Tiny microplastic fragments, often smaller than a grain of rice, are turning up in surprising places. From city streets to remote oceans, they persist in the air, water, and soil. 



Scientists have learned that these particles can also invade the human body, showing up in organs that keep us alive. 



For years, researchers have warned us about the possible dangers microplastics pose to animals, our food sources, and human health. Now a fresh study suggests even plants are feeling the pressure.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-plants-photosynthesis-and-microplastics">Plants, photosynthesis, and microplastics</h2>



This new research from <a href="https://www.5gyres.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">5 Gyres Institute</a> offers new clues about how these plastic particles affect photosynthesis. 



The team gathered over 3,200 records from across the globe, focusing on how tiny bits of microplastics alter photosynthesis by changing the way <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/details-photosynthesis-water-viewed-atomic-level-cryo-microscope/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plants use sunlight</a> to produce energy. 



Their analysis spans common food crops and aquatic species, highlighting concerns about weakened growth. 



For communities that rely on healthy harvests and marine resources, these findings add a fresh dimension to the worldwide plastic conversation.



“It’s really scary,” says Marcus Eriksen, a marine scientist at the 5 Gyres Institute, a nonprofit plastic pollution research organization, who was not involved in the study.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-microplastics-spread-far-and-wide">How microplastics spread far and wide</h2>



Most microplastics come from everyday sources. Plastic bottles, packaging, and synthetic clothing shed fibers that break into smaller pieces. Rain and wind carry these particles into rivers, and eventually they end up in oceans. 



In agricultural fields, plastic mulch or irrigation systems contribute fragments that seep into the soil. Over time, these bits degrade further, leading to a steady accumulation in places we least expect. 



This constant spread worries experts because smaller sizes mean they can slip into living organisms more easily.



Researchers have found these particles in fish, shellfish, and even table salt. In recent years, labs have also identified plastic remnants in bottled water and tap supplies. 



While ongoing investigations continue to measure how widespread they are, one thing is clear: once plastic breaks down, it does not disappear. That lingering presence has potential consequences for all life on Earth.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-microplastics-impede-photosynthesis">Microplastics impede photosynthesis</h2>



In this new analysis, researchers show that microplastics reduce photosynthesis by 7 to 12% across different plant species. 



A computer model backs this up, indicating that plastic particles can <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/artificial-photosynthesis-could-transform-power-generation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">lower chlorophyll</a> levels by 11 to 13%. 



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/gardening-hack-called-green-gold-chlorophyll-works-like-magic-for-houseplants/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chlorophyll</a> is the green pigment that helps plants capture sunlight for food production, so any dip in its presence can affect overall growth.



Every year, this pollution could cause a loss of 109 to 361 million metric tons of crops and 1 to 24 million metric tons of seafood, according to the study. 



Because of microplastic buildup, global harvests may drop by 4 to 13% yearly, and food from the ocean could decline by up to 7%. 



Even minor disruptions to plant growth may have ripple effects on human nutrition and economies that rely on farming.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-challenges-for-the-food-supply">Challenges for the food supply</h2>



Beyond plants, these particles also affect marine life, which many communities rely on for protein. Scientists report that if <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/microplastic-pollution-is-everywhere-even-in-newborns-and-getting-worse/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">microplastic pollution</a> continues unchecked, seafood yields could suffer even further. 



They are associated with an increase in people’s risk of heart attack and stroke, and they have been found to hamper growth and reproduction in multiple species. 



Worries about <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/we-are-in-a-race-against-time-to-save-our-food-supply-from-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">food safety and supply</a> also arise when these pollutants accumulate in organisms that people eat.



Researchers suggest that a modest 13% reduction in these particles could prevent the loss of up to 47 million metric tons of crops and 3 million metric<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plastic-particles-found-in-99-of-tested-seafood-samples/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> tons of seafood</a> each year, translating to a 30% cut in overall harm. 



This projection highlights the importance of tightening plastic regulations and improving waste management to protect food resources.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-does-any-of-this-matter">Why does any of this matter?</h2>



Reduced photosynthesis does not only <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/microbial-awakening-arctic-food-webs-are-transforming-from-green-to-brown/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">disrupt food webs</a>. When plants capture less carbon dioxide, there is less natural removal of this greenhouse gas from the atmosphere. 



In many climate strategies, forests and marine algae are expected to absorb significant amounts of carbon in the coming decades. If plastic particles undermine that process, climate models may need to be revised.



Most projections assume stable plant performance over time. Any drop in growth or carbon uptake could make <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/un-the-world-is-on-track-for-a-catastrophic-level-of-global-warming/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">global warming</a> harder to control. 



With ecosystems already under stress, additional strain from microscopic plastic fragments raises concerns about future carbon storage in forests, grasslands, and kelp beds.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sounding-the-alarm">Sounding the alarm</h2>



The study’s authors emphasize the need for international efforts to address plastic waste, pointing out that large pieces eventually degrade into smaller and more invasive forms.



A global treaty on plastic issues has been in discussion since 2017, yet recent negotiations concluded without a formal agreement.



Marine biologist Richard Thompson, who specializes in microplastic pollution at the <a href="https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Plymouth</a> in England and was not involved in the study, notes that delaying action only increases the risks.



“If we don’t take action now,” he adds, “within the next 70 to 100 years, we’ll see much wide-scale ecological harm.”



Researchers say that lowering even a small amount of microplastic pollution could help protect crops, preserve marine life, and support our climate goals.



Taking action now can guard our health and ensure a healthier environment for generations to come, which doesn’t seem like too much to ask of humanity.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2423957122">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.



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Sounding the alarm: Microplastics are disrupting  photosynthesis around the world

Tiny microplastic fragments, often smaller than a grain of rice, are turning up in surprising places. From city streets to remote oceans, they persist in the air, water, and soil. Scientists have learned that these particles can also invade the human body, showing up in organs that keep us alive. For years, researchers have warned us about the possible dangers microplastics pose to animals, our food sources, and human health. Now a fresh study suggests even plants are feeling the pressure. Plants, photosynthesis, and microplastics This new...

Anyone who has bit into a juicy Honeycrisp apple has the <a href="https://twin-cities.umn.edu/">University of Minnesota</a> to thank for what has become one of the most popular breeds of apple ever sold. 

Bred specifically to be juicier, crispier, and sweeter, the Honeycrisp was first introduced in 1991 and since then millions of the apples have been planted in apple orchards around the world. 

The Honeycrisp was so revolutionary that it was recognized as a top innovation of the decade by the 2006 Better World Report, according to the <a href="https://mnhardy.umn.edu/varieties/fruit/apples">University of Minnesota (U of M)</a>. 

But the Honeycrisp isn’t the only new breed of apple that the U of M has worked on. In fact, their breeders have introduced dozens of varieties of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/best-wash-pesticides-apples/">apples</a>, berries, grapes, tomatoes, and even evergreen trees. 

Now, there is another variety of apple joining the ranks, and by all accounts, it’s slated to give the Honeycrisp a run for its money. 

The U of M’s new apple, First Kiss, made headlines when it’s release was announced just in time for the <a href="https://www.mprnews.org/story/2018/08/26/new-apple-variety-debuts-at-minnesota-state-fair">Minnesota State Fair.</a>

Horticultural science involves research and practices devoted to plant cultivation which includes breeding and the U of M has become a pioneer in horticultural sciences. 

Just how do these pioneers in cultivation create new apple breeds with specific traits? The answer is cross-pollination, a traditional method for innovating plants and crops and something that naturally occurs in the wild. 

Researchers are playing build-a-breed with cross-pollination, by taking preferred traits of one plant and breeding it with another variety to create a wholly new breed. 

For example, in 1887, according to the U of M, by breeding cold climate apples with apple varieties grown on the East Coast, researchers were able to develop a hardier apple built to withstand the drastic seasonal changes of Minnesota. 

It’s a time consuming and lengthy process as was evidenced by the First Kiss apple which took decades to perfect.

I spoke with <a href="https://horticulture.umn.edu/people/faculty/jimluby">James Luby</a>, U of M Horticultural Sciences professor who worked on First Kiss since its early beginning in 1997, about just what goes into making a new variety through cross-pollination. 

Not surprisingly, it’s such a time-consuming process because the researchers have to wait for whatever new breeds they develop to grow and produce fruit. 

First comes the actual pollination, and to achieve this Luby said they cover the flowers of a plant or tree designated as the “female tree” in order to avoid being pollinated by bees and other insects. 

Then, a team will gather the pollen from the “father” that has whatever desirable traits or qualities they are looking for and by hand pollinate the mother flowers with the pollen, just like a bee would do. 

After pollination, the researchers have to wait for seeds to develop which are then harvested and germinated over the winter. Once germinated, the hybrid seedlings are planted and it’s just a waiting game. 

For apple trees, they go through a period of juvenility Luby explained, and aren’t ready to flower for about five to ten years. 

Once the researchers have the new flowering trees, they make their selection based on appearance, texture, and of course, taste. Luby told me that one in maybe 200 seedlings are chosen for later grafting, which is how the U of M researchers clone their prototype. 

“You can look at it like any prototype,” Luby said. “A car manufacturer might make a new car, but then they have to make more, and keep scaling up, to make sure it’s right for the consumer.” 

This scaling up process involves growing trees from the prototype seedlings and making sure the resulting fruit or flowers are exactly what the researchers are looking for. 

With First Kiss, eventually, the researchers came upon the perfect pairing with the Honeycrisp and a variety of apple developed by the University of Arkansas, the AA-44. 

Because of this opportune crossbreed, the University of Minnesota created an apple with the same juicy texture of the Honeycrisp that would be available as early as late August. It also possesses a lovely red color. 

“With First Kiss, we got the best of both worlds,” said David Bedford, a research scientist in the UMN’s Department of Horticultural Science, in a <a href="https://twin-cities.umn.edu/news-events/umn-plant-breeders-introduce-first-kiss-apple">U of M News release</a>. “Its crisp texture and spritely flavor make it an excellent choice for fresh eating and its early harvest date means Minnesota apple lovers can enjoy their favorite Minnesota grown fruit sooner than ever.”

Advancements in horticulture and agriculture typically start with a need. For many agricultural innovations, the aim is to find ways to make crops more resistant to droughts or disease. Looking forward, many researchers are working on creating crops that can handle climate change. 

Luby told me about how he and his colleagues find ways to cross-pollinate breeds keeping in mind pest and disease resistance, particularly fire blight and apple scab. 

Interestingly, the Honeycrisp is more resistant to apple scab than its new offspring, First Kiss. 

The U of M is slowly in the process of working on identifying genetic markers of disease, something only made possible by the advancements made in gene mapping. 

While drought and climate resistance remain a top concern for agriculturalists, I learned from Luby that this isn’t necessarily at the forefront of the U of M’s radar. Climate change’s impact is so varied and you can’t grow a perfect apple that will be able to thrive in any climate. 

For example, the Honeycrisp is grown all over the world, even in Africa and while drought and irrigation isn’t a problem so much here in Minnesota, in Africa, apple growers may face completely different challenges. The U of M creates its variety by starting with what the consumer wants. 

“We’re looking for an apple that tastes and looks good, or else no one will buy it,” Luby said.

When the Honeycrisp burst onto the scene with its incredibly juicy texture, it reinvigorated apple orchards here in Minnesota and has since become a fan favorite all over. 

Other factors that the horticultural department is looking for is storage ability and cold hardiness. Storage and shelf life are particularly important because you could have the best apple in the world, but if it doesn’t last long off the tree then it makes marketing and selling the apple difficult. 

First Kiss is available in limited quantity, but soon you’ll be able to find it at local Minnesota orchards and farmers markets and eventually your local grocery store. 

But the next time you pass by the fruits and vegetables at your local supermarket, take a second to think about all the ingenuity that went into to creating that produce, from seed to harvest to your dinner table. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: <a href="https://twin-cities.umn.edu/">University of Minnesota</a>

Scientists unveil newly cultivated First Kiss apple

Anyone who has bit into a juicy Honeycrisp apple has...

More and more research has been devoted to the medicinal benefits of cannabinoids found in medical marijuana.

Studies have found that cannabinoids can help with pain relief, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cannabis-treats-migraines-better/">migraines</a>, anxiety, and has been proven to treat nausea and countering the negative effects of chemotherapy for cancer patients. 

Now, a new study has now found that cannabinoids could also help treat the symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS).

MS is a disease where the immune system attacks nerve fibers coverings and disrupts the signals between the brain and body. This can cause a myriad of potentially debilitating problems including numbness, pain, tingling in the extremities, loss of vision, and coordination issues. 

There is no cure for MS currently but researchers from the <a href="https://www.uab.cat/en">Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona </a>wanted to examine the potential if any, of cannabinoids in providing relief for MS patients. 

The researchers reviewed and analyzed 17 clinical trials that involved using medicinal cannabinoids to treat patients with MS. 

3,161 patients participated in the 17 trials and the researchers compared the results of the different trials to see if there were any overarching conclusions to be made on cannabinoids and their potential to treat MS symptoms. 

The researchers discovered that cannabinoids were linked to a mild decrease in muscle spasms, pain, and bladder dysfunction. 

While further research is needed to assess the ability of cannabinoids in treating MS symptoms, the results of the study suggest that cannabinoids could be used safely for MS patients. 

“To our knowledge, this is the most complete systematic review and meta-analysis of the effect of cannabinoids on MS,” the researchers wrote in <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2706499">their study</a>. “Our results show limited therapeutic efficacy of cannabinoids for the primary outcomes of spasticity, pain, and bladder dysfunction in patients with MS.”

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Medical marijuana can help treat symptoms of MS

More and more research has been devoted to the medicinal...

Experts have identified an inexpensive, plant-based compound that may help in treating <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/risk-death-snake-bites/">snake bites</a> along with anti-venom. The researchers have demonstrated that rutin, a bioflavonoid found in certain vegetables and fruits such as apples, prevents some secondary complications among envenomed mice.

The study, led by Ana Teresa Azevedo Sachetto of the <a href="http://www.butantan.gov.br/">Instituto Butantan</a> in Brazil, showed that rutin may be particularly useful in complementing an anti-venom to treat snake bites from a species of pit viper known as Bothrops jaraca, or jararaca. These snakes are native to southern Brazil, Paraguay, and northern Argentina.

While anti-venom can effectively treat the major symptoms of snake bites, there are no effective therapies for common secondary complications. Venom toxins from Bothrops jaraca may trigger bleeding, disrupt oxidation reduction in cells, and inhibit the body's ability to stop bleeding. 

To investigate the potential therapeutic benefits of rutin against B. jararaca venom, the researchers injected both venom and rutin into a group of mice and then analyzed blood and tissue samples. The rutin appeared to protect the mice against certain secondary complications such as bleeding and inflammation.

According to the researchers, the mechanisms underlying the clinical complications in patients bitten by B. jaraca snakes are not well understood. Furthermore, anti-venom therapy is limited in its ability to treat the full range of complications that may occur following a snakebite. 

Future studies are needed to understand rutin activity after venom has triggered pathophysiological events, as well the specific therapeutic effects of rutin delivered with anti-venom. 

The study authors said that the research “indicates that rutin has a great potential as an ancillary drug in concert with anti-venom therapy to treat snake bites, particularly in countries where antivenom availability is scarce.”

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/">PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Felipesussekind, <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/felipesussekind/5992689190/">Flickr</a>, 2002

Plant compound found to be effective at treating snake bites

Experts have identified an inexpensive, plant-based compound that may help...

For over a century, scientists have speculated that plants adapted brightly colored fruit to attract animals to eat them and spread out their seeds. A new study has provided the first strong evidence to support this theory.

Animals that act as seed dispersers have notable differences in their visual capacities. Birds and mammals, who play critical roles in seed dispersal, do not perceive colors the same way as humans.

To investigate what drives variation in <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/fruit-product-slow-aging/">fruit</a> color, the experts analyzed the colors of the fruit and leaves of 97 tropical plant species in Madagascar and Uganda.

The study revealed that fruits dispersed by mammals such as monkeys and apes are greener than those dispersed by birds, which are redder in color. Since birds tend to rely more heavily on their color vision, the reds would be easier to detect against the green foliage.

The researchers also found that fruit color does not correlate with leaf color in the visible spectrum, but in the ultraviolet area of the spectrum fruit reflection is strongly correlated with leaf reflectance.

“These results confirm previous studies reporting that mammals exert weaker selective pressure for visual signals than birds, and support previous findings that other sensory trajectories, such as touch or olfaction, are critical to some mammal-plant interactions,” wrote the study authors.

Next, the researchers will expand upon their findings by analyzing additional characteristics of fruit such as odor, size, and texture. 

Study author Omer Nevo of the <a href="https://www.uni-ulm.de/en/">University of Ulm</a> explained: “It may be that visual conspicuousness - often achieved using red - entices birds, but scent is more important for luring animals whose sense of smell is keener than their sight.”

The research is published in the journal <a href="http://www.nature.com/scientificreports">Scientific Reports</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

The color of fruit evolved to attract animals, spread seeds

For over a century, scientists have speculated that plants adapted...

Fertilizer runoff from farms can leach into local watersheds, contaminate ecosystems and is a major contributor to the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/mar/22/dead-zone-gulf-of-mexico-decades-recover-study">Gulf of Mexico’s dead zone,</a> an oxygen-deprived area larger than the state of New Jersey. 

Even though farmers are aware of the environmental impacts of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/waste-polluting-drinking-water/">fertilizer</a>, particularly nitrogen, their crops and livelihoods depend on it. 

For corn farmers, a nitrogen-rich fertilizer is sprayed on newly planted seeds and as the corn is growing. Without this process, their harvests and health of their crop would suffer. 

But fertilizer is expensive, and finding a better alternative would not only benefit the agriculture industry but it would also help reduce nitrogen pollution.

<a href="https://www.pivotbio.com/">Pivot Bio</a>, a biotech company in Berkeley, California, may have found a solution to the fertilizer pollution problem by creating a microbial treatment that effectively allows the plant to self-fertilize. 

According to a report from <a href="https://www.wired.com/story/farmers-can-now-buy-designer-microbes-to-replace-fertilizer/?mbid=email_onsiteshare">Wired</a>, the company recently announced its commercial launch of a biological nitrogen fixation which will be available for farmers in 2019. Pivot says the product adheres to a plant’s roots and feeds the crop the essential nutrients it needs. 

The environmental implications of a self-fertilizing crop are significant, and Pivot says that if all the corn farmers in the United States took advantage of the treatment, it would equate to removing the emissions of one million cars. 

To create a self-fertilizing corn plant, Pivot Bio researchers looked to bacteria that were already present on corn roots that had the ability to create nitrogen for the plants encoded in their genes. 

However, the bacteria’s nitrogen genes became dormant over time because of farmers using fertilizer in their fields. 

 “What we’re trying to do is actually reawaken this function that the microbe has had all along,” says Temme.

The Pivot researchers collected soil samples from different agricultural operations along the Midwest where corn is a major crop and planted corn into the soil samples. 

After the corn plants had a chance to take advantage of any beneficial microbes in the soil, the researchers ground up the roots of the plant and created a microbial treatment that creates its own nitrogen using gene editing technology to rewrite gene expression of the bacteria. 

Pivot is in the process of testing the liquid probiotic on several farms across the United States, and while the corn treated with the bacteria has yet to be harvested, the researchers are already seeing promise with the treatment. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Self-fertilizing crops are better for farmers and environment

Fertilizer runoff from farms can leach into local watersheds, contaminate...

Have you ever wondered what <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/cannabis-compound-psychosis/">cannabis</a> looks like up close, on a microscopic level? A new book by an expert in photographic sciences shows a side of marijuana rarely seen outside of a lab setting.  

In some of the pictures, you can even see the cannabis sacs that store the chemical THC on the ends of individual hairs of the plant. 

Ted Kinsman, the photographer and author of the book Cannabis: Marijuana Under The Microscope, is a notable science photographer and professor at the <a href="https://www.rit.edu/">Rochester Institute of Technology</a>. 

Kinsman recently told <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/marijuana-cannabis-scanning-electron-microscope-2018-9?r=UK&amp;IR=T">Business Insider</a> that he looks for what hasn’t been done before or done well and wants to show a different world under the surface.

“I like to think what a person would see if they were just a few microns tall,” said Kinsman.

[caption id="attachment_1860746" align="aligncenter" width="700"]<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Screen-Shot-2018-10-08-at-3.43.57-PM.png"><img class="wp-image-1860746" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Screen-Shot-2018-10-08-at-3.43.57-PM.png" alt="" width="700" height="455" /></a> Image Credit: Ted Kinsman[/caption]

Looking through his incredible images, it’s hard to believe that they aren’t taken with a camera. Instead, the pictures are captured using a special scanning electron microscope. 

Before being placed in the microscope, samples need to be completely dried out so that the final image isn’t obstructed by water vapor. 

[caption id="attachment_1860747" align="aligncenter" width="700"]<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Screen-Shot-2018-10-08-at-3.44.08-PM.png"><img class="wp-image-1860747" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Screen-Shot-2018-10-08-at-3.44.08-PM.png" alt="" width="700" height="472" /></a> Image Credit: Ted Kinsman[/caption]

Dried out samples are then coated in gold which is a conductor and placed in a vacuum chamber. The microscope scans the object by bombarding it with electrons, according to Business Insider. 

A detailed image is then generated from the scan based on how the electrons interacted with and bounced off the object in the vacuum chamber.

[caption id="attachment_1860748" align="aligncenter" width="700"]<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Screen-Shot-2018-10-08-at-3.44.46-PM.png"><img class="wp-image-1860748" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Screen-Shot-2018-10-08-at-3.44.46-PM.png" alt="" width="700" height="478" /></a> Image Credit: Ted Kinsman[/caption]

After the image is created, Kinsman paints the photograph to highlight different elements like the bright blue eyes of a jumping spider or the neon purple THC sacs of cannabis. According to Kinsman, this makes the images pop and is a way to make the science more engaging. 

“I pick visually exciting colors,” Kinsman told Business Insider. “I'm trying to make science visually exciting and appealing to the general population.” 
--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Image Credit: Ted Kinsman

Remarkable images reveal how marijuana stores THC

Have you ever wondered what cannabis looks like up close,...

You might not be able to conjure up the image of a snapdragon just by hearing the name – it’s a type of flower, by the way – but you certainly would take notice of it were you to pass it on the side of the road. Snapdragons are tall plants that flower in a bright range of colors. But the most remarkable thing about this color range is that none of them seem to mix together.

Snapdragons grow wild in Spain, and can be seen driving up a road from Barcelona to the Pyrenees. What’s most noticeable about the flowers along this road is that the snapdragons of the species Antirrhinum majus bloom in magenta at the beginning of the road, then for two kilometers they alternate between magenta and yellow flowers, and then the yellow snapdragons take over. A hybrid zone of snapdragons such as this is very rare – only a few others are known to exist. This has led researchers from the <a href="https://ist.ac.at/">Institute of Science and Technology Austria</a> (IST Austria) to ask the question, why don’t snapdragons mix?

The researchers from IST Austria collaborated with molecular geneticists at the <a href="https://www.jic.ac.uk/">John Innes Center</a> in the UK to investigate what exactly causes this pattern. They now report in <a href="http://www.pnas.org/">PNAS</a> that they have identified the <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/genetic-advantages-animals/">genes</a> responsible for the flower color difference from DNA sequence data.

“DNA sequencing is becoming cheaper and cheaper. But analyzing sequence data and interpreting the patterns seen is very hard,” says Nick Barton of IST Austria. “In this study, we used sequence data from Antirrhinum plants to locate the individual genes which are responsible for the difference in flower color across the hybrid zone.”

For the study, they compared the genome sequence of 50 snapdragons of each color, measuring how much the sequences diverged between magenta and yellow snapdragon populations. The researchers then plotted a statistical measure of divergence between the two populations. In doing so, they found “islands” in the genome which are more divergent between yellow and magenta snapdragons than the rest of the genome. These islands correspond to genes responsible for flower color in snapdragons. The researchers focused on two of these genes, which determine the magenta pigment and are located close together on the genome.

Through observations in the field and in experiments at IST Austria, Tom Ellis – a member of Nick Barton’s lab – found that bees preferred to pollinate the most common color flowers in the population. Thus, in magenta populations, bees mostly pollinate magenta flowers, and in yellow populations, bees mostly pollinate yellow flowers. This selection by pollinating bees helps keep the most common color in a certain zone dominant, preventing the exchange of genes that are linked to the flower color genes while also making hybrid zones a rare occurrence. 

“Even with abundant DNA sequence data, it is often difficult to find exactly why species are different,” says Barton. “Our study is the culmination of years of work, combining fieldwork and population genetics with genetic crosses, and analysis of gene expression.”

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: David Field

How snapdragons get their unique range of colors

You might not be able to conjure up the image...

It’s no surprise that a diet high in fat can cause a number of health issues, both short- and long-term. For years, scientists have stressed the importance of supplementing your diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables. Now, a new study has found that a hormone in plants may reverse the brain damage caused by a high-fat diet.

Researchers from <a href="https://www.uji.es/">Jaume I University</a> in Castelló de la Plana, Spain, fed mice a fatty diet, causing them to develop inflammation of the nervous system – similar to what happens in Alzheimer’s patients. However, after the mice had their diets supplemented with abscisic acid – a plant hormone – the damage was reversed. It is believed that abscisic acid reduces inflammation in the region of the <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/brain-scans-skill-level/">brain</a> that is responsible for storing memories.

The study – published in the journal <a href="https://link.springer.com/journal/12035">Molecular Neurobiology</a> – assessed how insulin levels and expression of genes associated with inflammation in the nervous system were affected in mice. They found that the rodents who consumed a fatty diet had reduced expression of an insulin receptor in the hippocampus. The hippocampus is a region of the brain associated with emotions and memory – in particular, long-term memories.

“We have been able to prove that the expression of proteins required for the proper functioning of insulin decreases in neuro-inflammatory situations induced by a high-fat diet,” says study author Alberto Ribes Navarro. But when the researchers supplemented the rodents’ diets with abscisic acid, the inflammation was reversed. “With the addition of abscisic acid to the high-fat diet it is possible to recover the expression of these genes, even reaching normal levels,” adds Ribes Navarro.

In plants, abscisic acid plays a role in seed development, flower growth, and improving plant tolerance to harsh conditions – such as drought and cold. 

Moving forward, the researchers plan to investigate the common causes of diseases like dementia and insulin resistance (type 2 diabetes), as inflammation of the nervous system is linked to both insulin resistance and dementia. 

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Brain damage from a fatty diet reversed using hormone from plants

It’s no surprise that a diet high in fat can...

Researchers from the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_Undersea_Warfare_Center">US Naval Undersea Warfare Center</a> have discovered that when marine algae produce gas bubbles during photosynthesis, a distinctive ringing noise is released. The study also revealed that the intensity of the sound coincides with the degree of algal cover on coral reefs.

The findings of the investigation, which was led by husband-and-wife team Simon and Lauren Freeman, may ultimately result in a fast and easy method of measuring algal cover. Across coral reefs, algal cover is one of the best indications of stress.

Coral reefs generate a lot of noise from sources such as water movement and marine life. A previous study by Lauren Freeman identified a component of the underwater soundscape that correlated with the abundance of macroalgae present over the reef. The mechanism underlying the noise, however, remained a mystery. 

In the current study, the researchers set out to determine whether or not the sounds may be emanating from the algae themselves. The analysis was focused on sound emissions from a tank of the Hawaiian invasive algae, Salicornia gracilaria. 

The ringing noise, which ranged from two to 20 kiloHertz, was found to be produced as gas bubbles oscillated and formed spherical shapes in the water. The sounds matched the noise range of oceanic <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/rehabilitating-coral-reefs/">coral reefs</a>.

“We discovered that algae make sound by first listening to coral reefs, and finding a link between what we heard and how much algae had smothered the coral,” said Simon Freeman. “Intrigued, we performed experiments with algae in tanks to verify the source, and how the sounds made by algae contributed to coral reef soundscapes."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/">PLOS ONE</a>.

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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

Image Credit: Simon Freeman

Gas bubbles produce a distinctive sound during photosynthesis

Researchers from the US Naval Undersea Warfare Center have discovered...

The trade of illegal animals remains a pervasive global issue impacting a wide array of species that also gets a good deal of media attention.  I’ve walked through the forest in the Bahamas to a parrot nest site where we were collecting data only to find the parrot chicks taken to be sold as pets.  I’ve seen monitor lizards barely alive, crowded together in mesh bags at western African bush meat markets. The illegal trade in animals alive as pets or dead as food or ornament is certainly sickening.  

Poaching is on the rise.  The <a href="https://www.worldwildlife.org/threats/illegal-wildlife-trade">WWF</a> cites and increase in <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/southern-white-rhinoceros-calf/">rhino</a> poaching in South Africa of 7,700% from 2007 to 2013. That’s a rise in poached individuals from 13 to 1,004.  <a href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/09/fighting-illegal-wildlife-and-forest-trade/">The World Economic Forum</a> says that the illegal wildlife trade is a $23 billion industry.  Many people have waded into the screaming match over what is becoming of wildlife, especially African wildlife.  Outrage was widespread over the baiting and killing of <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/International/cecil-lion-baited-killed-book-alleges/story?id=53528189">Cecil the lion</a>.  But there is another illegal trade that is also destroying our planet and its wild places that is less talked about.  Many people may not even be aware at all that plants are also being sold on the black market.

I myself had never considered much the plight of pilfered plants until I read <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Orchid-Thief-Obsession-Ballantine-Readers/dp/044900371X">The Orchid Thief</a> by Susan Orlean.  The book is a personal story, highlighting the contradictory and twisted narratives of those involved in buying and selling orchids, sometimes illegally.  The story is interesting and thought provoking but the problems it highlights are deep and global. <a href="http://www.illegalwildlifetrade.net/2017/08/31/cites-international-plant-trade/">IllegalWildlifeTrade</a> reports that there were 220 illegal plant seizures made in 2016 at Heathrow Airport in London alone. 

<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/28/us/venus-flytraps-poaching-north-carolina.html">The New York Times</a> reported in 2016 on the trade of illegal Venus Flytraps (Dionaea muscipula) in the Carolinas.  In the wild the Venus Flytrap now only grows in a 75 mile radius from Wilmington North Carolina.  The plant was first described in 1760 by the colonial governor and been protected in the state since 1956.  State permits are available to collect Venus Flytraps on private land but poachers don’t stop there. Public lands are slowly being picked of Venus Flytraps all to sell the plants illegally for about 25 cents each.  Sergeant Dean of North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission told The New York Times that as many as 1 to 2,000 plants can be collected at one time.  These are serious numbers when as the Nature Conservancy estimates, there could only be as many of 35,000 Venus Flytraps left in the wild.  Even nurseries have been robbed in the criminal mania over the rare plants. 

Much like many of the Orchids and all Venus Flytraps, wild ginseng grows in the hot and humid landscape of the southeastern United States.  In Great Smoky Mountain National Park, ginseng has been poached and sod at up to hundreds of dollars a pound in Asian markets. Billy Joe Hurley of North Carolina has been convicted at least five times of poaching ginseng from the National Park, <a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/fight-against-ginseng-poaching-great-smoky-mountains-180958858/">Smithsonian</a> reports.  

American Ginseng has long been used as a medicine by Native Americans.  French missionaries realizing the similarity between the American ginseng and the Asian ginseng introduced the American plant to Asia and soon sold the plant at a profit.  The ginseng trade became a reasonable way to make some profit for relatively poor farmers in the area. Wild plants are more valuable to sell than those raised in captivity and so collecting the plant in the wild, even illegally continues.  Ginseng is said to have many properties, including an immune booster, a mild stimulant and the ability to turn itself invisible to the unworthy collector. One of the more down to earth properties of ginseng is that the picky plant is an indicator of good forest health.  From 1992 to 2016, a lab working with Great Smoky Mountain National Park received 15,000 illegally harvested ginseng roots from the National Park. 

Asia has created a market for all sorts of illegal wildlife products.  Besides ginseng, parts of tigers, rhinoceros, pangolin even narwhal and other species are used in traditional medicine.  Recently there’s been a growing trend in China and Korea for the demand of succulents. Succulents are plants that usually have fleshy parts for the retention of water, an adaptation to the arid conditions they grow in.  Botany and horticulture use the term succulent differently, especially in reference to cacti but as many as 25 plant families have succulent members in them. 

Aloe as in the plant source of that gel you might smear across a nasty sunburn, is one of the more famous succulents.  Succulents of the Dudleya genus consist of 45 species found in the southwestern United States.  The genus is widespread but may be slowly disappearing in California. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/apr/27/stolen-succulents-california-hipster-plants-at-center-of-smuggling-crisis">The Guardian</a> reported in April of this year that there were five busts of poachers trying to smuggle and sell Californian succulents in Asia.  The busts consisted of 3,500 poached Dudleya sp. succulents.  Five inch succulents can sell for $40-$50 in China or Korea.  The trend in succulents among Chinese and Korean consumers seems to be just getting underway, the future of these plants remains uncertain.  It also seems bizarre that a succulent, something easily purchased in any Home Depot or Walmart garden center would be part of an illegal smuggling operation.  

Probably the most well-known example of illegal plant trading is the sale of exotic hard woods and other illegal logging operations.  Illegal logging can threaten everything from the wintering grounds of Monarch butterflies in Mexico to rare hardwood trees cut down in Madagascar.  <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/sep/29/wildlife-summit-cracks-down-on-illegal-rosewood-trade">The Guardian</a> reports that China once again is fueling a trade in illegal plants, this time for rosewood furniture.  In 2016 a Convention on the Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) placed all 300 species of rosewood under trade restrictions, to eliminate any ambiguity as to the legality of a wood product.  The UN says rosewood is the most trafficked wild product. The rosewood trade in 2016 was a $2.2 billion a year industry. It’s been reported that the trade in rosewood has led to the rise of international gangs that move from region to region, country to country poaching all of the rosewood available.  <a href="https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/08/wildlife-watch-illegal-logging-papua-new-guinea/">National Geographic</a> reports that American consumers aren’t blameless either.  Big home improvement stores sometimes sell illegal wood from places like Papua New Guinea to unwitting consumers.  Hardwood floors aren’t always sourced ethically or legally. 

The trade in plants just highlights the dark side of human nature and more to the point our western culture.  People rarely think about where products they use or desire come from and what the true cost is. From house plants and herbal remedies to furniture and flooring, we simply don’t seem to care what it means to the natural environment that foster our consumption.  Next time you buy a plant or a piece of wood, think about how it came to a store near you. 

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By <a href="mailto:zachfitzner@yahoo.com">Zach Fitzner</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Contributing Writer

Illegal plant trade persists globally, largely unchecked

The trade of illegal animals remains a pervasive global issue...

Earlier and warmer <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/baby-birds-hatch-late/">springs</a> may give plants a head start initially, but a new study has found it doesn’t benefit plant productivity or growth in the long run. 

Researchers from the <a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/">University of Leeds</a> recently conducted a study that questions climate models that include plant productivity to measure carbon capture. 

Previously it was theorized that if plants have a longer growing season, they’ll have longer to accumulate more biomass and store and process more carbon. 

The study, published in the journal Nature, shows that earlier springs due to climate change may cause an early boost in plant productivity but this degrades in the later summer and autumn months. 

Instead, current climate models underestimate the negative impacts an early, warm spring has on plant productivity. 

“Based on future climate predictions, warmer springs are set to become the standard,” said  Wolfgang Buermann, the lead author of the study. “There is a great need to make sure our models are accurately incorporating the effects of warmer springs on our ecosystems and how this, in turn, impacts climate change. Without this, we cannot accurately predict how global temperatures may continue to change, the effect this could have on weather or the potential threat to public health.”

The researchers examined 30 years worth of satellite images covering 41 million kilometers squares of land north of the 30th parallel on the globe. 

Having access to so much data allowed the researchers to survey greenness in the northern regions and assess the temperature, season, and green coverage across landscapes in the UK, Canada, Germany, France and Russia. 

The researchers were able to determine how much photosynthesis had taken place at a specific location and how much biomass was gained. 

“Northern regions have experienced substantial warming since the early 1970s, changing how many ecosystems function,” said Buermann. “There has been a limited understanding of the full impact of shorter winters and longer summers on plants until now. The availability of satellite images has allowed us to survey all of the world's northern regions and get a full picture of how plants are reacting to the shifting seasons.” 

After analyzing the different images, the researchers realized that the northern hemisphere is becoming greener and greener in the spring but in many areas plant productivity and biomass decreases in the later months. 

This limits how much carbon the plants in the area can capture, and the researchers suggest that even though the plants are starting to grow sooner, their growth cannot be sustained because there are limited water resources available as the months go on.

If warmer springs are soon to become standard for many parts of the world, it will be important to have accurate models projecting the future impacts that climate change will have on global vegetation.

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Earlier springtime hinders seasonal plant growth

Earlier and warmer springs may give plants a head start...

A new berry may soon be coming to your supermarket thanks to gene editing technology.

Groundcherries are a little-known fruit native to Central and South America. With a distinct and delicious taste, groundcherries are well-loved by those who have been lucky enough to try them, but because they have remained undomesticated, the berry has yet to reach mainstream markets.

This makes the groundcherry an orphan crop, a group of plants that are grown locally in small-scale. Quinoa is a rare example of an orphan crop that can be found in supermarkets across the world, but most orphan crops are only known in their native regions.

Researchers from <a href="https://www.hhmi.org/">Howard Hughes Medical Institute</a> and the <a href="https://btiscience.org/">Boyce Thompson Institute</a> recently published a study outlining plans to make the groundcherry a feasible option for large-scale agricultural production.

According to the results, published in the journal Nature Plants, it’s now possible with gene editing and genomic research to take a wild plant and domesticate it in a matter of years.

“I firmly believe that with the right approach, the groundcherry could become a major berry crop,” said Zachary B. Lippman, an author of the study. “Some scientists might consider the idea a reach, he adds. “But I think we're now at a place where the technology allows us to reach.”

Groundcherries are drought tolerant and have a complex flavor, according to Lippman, which makes them an excellent candidate for large-scale production.

However, getting the plants to a place where they can be grown as a major crop through using traditional breeding methods would be a costly and time-consuming investment.

Instead, the researchers turned to gene editing to see if it was possible to speed up the domestication process for the groundcherry.

In order to domesticate the groundcherry, the researchers used genome sequencing, gene editing CRISPR technology, and gene identification to improve the plant.

As it’s grown now, the groundcherry needs to be more compact, with larger fruits and flowers and a more robust flavor to be more appealing to a mass market, according to the researchers.

This study is the first of its kind that showcases how genome editing could make orphan crops widely available.

The researchers say that some traditional plant breeding will be needed to make the groundcherry ready for large-scale production.

Exactly when the groundcherry will be available at your local supermarket, the researchers can’t say, but the study gives hope to creating new, innovative methods for improving crops and making orphan crops mainstream. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>,<a href="https://www.earth.com/"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Sebastian Soyk

Little-known berry could become the next big fruit

A new berry may soon be coming to your supermarket...

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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

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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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

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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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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