a> reveals that some plants can remove toxic heavy metals from soil.&nbsp;



The researchers analyzed samples of various tropical plant species to test for levels of heavy metals and metalloids. The study showed that there are existing plants with high levels of these contaminants, which means that these species are great candidates for drawing pollutants out of the soil.&nbsp;



Among the plants examined in the study, 12 species had accumulated several types of heavy metals and metalloids. These plants are widely available, including species that are native to Singapore.



“In a small nation like Singapore, land may be repurposed to support new development plans, so it is important that we have a green and sustainable way to remediate land that is contaminated," said Professor Lam Yeng Ming.



"We set out to uncover how to better make use of tropical plants to do phytoremediation and through advanced characterization techniques, we showed how some of these tropical plant species can be an environmentally friendly and literally a 'green' way to remove contaminants in soil."&nbsp;



"Phytoremediation also has benefits of cost effectiveness, simplicity of management, aesthetic advantages, and long-term applicability and sustainability. The strategy prevents erosion and metal leaching by stabilizing or accumulating heavy metals, so that helps reduce the risk of contaminant spread.”



Video Credit: NTU Singapore



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



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Plants help remove heavy metals from contaminated soil

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.acs.org/">American Chemical Society</a> describes why herbicides are not as effective in killing weeds anymore. In the 20th century, chemical companies developed thousands of herbicides. The most commonly used herbicide was glyphosate, which was introduced in 1974.



Over the past few decades, dozens of species of weeds have evolved resistance to glyphosate. Depending on the site of action, the part of the plant that an herbicide interacts with, weeds may even be resistant to herbicides that have not been developed yet.&nbsp;



With increasing resistance to glyphosate and other herbicides, weeds are - once again - becoming a major concern for farmers.&nbsp;



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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Weeds are becoming increasingly resistant to herbicides

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/">NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory</a> (JPL) describes a dust storm on Mars that was nearly twice the size of the United States. As the storm covered the southern hemisphere of the planet, some of NASA’s explorers had to delay their normal activities.



NASA’s Insight lander put itself in a "safe mode" for 11 days to conserve battery power because solar power was disrupted by the dust. The Ingenuity Mars Helicopter postponed flights until conditions improved.



"A fleet of NASA orbiters monitor Martian dust storms like this one and serve as lifelines to Earth by relaying data from the rovers and lander on the ground back to the team. This includes the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, MAVEN, and Odyssey," reports JPL.



"Dust storms like this recent one start close to the ground and are spread by wind as they rise – warming the cold Martian atmosphere."



The images in the video were captured by NASA’s Curiosity as the dust rolled in. A fleet of orbiters monitored the dust storm from above, relaying data from Mars’ explorers back to scientists on Earth.



Video &amp; Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS



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



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NASA monitors giant dust storms on Mars

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Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="http://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz. This strait provides the only sea passage from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean.



Qeshm is separated from the Iranian coast by the Clarence Strait, also known as Khuran.&nbsp;The Hara Forest Protected Area is a network of shallow waterways and forest located between the island and the mainland. This protected region is home to sea turtles, snakes, and more than 150 species of migrating birds.



Qeshm is famous for its wide range of&nbsp;ecotourist&nbsp;attractions, such as the&nbsp;Hara marine forests. According to environmentalists, about 1.5 percent of the world birds and 25 percent of Iran's native <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/female-hummingbirds-avoid-sexual-harassment-by-looking-like-males/">birds</a> annually migrate to the forests, which are the first national geo park in Iran.



Tourists are also drawn to the island to see an age-old Portuguese&nbsp;fort, historic mosques, the&nbsp;Seyyed Mozaffar&nbsp;and&nbsp;Bibi Maryam&nbsp;shrines, and the "Valley of Stars."



The average temperature on the island is 81 degress and the region is often hot and humid. From June to August, the island is described as being oppressively hot. The ideal time to visit is during the winter season. 



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.

Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Inhambane Bay in southeast Mozambique.&nbsp;



"Inhambane Bay is a deep inlet into which the small Mutamba River flows," says ESA. "On one side of the bay lies the historical city of Inhambane, capital of the Inhambane Province, while the sister city of Maxixe, the economic capital of Inhambane, sits across from it. The province is the second largest grower of cashews, after Nampula, and it also produces coconut and citrus fruits."



The beaches of Barra and Tofo are popular with tourists. There are also coral reefs along the long coastline of Inhambane, making it an ideal destination for scuba diving and snorkeling.



"Mozambique’s extensive coastline heightens the country’s vulnerability to tropical cyclones that develop in the Indian Ocean as well as storm surge flooding," says ESA.



"More than half of the population lives in low lying coastal areas, putting communities at risk. Inhambane Bay was dangerously close to where Cyclone Idai made landfall in 2019 causing widespread destruction to the country."



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.

Inhambane Bay in southeast Mozambique

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency </a>&nbsp;features the Kangerlussuaq Glacier, one of the largest tidewater outlet glaciers in Greenland. The glacier is located on the east coast of the Greenland ice sheet.



As human-induced climate change continues to drive up temperatures, global ice loss is accelerating at an alarming rate. ESA reports that, over the past decade alone, 3.5 trillion tons of ice have melted from the Greenland ice sheet. This is enough to cover the UK with meltwater 15 meters deep.



Based on satellite imagery, researchers determined that Kangerlussuaq entered a new phase of rapid retreat and acceleration in 2017. In their study, published in <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2019.00123/full">Frontiers in Earth Science</a>,&nbsp; the experts report that the glacier's ice front is now at its most retreated position since the early 20th century.



"Given Kangerlussuaq’s previous impacts on both the magnitude and pattern of ice sheet wide mass loss, we predict that its new phase of retreat, acceleration and thinning will markedly enhance the south-east region’s contribution to increasing discharge from the ice sheet," wrote the study authors.&nbsp;&nbsp;



"More broadly, accurate forecasting of the ice sheet’s contribution to sea level rise will require a deeper understanding of, and responses to, these non-linear ice dynamic processes."



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.

Kangerlussuaq Glacier 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 the complex relationship between ocean and climate. ESA's Climate Change Initiative will help us understand how oceans influence the climate and how climate change is impacting the oceans.&nbsp;



"Earth’s oceans are huge heat stores, soaking up 93% of the excess heat from human activity over the past 70 years. Ocean currents redistribute heat around the planet, from the Equator to the poles. Where this ocean heat goes influences weather patterns and regional climate," explains ESA.



"As well as absorbing heat, oceans are a natural carbon sink, absorbing a quarter of carbon dioxide emissions from human activity. This has led to the acidification of ocean water, threating marine life."



The amount of heat and carbon dioxide soaked up by the ocean depends on specific variables, including phytoplankton, temperatures, waves, salinity, and ice cover. Satellites can be used to measure these variables from space.



"From their unique vantage point, satellites provide key information for understanding the complexities of our planet and monitoring environmental issues," says ESA.



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.

Ocean heat influences regional climate

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> describes the importance of monitoring the shape of the sea surface, which is constantly changing. These observations have many applications, such as ship routing, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-modem-ocean-is-a-tough-place-for-whales-to-survive/">ocean</a> current forecasting, and debris tracking.



"A project supported by the Discovery element of ESA’s Basic Activities recently investigated a new technique to measure sea surface topography very precisely," reports ESA.



"The technique involves looking at satellite navigation (GNSS) signals that have been reflected off of the sea surface at very low angles. At these so-called grazing angles, waves and surface roughness have very little impact on the reflection process; the sea surface acts as a very smooth mirror."



Estel Cardellach is the principal investigator at the Institute for Space Studies of Catalonia, who first submitted the idea for the project.



“In a mirror-like reflection the phase of the signal can be tracked – it is continuous," said Cardellach. "Different surface heights result in different phase measurements. It gives a very precise measurement of the surface altitude at a few centimetres’ precision.”



The researchers developed a GNSS receiver and set up an experiment in the Balaeric Islands to collect signals from the receiver that were reflected off the sea surface. Ultimately, these signals will provide improved measurements of the shape of the sea surface.



Image/ Video 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

Monitoring the dynamic shape of the sea surface

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Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center</a> describes how scientists are using autonomous sound sensors to monitor deforestation in the Amazon. By recording soundscapes, the experts can determine which animals are present through their distinct sounds.&nbsp;



Using this method, sounds can be used as scientific measurements to analyze the effects of deforestation. The researchers will gain a better understanding of how the acoustics of a forest can be used to measure its health.&nbsp;



"From space, parts of the Amazon rainforest that have previously been logged or burned may look lush and green, like a place buzzing with activity and full of sounds. But inside the rainforest, the animal life may tell a different story, of a harsh environment and a quieter soundscape," says NASA.



Video Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center&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

Monitoring deforestation in the Amazon through sounds

[sendtonews key="u0TYxxqfF7-2186404-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from NASA’s...