Our gut is a bustling metropolis of microbes, a complex ecosystem that plays a pivotal role in our overall health. Recent research from King's College London has thrown a fascinating light on two key residents of this microbial city.



Persistent colonizing species (PCS), the good guys, help maintain a healthy gut. But there's another type, transient colonizing species (TCS), which aren't as benign. 



They can throw a spanner in the works, destabilizing the gut and potentially leading to diseases such as type-2 diabetes and colon cancer.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-two-types-of-gut-microbes">Two types of gut microbes</h2>



The constant tug-of-war between PCS and TCS is crucial. Their numbers keep each other in check, maintaining a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-tool-detects-changes-in-gut-health-to-help-prevent-disease/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">healthy gut environment</a>. 



However, outside factors like diet and lifestyle can upset this delicate balance. TCS, though typically low in number, can rapidly multiply under certain conditions, outmuscling our beneficial PCS.



The troublemakers, TCS, thrive on sugar and xenobiotics - substances foreign to living systems like pesticides and food additives. In contrast, the good PCS grow stronger with a diet high in protein and fiber.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-power-of-personalized-diets">Power of personalized diets</h2>



This breakthrough discovery suggests a roadmap to maintaining gut health: personalized <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/gut-bacteria-influence-our-social-behavior-and-sense-of-fairness/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">diet plans</a> that cater to PCS and stifle the growth of TCS. 



By feeding the beneficial PCS and suppressing the detrimental TCS, we could potentially prevent diseases and boost gut health.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gut-microbes-and-disease-prevention">Gut microbes and disease prevention </h2>



"The power of the gut microbiome and the dynamic pace of it in health and disease is well known. Our study shows that while the balance of these microbes can change over time, we can predict how these changes happen," said Dr. Saeed Shoaie, group leader in Systems Biology at <a href="https://www.kcl.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">King's College London</a>.



"Even bacteria that are usually found in low numbers can suddenly increase, while the beneficial ones might decrease. Although these shifts in the gut don't always cause immediate symptoms, even a short period of imbalance can leave a lasting impact."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-disruption-in-the-gut-microbe-balance">Disruption in the gut microbe balance</h2>



According to Dr. Shoaie, a disruption in the balance of gut microbes can lead to harmful changes in the gut environment that may persist, potentially contributing to the development of various diseases over time. 



"Moreover, we showed that transient bugs can rapidly grow under specific conditions and produce toxins," said Dr. Shoaie.



"This finding suggests that understanding the proportion of these two types of species categories can help for a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/gut-bacteria-linked-to-younger-colon-cancer-patients/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">personalized diet plan</a>. These two categories of microbes can act as potential markers to check the success of the dietary plan, which could be important for patients with chronic diseases such as diabetes."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-new-understanding-of-disease">A new understanding of disease</h2>



Dr. Sunjae Lee, the first author of the paper, noted that the new categorizations of gut microbes will change the way researchers understand disease and think of new ways to build effective treatments.



"By including these labels in a freely available Gut Microbiome Atlas that identifies gut bacteria appearing in individuals with 23 separate diseases across 19 countries, we can share this work with the world," said Dr. Lee.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-personalized-nutrition-for-gut-microbes">Personalized nutrition for gut microbes</h2>



With the insight provided by this study, personalized nutrition emerges as a promising frontier in health science. By tailoring dietary recommendations based on the unique composition of an individual's gut microbiome, there is potential to optimize health outcomes. 



This approach requires detailed profiling of one's gut microbial landscape to identify dietary components that could foster beneficial PCS while inhibiting the proliferation of TCS. 



Such precision in dietary interventions could not only enhance general well-being but also serve as a preventative strategy against chronic diseases. 



The idea is to move beyond one-size-fits-all dietary guidelines to a more customized regimen that capitalizes on the dynamic interplay of microbes in the gut.



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



The burgeoning field of gut microbiome research holds vast potential for future discoveries that could revolutionize how we approach health and disease. 



The research led by Dr. Shoaie and Dr. Lee paves the way for more intricate studies that examine the genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors influencing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/your-microbiome-trillions-of-bacteria-unique-like-your-fingerprint/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">microbial dynamics</a>. 



Future research endeavors might explore how modern stressors, from processed foods to increased antibiotic usage, impact gut health.



Additionally, further studies into the gut-brain axis could yield innovative treatments for mental health conditions like depression and anxiety. 



Ultimately, understanding the multifaceted interactions within the gut microbiome will not only enhance disease prevention but could lead to new therapeutic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/breast-milk-lowers-asthma-risk-in-babies/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">strategies</a> that harness these microorganisms for healing.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41522-024-00561-1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">npj Biofilms and Microbiomes</a>.



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Balancing gut microbes could protect us from disease

Our gut is a bustling metropolis of microbes, a complex ecosystem that plays a pivotal role in our overall health. Recent research from King's College London has thrown a fascinating light on two key residents of this microbial city. Persistent colonizing species (PCS), the good guys, help maintain a healthy gut. But there's another type, transient colonizing species (TCS), which aren't as benign. They can throw a spanner in the works, destabilizing the gut and potentially leading to diseases such as type-2 diabetes and colon cancer. Two...

In human evolution, the eyes came first.

Human evolution from aquatic ancestors is heavily documented and supported by evidence found in fossils. We know that our fishy forefathers used their limbs to move into the shallows and then up onto land, eventually evolving into four-legged vertebrates.

Until recently, we have not studied how we came about seeing in the air. Vision in air is very different from seeing underwater – experts say it’s much easier than seeing in water. However, a new study led by Dr. Malcolm MacIver of Northwestern University and Dr. Lars Schmitz of the Claremont Colleges opens our eyes on the subject. The scientists claim early tetrapod ancestors may have learned to see in the air before anything else.

Said Dr. Schmitz, "We were surprised to find that large eyes evolved in aquatic tetrapods, preceding the evolution of complete limbs and terrestriality." 

Millions of years before the animals moved to land, their eyes moved to the top of the head and nearly tripled in size.

The researchers measured the eye sockets of over 50 fossil taxa found within their study. They discovered that these animals’ large eyes would have enabled a great range of behaviors including a wider sight line, as they would have been able to see over the water. Land-based invertebrates – insects and other arthropods – would have provided a rich source of prey. "With eyes above the water surface, fish were able to spot a cornucopia of unexploited invertebrate food on land from distances much further than aquatic prey," said MacIver.

"Animals like Tiktaalik (an early tetrapod) have their eyes on the top of their heads, suggesting that they may have hunted like modern crocodiles: swimming calmly near the surface, the head slightly raised, with eyes above the water, trying to detect prey across the water or even on land," added Schmitz.

—

Join the conversation at the <a href="http://vertpaleo.org/Home.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology</a>.

Human evolution shows the eyes came first

In human evolution, the eyes came first. Human evolution from aquatic...

Antarctica's Ross Sea sanctuary has been greenlighted – it will be the largest marine conservation zone in the world.

Nations reached a unanimous agreement to create the world’s largest marine sanctuary in Antarctica's Ross Sea after years of arbitration.

The agreement was made on Friday, Oct. 28 at a Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources conference hosted in Hobart, Australia. 24 countries and the European Union made this deal.

"The Ross Sea is is thought to be the last great wilderness area on Earth and has earned the nickname of the polar ‘Garden of Eden.’ The area is home to 50 per cent of ecotype-C killer whales (also known as the Ross Sea orca), 40 per cent of Adélie penguins, and 25 per cent of emperor penguins" according to a statement released by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). 

Antarctica's Ross Sea sanctuary will cover 600,000 square miles – twice the size of France or Texas.

UNEP's Patron of the Oceans Lewis Pugh said that at this time of "strained political relations," this agreement is extraordinary. He continued, "In 1959 at the height of the Cold War, Antarctica was set aside as a place for peace and science – today's announcement shows that Antarctica continues to be a place for peace and bridge building, a place where we can find common ground. My hope is that what has been achieved here, can be used to foster dialog and cooperation in other parts of the world."

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has praised the agreement and given us insight on the background of the deal. "It happened thanks to many years of persistent scientific and policy review, intense negotiations, and principled diplomacy. It happened because our nations understood the responsibility we share to protect this unique place for future generations."

Individual countries already have established protected areas in their own waters. The Ross Sea Sanctuary will be the second-ever protected area on the high seas. 

The agreement will come into effect this December. The majority of the sanctuary will become a “no-take zone” which prevents fishing, but other areas of the zone will permit some harvesting for scientific research.

Scientists will be able to use these two zones to learn valuable insights about different ecosystems and will be able to review the impact of fishing to understand variables which affect all marine life.

The sea is thought to be the home of more than 10 mammal species, 95 species of fish, and at least 1000 invertebrates. The mammal populations include Adélie penguins, Emperor penguins, snow petrels, leopard seals and killer whales.

—

Read the full press release from the <a href="https://www.ccamlr.org/node/92518" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CCAMLR</a> here.

Antarctica's Ross Sea sanctuary greenlighted

Antarctica's Ross Sea sanctuary has been greenlighted – it will...

A fossilized dinosaur brain from 133 million years ago was found in Sussex, England. 

Fossil records rarely preserve soft tissue such as brains and hearts. In the past, nearly all study of dinosaur soft tissue has been reconstructed from fossil bones. This recent discovery is thought to be the first time a genuine fossilized brain has been identified.

The approximately 133-million-year-old brain is said to have belonged to a close relative of the Iguanodon, a spike-headed herbivorous dinosaur. 

This small fossil was originally discovered in 2004 on the beach at Bexhill-On-Sea in East Sussex, UK and was missing a skeleton to help identify it. Only recently was a team of researchers, including Dr. David Norman of the University of Cambridge and the late Dr. Martin Brasier of the University of Oxford, able to determine it was a fossilized dinosaur brain. 

To assist in visualizing very small features of the brain, Professor Brasier partnered with researchers from the University of Western Australia, who helped create high-resolution images of parts of the brain, revealing the outer layers and capillary remnants within the cortex. The brain structure, in particular that of the outer layers, shows remarkable similarity to modern birds and crocodilians, and likely functioned in fairly similar ways.

Dr. Norman said, "Brain tissues are incredibly fragile and it is quite incredible that the animal died in circumstances that uniquely led to their preservation – through a process of 'pickling' and then mineral replacement . . . . What we think happened is that this particular dinosaur died in or near a body of stagnant water, and its head ended up partially buried in the sediment at the bottom. Since the water had so little oxygen and was so acidic, the soft tissues of the brain were likely preserved and cast before the rest of its body was buried in the sediment."

Such fortuitous circumstances are extremely rare in fossilization – this discovery can provide a unique window into the brain of this ancient dinosaur.

—

The research team presented their findings at the latest meeting of <a href="http://vertpaleo.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Society of Vertebrate Paleontology</a> which was founded in 1940 and works tirelessly to “advance the science of vertebrate paleontology throughout the world.”

<a href="https://ukfossils.co.uk/2012/01/24/bexhill/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bexhill-On-Sea</a> is a favorite spot for fossil hunters after turn-of-the-century storms exposed dinosaur trackways.

Fossilized dinosaur brain from 133 million years ago found in UK

A fossilized dinosaur brain from 133 million years ago was...

Sad report on Washington State orcas: scientists reveal drastic measures must be taken in order to avoid further depletion of the regional killer whales.

The orca is a magnificent creature also known as the killer whale. They are skilled hunters able to overpower large marine animals, but they are not known for violence towards humans. To aid them in their hunt, they grow huge teeth of up to 4 inches in length. Orcas are characterized by their long dorsal fin and black &amp; white coloring, and are considered to be the largest of the dolphin family – full grown whales can weigh up to six tons, with a length of 32 feet.

Terrible news for the orca population of Washington waters emerged yesterday, with three whales presumed missing or dead since this summer.

Following these deaths, the number of Washington State orcas has dropped to 80, the lowest frequenting these waters in decades, the Center for Whale Research reported yesterday. These impressive creatures face constant threats from pollution, human interference, and lack of nourishment, having been listed as endangered in 2005.

Experts say the orcas are being affected by a decline in the availability of suitable nutrition, which is hitting mothers and newborns hard.

Ken Balcomb, principal investigator at the Center, called for dams on the Lower Snake River to be breached, which would release more salmon into the habitat. These whales have a strong preference for chinook salmon, which are depleted in the area.

"We know what we need to do: feed them," Balcomb said.

However, there is opposition to the removal of the dams, with criticism coming from the local community who point out the hydroelectric power created by the dams powers the regional economy.

Jim Waddell, retired engineer with the group DamSense, added, "There's no reason these dams couldn't be breached."

This issue has been the focus in a long-running lawsuit that had its latest ruling in Portland this past May, when U.S. District Judge Michael H. Simon rejected the government's latest plan for offsetting the damage that dams in the Columbia River Basin pose to salmon. Judge Simon ordered them to come up with a new plan by March 2018.

Let’s hope they reach a solution before more orcas in the region perish.

—

<a href="http://www.whaleresearch.com/about-us" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Center for Whale Research</a> is dedicated to the study and conservation of the Southern resident killer whale (orca) population in the Pacific Northwest. It’s a non-profit organization which has been running for forty years.

Sad report on Washington State orcas

Sad report on Washington State orcas: scientists reveal drastic measures...

Paleolithic decorating tips have been revealed in a new study from Catalan researchers.

Cave lion pelts were used by ancient peoples as a trendy, multipurpose decorative tool.

Humans alive during the Paleolithic area certainly had bigger problems to worry about than interior decor. However, archaeologists studying caves in present-day Spain recently made a unique fossil discovery that sheds light on ancient cave living. 

[caption id="attachment_95672" align="alignleft" width="150"]<img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-95672" src="http://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/pelts-150x150.jpg" alt="Paleolithic decorating tips have been revealed by a new study from Catalan researchers." width="150" height="150" /> Paleolithic decorating tips[/caption]

Prehistoric humans would perform sacred rituals deep in these caves. The La Garma cave has shed light on what life could have been like 16,000 years ago. Archeologist Edgard Ceramos from the Catalan Institute of Human Paleoecology and Social Evolution and his team have spent several years investigating the cave for fossils, generally finding bones from horses and goats.

Recently, the team discovered nine fossilized claw bones from an extinct cave lion. The Eurasian cave lion was larger than an African lion and went without a mane. Dr. Ceramos explained that since the only lion remains found were claws, they can presume that they were brought in attached to the lion’s skin. Each claw also had a similar marking that appeared to have been made by human tools.

Ancient people are thought to have hunted the Eurasian lion until it went extinct roughly 2,000 years later. They would skin the lion to make pelts for a variety of purposes: protection, warmth, shelter.

Over time the pelts decomposed, leaving only the claws. While there is still much mystery surrounding the nature of the Paleolithic decorating tips' ancient rituals, we know one thing for sure: our ancestors loved to adorn their homes with luxurious animal skins.

—

Read the full journal over at <a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0163591" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PLOS ONE</a>.

Paleolithic decorating tips revealed

Paleolithic decorating tips have been revealed in a new study...

Earth news review: Earth-related stories from other parts of the web this week

Crustaceans in the scariest part of the ocean wear bacteria as camouflage to hide from predators – read the full article on <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3878602/Crustaceans-ocean-s-twilight-zone-wear-CAMOUFLAGED-Bacteria-coating-helps-creatures-avoid-predator-s-gaze.html">Daily Mail</a>.

Latest Global Warming prediction: Southern Spain to turn into a desert – read the full article at <a href="http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_GLOBAL_WARMING_MEDITERRANEAN?SITE=AP&amp;SECTION=HOME&amp;TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&amp;CTIME=2016-10-27-15-16-57">The Associated Press</a>.

Sea in Antarctica to become the world’s largest protected zone – read the full story over at the <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-37789594">BBC</a>.

The War On Salmon: More Pacific Coast Hatchery Salmon to be added to the Endangered Species List – full article at <a href="http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_LISTED_SALMON_HATCHERIES?SITE=AP&amp;SECTION=HOME&amp;TEMPLATE=DEFAULT">The Associated Press</a>.

Scandal: Gene study shows ancient interbreeding between chimpanzees and bonobos – read the full article on <a href="https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-10/wtsi-gsr102116.php">EurekAlert!</a>

80,000 acres off the New York coast cleared for wind energy – read the full article on <a href="http://www.upi.com/New-York-set-for-offshore-wind-after-environmental-review/9101477650265/?nll=1">UPI</a>.

141 Arrested in North Dakota Pipeline protest following tense police standoff – read more at <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-pipeline-regulations-idUSKCN12R2GI">Reuters</a>.

Awesome Video: Monkeys make their own tools from stone – watch over at Nature Video <a href="https://youtu.be/j0jqJUF1nOs">YouTube</a>.

Caitlyn Clownfish: How clownfish can actually change sex for survival – read the full article on <a href="http://blogs.nature.com/houseofwisdom/2016/10/how-changing-sex-helps-nemo-survive-and-adapt.html">houseofwisdom</a>.

Hundreds of blackbirds organize flash mob in Walmart parking lot – just in time for Halloween, read more at <a href="http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2016/10/28/Hundreds-of-blackbirds-descend-on-Texas-Walmart-parking-lot/5221477660825/?nll=1">UPI</a>.

Mosquitos armed with bacteria released in South America to combat Zika – read the full article on <a href="http://www.nature.com/news/rio-fights-zika-with-biggest-release-yet-of-bacteria-infected-mosquitoes-1.20878?WT.ec_id=NEWS-20161027&amp;spMailingID=52628621&amp;spUserID=MjI5MDcwMTc5OTg1S0&amp;spJobID=1025167321&amp;spReportId=MTAyNTE2NzMyMQS2">Nature.com</a>.

Goopy Mummies: Climate Change turning ancient Chilean mummies into black slime – get the full picture at the <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3879760/Chile-seeks-help-protect-worlds-oldest-mummies.html">Daily Mail</a>.

NASA’s Operation IceBridge to study changing polar landscape – read more at <a href="https://blogs.nasa.gov/earthexpeditions/2016/10/18/nasa-icebridge-fit-to-fly/">NASA</a>.

White House holds summit for experts studying arctic changes – read the full article at <a href="http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=88989&amp;src=iotdrss">NASA</a>.

The real story behind “Fall” vs “Autumn” – join the debate at <a href="http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2012/09/29/why_does_autumn_have_two_names_how_the_third_season_became_both_autumn_and_fall_.html?nl=morning-briefing&amp;em_pos=large&amp;emc=edit_nn_20161028">Slate</a>.

Earth news review

Earth news review: Earth-related stories from other parts of the...

Super emitters are responsible for over 50% of U.S. methane emissions, according to a new study.

A new study from Stanford University states only a few natural gas well are responsible for more than half of leaked methane gas in the USA, suggesting that if these leaks were fixed, the super emitters could significantly reduce the leaks of this potent greenhouse gas.

Study co-author Dr. Adam Brandt, assistant professor of energy resources engineering at Stanford’s School of Earth, Energy &amp; Environmental Sciences, said, “We’re finding that when it comes to natural gas leaks, a 50/5 rule applies: that is, the largest 5 percent of leaks are typically responsible for more than 50 percent of the total volume of leakage.”

The researchers hope the suggestions made in the study can significantly reduce the emissions of methane, which are thought to be one of the causes of climate change, into the environment.

Natural gases are on the uptake globally. Scientists hypothesize that natural gases may serve as a “bridge fuel” for countries while they make the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy resources. Natural gases contain high levels of methane, which is a highly potent greenhouse gas – so even small leaks might wreak havoc on our climate.

Brandt and his colleagues analyzed around 15,000 measurements from 18 prior U.S gas leak studies, employing the statistical technique called extreme value theory.

“Extreme value theory has been used to study everything from major flood events to crop losses brought on by drought and stock market crashes,” Dr. Brandt said. “In all of these cases, infrequent events really drive a lot of decision-making and expenditure or have big economic consequences. We are the first to apply this technique in a formal and rigorous way to natural gas leaks.”

The approach revealed that a few outsized leaks were responsible for between 40 and 90 percent of the emissions. “Other studies have indicated that methane emissions follow a so-called ‘heavy-tailed’ distribution, but what we’re saying is that this pattern is widespread and even more extreme than previously thought,” Brandt said. “If companies can identify and fix the leaks in a small number of top emitters, that will go a long way toward reducing methane emissions in the U.S. The challenge will be coming up with methods that allow you to find the big leaks as quickly as possible. Because large leaks are such an important contributor to the problem, we may be able to use less-sensitive but cheaper detection technologies and still find the majority of problem leaks.”

—

Read more in the <a href="http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.est.6b04303" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Environmental Science &amp; Technology</a> journal.

Super emitters may cause over 50% of U.S. methane emissions

Super emitters are responsible for over 50% of U.S. methane...

San Francisco Bay waters have been found to contain a harmful freshwater algae toxin, a new study shows.

Harmful toxins from freshwater algal blooms are causing worldwide issues in rivers and lakes, and have also contaminated coastal waters.

High levels of this freshwater algae toxin produced by  have been found in the San Francisco Bay. Although harvested shellfish from California's coastal waters is closely monitored for toxins, there is no routine testing for this toxin, known as microcystin.

The pollutant, which can cause liver damage, is produced by a type of blue-green algae that thrives in warm, nutrient-rich water and is present in many Californian lakes and rivers – including rivers flowing into the San Francisco Bay Delta.

Dr. Raphael Kudela, the Lynn Professor of Ocean Health at U.C. Santa Cruz, led his team to test for microcystin in shellfish after detecting the toxin in San Francisco Bay water samples. The researchers tested mussels sourced from five Bay sites, conducting experiments on mussels and oysters to determine both how quickly the shellfish absorb the toxin and how long it takes to clear from their tissues.

"We found that this freshwater toxin accumulates in shellfish, both mussels and oysters, and that in San Francisco Bay, the toxin levels in some mussels exceed the recommended guidelines for consumption by quite a bit," Kudela said.

First author Dr. Corinne Gibble, environmental scientist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, said the findings show tests for microcystin should be added to existing shellfish monitoring programs.

"There is monitoring of shellfish for marine-derived toxins, but because this is a freshwater toxin, no one has been looking for it. Now it seems microcystin is something we should be monitoring as well," Dr. Gibble said.

Between May and October there is a state quarantine in place on harvesting mussels for human consumption. The research team has been working closely with state agencies to continually monitor this problem.

"The agencies have been very responsive," Dr. Kudela commended. "There is potential for this toxin to affect humans, but most of our samples are still below the recommended limits for human consumption, so people shouldn't panic and think they can't eat shellfish."

The most pressing concern is the effect this toxin could have on mammals such sea otters, whose diet consists of shellfish. In 2010, Dr. Kudela reported that microcystin poisoning had killed several sea otters in Monterey Bay.

"This really highlights the connectivity between what people do on land and what happens in the ocean," he said. "A lot of shellfish farms are downstream from freshwater sources, so we want to raise awareness of this issue."

Microcystin is becoming a bigger problem around the world due to warming temperatures and nutrient pollution. In the Bay Area, the presence of this toxin caused closures of public swimming areas.

Dr. Kudela suspects the freshwater algae toxin polluting the San Francisco Bay originate from several sources, citing rivers, among others. He believe the California drought has accelerated the problem.

"The rains help by flushing things out. Warm, dry conditions favor these blooms, so we've been seeing more of them lately than we would without the drought," Dr. Kudela said.

—

Read more over at <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1568988316301639" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Harmful Algae</a> journal.

Freshwater algae toxin found in San Francisco Bay

San Francisco Bay waters have been found to contain a...

Hurricane Seymour fading fast as a new image is caught.

NOAA's satellite captured an image of the post-tropical cyclone Hurricane Seymour which is fading fast in the Eastern Pacific. Seymour is expected to dissipate in a day as it moves through hostile environmental conditions.

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) issued their final advisory on the storm at 5 am EDT when they noted that Seymour had become post-tropical.

Seymour's remnants had no organized thunderstorm development when the images were captured. The storm resembled a wedge of clouds. 

National Hurricane Center (NHC) forecaster Richard Pasch said "The cyclone has lacked organized deep convection within 60-100 nautical miles of its center for over 12 hours, and no longer qualifies as a tropical cyclone. Since Seymour has become a post-tropical remnant low, advisories are being discontinued."

At 5 a.m. EDT, the center of Post-Tropical Cyclone Seymour was located near 22.4 degrees north latitude and 122.8 degrees west longitude. That's about 820 miles west of the southern tip of Baja California, Mexico. The post-tropical cyclone was moving toward the north near 8 mph. NHC said a north-northeastward motion is expected to begin later today and continue into Saturday, Oct. 29. Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 35 mph with higher gusts.

The NHC said the low-pressure area will move through "an extremely hostile environment of strong southwesterly wind shear of 40-45 knots and sea surface temperatures cooler than 73.4 degrees Fahrenheit during the next couple of days. Strong vertical wind shear can tear a storm apart, while sea surface temperatures cooler than 80 degrees Fahrenheit are too cold to maintain a tropical cyclone. These environmental factors should cause the remnant low to dissipate in a couple of days.

The image was created by the NASA/NOAA GOES Project at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland. Source, <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2016/seymour-eastern-pacific">NASA</a>.

Hurricane Seymour fading fast

Hurricane Seymour fading fast as a new image is caught....

Air pollution inhalation avoidance suggestions were outlined by scientists today.

Want to avoid getting a mouthful of air pollution? Faculty at the University of British Columbia have suggested optimal walking and cycling speeds to avoid airborne nasties today.

The scientists suggest that cyclists should ride between 12 and 20 kilometers per hour on city roads, and pedestrians should walk at 2 to 6 km/h. By keeping within these speeds, we can avoid pollution inhalation, while still reaping the health benefits of exercise.

"The faster you move, the harder you breathe and the more pollution you could potentially inhale, but you also are exposed to traffic for a shorter period of time. This analysis shows where the sweet spot is," said Dr. Alex Bigazzi, a UBC transportation expert in the Department of Civil Engineering and School of Community and Regional Planning.

Using data from 10,000 people, Bigazzi calculated the ideal travel speeds for different age and sex groups. He coined the term “minimum-dose speeds” (MDS) to describe his findings. 
<ul>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Female cyclists under 20 should travel at 12.5 kilometers per hour.</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Male cyclists under 20 should travel at 13.3 kilometers per hour. </li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Ideal travel speeds are between 13 and 15 kilometers per hour for female and male cyclists in the 20-60 age group.</li>
</ul>
"If you move at much faster speeds than the MDS – say, cycling around 10 kilometers faster than the optimal range – your inhalation of air pollution is significantly higher," said Bigazzi. "The good news is, the MDS numbers align pretty closely with how fast most people actually travel."

You can read these findings over at the <a href="http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/15568318.2016.1238984" target="_blank" rel="noopener">International Journal of Sustainable Transportation</a>. Bigazzi also reported on the high amounts of toxic chemicals absorbed by cyclists on busy city streets, which you can read <a href="http://pubs.acs.org/stoken/presspac/presspac/abs/10.1021/acs.est.6b01159" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

Tips for avoiding breathing air pollution

Air pollution inhalation avoidance suggestions were outlined by scientists today....

Plant hormone evolution is the focus of a new study.

Plants are rather assertive organisms. Back in Earth’s deep, dark history, plants found homes in mosses and needed moisture to thrive. When confronted with dry periods, they became resourceful and figured out ways to survive.

Ferns developed an impermeable waxy covering. Pores in the leaves followed, allowing the plants to exchange carbon dioxide and oxygen with the environment. When dry conditions strike, ferns close these pores to prevent precious water stores from being lost through evaporation.

This assumption is backed by new findings published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Together with an international research team from Würzburg (Germany), Hobart (Australia) and Purdue (USA), Professor Rainer Hedrich from the Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg (JMU) in Bavaria examined the pore regulation of land plants at an early evolutionary stage.

His experiments focused on abscisic acid (ABA), a plant hormone that regulates water balance and pore function in higher flowering plants. ABA is also essential for triggering dormancy.

The research found differing results for ferns and flowering plants, aiming to conduct further tests to understand their hypotheses.

—

Read the full study <a href="http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2016/10/25/1606614113" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

Plant hormone evolution

Plant hormone evolution is the focus of a new study....

Are you ready to eat edible bugs? The future of fine-dining may center around insect-based cuisine.

Eating bugs sounds like a rock-bottom financial scenario or maybe a nostalgic scene from The Lion King – but, believe it or not, both the scientific and the gastronomic worlds are abuzz about the future of dining. 

According to a recent report in the American Chemical Society’s Journal of Agricultural Food and Chemistry, iron levels in grasshoppers and crickets are similar to beef’s. Experts are convinced that bugs are a nutritious and sustainable meat alternative. 

Different insect species have varied nutritional benefits. Crickets have far more iron than any other common edible bugs. Grasshoppers and mealworms are rich in calcium, copper, and zinc. Furthermore, when scientists factored in the human digestion process, they found that minerals from these bugs were actually more readily available for digestion than the minerals found in beef.

It’s still a hard sell to get most eaters in Western cultures on board the bug fine-dining train, but over 1,900 insect species are documented as a food source in other parts of the world. 

Bugs are not only a source of protein – they are also rich in iron. Iron deficiency is often the largest problem encountered when following a meatless diet, so, in theory, bugs could be a feasible alternative to higher animals.

Bugs got their name because they were widely assumed to be nothing more than a collective nuisance to humans. As it turns out, they may be more useful than anyone has ever thought.

—

Learn more <a href="http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.jafc.6b03286" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

Are you ready to eat edible bugs?

Are you ready to eat edible bugs? The future 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

[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

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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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research&nbsp;



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



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

How the immune system responds to injury

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

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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

2022 illustrated the consequences of a warming climate

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Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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Today's Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard</a> describes two exoplanets that are orbiting a star 218 light-years away. A team of researchers led by the University of Montreal has found evidence that these planets are "water worlds."



The experts used data from NASA’s Hubble and Spitzer Space Telescopes. They discovered that exoplanets Kepler-138 c and Kepler-138 could be composed largely of water.



"We previously thought that planets that were a bit larger than Earth were big balls of metal and rock, like scaled-up versions of Earth, and that's why we called them super-Earths," explained study co-author Björn Benneke.&nbsp;



"However, we have now shown that these two planets, Kepler-138 c and d, are quite different in nature and that a big fraction of their entire volume is likely composed of water. It is the best evidence yet for water worlds, a type of planet that was theorized by astronomers to exist for a long time."



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



Image Credit: NASA, ESA, and Leah Hustak (STScI)



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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

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Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard</a> describes Earth’s interconnected systems, and how this network is affected by rising temperatures.&nbsp;



During 2020, average global temperatures matched the hottest year on record. The hurricane season was also record-breaking, with many of the storms intensifying at extraordinary speeds. Hot water in the ocean is fuel for hurricanes. The satellite data shows that it's all one interconnected system showing how Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected.



According to NASA, dust swept up from Northern Africa plays a major role in the formation of hurricanes, and is also a key source of fertilization in the Amazon rainforest. As a result of<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/seagrass-wasting-disease-is-fueled-by-climate-change/"> climate</a> change, dust plumes are expected to decline, which will have an effect on vegetation far away.&nbsp;



Images from Earth-observing satellites show how the world’s plant life is affected by natural disasters, fires, and deforestation. Satellites also reveal how widespread changes in vegetation impact waterways,&nbsp; the climate, air quality. Satellites communicate by using radio waves to send signals to the antennas on the Earth. "Earth From Space" is a groundbreaking two-hour special that reveals a spectacular new space-based vision of our planet. 



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

[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...