In a twist that sounds like science fiction, researchers have modified mouse DNA to include traits that were once found in the extinct woolly mammoth. These <a href="https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/Genetic-Engineering" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">genetic engineering</a> efforts highlight growing attempts to make de-extinction a reality for vanished <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-wildlife-day-2025-a-global-call-to-protect-nature/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">species</a>.



This project has yielded small mice bearing a fluffy, woolly coat that echoes features of the Ice Age giant. The lab results have stirred curiosity among scientists and the general public.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-de-extinction-of-lost-species">De-extinction of lost species</h2>



“For us, it’s an incredibly big deal,” said Beth Shapiro, chief science officer at <a href="https://colossal.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Colossal Biosciences</a> in Dallas. Scientists behind this plan envision a future where <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/half-of-the-worlds-heliconia-species-are-at-risk-of-extinction/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">extinct creatures</a> might roam again.&nbsp;



The experts see these tiny rodents as proof that <a href="https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/CRISPR" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CRISPR</a> can modify multiple genes to recreate lost traits. The technology harnesses molecular tools to snip and rearrange DNA inside living cells.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tweaking-the-genes">Tweaking the genes</h2>



To make the mice woolly, the researchers analyzed ancient mammoth genomes alongside elephant DNA. They disabled certain genes tied to hair texture, color, and heat regulation.



They also introduced a unique mutation found in woolly mammoths to see if it would produce thick fur. The resulting offspring exhibited curly coats that surprised many observers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-can-de-extinction-bring-species-back">Can de-extinction bring species back?</h2>



Vincent Lynch, a biology professor at the University at Buffalo, remains unconvinced about bringing back the vanished giants and recently voiced his skepticism. "Mammoths are extinct and cannot be ‘de-extincted’ or resurrected,” he stated.



Critics argue that the time and resources funneled into reviving extinct beasts might be better spent saving <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-forests-rose-again-after-the-planets-most-extreme-extinction/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">creatures</a> that are currently teetering on the brink of extinction. They question whether any environment could truly accommodate the needs of species that disappeared thousands of years ago.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-practical-stumbling-blocks">Practical stumbling blocks</h2>



Even if these genetic tweaks scale up, an elephant’s <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/african-elephant" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">gestation</a> lasts nearly two years, which complicates experiments. The size of the mother and the specialized procedures that are required add another layer of difficulty.



Some scientists also worry about how herds of woolly-elephant hybrids might affect fragile ecosystems. These delicate networks of living organisms can be disrupted in ways that are hard to predict.



Others are worried about overshadowing urgent efforts to protect living species. They believe well-tested conservation approaches must not lose momentum.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-concerns-about-unpredictable-mutations">Concerns about unpredictable mutations </h2>



Recreating extinct species raises questions about ethics and responsibility. Some bioethicists warn that modifying living animals to resemble long-lost <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/public-concern-over-species-extinctions-fades-quickly/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">species</a> could create unintended suffering, especially if genetic changes cause health complications. 



Others argue that lab-engineered species might blur the lines between conservation and unnatural interference.



Scientists also face concerns about <a href="https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/Genetic-Drift" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">genetic drift</a>, where unpredictable mutations arise over generations. If mammoth-like elephants are introduced into the wild, they may not behave like their Ice Age relatives.



Such changes might influence their ability to interact with the environment as their ancient counterparts did, affecting everything from diet and migration patterns to social structures and survival strategies.



This uncertainty fuels debate over whether reviving extinct species serves scientific curiosity more than real-world ecological benefits.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-of-de-extinction-research">Future of de-extinction research</h2>



Colossal Biosciences aims to produce elephant embryos with mammoth-like traits within a few years. The ambitious timeline hinges on refining gene-editing steps and ensuring safe pregnancies.



In the meantime, these fuzzy rodents serve as a tiny window into how far science can push modifications. The experiment demonstrates a desire to study <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/saving-earths-most-endangered-plants-from-extinction-proving-difficult-botanic-gardens/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">extinct</a> adaptations without waiting for a living mammoth to appear.



Many experts remain unconvinced that this venture will lead to practical conservation gains. Others see an inventive effort to better understand genetic traits that once shaped Ice Age creatures.



Supporters argue that advanced editing approaches might shield certain species from threats like habitat loss or disease, whereas critics counter that tinkering with extinct DNA could distract from proven strategies such as habitat restoration.



Debates aside, each step in this research reveals new layers of complexity in de-extinction. We now face the question of how far to push these technologies.



The controversies will likely intensify as the conversation shifts from lab-born mice to massive mammals.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.03.03.641227v1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bioRxiv</a>.



Image Credit: Colossal Biosciences



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How creating 'woolly mice' in the lab will bring back the woolly mammoth

In a twist that sounds like science fiction, researchers have modified mouse DNA to include traits that were once found in the extinct woolly mammoth. These genetic engineering efforts highlight growing attempts to make de-extinction a reality for vanished species. This project has yielded small mice bearing a fluffy, woolly coat that echoes features of the Ice Age giant. The lab results have stirred curiosity among scientists and the general public. De-extinction of lost species “For us, it’s an incredibly big deal,” said Beth Shapiro, chief science...

A new study has revealed that human activities will be a major driver of ocean warming, which up until now has been primarily influenced by natural circulation patterns. In particular, the researchers identified an unexpectedly strong link between ocean heat and <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/carbon-capture-technology-could-greatly-reduce-emissions/">carbon</a> storage.

The study findings are significant because regional sea level rise, which affects coastal communities worldwide, is strongly influenced by ocean warming.

The research shows that both ocean warming and sea level rise will become more intense, and some regions will be affected more than others. The study predicts that increased warming near the eastern edges of ocean basins will substantially boost sea levels along the western coastlines of continents in the North Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

"In the future, the imprint of rising atmospheric temperatures on ocean warming will likely dominate that of changes in ocean circulation," said study co-author Laure Zanna. "Initially, we might think that as the climate warms more, changes in ocean currents and their impact on ocean warming patterns will become larger. However, we show that that this is not the case in several regions of the ocean."

Using a new approach to climate modeling, researchers at the <a href="https://www.ox.ac.uk/">University of Oxford</a> found that ocean warming patterns will increasingly be influenced by the simple uptake of atmospheric warming. The modeling technique makes it easier to predict warming compared to earlier simulations that were based on changing ocean circulation patterns.

Since changes in ocean warming due to the uptake of atmospheric warming are easier to model, the researchers hope that their work will pave the way for more accurate projections.

Study lead author Dr. Ben Bronselaer began conducting the research while he was a PhD student at Oxford.

"I think it is an encouraging possibility that climate models, which struggle to simulate past ocean warming, might be better at predicting future warming patterns," said Dr. Bronselaer. "Better prediction of warming patterns implies better prediction of regional sea level rise, which will help to mitigate climate impacts such as flooding on individual communities. Of course, we do need to understand predictions of ocean circulation better to solidify this result."

"During our research, we found a surprising relationship between ocean heat and carbon storage which appears to be unique. While there is a connection between these two quantities that is not yet fully understood, we think we have made significant progress towards uncovering it."

While ocean warming and carbon uptake are separate systems, the study shows that they are much more interconnected than previously realized. 

As humans activities pump more heat and carbon into the ocean, the state of the ocean is shifting. The research indicates that carbon emissions have a direct impact on atmospheric surface temperature.

"We find that the ocean's capacity to absorb heat and carbon are coupled, and constrained by the ocean state," said Professor Zanna. "This implies that the present ocean state will regulate surface warming whether CO2 emissions continue to rise or decline."

"The rates of ocean warming over the past 60 years have been significantly altered by changes in ocean circulation, particularly in the North Atlantic and parts of the Pacific Ocean, where we can identify cooling over some decades." 

"However, in the future changes in ocean currents appear to play a smaller role on patterns of ocean warming, and the oceans will transport the excess anthropogenic heat in the ocean in a rather passive manner in these regions."

Based on their findings, the researchers will now investigate how the storage of heat and carbon in the ocean will affect atmospheric temperatures if carbon emissions are reduced.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/">Nature</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Future ocean warming depends on human decisions

A new study has revealed that human activities will be...

A new study published by <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/">Frontiers</a> has revealed that <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/feathered-dinosaurs-were-flying-before-birds/">bird</a> and reptile tears are very similar to human tears. The research provides new insight into the evolution of tears, and may ultimately lead to improved treatments for eye disease.

Study first author Professor Arianne P. Oriá is an associate professor of Veterinary Sciences at the Federal University of Bahia in Brazil.

"Discovering how tears are able to maintain the ocular homeostasis, even in different species and environmental conditions, is crucial for understanding the evolution and adaptation processes, and is essential for the discovery of new molecules for ophthalmic drugs," said Professor Oriá.

Across species, tears play a very important role in maintaining healthy eyesight. Prior to the current study, however, tears had been studied in very few species beyond humans.

Professor Oriá's team has now analyzed tears from seven species of birds and reptiles.

"Although birds and reptiles have different structures that are responsible for tear production, some components of this fluid (electrolytes) are present at similar concentrations as what is found in humans," explained Professor Oriá. 

"But the crystal structures are organized in different ways so that they guarantee the eyes´ health and an equilibrium with the various environments."

The researchers collaborated with

veterinarians from wild animal care centers and a commercial breeder to collect tear samples from healthy, captive animals. 

The team compared tears from 10 healthy human volunteers to those of macaws, hawks, owls, parrots, sea turtles, and other animals. 

The detailed analysis of tear composition revealed that all of the tear types contained similar levels of electrolytes such as sodium and chloride, even though these levels were slightly lower among human tears.

In addition, owls and sea turtles had greater concentrations of urea and protein in their tears. 

The researchers also examined the crystals that formed when the tear fluid dried out. This crystallization pattern can be used as an indicator of certain types of eye disease.

All of the different species had similar tear composition, but the experts were surprised to find that the crystals showed more variation. 

Sea turtle and caiman tear crystals were extremely unique, which is probably the result of adaptation to their specific environments.

Further research that involves  additional species is needed to expand our knowledge of tears and treatments for eye diseases.

"This knowledge helps in the understanding of the evolution and adaption of these species, as well as in their conservation," said Professor Oriá.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science">Frontiers in Veterinary Science</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Bird and reptile tears are very similar to human tears

A new study published by Frontiers has revealed that bird...

You can trick your brain into having a more positive outlook by forcing a smile, according to a new study from the <a href="https://www.unisa.edu.au/">University of South Australia</a>. The groundbreaking research suggests that we have the power to instantly change our <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/emotional-well-being-has-a-real-impact-on-physical-health/">mindset</a> by simply moving a few facial muscles.

The researchers had study participants hold a pen between their teeth so that their facial muscles would replicate the movement of a smile. Meanwhile, the researchers assessed how a person's perception of various facial and body expressions may change while a smile was being imitated.

The study revealed that facial muscle activity had a positive influence on how nonverbal communication was perceived. The individuals with a fake smile interpreted both face and body language in a different way that generated more optimistic emotions.

"Under the 'pen-in-the-teeth' condition, participants tended to lower their threshold of perception of happy expressions in facial stimuli compared to the 'no-pen' condition," wrote the researchers. 

"A similar effect was found for the biological motion stimuli such that participants lowered their threshold to perceive happy walkers in the pen-in-the-teeth condition compared to the no-pen condition."

According to Dr. Fernando Marmolejo-Ramos, the simple act of forcing a smile stimulates the emotional center of the brain - the amygdala - which releases neurotransmitters to encourage an emotionally positive state.

Dr. Marmolejo-Ramos, an expert in human and artificial cognition, said the finding has important insights for mental health.

"When your muscles say you're happy, you're more likely to see the world around you in a positive way," said Dr. Marmolejo-Ramos.

"For mental health, this has interesting implications. If we can trick the brain into perceiving stimuli as 'happy,' then we can potentially use this mechanism to help boost mental health."

The findings come at a time when depression, anxiety, loneliness, and uncertainty are rampant during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Marmolejo-Ramos noted that there is a strong link between action and perception. "In a nutshell, perceptual and motor systems are intertwined when we emotionally process stimuli."

"A 'fake it 'til you make it' approach could have more credit than we expect," he concluded.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen">JAMA Network Open</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Fake it 'til you make it: smiling tricks the brain to be positive 

You can trick your brain into having a more positive...

<a href="http://www.earth.com/news/fasting-diets-are-effective-for-weight-loss/">Weight loss</a> between young and middle adulthood greatly reduces the risk of premature death, according to research from the <a href="https://www.bu.edu/sph/">Boston University School of Public Health</a> (BUSPH). 

"The present study provides important new evidence on the benefit of maintaining a healthy weight across the life course," said lead author Dr. Wubin Xie.

According to the results, individuals who dropped from the obese range in young adulthood to the overweight range in midlife cut their risk of premature death by more than half compared to people who remained in the obese category.

By contrast, weight loss after midlife did not seem to reduce an individual's risk of early death. The team estimated that up to 12.4 percent of early deaths in the United States are attributable to having a higher body mass index BMI at any point during the transition from young to middle adulthood.

"The results indicate an important opportunity to improve population health through primary and secondary prevention of obesity, particularly at younger ages," said study co-author Dr. Andrew Stokes.

The investigation was focused on data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which was conducted between 1998 and 2015 and involved 24,205 adults. 

After accounting for other risk factors such as smoking, the experts determined that study participants whose BMIs went from the "obese" range at age 25 down to the "overweight" range in midlife were 54 percent less likely to die by the end of the study period compared to participants whose BMIs stayed in the "obese" range. 

According to the researchers, 3.2 percent of deaths in the study would have been avoided if all of the individuals who started in the obese range had brought their weight down to the overweight category. Instead, the experts found that very few of the subjects managed to do this and that weight loss was rare overall.

"Although this study focused on preventing premature deaths, maintaining a healthy weight will also reduce the burden of many chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, and even cancer," said study co-author Dr. JoAnn Manson.

The research is published in the journal <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen">JAMA Network Open</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Losing weight before middle adulthood can save your life

Weight loss between young and middle adulthood greatly reduces the...

At the end of the last ice age, the spread of early humans into new regions placed too much strain on some animal species due to overhunting. While it has been assumed that this is why the woolly rhinoceros vanished, a new study published by <a href="https://www.cell.com/">Cell Press</a> suggests that global <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/global-warming-has-transformed-flooding-patterns/">warming</a> was responsible.

The analysis of ancient DNA revealed that the woolly rhinoceros population in Siberia remained stable until a few thousand years before it was wiped out. The experts speculate that temperatures simply became too warm for the cold-adapted species.

Study senior author Love Dalén is a professor of Evolutionary Genetics at the <a href="https://palaeogenetics.com/">Centre for Palaeogenetics</a>, a joint venture between Stockholm University and the Swedish Museum of Natural History. 

"It was initially thought that humans appeared in northeastern Siberia fourteen or fifteen thousand years ago, around when the woolly rhinoceros went extinct. But recently, there have been several discoveries of much older human occupation sites, the most famous of which is around thirty thousand years old," said Professor Dalén.

"So, the decline towards extinction of the woolly rhinoceros doesn't coincide so much with the first appearance of humans in the region. If anything, we actually see something looking a bit like an increase in population size during this period."

The study was focused on the DNA testing of tissue, bone, and hair samples collected from the remains of 14 individuals.

"We sequenced a complete nuclear genome to look back in time and estimate population sizes, and we also sequenced fourteen mitochondrial genomes to estimate the female effective population sizes," said study co-first author Edana Lord.

The genetic diversity that was revealed through genomic testing made it possible for the team to estimate the woolly rhino populations for tens of thousands of years before they disappeared. 

"We examined changes in population size and estimated inbreeding," said co-first author Nicolas Dussex. "We found that after an increase in population size at the start of a cold period some 29,000 years ago, the woolly rhino population size remained constant and that at this time, inbreeding was low."

The stability of the rhino numbers persisted until well after humans appeared in Siberia, which means that hunting was not responsible for their demise.

"That's the interesting thing," said Lord. "We actually don't see a decrease in population size after 29,000 years ago. The data we looked at only goes up to 18,500 years ago, which is approximately 4,500 years before their extinction, so it implies that they declined sometime in that gap."

The researchers also discovered various genetic mutations that would have helped the woolly rhinoceros adapt to colder weather. One of these mutations has also been found in woolly mammoths. These types of adaptations suggest the woolly rhinoceros was not suited for the warmer temperatures that abruptly emerged toward the end of the last ice age.

"We're coming away from the idea of humans taking over everything as soon as they come into an environment, and instead elucidating the role of climate in megafaunal extinctions," said Lord. "Although we can't rule out human involvement, we suggest that the woolly rhinoceros' extinction was more likely related to climate."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/home">Current Biology</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Woolly rhinoceros vanished as a result of global warming

At the end of the last ice age, the spread...

A team of experts warns that obesity rates may explode as a result of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/why-does-covid-19-affect-people-so-differently/">COVID-19</a> lockdowns. The stress, anxiety, and lack of physical activity associated with the pandemic creates psychosocial insecurity that leads to obesity, warn the researchers.

Strategies are needed to keep the public healthy and safe from COVID-19 infection. Investment in obesity research could help to inform counter measures that encourage healthier diets and more physical activity, while also combatting COVID-19.

Study co-author Christoffer Clemmensen is a professor in the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research (CBMR) at the <a href="https://www.ku.dk/english/">University of Copenhagen</a>.

"We are concerned that policy makers do not fully understand how strategies such as lockdowns and business closures could fuel the rise of obesity - a chronic disease with severe health implications, but with few reliable treatment options," said Professor Clemmensen.

In collaboration with two other experts, Professor Clemmensen has outlined how COVID-19 containment strategies could increase rates of obesity.

First, the study authors explained that people with limited economic resources are more likely to eat highly-processed and energy-rich food. Such foods are known to increase both appetite and calorie intake.

"It is likely that more people will turn to these forms of food, as more people lose their jobs and experience economic hardship," said study co-author Professor Michael Bang Petersen of Aarhus University.

The researchers also acknowledged that physical distancing increases anxiety by limiting our ability to socially interact. Feelings of loneliness and isolation combined with confinement at home can trigger excessive eating, said the experts.

Study co-author Professor Thorkild I.A. Sørensen noted that we still do not exactly understand how a person's mental health and economic status influence the risk of developing obesity.

"We know that there are links between obesity and a person's class and mental health, but we don't exactly understand how they make an impact," said Professor Sørensen.

Even though further research is needed to establish cause and effect, the study authors said the scientific expectations are clear: physical distancing and rising rates of unemployment should lead us to expect increased rates of obesity.

The researchers are urging governments and decision makers to consider what impact COVID-19 containment strategies, such as lockdowns, will have on the public's metabolic health. 

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/nrendo">Nature Reviews Endocrinology</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Measures to contain COVID-19 could worsen obesity crisis

A team of experts warns that obesity rates may explode...

In a new study from the <a href="https://sydney.edu.au/">University of Sydney</a>, researchers have discovered that male seahorses transport energy-rich fats and other nutrients to their developing <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/biomarker-found-in-babies-that-may-predict-autism/">babies</a>. 

While it was known that pregnant male seahorses can carry as many as 2,000 eggs at a time, it has not been entirely clear how they actually feed the babies.

Seahorses and their close relatives, including seadragons and pipefish, are the only male animals in the world that get pregnant and give birth to their offspring. Until they hatch and develop, the babies are protected inside of a brood pouch.

"This work adds to the growing evidence that male pregnancy in seahorses could be as complex as female pregnancy in other animals, including ourselves," said study co-author Dr. Camilla Whittington.

"We now know that seahorse dads can transport nutrients to the babies during pregnancy, and we think they do this via a placenta. It's not exactly like a human placenta though - they don't have an umbilical cord, for example. We need to do further histological work to confirm this."

According to Dr. Whittington, seahorses are emerging as important model species for understanding the evolution of live-bearing reproduction.

"We can draw some parallels between seahorse pregnancy and human pregnancy." 

"Seahorse dads seem to do some of the same things that human mums do, including transporting nutrients and oxygen to developing embryos, and immune modulation to protect the babies from infection."

The study provides the first conclusive evidence that male seahorses transport nutrients to developing embryos, which is a phenomenon known as "patrotrophy." 

The findings raise new questions, such as whether seahorse embryos can influence how much nutrition they receive while they are still in the brood pouch.

"My team is using a range of techniques to investigate the biology of seahorse pregnancy," said Dr. Whittington. "We want to understand more about the seahorse pouch and the ways it protects and supports the baby seahorses."

 Study lead author Zoe Skalkos said the research is really exciting because it's a big step in understanding the relationship between dad and baby in male pregnancy.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.springer.com/journal/360">Journal of Comparative Physiology B</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Pregnant male seahorses transport nutrients to their babies

In a new study from the University of Sydney, researchers...

Antibiotic resistance is a growing problem worldwide that is largely driven by the overuse of antibiotics. In a new study from the <a href="https://www.uga.edu/">University of Georgia</a>, researchers have determined that soil <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/outdoor-air-pollution-increases-stroke-risk-almost-immediately/">pollution</a> is also a key contributor to antibiotic resistance.    

The scientists analyzed the composition of soil using a technique known as genomic analysis. They discovered a strong correlation between antibiotic resistance and heavy metal contamination.

The contaminated soils were collected from the U.S. Department of Energy's Savannah River Site in South Carolina.

The study revealed that soils polluted with heavy metals had a higher level of specific bacterial hosts that contained antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs).

The bacteria had ARGs for three drugs are used to treat infections in humans: vancomycin, bacitracin, and polymyxin.

According to study lead author Jesse C. Thomas, the bacteria also had an ARG for multidrug resistance, a strong defense gene that can resist heavy metals as well as antibiotics.

When ARGs were present in the soil, they were accompanied by metal-resistant genes (MRGs) for several metals such as arsenic, copper, and zinc.

Thomas, who is currently a biologist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, explained that microorganisms develop new strategies and countermeasures over time to protect themselves.

"The overuse of antibiotics in the environment adds additional selection pressure on microorganisms that accelerates their ability to resist multiple classes of antibiotics. But antibiotics aren't the only source of selection pressure," said Thomas. "Many bacteria possess genes that simultaneously work on multiple compounds that would be toxic to the cell, and this includes metals."

Professor Travis Glenn said that further research is needed to determine whether metal-resistant genes respond in the same way to bacteria as antibiotic-resistant genes.

Heavy metals do not degrade in the environment so "they can exert long-standing pressure," said Professor Glenn.

The study authors noted that in previous research, experts identified antibiotic-resistance in heavy metal-contaminated water that was collected from streams at the Savannah River Site.

"When you expose the sample to a drug on a petri dish or assay, it only represents a fraction," said Thomas. "This doesn't give you a complete picture. With genomic analysis we were able to get much further."

It is clear that there are several human pathogens that develop antibiotic resistance, and overuse is not the only cause, according to Thomas. Other causes include agriculture and the combustion of fossil fuels.

"We need a better understanding of how bacteria are evolving over time," said Thomas. "This can impact our drinking water and our food and eventually our health."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://sfamjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/17517915">Microbial Biotechnology</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Soil pollution is a source of antibiotic resistance

Antibiotic resistance is a growing problem worldwide that is largely...

A team of researchers led by <a href="https://ethz.ch/en.html">ETH Zurich</a> has demonstrated how much more quickly <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-has-boosted-the-productivity-of-some-forests/">forests</a> can recover from disturbances with help from simple restoration projects. The study was focused on a tropical forest in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo that was heavily damaged by logging in the 1980s before becoming a protected area.

The long-term research project was focused on the forest's capacity to rebuild biomass. The study revealed that in areas left to regenerate naturally, the annual capacity to store carbon increased by as much as 2.9 tons of carbon per hectare. 

The researchers also found that areas of forest that underwent active restoration recovered even more rapidly, with an increase in the annual capacity to store carbon by as much as 4.4 tons per hectare.

The research expands on previous work by Professor Mark Cutler of the University of Dundee, which was conducted in Borneo nearly 25 years ago. 

Commercial logging in Sabah started decades ago, and large areas of forest were severely degraded. Very little of Sabah's natural forest cover is unaffected. 

Professor David Burslem explained that scientists have known for some while that tropical forests can regenerate from logging if left undisturbed for long enough. But the rapid recovery that resulted from simple, low-tech restoration techniques was a surprise to the researchers. 

"We gained this insight through a sustained investment in research by a multi-national team over more than 20 years," said Professor Burslem.

The study authors pointed out that the current price of carbon does not cover the cost of restoration, which greatly limits the potential of forest restoration to help mitigate climate change.

"The increase in forest regrowth from restoration coupled with average global restoration costs suggests carbon prices need to be much higher," said Professor Cutler. "If they were around US$40-80 per ton CO2 in accordance with the 2016 Paris climate agreement, this would be an incentive to invest in restoration. We must find sustainable mechanisms for funding."

Restoration projects are particularly important for the recovery of logged forests like those in Sabah to help maintain biodiversity and carbon sequestration.

"This active restoration encourages naturally diverse forest, and is therefore much more beneficial for biodiversity than monocultures or plantation forests," said study co-author Christopher Philipson. He noted that restoration helps previously over-used forests not only to recover carbon, but also to become ecologically sound and diverse again.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencemag.org/">Science</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

&nbsp;

Restoration projects help forests recover remarkably faster

A team of researchers led by ETH Zurich has demonstrated...

There is a stunning amount of diversity in <a href="http://www.earth.com/earthpedia-articles/the-beginners-guide-to-plant-pots/">plants</a>, which evolve different features for optimal performance in their specific environment.

In a new study from the <a href="https://www.jic.ac.uk/">John Innes Centre</a>, researchers have investigated why some plants have extremely unusal shapes, such as the heart-shaped seed pods of the Capsella genus.   

With its distinctive appearance, the heart-shaped Capsella fruit is the perfect candidate for studying the emergence of diverse shapes among plant organs.

Previous research suggests that the expression of key regulatory genes controls the evolution of plant organ shapes. The current study has revealed a critical new step in this pathway that involves the modification of protein activity.

The researchers identified a specific protein, which they named heartbreak (htb), that controls the activity of the key regulator of fruit development in Capsella rubella. 

The protein htb activates a type of "molecular trimming" pathway that initiates the production of the plant hormone auxin. This triggers anisotropic cell expansion, which is when cells expand in a preferred direction that is not uniform, and the heart-shaped Capsella fruit is formed.

"We know that the diversity in shape we observe in nature frequently is caused by changes in the position and timing of key regulatory genes: that is how a lot of variation occurs," said study co-author Professor Lars Østergaard.

"What we have found is that there is this post translational effect, beyond the gene expression. This protein modification is at the basis of this type of diversity of fruit shape - and goes a long way to explain the difference for example between the fruits of Capsella and those from the related model plant Arabidopsis. This is about a modification of protein activity at a different stage than we have seen before."

Using a genetic screening technique to study a range of traits, the experts managed to identify the important developmental role of htb.

"We now have an entire pathway based on gene expression, hormone dynamics and post translational modification of proteins in such detail that we can test to what extent these kinds of pathways with these components are shared much wider across kingdoms and not just within the plant kingdom," said first author Dr. Yang Dong.

The research answers a key question about how the unique heart-shaped seed pods develop, but the purpose they serve remains an intriguing mystery.  

"Previously we thought these shapes might be a good functional design for seed dispersal because the shape could allow the wind to catch the seed pod walls, but our assays comparing them with Arabidopsis and oilseed rape do not reveal any great advantage of the Capsella fruit in seed dispersal. So, we don't think that can be a major factor," said Professor Østergaard.

"It is possible they could act like solar panels. In other words, maybe they function to capture sunlight and increase photosynthetic capacity. We know that the photosynthetic capacity of the seed pod walls can have a strong effect on seed development inside the pod and therefore on yields. So, by understanding this mechanism it does give us tools to perhaps be able to manipulate the seed pod walls in crops like oilseed rape."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/home">Current Biology</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

&nbsp;

Study reveals how Capsella plants get heart-shaped seed pods

There is a stunning amount of diversity in plants, which...

Tropical forest soils are more sensitive to <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/study-reveals-human-health-impacts-of-climate-change/">climate</a> change than previously realized. As a result, billions of tons of CO2 could be released into the atmosphere, according to a study from the <a href="https://www.ed.ac.uk/">University of Edinburgh</a>. 

Tropical forests store one-third of the world's carbon, and the researchers said that CO2 emissions from soils in these forests could increase dramatically if temperatures continue to rise in line with current predictions.

A field experiment conducted in Panama indicates that soil carbon  emissions will increase by 55 percent if average global temperatures rise by four degrees Celsius.

"The results demonstrate the high sensitivity of these ecosystems to warming," said study lead author Dr. Andrew Nottingham. "It should be a wake-up call for us to take action to mitigate climate change and preserve tropical forests, which are one of the most important components in Earth's carbon cycle."

Carbon is released from soils during microbial activity and decomposition. The amount of CO2 that could be emitted from tropical soils is potentially so large that it would trigger additional global warming in a reinforcing feedback loop.

Previous studies have shown that rising temperatures threaten to release carbon locked away in frozen soils, such as Arctic permafrost. Prior to this study, however, tropical soils were thought to be more resilient to climate change.

The research team conducted a large-scale experiment in a tropical forest on Barro Colorado Island in the Panama Canal. 

The experts built heating devices and buried them one meter into the soil. The system was fitted with heating cables and a thermostat. For two years, the equipment kept the experimental areas four degrees warmer than the surrounding soil.

The findings show that, from every single hectare of tropical forest, up to eight extra tons of soil carbon will be released in the form of CO2 each year as temperatures rise.

While the researchers expect that the rate of emissions will eventually decline in the experimentally warmed soils, they do not yet know how long this will take. The long-term impact of soil warming on climate change is also unclear.

The team will continue the experiment - the Soil Warming Experiment in Lowland Tropical Rainforest (SWELTR) - to better understand how tropical forests are responding to global warming.

Study co-author Professor Patrick Meir concluded that the carbon emissions from warming tropical forest soils are much higher than expected, which shows that there is a need to re-examine current predictions.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/">Nature</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

&nbsp;

Billions of tons of CO2 could be released from tropical soils

Tropical forest soils are more sensitive to climate change than...

A new study from <a href="https://www.yale.edu/">Yale University</a> suggests that stress and anger can worsen <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/heat-related-cardiovascular-hospitalizations-are-on-the-rise/">cardiovascular</a> disease. Patients with heart failure were found to experience life-threatening symptoms shortly after dealing with negative emotions.

"Factors such as mental stress and anger often go unrecognized and are under-addressed," said study senior author Matthew Burg. 

"This study contributes to the extensive literature showing that stress and anger affect clinical outcomes for patients with heart disease, adding chronic heart failure to the list that includes ischemic heart disease (narrowed arteries) and arrhythmic disease."

Heart failure is a condition in which the heart is damaged or weakened. The disease can cause the heart muscle to pump out less blood than usual, which is known as a reduced ejection fraction.

The researchers evaluated the effects of stress and anger on diastolic function among patients who had heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.

Diastolic function refers to the heart's capacity to relax and refill between muscle contractions, and is an indicator of mortality risk.

For one week, the study participants reported daily on their experiences of stress and anger during the previous 24 hours. Next, the individuals completed a standardized "mental stress" assessment during which they solved challenging math problems and described a recent stressful experience. Echocardiograms were used to measure diastolic function during the stress task and also while the individuals were at rest.

According to the researchers, patients who reported experiencing anger in the week prior to the lab testing exhibited worse baseline resting diastolic pressure.

Stress-provoked changes in diastolic function, including decreased early relaxation and increased diastolic pressure, were observed in most patients.

"Mental stress is common in patients with heart failure due in part to the complexities of disease self-management, progressively worsening functional limitations, and frequent symptom exacerbations and hospitalizations," said study lead author Kristie Harris, who is a postdoctoral associate in Cardiovascular Medicine at Yale.

"We have evidence that patients who experience chronically elevated levels of stress experience a more burdensome disease course with diminished quality of life and increased risk for adverse events." 

"Clarifying the relevant behavioral and physiological pathways is especially important in the era of COVID-19 when the typical stressors of heart failure may be further compounded by pandemic-related stressors."

According to Burg, stress management and related techniques have been shown to reduce risk for adverse events among patients with ischemic heart disease. However, he said that further research is needed to identify factors that increase vulnerability to the effects of stress in heart failure, and to determine whether stress management may improve health outcomes.

The study is published in the <a href="https://www.onlinejcf.com/">Journal of Cardiac Failure</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Heart failure is worsened by stress and anger

A new study from Yale University suggests that stress and...

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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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

[sendtonews key="LvS8v8bp9z-2564889-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Kainji Lake, a reservoir on the Niger River.



In 1968, Kainji Lake was created by the construction of the Kainji Dam. The Niger River, the third longest in Africa, enters the lake in the north.&nbsp;



According to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rivers-in-the-american-west-are-a-lifesaving-resource-for-birds/">ESA</a>, the creation of the lake submerged Foge Island and the town of Bussa and permanently flooded other riverine settlements, leaving around 50,000 people displaced.&nbsp;



Large parts of Foge Island are temporarily exposed during low water tides, and the land is often used by migrating fishermen. Kainji Dam is a dam across the Niger River in Niger State of Central Nigeria. 



Wild mammals occur at relatively low densities due to illegal hunting. Lake Kainji has suffered a dramatic decline as a fishery due to the high numbers of artisanal and subsistence fisherfolk using the lake. It has been suggested that a period of closure, together with controlled fishing rights may help improve fish stocks.



Kainji Lake National Park is the oldest of its kind in Nigeria. The park contains three distinct areas: a part of the Kainji Lake, the Borgu Game Reserve to the west of the lake, and the Zugurma Game Reserve to the southeast. The park is home to around 65 mammal species, 350 bird species, and 30 species of reptiles and amphibians. 



Video/ Image Credit: European Space Agency&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.

Kainji Lake in north central Nigeria

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Amanda Nguyen/University of Illinois



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



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.

Designing crops that can beat the heat

[sendtonews key="QGPzYnXEtN-1712599-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from Carl...

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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Remote sensing will revolutionize the way we monitor trees

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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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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Wetlands are a major source of methane emissions

[sendtonews key="f8fukm28Vz-2491833-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from NASA...

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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

[sendtonews key="0879czfG3k-1785905-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from NASA...

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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

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Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.stowers.org/">Stowers Institute for Medical Research</a> describes why experts are studying zebrafish to gain a better understanding of how the immune system responds to injury. Zebrafish have the ability to repair and regenerate organs.



“Organ regeneration offers an exciting opportunity for studying the immune system and to inquire why some species can regenerate organs like the heart or missing limbs while others like humans cannot,” explained Dr. Tatjana Piotrowski.



Zebrafish sensory organ hair cells are an ideal system to investigate the pathways and cell types involved in regeneration since they are easily destroyed with antibiotics and begin regenerating within five hours. This enabled the researchers to identify the exact timing and genetic programs for each anti-inflammatory macrophage activation state.&nbsp;



“Our hypothesis is that human macrophages do not receive the proper chemical activation 'cocktail' to instruct pro-regenerative processes,” said Dr. Nicolas Denans. “Identifying the molecular recipe of macrophage activation in zebrafish may one day enable us to design regenerative immunotherapies in humans.”&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



“The new evidence is a valuable resource for comparative studies on the genetic programs involved in macrophage-mediated repair and regeneration. In other words, different types of injuries may induce different kinds of inflammatory responses. We want to decipher whether this 'language' is universal or if there are a variety of dialects."



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research&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.

How the immune system responds to injury

[sendtonews key="0dEcERCq61-2283382-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from Stowers...

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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.

2022 illustrated the consequences of a warming climate

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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"

[sendtonews key="QIoVYJqRBi-2434608-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from NASA...

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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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