The influence of synthetic plastic on our planet is concerning, to say the least. It's everywhere - from the depths of our oceans to the food we eat, even finding its way into our bodies. But, Avinash Manjula-Basavanna, a seasoned research scientist at Northeastern University, sees "MECHS" as a solution. 



"The kind of impact that human-made materials are making on the living world is resulting in&nbsp;climate change, pollution and more," he says. 



"One of the ways that we are able to address this is to make materials sustainable and also make materials which are smart or intelligent."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-birth-of-a-new-bioplastic">Birth of a new bioplastic</h2>



Joining forces with Neel S. Joshi, an associate professor of chemistry and chemical biology at Northeastern, Manjula-Basavanna gave birth to a new bioplastic named MECHS.



It stands for Mechanical Engineered Living Materials with Compostability, Healability, and Scalability.



The team recently showcased their discovery in the journal Nature Communications. Here, they articulated their unique work with engineered living materials, living cells that produce functional <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plastic-pollution-is-changing-the-entire-earth-system/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">materials</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wonders-of-bioplastic">Wonders of bioplastic</h2>



What makes MECHS stand out? Manjula-Basavanna and Joshi gave us two major reasons.



Firstly, MECHS exhibits the beauty of nature-inspired solutions, with the ability to regenerate, regulate themselves, and respond to external stimuli such as light. 



The second reason is even more significant in today's context. Unlike the harmful plastics choking our planet and bodies, MECHS is biodegradable in water and even in a compost bin. 



"Right now we use a lot of conventional nonbiodegradable plastics for applications they don't need to be used in at all," Joshi says. "If we replace that with our <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/major-plastic-pollution-lurks-beneath-the-surface-of-rivers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plastic</a>, you could just flush it down the toilet and it would biodegrade."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-engineered-living-materials">Engineered living materials</h2>



Until now, such engineered living materials haven't been scalable for broad production. Enter MECHS.



Essentially, it's comprised of engineered E. coli bacteria intertwined with a fiber matrix, crafted into a paper- or film-like material. 



The fibrous structure gives MECHS some desirable properties. For instance, the bioplastic can stretch like plastic wrap and be genetically engineered for variable stiffness. And, quite fascinatingly, it has self-healing capabilities.



But the real cherry on top? MECHS is fully dissolvable, be it in large amounts of water or a compost bin. It dissolves rapidly, much faster than other existing biodegradable plastics. Plus, it can be mass-produced similarly to paper.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-potential-applications">Potential applications</h2>



The scientific marvels envision MECHS as the solution to "primary packaging." This includes the plastic cover protecting your new iPhone or the detergent pods for your appliances. Imagine MECHS wrapped around a pot plant, slowly breaking down and releasing proteins to fertilize the plant!



Addressing the global problem of plastic pollution, Manjula-Basavanna sees a strong potential for MECHS in plastic packaging, which covers almost one-third of the plastic market. 



He observes that such packaging’s lifespan could last a few days to two years, but the petrochemical plastics used can take hundreds of years to biodegrade.



"For such a short lifespan of packaging, the petrochemical plastics that can take hundreds of years to biodegrade are unnecessary in many cases and thus a sustainable alternative like MECHS due to its biodegradability, flushability, and mechanical tunability could be a game changer," says Manjula-Basavanna.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-challenges-in-adopting-mechs">Challenges in adopting MECHS</h2>



While MECHS presents a revolutionary solution to the global plastic crisis, adopting this technology on a large scale is not devoid of challenges. One primary concern lies in the genomic stability of the engineered E. coli bacteria used in MECHS. 



Scientists must ensure that the bacteria remain safe and stable under various environmental conditions to avoid unintended consequences. Additionally, transitioning industries reliant on traditional plastics to MECHS involves overcoming significant economic and logistical barriers. 



Production facilities worldwide may need to adopt new techniques and infrastructure to accommodate this novel material, potentially incurring considerable costs in the short term. 



Furthermore, public perception and regulatory hurdles need to be navigated to gain trust and approval for its widespread use.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-of-sustainable-materials">Future of sustainable materials</h2>



Looking to the future, the innovations around MECHS signal a burgeoning era of sustainable and adaptable materials capable of transforming industries. 



As research into living materials progresses, new possibilities emerge, such as enabling the development of dynamic, adaptable materials for technologies yet to be imagined. 



Building on their success with MECHS, Manjula-Basavanna and Joshi envision an expanding palette of biodegradable materials, each tailored for specific applications ranging from environmental conservation to health care. 



Their work emphasizes collaboration across disciplines - bridging biology, chemistry, and engineering - to advance sustainable solutions.



Ultimately, MECHS is a testament to how embracing nature-inspired innovation can lead to breakthroughs with the power to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plastic-on-beaches-is-now-visible-from-space/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reshape our relationship with the materials</a> we use and the environment we inhabit.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-53052-4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications</a>.



-----



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Nature-inspired solutions: New bioplastic dissolves rapidly in water

The influence of synthetic plastic on our planet is concerning, to say the least. It's everywhere - from the depths of our oceans to the food we eat, even finding its way into our bodies. But, Avinash Manjula-Basavanna, a seasoned research scientist at Northeastern University, sees "MECHS" as a solution. "The kind of impact that human-made materials are making on the living world is resulting in&nbsp;climate change, pollution and more," he says. "One of the ways that we are able to address this is to make materials...

When did <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/radioactive-material-drinking-water/">water</a> first form on Earth? Meteorites containing important elements brought the makings of water to a very early Earth, but there’s still some speculation as to when exactly that happened. 

It was previously thought that the Earth was initially dry, as the volatile beginnings of the planet would have made it impossible for water to congregate and stay put. 

However, a new study shows that water may have come to Earth much earlier than was thought, during the first two million years of the solar system. 

Researchers from the <a href="http://web.mit.edu/">Massachusetts Institute of Technology</a> analyzed angrite meteorites to help create a more accurate picture of when the first life sustaining elements came to Earth. 

Angrite meteorites are basaltic meteorites that formed in the inner solar system about four and a half billion years ago. The researchers analyzed the meteorites noting the volume of hydrogen and carbon inside the space rocks. 

By studying the meteorites themselves, the researchers were able to create a better understanding of the parent body that the meteorites originated from.

The study was published in the journal Geochimica and Cosmochimica Acta. 

“We’re looking at as many meteorite parent bodies as possible right now to figure out where they were in the early Solar System and how much water they had,” said Adam Sarafian, the leader of the study in an interview with <a href="https://www.astrobio.net/news-exclusive/meteorites-brought-water-to-earth-during-the-first-two-million-years/">Astrobiology Magazine</a>. “We’re trying to build a map of the very early inner Solar System. Where was the water, where was it going and where did it come from?”

In this case, the angrite meteorites all came from one parent asteroid that had a high water content, roughly 20 percent of the Earth’s current water content. 

This means that water could be found during the solar system’s early beginnings, and angrite meteorites coming from a water-rich parent body likely brought the necessary elements for water and life to Earth earlier than was previously theorized.  

“It's a fairly simple assumption to say that Earth's water at least started accreting to Earth extremely early, before the planet was even fully formed,” said Sarafian. “This means that when the planet cooled enough so that liquid water could be stable at the surface, there was already water here.” 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette,</a> <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

The building blocks of life came to Earth earlier than thought

When did water first form on Earth? Meteorites containing important...

Researchers at <a href="http://www.ncl.ac.uk/">Newcastle University</a> have identified a collection of small adaptations in our bodies that may help to explain how humans have evolved to live longer. The study is focused on the significance of a protein called p62.

There are many cells, such as those that reside within the human <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/brain-records-body-weight/">brain</a>, which need to last an entire lifetime. In order to survive, our cells have developed ways of defending themselves. A process called autophagy, for example, collects and removes damaged cell components.

“As we age, we accumulate damage in our cells and so it is thought that activating autophagy could help us treat older people suffering from dementia,” said lead author Dr. Viktor Korolchuk. “In order to be able to do this we need to understand how we can induce this cell cleaning.”

The research team managed to demonstrate how a protein called p62 is triggered to start the process of autophagy. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are byproducts of our metabolism that cause damage in the cell, can activate p62. The protein senses ROS and removes the damage it leaves behind, allowing the cell to survive the stress.

Although fruit flies do not naturally have p62, the researchers modified fruit flies with a human form of p62 for their study. These “humanized” flies survived longer in conditions of stress. 

“This tells us that abilities like sensing stress and activating protective processes like autophagy may have evolved to allow better stress resistance and a longer lifespan,” said Dr. Korolchuk.

The study revealed that certain mutations in human p62 can prevent activation of p62 by ROS, leaving the cells unable to induce autophagy. According to the researchers, this may be the underlying cause of the premature death of neurons in patients with a neurodegenerative disease called amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

The discovery of human adaptations like p62 help to explain how humans are living longer lives, and allows for a better understanding of how we can protect against age-related diseases.

The study is published in <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

How humans evolved to live longer lives

Researchers at Newcastle University have identified a collection of small...

Aside from some unfortunate aesthetic changes, the aging process can also prompt cardiovascular disease, cancer, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/exercise-brain-major-boost/">cognitive decline</a>. 

But now, a new study has revealed the molecular structure of key protein that can actually send a hormonal signal that slows the aging process.

Previously, it was commonly held that the αKlotho protein was the major anti-aging hormone. But researchers from the <a href="https://med.nyu.edu/education">NYU School of Medicine</a> found contradicting evidence that shows how the hormone takes a backseat to the fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23).  

It turns out αKlotho simply aids FGF23 in anti-aging processes instead of acting alone, as it had been thought. The researchers say it could lead to revolutionary new drug treatments for kidney disease, which is also linked to aging. 

It’s been proven in studies dating back to 1997 that mice who didn’t have either of the hormones showed signs of aging. For the new study, the researchers got to the heart of the molecular structure of the proteins that were linked to FGF23 and αKlotho. 

The researchers used X-ray crystallography, a method meant for determining the molecular and atomic structure of a crystal. First, the research team observed how FGF23, its receptor protein FGFR, and αKlotho formed crystalline stacks out of a solution. 

Once X-rays were beamed through the crystal formations, the researchers were able to get a better idea of its structuring and how all three parts interacted. 

The results show how αKlotho binds FGF23 to its receptor protein and this is what gives FGF23 its anti-aging properties. 

The study also helps explain how heart hypertrophy is linked to kidney disease, solving an important mystery in the process. 

Heart hypertrophy is when the muscles tissue around the heart thickens, and it’s a leading cause of death in people with kidney problems. 

It was hypothesized that FGF23 caused hypertrophy, and the researchers realized that αKlotho could travel in the bloodstream and even reach the heart, causing the dysfunction.

The results could have exciting implications in new drug treatments for kidney disease and reveal how integral FGF23 and αKlotho are to anti-aging. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>,<a href="https://www.earth.com/"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

New study sheds light on an anti-aging hormone

Aside from some unfortunate aesthetic changes, the aging process can...

A team of researchers at the <a href="https://www.colorado.edu/">University of Colorado Boulder</a> have constructed the first-ever global atlas of soil bacterial communities. The researchers have identified around 500 key soil species from across the planet, resulting in a guide that may be used in the future to manipulate certain functions such as soil fertility and nutrient cycling.

Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo is a postdoctoral researcher at the <a href="http://cires.colorado.edu/">Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences</a> (CIRES) and the lead author of the study.

“With this research, we have started to open the black box and are gaining a better understanding of what microbes are living in our soils,” said Delgado-Baquerizo. 

Even though soil bacteria account for a large amount of Earth's living biomass and promote critical processes such as carbon cycling, the microorganisms living in soil are still poorly understood. This is primarily due to the fact that there are tens of thousands of soil species and most of them have not yet been described, which means that they do not match any existing genomic records.

“It is amazing how much we still don't know about even the most dominant microorganisms found in soil,” said study co-author Noah Fierer. “Many of them don't even have names yet.”

The research team gathered soil samples from 237 different sites across six continents and 18 countries. This collection was expansive enough to represent an entire range of climates from deserts to wetlands. The experts used DNA sequencing to identify the different bacteria and to determine which species of bacteria appeared across the various types of soil.

The study revealed that just two percent of all bacterial species, which is around 500 individual species, consistently appear in half of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/antibiotics-animals-contaminating-soil/">soil</a> bacterial communities in the world. These common and dominant species will undoubtedly be the target of many future studies.

“Now that we have this list, we can really focus our research efforts to categorize these major groups and see where they are and what they do,” said Fierer.

Knowledge of the composition and function of soil bacteria could ultimately lead to useful agricultural applications.

“Eventually, knowing more about these bacteria might allow us to improve soil health and fertility,” said Delgado-Baquerizo. “There's a lot that we can do now that we have some tractable information.”

The study is published in the journal <a href="http://www.sciencemag.org/">Science</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Scientists explore what types of bacteria live in everyday dirt

A team of researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder...

Geobiologist Emma Hammarlund at the <a href="https://www.sdu.dk/en/">University of Southern Denmark</a> developed a study to investigate why animal diversity increased dramatically on Earth half a billion years ago. She teamed up with an expert on tumors to gain a better understanding of the conditions needed for multicellular life to thrive.

“Tumors may reveal clues to animal evolution, since they so well manage the leap from unicellularity to multicellularity,” explained Hammarlund.

For about 4 billion years, life on Earth was dominated by microbes until multicellular life suddenly exploded into existence. Scientists have heavily debated the question of what caused <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/animals-decipher-location-others-nearby/">animals</a> to diversify so late and so substantially, and the answer remains unclear.

This phenomenon, in which animals diversified over a very short period of time, is referred to as the Cambrian explosion. Many experts believe that the Cambrian explosion was caused by a significant increase in atmospheric oxygen, but this theory is lacking in evidence.

Although scientists have documented dramatic changes in atmospheric oxygen both before and after the Cambrian explosion, there is no record of any such change during the time that animals rapidly diversified. Furthermore, simple animals require very low oxygen levels.

“A heated hunt for the geochemical evidence that oxygen increased when animals diversified goes on but, after decades of discussion, it seems worthwhile to consider the development of multicellularity also from other angles,” said Hammarlund. 

She reached out to tumor biologist Sven Pahlman, a professor in the Department of Laboratory Medicine at <a href="https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/">Lund University</a>.

“I wanted to learn what tumor scientists observe on a daily basis, in terms of tissue growth and how it relates to oxygen,” said Hammarlund. “Tumors are after all, and unfortunately, successful versions of multicellularity.”

Cells with stem cell properties are vital for all multicellular life in order for tissue to regenerate. For example, cells in the wall of the human small intestine are replaced every few days through the division of stem cells.

“Hypoxia is generally seen as a threat, but we forget that oxygen shortage in precise periods and settings also is a prerequisite for multicellular life,” said Pahlman. “Our stem cells are the ones that form new tissue, and they are extremely sensitive to oxygen. The stem cells therefore have various systems for dealing with the effects of both oxygen and oxygen shortage, which is clear in the case of tumors.”

The study revealed that tumor cells are able to maintain stem cell properties, despite being surrounded by high oxygen concentrations in the body. This ability is also what made animals so successful, according to the researchers.

“The ability to construct stem cell properties despite high oxygen levels, so called 'pseudohypoxia', is present also in our normal vertebrate tissue,” said Pahlman. “Therefore, we flip the perspective on the oxic setting: While low oxygen is generally unproblematic for animal cells, the oxic settings pose a fundamental challenge for complex multicellularity. Without additional tools, the oxic setting makes tissue-specific stem cells mature too early.”

The findings of the study indicate that the dramatic diversification of animals during the Cambrian explosion was a result of something within the biology of the animals rather than in the atmosphere surrounding them.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.google.com/earth/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

What caused animals to suddenly diversify on Earth?

Geobiologist Emma Hammarlund at the University of Southern Denmark developed...

A new study has found that women experience higher levels of brain activity during sexual arousal than men do.

Researchers from <a href="https://www.mcgill.ca/">McGill University in Montreal</a> set out to examine the differences in neurological processing between men and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rural-women-sex-younger/">women</a> when sexually aroused.

Their results were published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine. 

The study included 20 men and 20 women ages 18-31, all of whom were heterosexual, able to become aroused by heterosexual porn, and had previously engaged in sex at least once. 

The participants were shown both adult films and clips of the popular TV show Modern Family while undergoing MRI scans. The Modern Family clips were used to show the differences between neural responses to humor and arousal. 

Thermal imaging cameras were placed near the subjects’ genitals which gave the researchers a way to monitor arousal and sexual stimulation. 

While watching both the adult film and TV show, each participant had to press a button on a fiber optic response box that indicated an increase or decrease in sexual arousal. 

After analyzing the MRI scans the researchers found that genital arousal was linked to more changes in brain activity, indicated by blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) responses.

“There were no brain regions in men with stronger brain-genital correlations than in women,” the researchers said. “Specific visual features of erotic stimuli could play a stronger role in female sexual arousal responses compared with male responses.” 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com </a>Staff Writer

Women show higher levels of neural activity when sexually aroused

A new study has found that women experience higher levels...

For years, <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/mount-etna-volcano-erupts/">Mount Etna</a> has been classified as an active stratovolcano on the east coast of Sicily. But now, one scientist is exploring the idea that Mount Etna may not actually be a volcano, but instead a large, volatile hot spring. Professor Carmelo Ferlito at the <a href="https://www.unict.it/en/">University of Catania </a>has developed a study to examine how the volcano is fueled.

Mount Etna is one of the most active volcanoes on the planet. It produces up to 70 million tons of lava each year, as well as 7 million tons of steam, carbon dioxide, and sulfur dioxide. 

Professor Ferlito is challenging the status of Mount Etna due to the fact that it does not spew enough lava to be classified as a full-blown volcano. He says that if the gases are ejected as a result of magma rising to the surface, the volcano should be producing ten times as much lava.

Some experts believe that the lava attempts to escape during the gas emissions, but ultimately retreats back into the volcano. Professor Felito argues that this is simply not the case, as it would “inflate the volcano like a children's balloon.” 

The results of his study indicate that the volcano does not contain magma at all, but that it is simply filled with large amounts of water, carbon dioxide, and sulfur dioxide. Professor Felito says that only 30 percent of Mount Etna is molten rock.

A growing collection of research supports the idea that there is a huge amount of water in the Earth's mantle. Professor Ferlito explains that this water may actually be the source of the eruptions.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.journals.elsevier.com/earth-science-reviews">Earth-Science Reviews</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.google.com/earth/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Is Mount Etna actually a hot spring rather than a volcano?

For years, Mount Etna has been classified as an active...

Do you work better alone or in a group? There has been much debate surrounding whether collaboration actually yields better results, or just ends up being too many cooks in the kitchen.

But now, a new study has found that people answer quiz puzzles and questions more accurately in groups than on by themselves.

The study was conducted by researchers from the <a href="https://www.ucl.ac.uk/">University of College of London</a> and published in the journal Nature Human Behavior. 

The study contradicts the popular and scientifically backed theory that solving problems in a group setting doesn’t effectively find a solution as it can cause “herd think.”

“Many previous studies on the wisdom of crowds found that discussing with others could hinder collective wisdom because social influence leads to imitation and the power of the crowd vanishes,” said Dr. Joaquin Nvajas, lead author of the study. 

The research found that working together was actually more effective for problem-solving as group members share ideas, reasoning, and arguments when coming to a common solution. 

The team tested the general knowledge of 5,180 people, including questions ranging from the height of the Eiffel Tower to the number of elevators in the Empire State Building.

For the first part of the study, individuals were asked to answer questions on their own and had a 20 second time limit. Next, people were put into groups of five and were given 1 minute to answer four out of eight questions. 

When placed in groups, incorrect answers were reduced by almost half, 49.2 percent. Errors and wrong answers were fixed or at least closer to the correct answer when people worked together. 

The results show that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/study-groupthink-actually-productive/">herd-think</a> and crowd mentality may not be as detrimental to problem-solving as previously thought. 

“Our results are in contrast to an extensive literature on herding and dysfunctional group behavior, which exhorts us to remain as independent as possible,” the authors wrote. “Instead, our findings are consistent with research in collaborative learning showing that 'think–pair– share' strategies and peer discussion can increase the understanding of conceptual problems.

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Working together yields more accurate results, study finds

Do you work better alone or in a group? There...

When the Spanish conquistador Hernando Cortés landed in Mexico in 1519, the native population was about 25 million. Just 100 years later, the population had plunged to around 1 million, as a result of war and a number of epidemics.

In 1576, the outbreak of a mysterious disease is estimated to have killed between 7 and 17 million of the Aztec people, effectively destroying the Aztec empire. It was known to the locals as cocoliztli, and presented as red spots on the skin, as well as vomiting and bleeding from various orifices. This epidemic was one of the most deadly in human history, and now scientists may know what caused it.

In a study from the <a href="http://www.shh.mpg.de/en">Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History</a> (MPI-SHH), researchers analyzed ancient teeth and found that the collapse of the Aztec civilization may have been due to an epidemic of salmonella – the food poisoning bacteria. Scientists looked at samples of pulp from inside the teeth of skeletons found in an untouched cemetery in Oaxaca, Mexico. Ten of the skeletons whose burials were dated after the Spanish conquest tested positive for salmonella, but none of the five skeletons buried before the conquest tested positive for the bacteria.

These findings make salmonella “a strong candidate” for the cause of the devastating epidemic that wiped out the Aztecs and other civilizations like the Mixtecs. It did so by leading to a condition called enteric fever, which is still the cause of millions of deaths globally. Spread by poor sanitation – and likely brought by the European travelers – this disease causes high fevers, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/birds-dehydration-climate-change/">dehydration</a>, and gastrointestinal complications.

This study is the first example of scientists finding molecular evidence of this bacterium using ancient material from the New World. 

“A key result of this study is that we were successful in recovering information about a microbial infection that was circulating in this population, and we did not need to specify a particular target in advance,” says Alexander Herbig of the MPI-SHH and co-author of the study. 

Not only have we learned more about the history of the people and civilizations that came before us, but this result was achieved through advancing science and technology in our current world.

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Salmonella poisoning wiped out the Aztec Empire

When the Spanish conquistador Hernando Cortés landed in Mexico in...

Plague, also known as the Black Death or the Bubonic Plague, is caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. There have been several major pandemics and outbreaks of the plague, including the Great Plague of 1665 when reportedly 7,000 people a week died in London. 

The Black Death which hit medieval Europe in 1347 saw such rapid mortality rates, sometimes half of a city’s entire population, that mass graves became a necessary way to bury the dead. 

The impacts of the plague are well known, and when determining the cause of the outbreaks, many scientists blamed rats, which carried fleas infected with Yersinia pestis. This theory is so widely held that most people would say with certainty that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rats-major-cities-monitored/">rats</a> caused the spread of the Black Death. 

However, a new study conducted by researchers from the <a href="http://www.uio.no/english/">University of Oslo, Norway</a>, found that rats may have been unfairly blamed all these years, and that infection was likely spread by human fleas and lice. 

Many people were infected with fleas and lice, and thanks to close living quarters and sharing beds, the black death could have quickly spread from human to human. 

Frequent bathing was also not as common an activity during the middle ages, at least not by today’s current standards of hygiene. 

For the study, the researchers ran models using both rats and human fleas and lice to see if rates of infection matched the mortality patterns from nine different European plague outbreaks during the Second Pandemic. 

The rat models, even supposing there was one rat for every human at the time, didn’t come close to matching the real spread of infection during the plague. Instead, the human-parasite model came much closer to matching the mortality records of the time. 

This means that as humans were infected with the plague, their fleas and lice would spread to other humans close by, and with them the disease, rather than rats spreading the disease. 

The study could help inform plague research and shed light on just how the plague spread. The Great Plague and Black Death wiped out millions in Europe and with the plague still causing outbreaks today, it’s important to better understand how it spread and what set it apart from plague today. 

“The plague really transformed human history, so it’s really important to understand how it was spreading and why it was spreading so fast,” Katharine Dean, the study’s lead author, told <a href="https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2018/01/rats-plague-black-death-humans-lice-health-science/">National Geographic. </a>

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com </a>Staff Writer

Fleas and lice, not rats, were to blame for the Black Death

Plague, also known as the Black Death or the Bubonic...

Seismologist Susan Hough of the <a href="https://www.usgs.gov/">United States Geological Survey</a> set out to challenge the idea that certain phases of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/meteor-showers-lunar-eclipse/">Moon</a> can trigger earthquakes. After matching 204 earthquakes with their corresponding dates, Hough was able to determine that the lunar phase of the Moon does not contribute to the risk of earthquakes.

There is a long-standing myth that large earthquakes are more likely to happen during certain phases of the Moon or at certain times of the year. Hough’s analysis confirms that this is a false belief. 

Hough explained that patterns found when linking large earthquakes with the Moon’s cycles “are no different from the kinds of patterns you would get if the data are completely random.” Hough examined the date and lunar phase for 204 earthquakes, which were magnitude 8 or larger, dating back to the 1600s.

Hough did see some unusual patterns in the data, such as the occurrence of 16 large earthquakes on a single day seven days after a new moon. This turned out to be insignificant, however, because “the lunar tides would be at a minimum at this point, so it doesn't make any physical sense.”

Hough explained that the Moon and Sun do cause solid Earth tidal stresses, which are ripples through the Earth itself and not just in the ocean. She said that this could be one of the stresses that contributes in some way to earthquake nucleation

“There is in some cases a weak effect, where there are more earthquakes when tidal stresses are high, but if you read those papers, you'll see that the authors are very careful,” said Hough. “They never claim that the data can be used for prediction, because the modulation is always very small.”

Hough pointed out that the idea that the Sun and Moon's positions in the sky can modulate earthquake rates has a long history.

“Sooner or later there is going to be another big earthquake on a full moon, and the lore will pop back up. The hope is that this will give people a solid study to point to, to show that over time, there isn't a track record of big earthquakes happening on a full moon.”

The study is published in <a href="https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/srl">Seismological Research Letters</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

Earthquakes are not triggered by the phases of the moon

Seismologist Susan Hough of the United States Geological Survey set...

These days, energy production is heavily reliant on aspects of efficiency as well as sustainability – especially given how many options we have at our disposal. In the United Kingdom, the government has stated that shale gas has the potential to provide greater energy security, growth, and jobs for the public, saying that it is “encouraging safe and environmentally sound exploration to determine this potential.” But a recent study from the <a href="http://www.manchester.ac.uk/">University of Manchester</a> has found that shale gas is actually one of the least sustainable options for producing electricity.

In this major study – the first of its kind – researchers considered environmental, economic, and social sustainability of shale gas in the UK and compared it to eight other electricity generating options. These other options were coal, nuclear, natural gas, liquefied natural gas (LNG), solar photovoltaics (PV), wind, hydro and biomass. Comparing these options against 18 sustainability indictors, the results showed that shale gas ranked seventh out of the nine electricity options. 

For shale gas to be considered as sustainable as the best options – wind and solar PV, massive improvements would need to be made, including a 329-fold reduction in environmental impact and 16 times higher employment in the sector. Furthermore, the environmental and social sustainability of shale gas would need to be improved by up to 100 times for it to compete with domestic natural gas and imported LNG.

“Many countries are considering exploitation of shale gas but its overall sustainability is disputed,” says Adisa Azapagic, a professor at the <a href="http://www.manchester.ac.uk/">University of Manchester</a>’s School of Chemical Engineering &amp; Analytical Science. “Previous studies focused mainly on environmental aspects of shale gas, largely in the US, with scant information on socio-economic aspects.”

Despite the government’s positive position on shale gas in the UK, Scotland has banned fracking and there is strong opposition throughout most of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/theresa-may-plastic-plan/">United Kingdom</a>. The main argument against shale gas is the environmental impact that comes from fracking. However, supporters of this process indicate that it helps improve national energy security and carries many economic benefits. But the research shows a different picture: “The results also suggest that any future electricity mix would be more sustainable with a lower rather than a higher share of shale gas,” explains Azapagic. 

With this new research, hopefully the findings will be used to help inform UK policy makers, the industry, and consumers of the potential harm that could come with implementing increases in shale gas production.

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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

Shale gas found to be inefficient form of electricity production

These days, energy production is heavily reliant on aspects of...

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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

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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



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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



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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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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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...