Astronomers have been captivated by the unusual activities of the supermassive black hole 1ES 1927+654. Located about 100 million light-years away, this particular black hole has a mass that is equivalent to roughly one million Suns.&nbsp;



Initially, in 2018, researchers witnessed a striking event when the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-do-black-holes-become-supermassive/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">black hole</a>'s corona - a cloud of whirling, white-hot plasma - vanished unexpectedly, only to reassemble months later. 



This dramatic "shut-off" was a first in the study of black holes, setting the stage for further intriguing events.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-x-ray-flashes-from-a-black-hole">X-ray flashes from a black hole</h2>



More recently, the same black hole has displayed another baffling phenomenon. Over a span of two years, astronomers detected <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/understanding-x-ray-radiation-that-spews-out-of-black-holes-surroundings/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">X-ray</a> flashes from 1ES 1927+654 that increased in frequency from one flash every 18 minutes to one every seven minutes. This dramatic speed-up in X-ray oscillations is unprecedented for black holes.



The research team explored various explanations for these flashes and leaned toward a scenario involving a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hungry-white-dwarf-stars-eat-heavy-metals/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">white dwarf</a>.&nbsp;



They propose that a spinning, compact core of a dead star - a white dwarf - is orbiting dangerously close to the black hole's event horizon.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-white-dwarf-hypothesis">The white dwarf hypothesis</h2>



This white dwarf appears to be approaching the boundary where nothing can escape the black hole's gravitational pull while remarkably avoiding being consumed.



“This would be the closest thing that we know of around any black hole,” said lead author Megan Masterson, a graduate student in physics at <a href="https://www.mit.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MIT</a>. “This tells us that objects like white dwarfs may be able to live very close to an event horizon for a relatively extended period of time.”&nbsp;



The scientists suggest that the white dwarf, estimated to be about one-tenth the mass of the Sun, is engaged in a precarious orbit around 1ES 1927+654. Its intense proximity is inferred from the observed X-ray variability, which points to processes occurring near the black hole's edge.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-flashes-from-a-death-defying-star">Flashes from a death-defying star</h2>



As the white dwarf orbits, it would emit <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/gravitational-waves-dark-matter-big-bang-breakthrough/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">gravitational waves</a>, drawing it ever closer to the black hole. This tightening orbit would naturally lead to an increase in the frequency of X-ray flashes. 



Remarkably, the white dwarf may not actually fall into the black hole despite its close approach.&nbsp;



The researchers theorize that as the white dwarf sheds part of its outer layers, this process provides a counteracting force that prevents the star from crossing the point of no return.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gravitational-waves-and-future-observations">Gravitational waves and future observations</h2>



If the white dwarf scenario is correct, the system is expected to emit gravitational waves at frequencies detectable by instruments like NASA’s upcoming Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA).&nbsp;



“These new detectors are designed to detect oscillations on the scale of minutes, so this black hole system is in that sweet spot,” said Erin Kara, an associate professor of physics at MIT and co-author of the study. 



The detection of such gravitational waves would offer a new way to study the extreme physics near black holes and confirm the presence of the white dwarf.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dramatic-variability-in-the-black-hole-flashes">Dramatic variability in the black hole flashes</h2>



Researchers have never before observed such dramatic variability in the X-ray emissions of a supermassive black hole.&nbsp;



“We’ve never seen this dramatic variability in the rate at which it’s flashing,” Masterson said. 



The frequent and escalating X-ray pulses suggest that the phenomenon is occurring very close to the black hole, where high-energy processes dominate and where objects must move at incredible speeds due to strong gravitational forces.



The team examined data from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">European Space Agency</a>’s XMM-Newton observatory, which specializes in capturing X-ray emissions. 



The discovery of quasi-periodic oscillations in the X-ray light from this black hole indicates that the source of these emissions is likely in the innermost regions near the event horizon.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-extreme-environments-near-supermassive-black-holes">Extreme environments near supermassive black holes</h2>



While one possible explanation for the X-ray patterns was oscillations in the black hole’s corona, the team currently favors the white dwarf hypothesis due to a better grasp of the underlying physics.&nbsp;



The researchers plan to continue monitoring 1ES 1927+654 with current telescopes and prepare for future observations using LISA.



Masterson emphasized the need for continuous observation. “The one thing I’ve learned with this source is to never stop looking at it because it will probably teach us something new.”&nbsp;



As gravitational wave detectors are built, they may capture signals from this extraordinary system, providing deeper insights into the extreme environments near black holes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-the-physics-of-black-holes">Understanding the physics of black holes </h2>



The behavior of 1ES 1927+654 offers a rare opportunity to study the dynamics of objects in extreme gravitational fields. 



If a white dwarf is indeed orbiting close to the event horizon, this system will serve as a unique laboratory for understanding how matter behaves under such intense conditions.&nbsp;



The increasing frequency of X-ray flashes and the potential detection of gravitational waves could revolutionize our understanding of black hole physics and the life cycles of compact objects in their vicinity.



A preprint of the article - which has been accepted by the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a> - has been published in the <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2501.01581" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">arXiv</a> database.



Image Credit: Aurore Simonnet/Sonoma State University



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Mysterious x-ray flashes are accelerating in a black hole

Astronomers have been captivated by the unusual activities of the supermassive black hole 1ES 1927+654. Located about 100 million light-years away, this particular black hole has a mass that is equivalent to roughly one million Suns.&nbsp; Initially, in 2018, researchers witnessed a striking event when the black hole's corona - a cloud of whirling, white-hot plasma - vanished unexpectedly, only to reassemble months later. This dramatic "shut-off" was a first in the study of black holes, setting the stage for further intriguing events. X-ray flashes from a...

UK butterflies dying in warm winters: a new report highlights concerns for UK butterfly population.

Warm winters are terrible for butterflies dying populations, experts revealed today.

The beautiful insects emerge too early from their pupae, limiting their chances of survival. The research was conducted by the University of East Anglia for the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme and demonstrated that extreme weather conditions are creating havoc for the butterfly populations. The yo-yoing weather scenarios created by climate change are much more damaging for our insect friends than moderate temperature increases.

Warm summers may boost butterfly population, while warm winters confuse the natural development of pupae and cause early hatching. Researchers collected data from more than 1800 sites in the UK over the past 37 years. Sadly, extremely heavy rainfall last year affected more than a quarter of the UK butterfly population.

Study co-author Dr. Aldina Franco from the University of East Anglia said: “Although the summer was warm, the number of butterflies counted was particularly low. For example, recent low counts of gatekeeper, common blue, comma, peacock and small tortoiseshell butterflies could be . . . due to their negative response to warm winters.”

Lead author Osgur McDermott-Long commented, “The study has demonstrated previously unknown sensitivities of our butterflies to extreme climatic events, which are becoming more frequent with climate change . . . . Some of these effects are undoubtedly putting future populations at risk, such as extremely warm winters.”

Dr. Tom Brereton from Butterfly Conservation, a co-author of the study, said: “If we are to mitigate against extreme events as part of conservation efforts, in particular, we need a better understanding of the habitat conditions which can lead to successful survival of adult, pupal and overwintering life stages of UK butterflies in these situations.”

—

You can read the news release over at <a href="https://www.uea.ac.uk/about/-/extreme-weather-effects-may-explain-recent-butterfly-decline" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The University of East Anglia</a>.

Butterflies are dying in warm winters

UK butterflies dying in warm winters: a new report highlights...

California water agencies are questioning if a lawn experiment was worth it.

More than $350 million has been spent by California water agencies in the past two years encouraging property owners to rip out their lawns and replace them with decorations that don’t guzzle quite as much water, and now they are asking, was it worth it?

Throughout California, researchers are using satellite images, infrared aerial photos, neighborhood drive-bys, and complex algorithms to understand how much grassy turf was replaced.

"How well did it work? That's really key when we're working on historic investments," said Patrick Atwater, project manager at the California Data Collaborative, who have been recruited to answer the questions posed by California water agencies.

The U.S. <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/topics/news/us/environmental-protection-agency.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Environmental Protection Agency</a> suggested one third of water consumption in households is used to quench thirsty lawns. That works out to roughly 9 billion gallons of water per day.

Last year after a prolonged, dry winter, Governor Jerry Brown ordered 25% water conservation in California cities and towns. He bequeathed $25 million to low-income families to assist removing their grass lawns and replacing them with less thirsty alternatives. The governor set a lofty goal of eradicating 50 million square feet of lawn.

It’s not only the state funding this initiative – the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California dropped just over $300 million into lawn rebates, doubling its rebate offer in 2015. Santa Clara Valley Water District, serving Silicon Valley, provided around $30 million in rebates, with dozens of other water districts adding millions of dollars to the fund.

The initiative was not without controversy – water districts were forced to make rules up as they went along, pertaining to businesses like golf courses and estates which received several million dollars in rebates. Each district's mandate was different: some requested homeowners use plants more suitable for a dry climate, others allowed artificial turf and gravel.

Water-district managers today are concerned about the potential fallout if rebate costs don’t outweigh the benefits.

Two questions remain:
<ol>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Will these efforts last for generations, or will families return to lawns?</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Will the publicity relating to this scheme help move Californian tastes towards more climate-appropriate garden trends, regardless of future rebates?</li>
</ol>
The state is employing all the data it can find, using infrared imagery from airplanes and tallying water &amp; spin-off savings, including lower energy costs for piping less water to households, and reduced climate-changing pollution from lawn mowers. Some districts are sending out surveys to rebate-takers, and most are driving up and down neighborhoods to judge the effects of the campaign.

A survey in Irvine revealed that, for every three homeowners who were granted a rebate, at least four others converted their lawns. Researches believe that other factors played into these findings, including news reports and the governor's drought-messaging.

Ellen Hanak, director of the water-policy center at the Public Policy Institute of California, states that rebates are considered an audience development initiative working to raise awareness of the other alternatives to lawns.

There was widespread criticism of these schemes when it emerged that <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/business-36161580" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nestlé had extracted</a> 36 million gallons of water from a Californian national forest in 2015 alone. 

—

Read all about the Californian water conservation project <a href="http://www.bewaterwise.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

California water agencies questioning lawn experiment

California water agencies are questioning if a lawn experiment was...

Drones elevate ecological research, a new report out today reports, discussing their wide benefits.

Collecting large sample databases is fundamental for plant research, but it’s often tricky to collect data from broad sites by foot. Data collection can be a time sap, occur in dangerous areas, and even compromise the areas you are researching. However, a solution has been addressed today in a new review. Scientists are succeeding in using micro-unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or drones as you and I know them, to conduct these field data experiments.

These drones elevate ecological research and would have nearly zero impact on the area of study, simply flying over the landscape and gathering inconspicuous aerial photographs for data.

Dr. Mitch Cruzan, professor at the Department of Biology at Portland State University and lead author of the review published today, says, “The potential of drone technology in research may only be limited by our ability to envision novel applications . . . . This technology has the potential for the acquisition of large amounts of information with minimal effort and disruption of natural habitats.”

In his study, Dr. Cruzan states that drones can amass years of data noninvasively, helping to monitor vital trends such as habitat restoration efforts, rare and threatened plant populations, agriculture surveys, and carbon storage measures. He believes that drone surveys can become the “holy grail of ecological data.” The capabilities of this technology for research are nearly limitless, with drone-captured data being paired with additional technology such as 3D rendering to reach a variety of scientific conclusions. The professor believes scientists can learn about plant health, phenology, reproduction, diseases, and human-mediated disturbances all from the safety and comfort of their labs.

Researchers can fly small drones along research areas of up to 40 hectares in size. The drones' internal GPS system enables hovering over pinpointed locations and altitudes, collecting high-resolution images. However, this method is not impervious to problems – Cruzan warns researchers of "shadow gaps" when collecting data. Taller vegetation can obscure shorter vegetation, hiding it from view in aerial photographs. In order to get accurate data relating to each area, researchers must create overlapping images. 

You don’t need to be David Bailey to operate a drone, but you do need some training in order to ensure your precious data is usable. The report talks about operator requirements and how to guarantee that your video feeds are aligned properly with camera stabilization, and using the right lenses for each area. Most importantly, it talks about metadata of the drone's altitude, speed, and elevation for every captured image.

Following the data collection, georeferenced images are joined together into a digital surface model (DSM), which looks to us a little like a photo collage, to be analyzed. The GIS software classifies vegetation types, landscape features, and even individual species in the DSMs, using manual or automated, machine-learning techniques.

To test their concept, Cruzan and colleagues used drone technology for a landscape genetics study on the Whetstone Savanna Preserve in southern Oregon, USA. "Our goal is to understand how landscape features affect pollen and seed dispersal for plant species associated with different dispersal vectors," says Dr. Cruzan. They flew drones over threatened vernal pools and then analyzed the images, claiming if they had manually researched these habitats, not only would it have taken hundreds of hours, they also may have compromised the ecological integrity of these highly sensitive areas.

Before drones, research teams used light detection and ranging (LiDAR) equipment. LiDAR uses remote sensing technology to capture aerial images, but has several pitfalls: it’s expensive, requires specialist equipment, requires flyovers, and is conducted at a much higher elevation. Due to this high elevation, LiDAR isn’t really useful for analyzing subtle differences in vegetation, a task drone research excels in with its low-altitude, high-resolution footage.

The drone method is not perfect, however. Drones, though more affordable, range greatly in quality, low-end models sporting much cheaper cameras offering lower resolution. Flight regulations limit drone use, so you must be mindful of any limitations before you embark on a drone study. Finally, if a researcher can’t identify plant species from data, they still must return to the field the old-fashioned way, collecting data on foot.

Dr. Cruzan stresses that, despite its limitations, robotic drones elevate ecological research incredibly flexibly, believing it a highly versatile addition to the more traditional methods of data collection. He states that “using a broad range of imaging technologies and analysis methods will improve our ability to detect, discriminate, and quantify different features of the biotic and abiotic environment." As drones elevate ecological research increasingly, access to open-source software and better equipment will continue to advance ecological research.

—

From <a href="http://www.bioone.org/doi/pdf/10.3732/apps.1600041" target="_blank">Applications in Plant Sciences</a>

Drones elevate ecological research

Drones elevate ecological research, a new report out today reports,...

Spawning sockeye salmon, Lake Aleknagik, Alaska, USA

Extinct giant salmon used their huge teeth as weapons, says new report.

Roughly 15 million years ago, Pacific coastal waters hosted a fascinating species of extinct giant salmon who boasted terrifying spike-like teeth. These extinct beasties were massive compared to the salmon we know and love today, reaching 9 feet in length and weighing up to 400 pounds. Their sharp teeth were over one inch long. 

California State University researchers have been studying these fish, revealing clues into their ancient lives.

Much like their modern cousin the Pacific salmon, giant salmon were presumed to be filter-feeders, meaning their teeth were not for hunting. As modern salmons encounter physical changes before migrating upriver to spawn, where males fight to defend their fertilized eggs, it was hypothesized that these extra-large teeth could be part of the mating ritual.

Dr. Julia Sankey led a team of researchers to compare 51 different fossils. The teeth of these salmon found in past freshwater environments consistently had longer teeth with much larger bases showing signs of wear. Fossil teeth found in saltwater deposits were much smaller and less worn, suggesting their teeth had changed before they migrated upriver.

These results prove the hypothesis. Researchers believe these gargantuan gnashers were used to intimidate and eventually fight any creatures who came near their fertilized eggs. "These giant, spike-toothed salmon were amazing fish. You can picture them getting scooped out of the Proto-Tuolumne River by large bears 5 million years ago," said Dr. Sankey. "Scientifically, our research on the giant salmon is filling in a gap in our knowledge about how these salmon lived, and specifically, if they developmentally changed prior to migration upriver like modern salmon do today.”

—

Dr. Sankey and colleagues presented their findings at this year's meeting of the <a href="http://vertpaleo.org/" target="_blank">Society of Vertebrate Paleontology</a> in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Extinct giant salmon used huge teeth as weapons

Extinct giant salmon used their huge teeth as weapons, says...

NASA pumpkin carving contest shows that NASA engineers are good at most things. Earlier today their pumpkin carving contest went viral. See why<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasa-jpl/sets/72157672207667603/with/30490806042/"> here.</a>

Happy Halloween from Earth.com.

NASA pumpkin carving contest puts us all to shame

NASA pumpkin carving contest shows that NASA engineers are good...

Harlequin ladybug swarms are thought to be making themselves at home in Great Britain.

Swarms of Harlequin ladybugs are invading Great Britain, having come from Asia and North America seeking cozy hibernation spots and carrying dangerous STDs.

Dozens of British homes are already said to be infested. The disease they carry is not dangerous to humans, but their arrival could have catastrophic effects on the indigenous ladybugs living on the British Isles. The Harlequin ladybugs carry a fungus called Laboulbeniales, which is passed via mating.

These ladybugs are much larger and have different color patterns than the local two-spot variety common to Great Britain. As the species hibernates in large numbers, scientists are warning households to be vigilant and keep their windows closed.

Since the first sightings in 2004, the regular British ladybug population has fallen by one third.

Dr. Peter Brown of Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge said: “The harlequin is having a damaging effect on native species across Europe.”

—

Entomologists over at <a href="http://www.ladybird-survey.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Ladybird Survey</a> in Great Britain are keen to learn more about these alien invaders.

Harlequin Ladybug settles in Great Britain

Harlequin ladybug swarms are thought to be making themselves at...

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...

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;



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



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

Kainji Lake in north central Nigeria

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Amanda Nguyen/University of Illinois



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



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

Designing crops that can beat the heat

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

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.acs.org/">American Chemical Society</a> explores the ability of salt to transform the way that foods and beverages taste. Salt is known to cover up undesirable flavors, such as bitterness in coffee or beer, but how exactly does sodium chloride change the taste of other compounds?



One previous study showed that, not only does salt suppress bitterness, but also enhances sweetness and sourness. Another study revealed that bitterness reduction by salt seems to be happening at the tongue receptor level as well as in the brain.&nbsp;



While it is known that salt taste is mediated by the presence of sodium channels in the form of taste buds, experts believe that there is also an unknown receptor responsible for how we taste salt that has not yet been identified.&nbsp;



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Santiago, the capital city of Chile. The city is located in the center of the Santiago Metropolitan Region, which has a population of about eight million people.&nbsp;



'The weather of Santiago resembles the Mediterranean climate with dry and warm summers with temperatures reaching up to 35°C (from October to March) and cool and humid winters that can drop to 0°C (from April to September)."



"The city lies in the centre of the country’s central valley around 80 km from the Pacific Ocean to the west and borders Argentina to the east. A tiny part of Argentina is visible in the top-right corner of the image where the mountain crest of the Andes Mountains acts as a divider between the two countries," says ESA.



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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Spiral,Galaxy,,Illustration,Of,Milky,Way

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Astronomers at <a href="https://www.jhu.edu/">Johns Hopkins University</a> have created an interactive map of the universe, including the actual position and real colors of 200,000 galaxies. The map allows the public to access data that was previously only available to scientists.



The map was developed using data collected by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. For over two decades, a telescope in New Mexico was aimed at slightly different locations to capture the night sky.&nbsp;



"Growing up I was very inspired by astronomy pictures, stars, nebulae and galaxies, and now it's our time to create a new type of picture to inspire people," said map creator Brice Ménard, a professor at Johns Hopkins. "Astrophysicists around the world have been analyzing this data for years, leading to thousands of scientific papers and discoveries. But nobody took the time to create a map that is beautiful, scientifically accurate, and accessible to people who are not scientists. Our goal here is to show everybody what the universe really looks like."



"In this map, we are just a speck at the very bottom, just one pixel. And when I say we, I mean our galaxy, the Milky Way which has billions of stars and planets. We are used to seeing astronomical pictures showing one galaxy here, one galaxy there or perhaps a group of galaxies. But what this map shows is a very, very different scale."



"From this speck at the bottom, we are able to map out galaxies across the entire universe, and that says something about the power of science."



The <a href="https://mapoftheuniverse.net/">interactive map</a> is available online, where it can be downloaded for free.



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Remote sensing will revolutionize the way we monitor trees

[sendtonews key="EjmSP20gQK-2593093-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from NASA...

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Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Dublin, the capital and largest city of Ireland. Beyond its pub culture, Dublin is known as a modern culinary destination and a UNESCO City of Literature.



"Dublin is located near the midpoint of Ireland’s east coast in the province of Leinster. The city, which covers an area of around 115 square kilometers, is bordered by the Dublin Mountains, a low mountain range to the south, and is surrounded by flat farmland to the north and west," says ESA.



"The city straddles the River Liffey, which rises in the Wicklow Mountains and flows around 80 kilometers eastwards through the city of Dublin, in which it is canalised and bordered with quays. It then empties into Dublin Bay, an arm of the Irish Sea."



Dublin has an abundance of green spaces, including one of the largest enclosed public parks in any European capital city. Phoenix Park, which was originally formed as a royal hunting park in the 1660s, includes 707 hectares of green space.



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features the province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain. The image was captured by the Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission.



"Together with the provinces of Huesca and Teruel, Zaragoza formed the old kingdom of Aragon. Its capital, also called Zaragoza (not visible in this image) is home to around half of Aragon’s population," says ESA.



"The Ebro River can be seen winding its way through the province from west to east in this image. Between its source in the Cantabrian Mountains in the northwest and its delta on the Mediterranean coast, the Ebro River is fed by more than 200 tributaries as it flows 910 km across much of northern Spain."



Since rainfall is very scarce in this region, irrigation in the Ebro basin is critically important. In the valleys surrounding the Ebro River, many fields are used for growing crops such as corn, wheat, and barley.



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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

Wetlands are a major source of methane emissions

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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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

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research&nbsp;



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



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

How the immune system responds to injury

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

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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

2022 illustrated the consequences of a warming climate

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

Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

[sendtonews key="JbW4VsY53O-1632195-12187" type="single"] Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected...

Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://welcome.miami.edu/">University of Miami</a> Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science explores how changes in water temperatures have affected tiger shark habitats and movements in the North Atlantic Ocean. The study reveals that rising temperatures have caused the sharks to shift toward the poles over the past 40 years.



“Tiger shark annual migrations have expanded poleward, paralleling rising water temperatures,” explained study lead author Neil Hammerschlag. “These results have consequences for tiger shark conservation, since shifts in their movements outside of marine protected areas may leave them more vulnerable to commercial fishing.”



The researchers analyzed nine years of tracking data from satellite-tagged tiger sharks, combined with four decades of conventional tag and recapture data provided by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Cooperative Shark Tagging Program.



The experts found that during the last decade of record heat, for every one-degree Celsius increase in water temperatures, tiger sharks migrated further poleward by over 400 kilometers. They also migrated two weeks earlier than usual to waters off the northeastern coast of the United States.



“Given their role as apex predators, these changes to tiger shark movements may alter predator-prey interactions, leading to ecological imbalances, and more frequent encounters with humans,” concluded Professor Hammerschlag.



Video Credit: University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science



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



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

Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

Today’s Video of the Day from the University of Miami...