We might like to think of ourselves as autonomous entities but, in reality, we're more like walking ecosystems, teeming with bacteria, viruses, and other microbes. It turns out that differences in these microbes might be as crucial to evolution and natural variation as genetic mutations are.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-biological-variation">Understanding biological variation</h2>



This novel perspective was discussed in a recent publication by Seth Bordenstein, director of Penn State’s One Health Microbiome Center, who is a professor of biology and entomology and holds the Dorothy Foehr Huck and J. Lloyd Huck Endowed Chair in Microbiome Sciences.



Bordenstein, along with 21 colleagues from around the globe, collectively known as the Holobiont Biology Network, propose that understanding the relationships between microbes and their hosts will lead to a more profound understanding of biological variation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-microbes-in-the-process-of-evolution">Microbes in the process of evolution</h2>



We've all heard the term evolution before, but what does it really mean? 



"The longstanding definition of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/microbes-laid-the-foundation-for-early-life-on-earth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">evolution</a> is the process by which living things change over time due to gradual mutations and adaptations to their environments," explains Bordenstein.



These adaptations are commonly driven by natural selection, a process that involves advantageous traits being passed on down the lineage. 



However, when we incorporate the microbiome, the collection of all microbes in and on a host organism, the process of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/discovery-evolution-not-random-gene-families-pangenome-influence-called-revolutionary/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">evolution</a> becomes a whole lot more interesting and complex.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-paradigm-holobiont-biology">New paradigm: Holobiont biology</h2>



Traditionally, we've kept the visible and invisible forms of life separate in the way we consider and study them. Many scientists still think of microbes in terms of background noise or minor contaminants.



But it turns out that this approach may have been selling the microbes short.



"Microbes are the base of the biosphere," says Bordenstein. "Every host organism lives in contact and association with microbes, and those microbes can cause variation in traits."



This realization has given birth to a new concept - holobiont biology; a multidisciplinary and holistic understanding of how life's forms and functions depend upon relationships between microorganisms and their hosts.



Holobiont biology considers organisms and the microbes with which they are inseparably linked as a whole, rather than as separate entities.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-harnessing-the-power-of-the-microbiome">Harnessing the power of the microbiome </h2>



The field of biology traditionally categorizes living things into taxa. But holobiont biology poses a challenging and exciting opportunity to rethink this framework.



"We’re making the case that organisms are not autonomous. They exist, by definition, always in association and in contact with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/microbes-found-alive-inside-a-rock-after-2-billion-years-beneath-earth-surface/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">microbes</a>," explains Bordenstein.



This novel way of thinking could open doors to harness the power of the microbiome to improve health, resilience in environmental sustainability, and advancements in agriculture. 



Think of it: what if we could use microbes to combat chronic diseases like cancer or make agriculture more resistant to climate change?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-revisiting-microbes-and-evolution">Revisiting microbes and evolution</h2>



Darwin's famous treatise, Origin of Species, is a cornerstone of modern biology. However, it was written with species of animals and plants in mind and did not consider the multitude of invisible microbes that are part of every individual macro-organism.



Now that we know so much more about the fundamental role of microbes in the biosphere, we can add a new layer to our understanding of evolution.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-genetic-diversity-and-evolution">Genetic diversity and evolution</h2>



In the 1920s to 1940s, biology witnessed a revolution known as the Modern Synthesis, where Mendel's genetic laws were merged with Darwin's theory of evolution. This created a comprehensive explanation for how new variations of form and function develop over time.



We may well currently be at the cusp of another revolution, a post-Modern Synthesis. As Bordenstein points out, we're now factoring in the role of microbes in our understanding of genetics and evolution.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shifting-paradigms-in-life-sciences">Shifting paradigms in life sciences</h2>



How do we incorporate this new understanding of the importance of microbes in the biology and evolution of all organisms? The Holobiont Biology Network authors state that this needs to start with redefining and re-teaching biology.



"We’re thinking of animals and plants as a consortium of host and microbial cells that influence anatomy and physiology," explains Bordenstein.



There's also a need for new analytic tools to determine the contribution of microbes and how they interact with genetics to explain traits. Once we have these analytic tools in place, we can engineer microbes and microbiomes as much as we can engineer genes to yield better outcomes for organisms.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-microbes-shaping-our-evolution">Microbes shaping our evolution</h2>



Microbes have been here for four billion years, and they outnumber the stars in the universe by orders of magnitude. There are more bacteria in your mouth than there are people on the planet. They have shaped our world in ways we are only just beginning to understand.



Research shows that they may also play a role in determining who is more likely to develop colon cancer, have high cholesterol levels or an average body mass index. After all, we contain not only our own genes, but also those of the billions of micro-organisms that live in and on us. &nbsp;



"What we're learning today and over the past decade, is that sometimes microbes explain more biological trait variation in organisms than the genes do," Bordenstein says.



The future of biology lies not just in our genes, but in the characteristics of our associated <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/city-microbes-are-finding-surprising-new-ways-to-survive/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">microbes</a> too. As we move forward, remember this: we're not lone entities. We're ecosystems.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.ado2152" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science</a>.



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Humans are walking ecosystems and microbes rule their evolution

We might like to think of ourselves as autonomous entities but, in reality, we're more like walking ecosystems, teeming with bacteria, viruses, and other microbes. It turns out that differences in these microbes might be as crucial to evolution and natural variation as genetic mutations are. Understanding biological variation This novel perspective was discussed in a recent publication by Seth Bordenstein, director of Penn State’s One Health Microbiome Center, who is a professor of biology and entomology and holds the Dorothy Foehr Huck and J. Lloyd Huck...

Looking for somewhere to move or vacation with a decent climate but don’t know where to start? A new, easy to use, interactive global climate map with a wide array of applications could be your best bet.

Tomasz Stepinski, a <a href="http://www.uc.edu/">University of Cincinnati</a> geography professor and expert on mapping data and statistics, created a new climate map that compares the climates of areas anywhere in the world.

The map also shows the drastic temperature and precipitation variations over the years due to climate change, and could predict which geographic regions may experience extreme weather events in the coming years.

“The map demonstrates climate change over time but also climate diversity. The concept is powerful and can inspire a lot of research,” Stepinski said.

The map is called <a href="http://www.climatex.com/en/">ClimatEx</a> and was created in Stepinkski’s <a href="http://www.artsci.uc.edu/departments/geography/research/space-informatics-lab.html">Space Informatics Lab</a> with the help of researcher Pawel Netzel.

The two collected five decades of data from monthly climate records from <a href="http://www.worldclim.org/">WorldClim</a>, a public database. This data was then used to develop a visual way to study patterns and climate variability in locations all over the world.

The data is mapped in a four-square-kilometer grid which allows people to see how temperatures and precipitations are changing in cities all around the globe. The map also shows which areas have experienced the most change over time, such as the warmer temperatures in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/warmer-arctic-northeast-winter/">Arctic</a>.

There are many potential applications for ClimateEx outside of educational purposes or research. The map could also help climatologists see which areas are most at risk of extreme weather due to climate change.

“ClimateEx enables an easy search for locations where climate change may lead to the occurrence of such extreme phenomena in the future,” said Stepinski. “The user simply indicates the location where tornadoes are presently frequent, and ClimateEx finds all locations where in 50 years the climate will be conducive to tornadoes.”

Stepinski says his map is a useful tool but also provides further proof of the way climate change is reshaping climate, weather, and precipitation on a global scale. 

“If you were looking at climate change at a scale of a million years, you wouldn't worry too much,” Stepinski said. “But if you see dramatic changes on the order of a few decades, it's a big problem. Personally, I'm not happy there are people who seem to disregard this as not much of a problem. It is a problem.”

[caption id="attachment_1171083" align="aligncenter" width="996"]<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/climate-map.png"><img class="wp-image-1171083 size-large" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/climate-map-1024x600.png" alt="" width="996" height="584" /></a> Green areas could see least change while white and brown areas are predicted to see the most. Image Credit: Tomasz Stepinski/ClimateEx[/caption]

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Tomasz Stepinski/ClimateEx

New map reveals the impact of climate change across the globe

Looking for somewhere to move or vacation with a decent...

Each year, scientists in the Arctic measure the region’s sea ice extent – the peak of the winter’s growth, before the ice begins to thaw for the spring and summer.

And this year, researchers found that the sea ice extent was one of the four lowest on record. The other three were 2015, 2016 and 2017.

"The Arctic sea ice cover continues to be in a decreasing trend and this is connected to the ongoing warming of the Arctic," Dr. Claire Parkinson of NASA's <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">Goddard Space Flight Center</a> said in a press release. "It's a two-way street: the warming means less ice is going to form and more ice is going to melt, but also, because there's less ice, less of the sun's incident solar radiation is reflected off, and this contributes to the warming."

Every year, sea ice in the Arctic Circle grows during the winter, peaking around mid-March, then shrinks until it reaches its minimum in September. Then, the cycle repeats.

On March 17, sea ice in the Arctic covered 5.59 million square miles – the peak for the year. That’s about 448,000 square miles smaller on average than the sea ice extent in winters from 1981 to 2010, about the size of California and Texas combined, according to the NASA researchers.

The only time the sea ice extent has been lower was in the winter of 2017. The National Snow &amp; Ice Data Center has <a href="http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2018/03/arctic-sea-ice-maximum-second-lowest/">published an analysis</a> of this year’s study.

This winter, the Arctic saw several unusual warm spells, at several points reaching temperatures above freezing. In February, one of these warm periods lasted several days. Cooler weather in March spurred ice growth, but not enough to lift this year out of the second-lowest spot.

At one point in February, a thick, multiyear portion of the sea ice cover north of Greenland melted, exposing open water. While that area has refrozen, it remains fragile.

"This old, thicker ice is what we expect to provide stability to the Arctic sea ice system, since we expect that ice not to be as vulnerable to melting out as thinner, younger ice," ice research Dr. Alek Petty said. "As ice in the Arctic becomes thinner and more mobile, it increases the likelihood for rapid ice loss in the summer."

While the Arctic is beginning its melting season at a low point, the scientists can’t predict what that means for the coming months. Chilly spring temperatures or a cooler than usual summer could prevent another record-low summer, Parkinson said.

NASA’s aerial survey project, <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/icebridge/">Operation IceBridge</a>, is currently mapping the Arctic’s sea ice cover. In the fall, the agency will launch a new satellite mission to monitor the thickness of Arctic sea ice and how it is changing.

—

By Kyla Cathey,<a href="http://www.earth.com"> Earth.com</a> staff writer

Image credit: Nathan Kurtz, <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/">NASA</a>

The not-so-big freeze: Arctic sea ice extent low again this year

Each year, scientists in the Arctic measure the region’s sea...

A study led by the <a href="https://www.unsw.edu.au/">University of New South Wales</a> has revealed that some symptoms of aging could be reversed by replenishing two molecules that occur naturally in the body. The discovery could help improve physical performance in older adults.

The two molecules can be boosted to reverse an age-related decline of blood flow to tissues and organs. This restoration process successfully increased exercise capacity and physical endurance in mice.

The research has demonstrated, for the first time, that the body's capacity for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/regular-exercise-slows-aging/">exercise</a> decreases as levels of the metabolite NAD+ decline. 

When mice were treated with the NAD+ booster NMN and increasing levels of hydrogen sulphide (H2S), physical endurance was improved by over 60 percent in both young and old mice.

The study revealed that endothelial cells, the cells that line the blood vessels, are the primary driver of aging and are most likely the reason that older people feel like they have less energy.

“We become weaker and less fit after 50, and eventually succumb to diseases of aging,” said senior author Dr. David Sinclair. “Remarkably, by feeding mice NMN and H2S it restores NAD+ levels in endothelial cells and makes them believe they are young and exercised.”

“With exercise, the effect is even more dramatic. We saw 32-month-old mice, roughly equivalent to a 90-year-old human - receiving the combination of molecules for four weeks ran, on average, twice as far as untreated mice. Mice treated only with NMN alone ran 1.6 times further than untreated mice.”

The researchers found that the protein SIRT1 was stimulated in the mice, which led to the restoration of capillary formation in muscle.

“Age plays a critical role in the links between blood vessels and muscle, and points to a loss of NAD+ and SIRT1 as the reason people lose the capacity to exercise as they age,” said lead author Dr. Abhirup Das.

“It has significant impact on frailty because one of the main reasons for frailty is reduced blood flow that affects every part of our body. And reduced muscle function makes us weak. Our bodies already make NAD+ in our cells, but after 50 its levels drop dramatically.” 

“Exercise is a way to prevent decline in blood flow but these findings show that by restoring the levels of NAD+ in mice equivalent to 60 year old humans, we can get the same benefits of exercise.”

Dr. Sinclair and Dr. Lindsay Wu have been working for five years to make NAD+ boosters into therapeutic agents. The ultimate goal is the development of NMN-based drugs that replicate the benefits of exercise by increasing blood flow and oxygenation of muscles.

“This new study adds to the body of work showing that the restoration of NAD in mammals can delay and reverse many of the effects of aging. NAD+ boosters, particularly when combined with H2S, are some of the most promising molecules in medical research today,” said Dr. Sinclair.

The research could ultimately lead to improved mobility in older adults, better athletic ability, and could help to reduce the risk of age-related diseases like dementia, liver failure, and stroke.

“If these findings translate from mouse to human, we could have a revolutionary impact on the quality of life of older people,and not to mention the benefits of avoiding diseases of aging,” said Dr. Wu.

The study is published in the journal <a href="http://www.cell.com/">Cell</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Some aging systems can be reversed to improve quality of life

A study led by the University of New South Wales...

Studying the dynamics of volcanoes and their origins beneath the Earth’s crust is important for understanding the Earth’s mantle and its geochemical processes.

One proposed mantle mystery that has been the subject of debate is the existence of deep mantle plumes that could explain the the hotspot beneath the famed <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earthquakes-yellowstone-supervolcano/">Yellowstone</a> Caldera. 

Researchers from the<a href="https://www.utexas.edu/"> University of Texas</a> may have finally proven that mantle plumes exist and that the one beneath Yellowstone reaches as far as Mexico. 

A magma plume is a theorized mushroom-shaped thermal anomaly with a thin trail of magma rooted in the boundary between the Earth’s core and mantle. 

The volatile conditions that occur at the core-mantle boundary (CMB) are the supposed cause of mantle plumes, but their existence is not widely accepted. 

Many have theorized that a mantle plume lies beneath Yellowstone’s supervolcano which could explain the array of geothermal features and surface activity around Yellowstone National Park. 

The researchers analyzed data from the <a href="http://www.usarray.org/ceusn">USArray network</a> which records and tracks seismic activity around North America. 

By focusing specifically on the seismic activity around Yellowstone and using new imaging techniques, the study gives compelling evidence for a plume of magma underneath Yellowstone. 

The researchers discovered a 45 by 34 mile channel below the earth's surface where seismic waves are slower. 

If this were a mantle plume, according to the study’s calculations the mantle would be hotter than anything around it and could reach temperatures of 800 degrees Celsius. 

The researchers conclude in their paper that this plume is the likely “driving source” behind the volcanic activity around Yellowstone. 

“Our results strongly support a deep origin for the Yellowstone hotspot, and also provide evidence for the existence of thin thermal mantle plumes that are currently beyond the resolution of global tomography models,” write the researchers.

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette,</a> <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Magma plume may be the source of Yellowstone’s famed supervolcano

Studying the dynamics of volcanoes and their origins beneath the...

Researchers at the <a href="http://web.mit.edu/">Massachusetts Institute of Technology</a> (MIT) have created a new device that can extract water out of dry air. The potential of the instrument has already been demonstrated, and the experts say that they will now be working to scale up the process.

The system is based on relatively new high-surface-area materials called metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). It was designed to extract potable water from even the driest <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/life-earths-driest-desert-mars/">desert</a> conditions. 

The concept was initially described last year in the journal Science, and senior author Evelyn Wang said that the paper drew a lot of attention.


“It got a lot of hype, and some criticism,” she said. But now, “all of the questions that were raised from last time were explicitly demonstrated in this paper. We've validated those points.”


A small version of the device that was tested on a rooftop at <a href="https://www.asu.edu/">Arizona State University</a> proved that the extraction system can work even in subzero dewpoints powered by nothing but sunlight. 

The researchers explained that, if the device was scaled up, its output would be equivalent to more than a quarter-liter of water per day per kilogram of MOF.


Dew-harvesting systems that are currently in use require 50 percent humidity, and fog-harvesting methods require 100 percent humidity. Remarkably, the new system can work with relative humidity as low as 10 percent.

According to Wang, the next step is to work on scaling up the system and boosting its efficiency.

“We hope to have a system that's able to produce liters of water.” The small test systems were only designed to produce a few milliliters of water, but Wang says “we want to see water pouring out!” 

The water extracted by the system was tested for impurities and no traces were found. Further testing showed that “there's nothing from the MOF that leaches into the water. It shows the material is indeed very stable, and we can get high-quality water,” said Wang.

Ultimately, the team would like to produce systems that can supply water to individual households.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/ncomms/">Nature Communications</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

New device can extract water from even the driest desert air

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have created...

Researchers from the <a href="https://www.surrey.ac.uk/">University of Surrey</a> have revealed how widespread drugs have become in our environment. More than one-tenth of individuals they observed in a study had traces of drugs they had never used on their fingerprints.

As a result of their investigation, the experts developed a method of determining the difference between people who have used <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/alcohol-susceptible-cocaine-use/">cocaine</a> or heroin and those who have simply been exposed to the drugs somewhere in their surroundings. The technique works even if individuals have washed their hands.

The research team tested the fingerprints of 50 drug-free individuals and 15 participants who had used either cocaine or heroin in the previous 24 hours.


Even though they had no history of drug use, cocaine was found on 13 percent of the drug-free individuals and heroine was detected on one percent.

“Believe it or not, cocaine is a very common environmental contaminant - it is well known that it is present on many bank notes. Even so, we were surprised that it was detected in so many of our fingerprint samples,” said study co-author Dr. Melanie Bailey.

The researchers found that cocaine and heroin can be transferred through a handshake. This experiment enabled the experts to identify a cut-off level that can be used to accurately distinguish between drug use and secondary transfer.

“By establishing a threshold for significance on a fingerprint test, we can give those tested the piece-of-mind of knowing that whatever the result of the test may be, it was not affected by their everyday activities or shaking hands with someone that had taken drugs,” said Dr. Bailey.

“It's clear that fingerprint testing is the future of drug-testing,” said lead author Mahado Ismail. “There are many factors that set fingerprint testing apart - it's non-invasive, easy to collect and you have the ability to identify the donor by using the sample. Our study will help to add another robust layer to fingerprint drug testing.”

The study is published in the journal <a href="http://clinchem.aaccjnls.org/">Clinical Chemistry</a>.

--

By <a href="http://caexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Heroin and cocaine commonly found on fingerprints of non-users

Researchers from the University of Surrey have revealed how widespread...

Researchers at <a href="https://www.city.ac.uk/">City University London</a> have discovered that approximately 20 percent of people have the ability to hear sounds associated with silent light flashes and inaudible movements.

Synaesthesia is a mysterious condition in which sensations that are typically experienced separately occur at the same time. For example, the most common type of synaesthesia called vEAR causes people to hear sounds when they see motion or flashing lights.

“The survival of this association may explain links between sound and vision, such as why we like to listen to music synchronized with flashing lights or dance,” said the study authors.

“The effect also provides a good way to learn about what's happening in the brain in people with synaesthesia, with vEAR's high prevalence making it easier to investigate the mechanisms behind such cross-sensory perception.”

The research team conducted an online survey with over 4,000 participants. More than 20 percent of the individuals reported that they had experienced vEAR prior to the study.

The participants were instructed to watch video clips that featured people engaging in different types of movement, ranging from slow and smooth to fast and sudden.

The researchers found that meaningless visual stimuli often caused the subjects to hear sounds.

“It was seen that correspondents who had answered ‘yes’ to experiencing vEAR were specifically sensitive to the pure motion energy present in videos such as swirling or patterns that were not predictive of sounds.” 

An association was also noted between vEAR and musical imagery, suggesting that the effect may be a natural physiological response that occurs when certain areas of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/childhood-memories-lost-brain/">brain</a> are stimulated.

“Some people hear what they see. Car indicator lights, flashing neon shop signs and people's movements as they walk may all trigger an auditory sensation,” said study co-author Dr. Elliot Freeman.

“Ours is the first large-scale survey of this ability. We found that as many as 21 percent of people may experience forms of this phenomenon, which makes it considerably more prevalent than other synaesthesias.”

According to the researchers, the cross-sensory phenomena may also be caused by a “leakage” of information from visual regions of the brain into areas that regulate hearing.

The research is published in the journal <a href="https://www.journals.elsevier.com/cortex">Cortex</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Some people can detect silent sounds through visual stimulation

Researchers at City University London have discovered that approximately 20...

A powerful new instrument was successfully launched to the International Space Station earlier this year. The Total and Spectral solar Irradiance Sensor (TSIS-1) was designed to direct itself toward the Sun during daylight hours to collect information about the Sun's influence on the Earth.

NASA has been measuring the incoming energy from the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-solar-panels-rain/">Sun</a> for the last 40 years. TSIS-1, which became fully operational this month, will revolutionize the way this data is collected.

Dong Wu is project scientist at NASA's <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">Goddard Space Flight Center</a> in Greenbelt, Maryland.

“TSIS-1 extends a long data record that helps us understand the Sun’s influence on Earth’s radiation budget, ozone layer, atmospheric circulation, and ecosystems, and the effects that solar variability has on the Earth system and climate change,” explained Wu. 

A team at the <a href="http://lasp.colorado.edu/">University of Colorado Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics</a> (LASP) has been testing TSIS-1 for the last two months to refine its pointing platform, a critical component of the sensor which controls the projection of the solar instruments toward the Sun.

TSIS-1 was initially launched on December 15th, 2017 from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. It was transported by the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket to the space station. 

NASA explained in a statement:

“TSIS-1 studies the total amount of light energy emitted by the Sun using the Total Irradiance Monitor, one of two sensors onboard. This sensor's data will give us a better understanding of Earth's primary energy supply and provide information to help improve models simulating the planet's climate.”

“The monitor first started collecting science data - called "first light" - on January 11th after its doors were opened to fully view the Sun. The sensor extends a 40-year measurement of the sun's total energy to Earth.”

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

New sensor measures how much of the Sun’s energy reaches Earth

A powerful new instrument was successfully launched to the International...

Norwegian scientists at <a href="https://www.sintef.no/ocean/">SINTEF Ocean</a> are currently testing a way to slow hurricanes down by cooling seawater surface temperatures in an effort to cut off the storms’ energy source. The idea is to produce air bubbles deep in the ocean that will carry cold water along with them as they rise to the surface.

Warm ocean temperatures give <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hurricane-harvey-worst-hurricanes/">hurricanes</a> and other tropical storms the fuel they need to strengthen and continue churning. In addition, the hot water contributes to a warmer atmosphere which can hold more water.

Unusually warm seawater in the Atlantic Ocean intensified the devastating 2017 hurricane season, which claimed hundreds of lives and caused a reported $370 billion in damages worldwide.

Hurricanes form when hot and cool air collide over ocean water that is at least 79.7 degrees Fahrenheit, or 26.5 degrees Celsius.

Grim Eidnes is a Senior Research Scientist at SINTEF Ocean.

“Climate change is causing sea surface temperatures to increase,” said Eidnes. “The critical temperature threshold at which evaporation is sufficient to promote the development of hurricanes is 26.5 degrees Celsius.”

“In the case of hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria that occurred in the Gulf of Mexico in the period August to September 2017, sea surface temperatures were measured at 32 degrees Celsius.”

OceanTherm founder Olav Hollingsæter first came up with the concept of cooling the ocean after witnessing the catastrophic power of Hurricane Katrina. He proposed his idea to scientists at SINTEF, who were already testing the bubble technique to control the spread of oil spills, and the project was launched.

Using the “bubble curtain” method, bubbles are released from a perforated pipe filled with compressed air. As the bubbles rise, they bring up cold water from deep in the ocean to cool the surface.

“Our initial investigations show that the pipes must be located at between 100 and 150 meters depth in order to extract water that is cold enough,” said Eidnes. “By bringing this water to the surface using the bubble curtains, the surface temperature will fall to below 26.5 degrees Celsius, thus cutting off the hurricane’s energy supply.”

Bubble curtains have been successfully used for many years to keep Norwegian fjords free of ice. Hollingsæter explained that the technique can be implemented on a small or a large scale, and that bubble curtains can be deployed based on oil production platforms.

“The cost-benefit potential of the SINTEF project is very great,” said Hollingsæter. “The most intense hurricanes cause communities major material damage and, in some cases, many lives are lost. This project is both meaningful and important. I hope and believe that we will succeed.”

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Inducing air bubbles into the ocean may help slow down hurricanes

Norwegian scientists at SINTEF Ocean are currently testing a way...

The idea of nature vs. nurture has been the subject of much discussion and research within the scientific community for centuries. How do they influence growth and development, and is there an ideal combination of the two that provides the greatest benefit in raising offspring? A new study from Tracy Bedrosian and colleagues has produced some interesting results that may move us further down the path to answering these questions.

Bedrosian and her team set out to explore the influence of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mothers-immune-system-brain/">maternal care</a> in mice on the prevalence of transposons in their offspring. Transposons are repeated genetic sequences that can spontaneously replicate within the genome. Their study focused on L1 retrotransposons, over 3,000 of which reside in the mouse genome. 

The researchers monitored mother mice and their newborn pups for two weeks, then categorized them into two different groups based on low and high levels of maternal care. Maternal care was defined by the amount of licking and grooming that a pup received from its mother.

Pups that received less maternal care were observed to have significantly more transposon replication in the neurons of the hippocampus. However, this difference in replication was not observed in the heart or the frontal cortex of the brain. This indicates that it is unlikely the observed difference is a result of inherited differences in the number of L1 copies, meaning that it were ultimately influenced by maternal care. Further analysis shows that methylation of transposons may be behind this phenomenon. Methylation is where methyl groups are attached to a DNA molecule, typically acting to repress gene transcription (when DNA is copied into mRNA).

The study’s authors highlight the findings of a recent report that childhood stress and adversity lead to hypomethylation of retrotransposons in humans. However, the average human genome has only about 100 active copies compared to the 3,000 active copies in the mouse genome. Although the implications of these findings are currently unknown, revealing that maternal care can influence the brain’s genetic code in mice may lead to greater discoveries down the road.

The full results were published by the <a href="http://www.aaas.org/">American Association for the Advancement of Science</a>.

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By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Love and attention from a mom impacts genetic code of offspring

The idea of nature vs. nurture has been the subject...

New breakthrough paves the way for bee-friendly pesticides. Neonicotinoid pesticides have been the subject of much debate and controversy, with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/european-union-ban-pesticides/">numerous studies</a> showing the debilitating effects that neonicotinoids have on honeybees and bumblebees. 

The European Union has officially banned three neonicotinoid pesticides that were confirmed as harmful to bees from being used on crops outside. 

Even though the adverse effects have been established, it was not well understood why honeybees and bumblebees reacted differently when exposed to harmful pesticides. 

A collaborative effort among researchers from the <a href="https://www.exeter.ac.uk/">University of Exeter</a>, <a href="https://www.rothamsted.ac.uk/">Rothamsted Research, </a>and <a href="https://www.bayer.com/">Bayer AG</a> discovered the enzymes at play in bees that ultimately determine sensitivity to different neonicotinoid pesticides. 

The study represents an important breakthrough that could help in the creation of pesticides that are not toxic to bees. 

Toxins in organisms are broken down by enzymes called cytochrome P450s, and the researchers wanted to investigate what specific enzymes were responsible for breaking down pesticides in bees.

Identifying these enzymes could also shed insight on why honeybees and bumblebees have such different ranges of sensitivity to the neonicotinoids compared to other similar insect species. 

The researchers discovered a subfamily of cytochrome P450s called CYP9Q that was responsible for the rapid breakdown of some pesticides.

Next, the researchers tested how efficiently bees metabolized certain neonicotinoids and found that bees metabolize some more much better than others. 

“Knowing the mechanisms contributing to inherent tolerance helps us and regulators to better understand why certain insecticides have a high margin of safety to bees,” said Ralf Nauen, insect toxicologist and the lead investigator of the study at Bayer. 

Now the researchers say that developing new non-toxic pesticides will be much easier. 

Creating a pesticide is a lengthy and costly process, so having a solid foundation of what factors impact the bee’s sensitivity will ensure that no time is wasted on pesticides that will be harmful. 

“Identifying these key enzymes provides valuable tools to screen new pesticides early in their development to see if bees can break them down,” said Chris Bass, the leader of the team at the University of Exeter.

According to the research team, pesticides should be judged on an individual basis and this study will help create non-toxic pesticides that could safely be used on crops without affecting a bee’s health or abilities. 

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By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>,<a href="https://www.earth.com/"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

New breakthrough paves the way for bee-friendly pesticides

New breakthrough paves the way for bee-friendly pesticides. Neonicotinoid pesticides...

Ceratopsian dinosaurs like the triceratops can be distinguished by their overstated horns and frills, and there have been many theories as to why these trademarks evolved. A new study led by Andrew Knapp of <a href="https://www.qmul.ac.uk/">Queen Mary University of London</a> has revealed that the exaggerated features most likely advanced for sexual signaling.

Ceratopsian dinosaurs were widespread across what is now North America, Europe, and Asia during the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pterosaurs-mass-extinction-event/">Cretaceous Period</a>. There were over 70 species of ceratopsians, all of which had large skulls and distinctive morphological features that the researchers refer to as “ornaments.”

“A number of hypotheses have been suggested for the presence and evolution of such ornaments, including predator defense, mechanical support, thermoregulation, social or sexual signaling, and species recognition,” wrote the study authors.

“The first three of these proposed explanations have been considered and ruled out in many analyses of specific systems, leaving species recognition and sexual selection as the two main competing hypotheses that could offer a more general explanation for the evolution of ornaments.”

To test the theory of species recognition, the experts looked at the differences in traits among sympatric species, which share the same location, and non-sympatric species, which do not overlap geographically.

“If species recognition is a driver of trait evolution, then morphological disparity in ornamentation should be significantly higher between sympatric species because species that are not sympatric have minimal selective pressure to evolve obvious visual differences,” explained the researchers.

The team compared traits across ceratopsians based on 350 defined characteristics. While the ornaments were likely used to distinguish between species, the researchers found no evidence that species recognition was the driving force behind their emergence.

“We find no support for the hypothesis that sympatry correlates with higher ornament divergence in ceratopsian dinosaurs, nor for the wider species recognition explanation for the evolution of horns, frills and other display traits in the Ceratopsia,” wrote the study authors.

The researchers concluded that the horns and frills of ceratopsians were likely developed to help them attract suitable mates. 

The experts explained that sexually selected ornaments are expected to show rapid evolution and characteristic patterns of growth, which have both been demonstrated in ceratopsians. Further research is needed, however, to confirm that the horns and frills were adapted for mating purposes.

This study is published in <a href="http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/">Proceedings of the Royal Society B</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

Triceratops used its horns to attract mates

Ceratopsian dinosaurs like the triceratops can be distinguished by their...

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Nushagak Bay, a large estuary in southwest Alaska. Nushagak runs mainly north to south and exits in Bristol Bay, a large body of water in the Bering Sea.



"The bay is primarily fed by the Nushagak River, which begins in the Alaska Range and flows southwest approximately 450 km. The bay is also fed by several additional rivers including the Wood, Igushik, Snake and Weary rivers," says ESA.



"The dark colors of the Nushagak River are most likely due to tannins or lignins (chemical substances found in plants). Tannins and lignins from roots, leaves, seeds, bark and soil can leach into the water and give it a brown or even black colour. The sediments then flow southwards where it is mixed with the bluer waters of the bay."



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.acs.org/">American Chemical Society</a> (ACS) reveals that proteins on flu viruses are actually flexible, tilting and waving in a “breath-like” motion. According to the experts, these proteins could be used to better defend against the flu.



"The main antigenic targets of influenza virus are two surface glycoproteins, hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). Whereas the structural and dynamical properties of both glycoproteins have been studied previously, the understanding of their plasticity in the whole-virion context is fragmented," wrote the researchers.



To investigate, the team conducted detailed simulations of the influenza A H1N1 virion, or the swine flu. The experts concluded that the visualizations show many new vulnerable states of flu viruses, which could improve future vaccines and antiviral drugs.



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.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

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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



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.

Remote sensing will revolutionize the way we monitor trees

[sendtonews key="EjmSP20gQK-2593093-12187" 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 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://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



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.

Wetlands are a major source of methane emissions

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

[sendtonews key="3UUsNkFOuS-2487333-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from NASA...

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

[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



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...