Plants, just like humans, interact in complex and dynamic ways, forming relationships that can shape entire ecosystems.



Sometimes, plants work in harmony, supporting each other for mutual benefit. Other times, one species helps another while remaining unaffected.



In some cases, a plant may even utilize resources that another plant has produced for its own benefit.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-complex-interactions-of-plants">Complex interactions of plants</h2>



Plant interactions are classified into three distinct types: symbiotic facilitation, where both plants benefit each other; commensalistic facilitation, where the nurtured plant neither impacts the benefactor positively nor negatively; and antagonistic facilitation, where the bestowed partner benefits at the expense of its benefactor.



The existence of antagonistic facilitation has been disputed for a long time. However, a new study provides compelling evidence that this type of interaction between plant species is indeed possible.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pioneer-plants-the-unsung-heroes">Pioneer plants: The unsung heroes</h2>



The research was conducted by Dr. Ricardo Martínez-García, CASUS Young Investigator, along with lead authors Ciro Cabal from the <a href="https://www.urjc.es/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">King Juan Carlos University</a> and Gabriel A. Maciel from the South American Institute for Fundamental Research.



The study shines a light on a particular phenomenon that has intrigued ecologists for years - the pioneering role of certain plant species in cultivating wastelands.



The pioneer plants, in their quest for survival, start colonizing uninhabited ground. They produce resources like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-do-plants-produce-their-own-nitrogen-fertilizer/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">nitrogen</a> and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/lack-of-phosphorus-will-limit-growth-of-the-amazon-rainforest/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">phosphorus</a> that are scarce in the soil. This not only aids their growth but also paves the way for other species to thrive in these desolate lands.



Opportunistic plants help themselves to the smorgasbord of resources provided by the pioneers. Yet, the pioneer plants remain unbothered because they still benefit from their hard work.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-evidence-of-antagonistic-facilitation">Evidence of antagonistic facilitation </h2>



The findings strongly suggest the presence of antagonistic facilitation in these pioneer areas.



The findings extend beyond just proving the existence of antagonistic facilitation. According to Cabal, the team's model also shows that plant interactions are an emergent property of resource availability.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shifting-dynamics-over-time">Shifting dynamics over time</h2>



The model indicates that antagonistic facilitation is the dominant strategy in environments with low and intermediate resource availability.



However, as the soil changes over time and more plant species begin to flourish, the interaction between the species also changes. 



The pioneer species continue to increase the availability of resources, but due to the overall abundance of resources now, the other plants are no longer impacted.



At this stage, the pioneers' mining ability starts to become a burden, putting them at a disadvantage. Ultimately, other plant species outcompete the pioneers to claim the territory.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fascinating-world-of-plant-interactions">Fascinating world of plant interactions </h2>



Ecological research often leans on modeling as a tool for testing hypotheses and exploring ideas that are challenging to investigate in field or laboratory experiments. 



In this case, a mathematical model was developed to predict the density and spatial distribution of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/autophagy-what-makes-plant-roots-grow-faster-stronger/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">roots</a> of interacting plants. The results proved to have a significant overlap with greenhouse experiments.



The model was further refined to depict the interaction of pioneer plants with their environment, taking into account the dynamics of an in-demand soil resource, the size and shape of root systems, and the costs of growing and maintaining roots.



Ultimately, the study illustrates the fascinating world of plant interactions, and the role of such relationships in shaping our natural environments.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-plants-communicate">How plants communicate</h2>



In addition to their fascinating interactions, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-capture-plant-communication-on-video/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plants communicate</a> in surprising ways. Through their root systems, plants exchange chemical signals to coordinate growth, warn others of potential threats, and even compete for resources.



Recent studies have shown that volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are released when under stress, signaling nearby species to activate their own defense mechanisms.



This underground network of chemical exchanges plays a critical role in shaping communities and influencing which species thrive in various ecosystems.



Understanding this <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plants-have-complex-biochemical-communication-networks/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">communication network</a> adds another layer to how plants interact, not just through resource sharing or competition but through a hidden language that helps them navigate their environment.



This phenomenon further supports the idea that plant interactions are far more complex than previously understood, encompassing both cooperation and competition.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/nph.20053" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New Phytologist</a>.



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Secret lives of plants: Exploring complex interactions

Plants, just like humans, interact in complex and dynamic ways, forming relationships that can shape entire ecosystems. Sometimes, plants work in harmony, supporting each other for mutual benefit. Other times, one species helps another while remaining unaffected. In some cases, a plant may even utilize resources that another plant has produced for its own benefit. Complex interactions of plants Plant interactions are classified into three distinct types: symbiotic facilitation, where both plants benefit each other; commensalistic facilitation, where the nurtured plant neither impacts the benefactor positively nor...

Rotating crops, controlling insects, and using virus-free purchased seed are the most effective tools in combating plant diseases that threaten global food security, a new study concludes.

A team of researchers at the <a href="http://www.nimbios.org/">National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis</a> used mathematical modeling to better understand the dynamics of a disease called maize lethal necrosis, which is ravaging one of the sub-Saharan Africa’s region's preferred crops for food, feed, and income.

The study focuses on Kenya where plant diseases cause corn plants to die prematurely, drastically reducing the yield. Most of the nation's maize supply comes from small to medium-size farms, which are less able to withstand threats to their food production than large resource-rich farms.

For both types of <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/maryland-farmers-cover-crops/">farmers</a>, synchronized management over large areas would be needed to provide long-term, sustainable control, the study found.

However, this management strategy is usually only available to large commercial maize farms with sufficient resources to afford agrochemicals and purchased seed.

The results emphasize the value of mathematical modeling in informing management of an emerging disease especially when epidemiological information is sparse, the authors said.

"Mathematical modeling can play an important role in integrating what biological information is available with reasonable assumptions on what is missing to give at least a first indication of the potential effectiveness of disease control options,” the authors wrote. “Modeling can also indicate and help prioritize some key research questions that need to be addressed in seeking long-term sustainable control options." 

The research was a result of efforts of the <a href="http://www.nimbios.org/workinggroups/WG_plantviruses">NIMBioS Working Group on Multiscale Vectored Plant Viruses</a>, which included mathematicians, ecologists, plant pathologists, and evolutionary biologists who met over several years to develop novel mathematical methods for the study of plant pathology. The Working Group was established following the NIMBioS Investigative Workshop on Vectored Plant Viruses, held in March 2014.

--

By: <a href="mailto:dbeasley@earth.com">David Beasley, </a><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="http://www.nimbios.org/">National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis</a>

Researchers use mathematical modeling to fight plant diseases

Rotating crops, controlling insects, and using virus-free purchased seed are...

If your family is from a <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/corinth-canal-connects-mediterranean/">Mediterranean</a> country – especially Italy or Greece – you know the importance of olive oil when it comes to cooking. But did you know that there may be potential health benefits as well? 

In a recent study published in the <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)2328-9503">Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology</a>, researchers from the <a href="http://medicine.temple.edu/">Lewis Katz School of Medicine (LKSOM) at Temple University</a> have found a possible link between extra-virgin olive oil consumption and protection against cognitive decline.

The study involved using a well-established Alzheimer’s disease mouse model known as a triple transgenic model – as the mice develop three characteristics of the disease. These characteristics are memory impairment, amyloid plagues, and neurofibrillary tangles.

By testing two groups of mice – one that consumed food enriched with olive oil and one that didn’t – the researchers could see the effects of this substance on the brain. They discovered that at age 9 months and 12 months, the group of olive oil mice performed significantly better on tests designed to evaluate working memory, spatial memory, and learning abilities. Furthermore, through analysis of the animals’ brain tissue, they found that there were major differences in nerve cell appearance and function, including reduced inflammation.

“One thing that stood out immediately was synaptic integrity,” says Dr. Domenico Praticò, professor at LKSOM. Synapses are the connections between the neurons, which appeared to be better preserved in mice that had olive oil enhanced diets. The brain cells of the mice in this group also had a significant increase in nerve cell autophagy activity, which helps reduce amyloid plagues and phosphorylated tau – both of which are major factors in the development of Alzheimer’s.

Prior studies have linked consumption of extra-virgin olive oil with many health benefits. “The thinking is that extra-virgin olive oil is better than fruits and vegetables alone, and as a monounsaturated vegetable fat it is healthier than saturated animal fats,” explains Praticò.

The researchers are excited by these findings, and plan on performing further studies into the healing abilities of extra-virgin olive oil. Their next step is to see if olive oil reduces the Alzheimer’s symptoms of mice that have already developed plaques and tangles. 

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="http://www.templehealth.org/content/default.htm">Temple University Health System</a>

Extra-virgin olive oil protects brain from Alzheimer’s in mice

If your family is from a Mediterranean country – especially...

A team of scientists in Japan have identified multiple active compounds in a traditional plant medicine that both strengthen memory and reduce Alzheimer’s disease characteristics in mice. 

The discovery was made possible by a new technique innovated by the researchers that allowed them to isolate and identify active compounds in plant medicines that, in turn, account for drug behavior in the body.

The plant medicine, known as Drynaria Rhizome, has been used by humans for many years to help cope with a variety of ailments. 

While many plant compounds have little to no effect on the body, others can have an important, therapeutic effect. If those compounds can be isolated, they can be used in new medicines. 

Still, once these compounds enter the body, enzymes can reduce their effectiveness. Additionally, certain parts of the body like the brain can be very difficult for the drugs to access.

"The candidate compounds identified in traditional benchtop drug screens of plant medicines are not always true active compounds, because these assays ignore bio-metabolism and tissue distribution," said Chihiro Tohda, senior author of the study. "So, we aimed to develop more efficient methods to identify authentic active compounds that take these factors into account."

To test the active compounds in Drynaria Rhizome, the scientists used mice who possessed a genetic mutation as a model for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/lack-sleep-eat-brain/">Alzheimer's disease</a>. After treating the mice with the compounds orally and examining their brain tissue several hours later, they found that three compounds had made to to the brain. As a result, the plant treatment reduced both memory impairment and levels of amyloid and tau proteins, which build up and block memory. 

The researchers are hopeful that the breakthrough technique can be used to identify further Alzheimer’s disease treatments.

"We are applying this method to discover <a href="https://medicalxpress.com/tags/new+drugs/">new drugs</a> for other diseases such as spinal cord injury, depression and sarcopenia," explains Tohda.

--

By <a href="mailto:rarnold@earth.com">Rory Arnold</a>, <a href="http://earth.com/staff">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="http://www.frontiersin.org/">Frontiers</a>

Breakthrough plant compounds could help treat Alzheimer’s disease

A team of scientists in Japan have identified multiple active...

It’s more valuable to grow corn for food than biofuel, according to a new study.

The net social and economic worth of food corn production in the U.S. is $1,492 per hectare, versus a $10 per hectare loss for biofuel corn production, according to the study by the <a href="http://illinois.edu/">University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign</a>.

Researchers inventoried the resources required for corn production and processing, then determined the economic and environmental impact of using these resources. All factors were defined in terms of energy available and expended, and normalized to cost in U.S. dollars.

The team accounted for numerous factors in their analysis, including assessing the energy required to prepare and maintain the landscape for agricultural production for corn and its conversion to biofuel. Then, they quantified the environmental benefits and impacts including the effects on the atmosphere, water quality, and corn's societal value, both as food and fuel.

Renewable <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/biofuel-compete-oil/">biofuels</a> can come with hidden economic and environmental issues, and the question of whether corn is better utilized as food or as a biofuel has persisted since ethanol came into use, the study said.

As part of a <a href="https://www.nsf.gov/">National Science Foundation</a> project to study the environmental impact of agriculture in the United States, the Illinois group introduced a comprehensive view of the agricultural system, called critical zone services, to analyze crops' impacts on the environment in monetary terms.

"The critical zone is the permeable layer of the landscape near the surface that stretches from the top of the vegetation down to the groundwater," said University of Illinois Civil and Environmental Engineering professor Praveen Kumar, who authored<a href="http://cee.illinois.edu/directory/profile/kumar1"> the study along with graduate student Meredith Richardson.</a> "The human energy and resource input involved in agriculture production alters the composition of the critical zone, which we are able to convert into a social cost."

Although corn appears to be an easy path to renewable energy, ”this research shows that the environmental costs are much greater, and the benefits fewer, than using corn for food,” said  Richard Yuretich, National Science Foundation program director for Critical Zone Observatories. 

The study was published in the journal <a href="http://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/hub/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)2328-4277/">Earth's Future</a>.

--

By: <a href="mailto:dbeasley@earth.com">David Beasley, </a><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="http://illinois.edu/">University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign</a>

Corn more valuable as a food than as a fuel

It’s more valuable to grow corn for food than biofuel,...

The debate over the potential benefits of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/organic-food-sales-soared/">organic</a> foods has raged on since well before “organic” was just another way of saying twice as expensive. Many studies have said there are added benefits to organic produce over non-organic, while other studies have come to the opposite conclusion. In fact, five years ago a widely-publicized meta-analysis of more than 200 of these studies found that organic food had just as much nutrition – or lack there of – as non-organic food. 

However, a recent study looking into the flavonoid levels and antioxidant activity in two types of onions has found these phytochemicals to be significantly higher in the organic versions. 

In the longest running study of this topic – spanning from 2009 to 2014 – researchers took into account factors such as weather, which they thought had been neglected in previous studies. They also believe that short study periods from other research caused skewed results. 

The two onions in question were the “Red Baron” and “Hyskin” onions, where are high in flavonoids such as quercetin. Previous studies have found that these flavonoids may be beneficial for people with various health issues.

For six years, the researchers compared organic onions to conventional onions, publishing their results in the ACS’ <a href="http://pubs.acs.org/journal/jafcau">Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry</a>.

They determined that weather does play a factor in flavonoid content, independent of whether or not the onions were grown under organic conditions. In 2010, when temperatures were lowest, the flavonol levels in Red Baron onions decreased significantly. However, when temperatures were high in 2011 and 2014, the flavonol levels increased.

Overall, the authors found that antioxidant activity was higher in organic onions compared to non-organic for both types. They also discovered that the flavonols in organic onions were as much as 20 percent higher than their conventional counterparts.

Their discovery could lead to better research practices for future testing of organic and non-organic produce, possibly clearing the currently muddy waters of organic food research. 

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en.html">American Chemical Society</a>

Organic onions contain more antioxidants and flavonoids

The debate over the potential benefits of organic foods has...

Researchers at a lab in Cold Spring Harbor, New York, have managed to examine the entire genome structure of corn. The scientists discovered that corn has a level of adaptability that allows it to be more widely produced, and climate change will not slow it down.

The researchers set out to determine the potential resilience of corn plants in different <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tree-leaf-abundance-climate-change/">climates</a>. Previous studies of the maize genome relied on “short-read” technology that was unable to accurately decode repetitive sequences - located in the spaces between genes - which contained crucial information. 

Known as “intergenic regions,” the areas between genes contain information on how genes are regulated. Advanced technology called long-read sequencing gave the scientists a detailed view of these regions, which allowed the team to assemble the entire structure of the maize genome.

Doreen Ware, a researcher for <a href="http://www.cshl.edu/">Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory</a> and the US Department of Agriculture, led the study.

"Our new genome for maize shows how incredibly flexible this plant is, a characteristic that directly follows from the way its genome is organized," said Ware.

The team needed to look at genome-wide patterns of structural variation to determine the extent of corn’s genetic diversity. The scientists constructed a highly-detailed genome of a maize line known as B73, and compared it to maps of two other lines of maize grown in different climates. 

"Maize individuals are much, much less alike at the level of the genome than people are, for one thing," explained Ware. "But we've found that two maize individuals - from the W22 and Ki11 lines - each align with our new reference genome for B73 maize only 35%, on average. Their genome organization is incredibly different!"

Yinping Jiao is a postdoctoral researcher and first author of the study. Jiao said that the structural variations found in the maize individuals showed "not only changes in the sequence of the genes themselves, but also where and when genes are expressed, and at what levels.”

The findings of this study, published today in the journal Nature, give insight into the successful history of maize which spans thousands of years. The report also builds a positive perspective on the future of maize production.

“It means we have a very large variation in the regulatory component of most of the plant's genes. They have lots of adaptability beyond what we see them doing now. That has huge implications for growing maize as the population increases and climate undergoes major change in the period immediately ahead of us."

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Source: <a href="http://www.cshl.edu/">Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory</a>

Corn has the adaptability to thrive despite climate change

Researchers at a lab in Cold Spring Harbor, New York,...

A recent study performed by an international team of researchers has presented the first global analysis of established alien species – that is, species that have become established outside of their natural habitat (not actual aliens).

The research was led by <a href="https://www.dur.ac.uk/">Durham University</a> and is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/natecolevol/">Nature Ecology &amp; Evolution</a>. It incorporated analysis of data from eight different groups, which included amphibians, ants, birds, freshwater fish, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/star-nosed-moles/">mammals</a>, reptiles, spiders, and vascular plants found in 186 island and 423 mainland regions. 

Through their analysis, the researchers determined that hotspots of these alien species occur mostly in island and coastal regions. "Our research shows that, islands and mainland coastal regions contain higher numbers of established alien plants and animals, and this may be because these areas have major points of entry like ports,” says lead author Wayne Dawson of Durham University's Department of Biosciences.

The top three hot spots for alien plants and animals were the Hawaiian Islands, New Zealand’s North Island, and the Lesser Sunda Islands in Indonesia. In fact, about half of New Zealand’s plant life is made up of established alien plants.

Interestingly, the UK – and England especially – has more established alien plants and animals than many other global regions. The U.S. state of Florida was also a top hotspot, as it has become home to many non-native snake and ant species. 

The study found that a region’s wealth, population density, and climate are major factors in the number of established alien species. “In general, regions that are wealthier, and where human populations are denser also have more alien species, but these effects are stronger for islands,” explains Dawson.

This research can help scientists understand how to lessen the impact that some alien species have on their non-native habitats, and possibly prevent further introduction of other alien plants and animals. While many species don’t have negative effects on their new environments, this type of data analysis will help scientists know what areas to focus on in the future.

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="https://www.dur.ac.uk/">Durham University</a>

Photo Credit: Pablo García-Diaz

Non-native plant and animal species target global hotspots

A recent study performed by an international team of researchers...

Enhanced-efficiency fertilizer lowered nitrous oxide emissions in corn farming by 53 percent and did not lower crop yields, a new study found.

In the study, researchers measured nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/microbes-oceans-freezing/">methane</a> emissions from a dairy forage rotation (silage corn-barley-alfalfa) farm in south-central Idaho.

Agricultural production in the western U.S. is an important part of the global food supply, the study said. However, concerns over impacts from agricultural greenhouse gases on the global climate have prompted a need to understand the effect of nitrogen on emissions from cropping systems in semiarid environments, the authors added.

The study compared emissions with nitrogen sources including including granular urea, an enhanced-efficiency fertilizer (SuperU), dairy manure, or composted dairy manure. 

The result showed a big drop in emissions for corn production when SuperU was used instead of granular urea. However, with barley, cumulative N2O emissions were the same as those from granular urea.  

Carbon dioxide emissions were greatest from the manure treatment during the first two years, while there was no difference in methane emissions among the various nitrogen treatments.

“This work demonstrates that SuperU can reduce nitrogen oxide emissions from irrigated cropping systems, but the results suggest that there is a crop-dependent effect,” the authors said.

The study is currently being replicated for confirmation.

--

By: <a href="mailto:dbeasley@earth.com">David Beasley, </a><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="https://www.agronomy.org/">American Society of Agronomy</a>

Enhanced-efficiency fertilizer lowers corn-crop emissions

Enhanced-efficiency fertilizer lowered nitrous oxide emissions in corn farming by...

Woody vines known as lianas have a unique method of survival in tropical rainforests: They climb up the trunks of trees to reach the sunlight that only the forest canopy gets.

Then, they spread their leaves out to soak up the sun for themselves – often blocking the trees they climbed. 

Scientists have known for some time how lianas find enough sunlight to survive. In a recent study, however, they learned that these vines are outcompeting the trees they rely on for survival.

As the number of woody vines like lianas living in Earth’s jungles increases, they are blocking their host trees from getting enough sun, and actually preventing them from producing seeds and fruit.

"Lianas are well known as rivals of trees in tropical forests because lianas compete with trees for sunlight; until this study, however, we didn't know to what extent lianas actually reduce tropical tree reproduction," Dr. Stefan Schnitzer of <a href="http://www.stri.si.edu/">Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute</a> and <a href="http://marquette.edu/">Marquette University</a> said in a press release.

Lianas don’t just compete for sunlight, but also for the nutrients in the soil. But unlike trees, they don’t spend the time and energy in growing a strong, upright trunk. Instead, woody vines use already existing trees for support.

Schnitzer and his team studied lianas and trees at 16 sites in the rainforest in Panama. At eight sites, they removed all of the lianas. In the other eight, they left the woody vines alone.

They found that, once the lianas were removed, trees grew much larger and produced much more fruit than their vine-supporting fellows. 

The finding could affect not just the trees, but also the animals that depend on them for food, the researchers said.

"The seeds of most lianas in the tropical forests of the Americas are spread by the wind, whereas most trees seeds and fruit are spread by animals – therefore, lianas reduce tree fruit production but they don't make up for it by producing their own fruit, which, potentially, may deprive animals of food," said Maria Garcia León, who also worked on the study. 

The study has been published in the Journal of Ecology. Research was funded by the <a href="https://www.nsf.gov/">National Science Foundation</a>.

—

By <a href="mailto:kcathey@earth.com">Kyla Cathey</a>, <a href="http://www.earth.com">Earth.com</a> staff writer

Woody vines are smothering trees in tropical rainforests

Woody vines known as lianas have a unique method of...

Scientists have discovered the secret behind how to use artificial photosynthesis to create hydrogen fuel.

Natural photosynthesis in green plants converts solar energy to stored chemical energy by transforming atmospheric carbon dioxide and water into sugar molecules that fuel plant growth.

Scientists have been trying to artificially replicate photosynthesis to produce environmentally friendly hydrogen and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/co2-turned-methanol/">methanol</a> fuel. So far, the effort has been a challenging one, the <a href="https://energy.gov/">U.S. Department of Energy</a> said.

“Artificial photosynthesis requires designing a molecular system that can absorb light, transport and separate electrical charge, and catalyze fuel-producing reactions—all complicated processes that must operate synchronously to achieve high energy-conversion efficiency,” the Department said.

Now chemists from the U.S. Department of Energy’s <a href="https://www.bnl.gov/">Brookhaven National Laboratory</a> and <a href="http://www.vt.edu/">Virginia Tech</a> have designed two photocatalysts (materials that accelerate chemical reactions upon absorbing light) that incorporate individual components specialized for light absorption, charge separation, or catalysis into a single “supramolecule.”

In both molecular systems, multiple light-harvesting centers made of ruthenium (Ru) metal ions are connected to a single catalytic center made of rhodium (Rh) metal ions. This is done through a bridging molecule that promotes electron transfer from the Ru centers to the Rh catalyst, where hydrogen is produced.

The researchers compared the hydrogen-production performance and analyzed the physical properties of the supramolecules.  They wanted understand why the photocatalyst with six as opposed to three Ru light absorbers produces more hydrogen and remains stable for a longer period of time.    

“Developing efficient molecular systems for hydrogen production is difficult because processes are occurring at different rates,” said lead author Gerald Manbeck, a Brookhaven lab chemist.

Manbeck has since carried out a series of experiments with coauthor Etsuko Fujita, leader of the artificial photosynthesis group, to understand the fundamental causes for the difference in performance.  

“The ability to form the charge-separated state is a partial indicator of whether a supramolecule will be a good photocatalyst, but realizing efficient charge separation requires fine-tuning the energetics of each component,” said Fujita. “To promote catalysis, the Rh catalyst must be low enough in energy to accept the electrons from the Ru light absorbers when the absorbers are exposed to light.”

The findings “encourage further studies using multiple light-harvesting units linked to single catalytic sites,” said Manbeck. 

--

By: <a href="mailto:dbeasley@earth.com">David Beasley, </a><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="https://www.bnl.gov/">Brookhaven National Laboratory</a>

Breakthrough in how to use photosynthesis to create hydrogen fuel

Scientists have discovered the secret behind how to use artificial...

2017_05.25_FossilMushroomMap

Scientists have identified the world’s oldest fossilized mushroom, a 115-million year old specimen from northeast Brazil.

The mushroom fell into a river, made its way to a salty lagoon, and was preserved in limestone, according to a study published in the journal <a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosone/">PLOS ONE</a>.

"Most mushrooms grow and are gone within a few days," said<a href="http://www.inhs.illinois.edu/"> Illinois Natural History Survey</a> paleontologist Sam Heads, who discovered the mushroom when digitizing a collection of fossils from the Crato Formation of Brazil. "The fact that this mushroom was preserved at all is just astonishing.”

Before this discovery, the oldest fossil mushrooms found had been preserved in amber, said INHS mycologist Andrew Miller, a co-author of the new report. The next oldest mushroom fossils were found in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/don-sahong-dam-threatens-lives-of-millions-in-southeast-asia/">Southeast Asia</a> and date back to about 99 million years ago, he said.

The newly discovered fossilized mushroom was about 5 centimeters (2 inches) tall. Electron microscopy revealed that it had gills under its cap, rather than pores or teeth, structures that release spores and that can aid in identifying species.

"Fungi evolved before land plants and are responsible for the transition of plants from an aquatic to a terrestrial environment," Miller said. "The fungi shuttled water and nutrients to the plants, which enabled land plants to adapt to a dry, nutrient-poor soil, and the plants fed sugars to the fungi through photosynthesis. This association still exists today."

The researchers placed the mushroom in the Agaricales order and have named it Gondwanagaricites magnificus.

"When you think about it, the chances of this thing being here - the hurdles it had to overcome to get from where it was growing into the lagoon, be mineralized and preserved for 115 million years - have to be minuscule,"  Heads added.

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By: <a href="mailto:dbeasley@earth.com">David Beasley, </a><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="http://illinois.edu/">University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign</a>

Image Credit: Danielle Ruffatto

World’s oldest fossilized mushroom discovered

Scientists have identified the world’s oldest fossilized mushroom, a 115-million...

Cook pine trees, native to New Caledonia but now living across the globe, grow toward the equator, and have double the tilt of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, <a href="https://www.newscientist.com/">New Scientist</a> reported. 

Matt Ritter of <a href="http://www.calpoly.edu/">California Polytechnic State University</a> and his colleagues studied 256 Cook pine trees scattered across five different continents. The team estimated that the trees tilt by 8.55 degrees on average and an effort to capture more sunlight.

<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/urban-trees-increase-ozone/">Trees</a> normally correct asymmetry in their growth, but for some unknown reason the Cook pine is unable to do so, Ritter told New Scientist.

“We could be just dealing with an artifact of its genetics that we are seeing now when we have spread it all over the world,” Ritter said. “Alternatively, it could be an adaptation to catch more sunlight at higher latitudes.”

Ritter was writing a description of the Cook pine for a book on urban trees in California when he noticed that the trees always leaned south. He called a colleague in Australia, south of the equator, who said the trees there always lean north.

“We got holy-smoked that there’s possibly a tree that’s leaning toward the equator wherever it grows,” Ritter said.

The trees also slant more the further they are from the equator in both hemispheres.

“It’s a shockingly distinct pattern,” says Ritter. One tree in South Australia slants at 40 degrees, he said.

Tilting is not unusual, said Steven Warren of the <a href="https://www.fs.fed.us/">U.S. Forest Service</a> in Utah, who reported in 2016 that the yucca palm always point south, making it easier to transport nutrients to its flowers. Additionally, some cacti lean toward the sun.

“This is the first time I have heard of a tree doing this,” Warren said.

--

By: <a href="mailto:dbeasley@earth.com">David Beasley, </a><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="https://www.newscientist.com/">New Scientist</a>

These pine trees always grow toward the equator

Cook pine trees, native to New Caledonia but now living...

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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



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Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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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

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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



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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



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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



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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



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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 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



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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



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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



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Satellites capture the world's biggest and fastest waves

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;



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

Satellites have become essential to our survival

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