Two remarkable objects orbiting low-mass stars have been detected in our cosmic vicinity. This fascinating discovery was confirmed through observations from ESA’s Gaia spacecraft.



Gaia’s primary mission is mapping stars, so its ability to detect these unusual star companions highlights its unexpected contributions to exoplanet research. 



The newly confirmed objects, Gaia-4b and Gaia-5b, challenge existing models of planet formation around low-mass stars.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stars-with-hefty-companions">Stars with hefty companions</h2>



Gaia-4b, classified as a “<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/super-jupiter-discovered-in-the-great-bear-constellation/">Super-Jupiter</a>,” orbits the star Gaia-4 roughly 244 light-years away. Gaia-5b - considered a brown dwarf - travels around Gaia-5, located about 134 light-years from Earth.



“Gaia-4b is about twelve times more massive than Jupiter. With an orbital period of 570 days, it is a relatively cold gas giant planet,” explained Guðmundur Stefánsson, an astronomer at the University of Amsterdam.



“With a mass of around 21 Jupiters, Gaia-5b is a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/brown-dwarfs-detected-outside-the-milky-way-for-the-first-time/">brown dwarf</a>, more massive than a planet but too light to sustain nuclear fusion to be a star.”



Typically, such hefty objects are rarely found around low-mass stars, prompting astronomers to question traditional theories of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/planet-formation-new-insights-mechanics-physics/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">planet formation</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mapping-the-wobbling-stars">Mapping the wobbling stars</h2>



Since its 2013 launch, <a href="https://earth.esa.int/eogateway">ESA</a>’s Gaia spacecraft has been constructing the largest and most detailed three-dimensional map of our Milky Way, charting the positions and movements of over two billion celestial objects. 



Central to these recent findings is Gaia’s specialty: astrometry, the precise tracking of stellar motion. By repeatedly scanning the sky with dual optical telescopes, Gaia detects the minute “wobble” a star exhibits if it’s influenced by an orbiting companion. 



In contrast to the transit method - which spots planets crossing in front of a star - astrometry is best suited to identifying massive objects in wide orbits, including Super-Jupiters and brown dwarfs that might otherwise be missed.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-power-of-multiple-detection-methods">Power of multiple detection methods </h2>



“Gaia was repeatedly scanning these stars, building up an increasingly detailed picture over time,” Stefánsson said.&nbsp;



“In 2022, Gaia Data Release 3 included a list of stars that appear to be moving as though pulled by an exoplanet. Using ground-based spectroscopic data and the radial velocity technique to investigate these stars, we confirmed our first planet and our first brown dwarf.”



The research highlights how multiple detection methods can together reveal new celestial bodies and clarify their nature.



<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="cgpihgb49C-4304237-12187" type="single"]</div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-intriguing-companions-to-modest-stars">Intriguing companions to modest stars</h2>



In the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/two-enormous-fermi-bubbles-discovered-towering-above-and-below-our-milky-way-galaxy/">Milky Way</a>, 75% of stars fall into the low-mass category, ranging from about 10% to 65% of the Sun’s mass. It's been considered unlikely for huge gas giants or brown dwarfs to form around such stars, as smaller stars possess less material in their protoplanetary disks - material from which planets coalesce.



“About 75% of the stars in the Milky Way are low-mass stars, and when massive planets do occur around them, they cause a larger wobble and therefore a stronger astrometric signature that is easier to detect,” noted Stefánsson.



Finding Gaia-4b and Gaia-5b orbiting stars of modest mass challenges this assumption, illustrating that even limited-mass stellar environments can produce exceptionally large companions.&nbsp;



This discovery encourages astronomers to refine or reconsider current models of how planets and brown dwarfs take shape, potentially exploring alternate scenarios - like disk instability or other yet-unknown processes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-milestone-in-exoplanet-studies">A milestone in exoplanet studies</h2>



Gaia-4b’s detection marks a milestone in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/exoplanet-discovery-nasa-identifies-over-5500-distant-worlds/">exoplanet</a> studies, as it was confirmed using Gaia data exclusively.&nbsp;



Historically, exoplanet candidates emerged from a combination of Gaia findings and data from its predecessor, Hipparcos. Gaia’s increasing precision, however, allows researchers to spot these signal “wobbles” without additional satellite missions.



“Gaia has seen the telltale signs of known exoplanets before, but this time Gaia revealed an entirely new extrasolar world,” said Johannes Sahlmann, Gaia Project Scientist at ESA.



This accomplishment foreshadows the impact of future Gaia data releases, particularly in 2026, when a more extensive set of observations (spanning 5.5 years) is expected.&nbsp;



Astronomers anticipate hundreds or even thousands of discoveries, including not only gas giants and brown dwarfs but also smaller, rocky planets that challenge the limits of observational methods.



“This discovery is an exciting tip-of-the-iceberg for the exoplanet discoveries we can expect from Gaia in the future,” said ESA research fellow Matthew Standing.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-new-era-in-exoplanetary-science">A new era in exoplanetary science</h2>



As the Gaia spacecraft continues its sky-mapping mission, astronomers stand on the cusp of a golden age in exoplanet research.&nbsp;



Upcoming data releases promise to unveil a broader spectrum of planetary systems, shedding light on how giant bodies form in environments once assumed too resource-poor to support them.



By providing continuous, highly accurate measurements of stars across the galaxy, Gaia is enabling scientists to piece together the puzzle of planetary system architectures - from small, dim red dwarfs to stars much larger than our Sun.&nbsp;



The mission is bound to disrupt long-standing theories, opening the door to new questions about how diverse exoplanetary systems can be and how nature assembles them.



Ultimately, these findings serve as a reminder that our universe remains brimming with surprises.&nbsp;



Image/ Video Credit: ESA/Gaia/DPAC/M. Marcussen



-----



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Wobbling stars reveal giant companions

Two remarkable objects orbiting low-mass stars have been detected in our cosmic vicinity. This fascinating discovery was confirmed through observations from ESA’s Gaia spacecraft. Gaia’s primary mission is mapping stars, so its ability to detect these unusual star companions highlights its unexpected contributions to exoplanet research. The newly confirmed objects, Gaia-4b and Gaia-5b, challenge existing models of planet formation around low-mass stars. Stars with hefty companions Gaia-4b, classified as a “Super-Jupiter,” orbits the star Gaia-4 roughly 244 light-years away. Gaia-5b - considered a brown dwarf - travels around...

Arctic OffShore Drilling

Shell Loses $7.4 Billion After Pulling Oil Rigs From The Arctic. Royal Dutch Shell reported a third quarter loss of $7.4 billion Thursday as it re-organized and cancelled projects, including drilling in Alaska, to cope with the plunge in oil prices.
The net loss compares with a profit of $4.5 billion in the same period last year. Shell reported $7.9 billion in charges, including $2.6 billion for Alaska and $2 billion related to the decision to cancel the Carmon Creek project in Alberta, Canada.
Excluding one-time items and fluctuations in the value of inventories, the company said profit dropped to $1.8 billion, from $5.8 billion a year earlier, reflecting the plunge in oil prices.
"Shell's integrated business and our performance drive are helping to mitigate the impact of low oil prices on the bottom line in what is a difficult environment for the industry today," CEO Ben van Beurden said.
Energy companies are struggling to adjust to an age of lower prices after oil dropped to a six-year low in August. Brent crude, the benchmark for North Sea oil, averaged $50.26 a barrel in the third quarter, down 51 percent from a year earlier.
The drop is forcing companies to reconsider the <a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=economics&amp;cvid=133c0645dcd14603b8c0de3930c2715d&amp;FORM=ANAB01&amp;PC=HCTS">economics</a> of projects.
Shell said it decided to discontinue work on the Carmon Creek thermal oil sands project because it "does not rank in its portfolio at this time."
In Alaska, Shell had intended to access what the U.S. Geological survey estimated to be some 26 billion barrels of conventionally recoverable oil under Arctic waters. But the company's first drilling produced only minor amounts of oil and gas. Shell Loses $7.4 Billion After Pulling Oil Rigs From The Arctic
"This, combined with the current economic and regulatory environment, has led Shell to cease further exploration activity offshore Alaska for the foreseeable future," the company said.
At the same time, environmental activists had the company in its sights, pledging to thwart the company in the arena of public opinion. Protesters argued that industrial activity would hurt fragile ecosystems and marine mammals. They insisted that the icy Arctic waters could not be cleaned in the event of a spill.
Analysts believe the company took the worst of the hit in Thursday's results.
"I think the bulk of the assets has been written off," Fadel Gheit, a managing director and senior analyst at Oppenheimer &amp; Co. Inc., said in an email.
Shell said it would still pay a dividend of 47 cents a share on third quarter earnings.
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Shell Loses $7.4 Billion After Pulling Oil Rigs From The Arctic

Shell Loses $7.4 Billion After Pulling Oil Rigs From The...

Scientists: Warming Ocean Is Cause Behind Collapse Of Cod Fishery. The rapid warming ocean off New England is a key factor in the collapse of the region's cod fishery, and changes to the species' management are needed to save one of <a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=america&amp;cvid=e42be66a61d64b42b9dcfb7ac0da673f&amp;FORM=ANAB01&amp;PC=HCTS">America's</a> oldest industries, according to a report published Thursday in Science magazine.
Fishery managers say cod spawning in the Gulf of Maine - a key fishing area between Cape Cod and Canada that touches Massachusetts, Maine and New Hampshire - is only about 3 percent of sustainable levels, and participants in the fishery that dates to the Colonial era face dramatic quota cuts as a result.
The scientists behind the Science report say the warming of the Gulf of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/shellfish-are-vanishing-from-the-gulf-of-maine/">Maine</a>, which accelerated from 2004 to 2013, reduced cod's capacity to rebound from fishing pressure. The report gives credence to the idea - supported by advocacy groups, fishing managers and even some fishermen - that climate change has played a role in cod's collapse. Scientists: Warming Ocean Is Cause Behind Collapse Of Cod Fishery
The lead author of the study, Andrew Pershing of the Gulf of Maine Research Institute in Portland, said the gulf is warming at a rate 99 percent faster than anywhere else in the world, and as a result, too many of the fish aren't living past age 4 or 5. Cod can live to be older than 20.
"Every animal has a temperature range that they prefer. The Gulf of Maine, for cod, is really at the warm end of that," Pershing said. "If you warm it, you push it somewhere that's really uncomfortable."
The report comes amid a collapse in commercial catch of Atlantic cod, which are also fished off New England in Georges Bank, where the stock has also collapsed. Catch fell from more than 33 million pounds in 2001 to less than 5 million pounds in 2013.
As a result, the price of local cod has risen in New England. Now, much of the cod in fish and chips there is from places such as Iceland and Norway, and sometimes restaurants use a different species altogether.
David Goethel, a biologist and longtime New Hampshire fisherman, said the study is reflective of what he sees at sea. He said it's important that published science now backs that up.
But he also said fishing managers are trying to rebuild cod stocks to unrealistic levels, which results in low quotas for fishermen. Instead, he said, they should set quotas that reflect the status of the stock. A New England fishing regulatory council voted to reduce the total allowable Gulf of Maine cod catch limit from 1,550 metric tons to 386 metric tons a year ago. In the early 2000s, it was 8,000 metric tons per year.
"We need to manage for what is here now," said Goethel, himself a former member of the fishing regulatory council. "Otherwise, we're just going to leave enormous amounts of protein in the water for no reason, for what's basically a bureaucratic reason."
The report said regulators need to incorporate environmental factors in managing commercial species. Jud Crawford, science and policy manager of U.S. Oceans, Northeast for Pew Charitable trusts, said that could mean placing a premium on conserving cod habitat.
Malin Pinsky, a biology professor at Rutgers University who was not involved in the study, said the findings help explain the northern shift in the cod's population. Researchers reported this month that numbers are improving in the colder waters off Newfoundland and Labrador.
"What we're learning about cod are the same kind of processes that are likely to play out in a wide range of important fish in this and other regions," he said.
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Scientists: Warming Ocean Is Cause Behind Collapse Of Cod Fishery

Scientists: Warming Ocean Is Cause Behind Collapse Of Cod Fishery....

Study: Most Vulnerable Countries Know Least About Climate Change. Collaborations on climate change research are divided into separate regions of the world with little knowledge exchange between them shows a new Danish-Brazilian study led by the University of Copenhagen. The most vulnerable countries of the world are largely disconnected from the production and flow of scientific knowledge on climate change, leaving their climate policymaking with little contextually relevant advice. The study calls for initiatives across private, governmental and non-governmental organisations, and from researchers themselves to diminish the knowledge gap.

When new research on climate change is published it most often concerns and is produced by the developed countries and the BRICS countries Brazil, India, China and South Africa rather than countries most vulnerable, but less contributing, to climate change.Study: Most Vulnerable Countries Know Least About Climate Change

The little research that does concern developing countries often lacks a locally based author. For instance, only about one fifth of the publications concerning climate change in Africa have a locally based first author - for the developed regions, it is two thirds of the publications. For some countries, such as the Republic of Congo and North Korea with up to 72 relevant publications, there are no locally based authors, not even co-authors.

"Without locally generated knowledge, it is more challenging to provide and integrate contextually relevant advice, and this leaves a critical gap in the climate policy debates. This is particularly worrying as we are dealing with countries likely to experience severe climatic changes and that are most sensitive to its detrimental impacts" says lead-author and postdoc Maya Pasgaard from the Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management at the University of Copenhagen.

In total, the study analysed author affiliations of more than 15.000 climate change publications published between 1999 and 2010. Authors focusing on the same countries for climate change research typically share geographical proximity, common climate, politics and economic characteristics.

"The regional divides limit critical flows of experiences and competencies across geographical and political-economic boundaries; a flow which is also needed to tackle the many threats and challenges of comparable character across regions, such as changes in crops, pest management and adaptation to climate hazards," says co-author and Professor Niels Strange from the Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate at the University of Copenhagen.

With the exception of some South American and African countries who share research interests, knowledge exchange on climate change suffers from large regional divides, in particular among vulnerable, developing regions.

The study recommends initiatives that focus on strengthening collaborations across geographical distances and across national differences in <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/great-tits-can-adapt-to-climate-change-but-only-to-a-point/">climate</a>, export, democracy and national economy, as well as strengthening the local production and integration of knowledge.

Co-author and Assistant Professor Bo Dalsgaard from the Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate says:

"There is an array of partners responsible for increasing collaborations, ranging from big international organisations, such as the UN, to individual governments and higher education leaders. We also urge individual researchers and private companies alike to take responsibility for increasing cross-national collaborations and thus increase knowledge exchange between regions".

He is personally involved in a collaborative project across geographical, climatic and political-economic boundaries with UNICAMP in Brazil, the University of the West Indies in Jamaica, local coffee growers from, amongst other players, the Jamaican Coffee Growers' Association, and the London-based gourmet coffee brand Oubu Coffee. Together they study the effects of climate on the pollination of coffee in the Blue Mountains of Jamaica, West Indies.

"This project was initiated through a personal network between me, Oubu Coffee and their relations within Jamaica. As researchers we have to be willing to drive the transition forward through such opportunities and networks. Waiting for international institutions or governments to create new initiatives is not the only way forward" says Bo Dalsgaard.

Maya Pasgaard also has experience with research collaboration across regions, working together with a local researcher from Cambodia on community-based forest protection to mitigate climate change.

"Cross-border collaborations are not just highly relevant scientifically, but also rewarding on a personal level, as cultural knowledge exchange becomes an integrated part of the collaboration" she says.

The study is published online in the journal Global Environmental Change.

---

<a href="http://www.science.ku.dk/english/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">University of Copenhagen</a>

Study: Most Vulnerable Countries Know Least About Climate Change

Study: Most Vulnerable Countries Know Least About Climate Change. Collaborations...

Scientists: Warming Ocean Is Cause Behind Collapse Of Cod Fishery. The rapid warming ocean off New England is a key factor in the collapse of the region's cod fishery, and changes to the species' management are needed to save one of America's oldest industries, according to a report published Thursday in Science magazine.
Fishery managers say cod spawning in the Gulf of Maine - a key fishing area between Cape Cod and Canada that touches Massachusetts, Maine and <a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=new+hampshire&amp;cvid=28c17837b4674f49ae614c0644a1031b&amp;FORM=ANAB01&amp;PC=HCTS">New Hampshire</a> - is only about 3 percent of sustainable levels, and participants in the fishery that dates to the Colonial era face dramatic quota cuts as a result.
The scientists behind the Science report say the warming of the Gulf of Maine, which accelerated from 2004 to 2013, reduced cod's capacity to rebound from fishing pressure. The report gives credence to the idea - supported by advocacy groups, fishing managers and even some fishermen - that climate change has played a role in cod's collapse. Scientists: Warming <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/deep-ocean-oxygen-levels-are-affected-by-sea-ice/">Ocean</a> Is Cause Behind Collapse Of Cod Fishery
The lead author of the study, Andrew Pershing of the Gulf of Maine Research Institute in Portland, said the gulf is warming at a rate 99 percent faster than anywhere else in the world, and as a result, too many of the fish aren't living past age 4 or 5. Cod can live to be older than 20. Scientists: Warming Ocean Is Cause Behind Collapse Of Cod Fishery
"Every animal has a temperature range that they prefer. The Gulf of Maine, for cod, is really at the warm end of that," Pershing said. "If you warm it, you push it somewhere that's really uncomfortable."
The report comes amid a collapse in commercial catch of Atlantic cod, which are also fished off New England in Georges Bank, where the stock has also collapsed. Catch fell from more than 33 million pounds in 2001 to less than 5 million pounds in 2013.
As a result, the price of local cod has risen in New England. Now, much of the cod in fish and chips there is from places such as Iceland and Norway, and sometimes restaurants use a different species altogether.
David Goethel, a biologist and longtime New Hampshire fisherman, said the study is reflective of what he sees at sea. He said it's important that published science now backs that up.
But he also said fishing managers are trying to rebuild cod stocks to unrealistic levels, which results in low quotas for fishermen. Instead, he said, they should set quotas that reflect the status of the stock. A New England fishing regulatory council voted to reduce the total allowable Gulf of Maine cod catch limit from 1,550 metric tons to 386 metric tons a year ago. In the early 2000s, it was 8,000 metric tons per year.
"We need to manage for what is here now," said Goethel, himself a former member of the fishing regulatory council. "Otherwise, we're just going to leave enormous amounts of protein in the water for no reason, for what's basically a bureaucratic reason."
The report said regulators need to incorporate environmental factors in managing commercial species. Jud Crawford, science and policy manager of U.S. Oceans, Northeast for Pew Charitable trusts, said that could mean placing a premium on conserving cod habitat.
Malin Pinsky, a biology professor at Rutgers University who was not involved in the study, said the findings help explain the northern shift in the cod's population. Researchers reported this month that numbers are improving in the colder waters off Newfoundland and Labrador.
"What we're learning about cod are the same kind of processes that are likely to play out in a wide range of important fish in this and other regions," he said.
© 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Learn more about our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

Scientists: Warming Ocean Is Cause Behind Collapse

Scientists: Warming Ocean Is Cause Behind Collapse Of Cod Fishery. The rapid warming ocean off New England is a key factor in the collapse of the region's cod fishery, and changes to the species' management are needed to save one of America's oldest industries, according to a report published Thursday in Science magazine.
Fishery managers say cod spawning in the Gulf of Maine - a key fishing area between Cape Cod and Canada that touches Massachusetts, Maine and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-evidence-suggests-earths-inner-core-is-rotating/">New Hampshire</a> - is only about 3 percent of sustainable levels, and participants in the fishery that dates to the Colonial era face dramatic quota cuts as a result.
The scientists behind the Science report say the warming of the Gulf of Maine, which accelerated from 2004 to 2013, reduced cod's capacity to rebound from fishing pressure. The report gives credence to the idea - supported by advocacy groups, fishing managers and even some fishermen - that climate change has played a role in cod's collapse.Scientists: Warming Ocean Is Cause Behind Collapse Of Cod Fishery
The lead author of the study, Andrew Pershing of the Gulf of <a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=maine&amp;cvid=02ca166e6410476e8266b18f11819aaf&amp;FORM=ANAB01&amp;PC=HCTS">Maine</a> Research Institute in Portland, said the gulf is warming at a rate 99 percent faster than anywhere else in the world, and as a result, too many of the fish aren't living past age 4 or 5. Cod can live to be older than 20.
"Every animal has a temperature range that they prefer. The Gulf of Maine, for cod, is really at the warm end of that," Pershing said. "If you warm it, you push it somewhere that's really uncomfortable."
The report comes amid a collapse in commercial catch of Atlantic cod, which are also fished off New England in Georges Bank, where the stock has also collapsed. Catch fell from more than 33 million pounds in 2001 to less than 5 million pounds in 2013.
As a result, the price of local cod has risen in New England. Now, much of the cod in fish and chips there is from places such as Iceland and Norway, and sometimes restaurants use a different species altogether.
David Goethel, a biologist and longtime New Hampshire fisherman, said the study is reflective of what he sees at sea. He said it's important that published science now backs that up.
But he also said fishing managers are trying to rebuild cod stocks to unrealistic levels, which results in low quotas for fishermen. Instead, he said, they should set quotas that reflect the status of the stock. A New England fishing regulatory council voted to reduce the total allowable Gulf of Maine cod catch limit from 1,550 metric tons to 386 metric tons a year ago. In the early 2000s, it was 8,000 metric tons per year.
"We need to manage for what is here now," said Goethel, himself a former member of the fishing regulatory council. "Otherwise, we're just going to leave enormous amounts of protein in the water for no reason, for what's basically a bureaucratic reason."
The report said regulators need to incorporate environmental factors in managing commercial species. Jud Crawford, science and policy manager of U.S. Oceans, Northeast for Pew Charitable trusts, said that could mean placing a premium on conserving cod habitat.
Malin Pinsky, a biology professor at Rutgers University who was not involved in the study, said the findings help explain the northern shift in the cod's population. Researchers reported this month that numbers are improving in the colder waters off Newfoundland and Labrador.
"What we're learning about cod are the same kind of processes that are likely to play out in a wide range of important fish in this and other regions," he said.
© 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Learn more about our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

Coast Guards Of Arctic Nations Seek More Help Dealing With Melting Sea Ice. Coast guard leaders from the U.S., Russia and other Arctic nations are meeting to strengthen cooperation in northern seas, where warming temperatures are opening new waterways to boat traffic.
An agreement setting up a new forum dedicated to security and stewardship of Arctic waters is expected to be signed Friday by leaders from eight countries' maritime agencies. Coast Guards Of Arctic Nations Seek More Help Dealing With Melting Sea Ice
The leaders have gathered since Wednesday behind closed doors at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/network-that-connects-the-brain-and-stomach-can-predict-weight-loss/">Connecticut.</a>
A total of eight countries - Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Russia and the U.S. - are formally establishing the Arctic Coast Guard Forum. The organization will help implement agreements of the Arctic Council, which is comprised of the same member countries, but also make its own decisions and plans concerning Arctic operations.
"Much of the ACGF's work will focus on fostering the strong partnerships required to support safe, secure and environmentally responsible maritime activity in the Arctic region," said Lisa Novak, a Coast Guard spokeswoman in Washington.
As the planet warms, waterways through the Northwest Passage above <a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=canada&amp;cvid=996103fc3a274ff592c474e6955bfcfc&amp;FORM=ANAB01&amp;PC=HCTS">Canada</a> and Russia have opened during summer months, funneling more ship traffic through the Bering Strait. The region also holds trillions of dollars' worth of oil and gas reserves, and many have warned of a new battleground for resources emerging in the 21st century.
The summit is taking place at the academy's Center for Arctic Study and Policy. Officials say the Arctic has been emerging as a popular topic of study at the academy, where cadets train and study along the Thames River in New London for careers as Coast Guard officers.
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Coast Guards Of Arctic Nations Seek More Help Dealing

Coast Guards Of Arctic Nations Seek More Help Dealing With...

Man looking at bill in grocery store. Image shot 2007. Exact date unknown.

Puerto Rico Bans All Plastic Bags. Puerto Rico's governor signed an executive order on Friday banning the use of plastic bags across the U.S. territory, defying legislators who just days ago rejected a similar bill.
The ban will take effect in mid-2016 and will be preceded by a six-month educational campaign, Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla said.
The announcement surprised many because 25 legislators in the island's House of Representatives recently voted against a measure calling for such a ban. Lawmakers had said they opposed the bill because it would charge people for the use of plastic bags amid an economic crisis. Puerto Rico Bans All Plastic Bags
Garcia said grocery stores across Puerto Rico import tons of plastic bags a year, noting that one small supermarket chain alone annually imports bags that fit in six boxcars that are 42 feet (13 meters) long.
"All that ends up in landfills in the best-case scenario," he said. "They end up on our streets, in our sewage system ... and kill our turtles and <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/ocean-acidification-could-cause-coral-reefs-to-fall-apart/">coral reefs.</a>"
The popular western tourist town of Rincon is the only Puerto Rican municipality that currently bans the use of plastic bags.
Environmental activists praised the move, noting that it is common to double-bag all groceries on the island, no matter how small the purchase. Garcia said he would push for legislation to be approved to help bolster his executive order.
Elsewhere in the U.S., plastic bag bans have been implemented in cities including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Seattle and Austin, Texas. In addition, all counties in Hawaii have approved such a prohibition. There is currently no statewide ban on plastic bags, although California is placing the issue before voters in a November 2016 ballot.
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Puerto Rico Bans All Plastic Bags

Puerto Rico Bans All Plastic Bags. Puerto Rico's governor signed...

EPA May Ban Produce Pesticide Chlorpyrifos. The Environmental Protection Agency says it may ban a common pesticide used on citrus fruits, almonds and other crops.
A proposal announced Friday would prohibit use of chlorpyrifos, a widely used insecticide sprayed on a variety of crops including oranges, apples, cherries, grapes, broccoli and asparagus.
The pesticide, in use since 1965, has sickened dozens of farmworkers in recent years. Traces have been found in waterways, threatening fish, and regulators say overuse could make targeted insects immune to the <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/increasing-plant-biodiversity-reduces-the-need-for-pesticides/">pesticide</a>.
U.S. farms use more than 6 million pounds of the chemical each year - about 25 percent of it in <a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=california&amp;cvid=a467ff9efb1a4a17b2ce3ece3c59e121&amp;FORM=ANAB01&amp;PC=HCTS">California</a>. EPA May Ban Produce Pesticide Chlorpyrifos
The EPA said it will take comments on the proposal for at least two months, with a final rule expected in December 2016. Chlorpyrifos (CPS) is an <a title="Organophosphate" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organophosphate">organophosphate</a> <a title="Pesticide" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pesticide">pesticide</a> used on crops, animals, and buildings, and in other settings, to kill a number of <a title="Pest (organism)" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pest_(organism)">pests</a>, including insects and worms. It acts on the nervous systems of insects by inhibiting the <a title="Acetylcholinesterase inhibitor" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acetylcholinesterase_inhibitor">acetylcholinesterase</a> enzyme
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EPA May Ban Produce Pesticide Chlorpyrifos

EPA May Ban Produce Pesticide Chlorpyrifos. The Environmental Protection Agency...

Study: Mass Gains Of Antarctic Ice Sheet Greater Than Losses. A new NASA study says that an increase in Antarctic snow accumulation that began 10,000 years ago is currently adding enough ice to the continent to outweigh the increased losses from its thinning glaciers.

The research challenges the conclusions of other studies, including the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) 2013 report, which says that Antarctica is overall losing land ice.

According to the new analysis of satellite data, the <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/antarctica-is-melting-faster-than-models-predict-due-to-climate-variability/">Antarctic</a> ice sheet showed a net gain of 112 billion tons of ice a year from 1992 to 2001. That net gain slowed   to 82 billion tons of ice per year between 2003 and 2008. Study: Mass Gains Of Antarctic Ice Sheet Greater Than Losses

“We’re essentially in agreement with other studies that show an increase in ice discharge in the Antarctic Peninsula and the Thwaites and Pine Island region of West Antarctica,” said Jay Zwally, a glaciologist with NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, and lead author of the study, which was published on Oct. 30 in the Journal of Glaciology. “Our main disagreement is for East Antarctica and the interior of West Antarctica – there, we see an ice gain that exceeds the losses in the other areas.”  Zwally added that his team “measured small height changes over large areas, as well as the large changes observed over smaller areas.”

Scientists calculate how much the ice sheet is growing or shrinking from the changes in surface height that are measured by the satellite altimeters. In locations where the amount of new snowfall accumulating on an ice sheet is not equal to the ice flow downward and outward to the ocean, the surface height changes and the ice-sheet mass grows or shrinks.

But it might only take a few decades for Antarctica’s growth to reverse, according to Zwally. “If the losses of the Antarctic Peninsula and parts of West Antarctica continue to increase at the same rate they’ve been increasing for the last two decades, the losses will catch up with the long-term gain in East Antarctica in 20 or 30 years -- I don’t think there will be enough snowfall increase to offset these losses.”

The study analyzed changes in the surface height of the Antarctic ice sheet measured by radar altimeters on two European Space Agency European Remote Sensing (ERS) satellites, spanning from 1992 to 2001, and by the laser altimeter on NASA’s Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite (ICESat) from 2003 to 2008.

Zwally said that while other scientists have assumed that the gains in elevation seen in East Antarctica are due to recent increases in snow accumulation, his team used meteorological data beginning in 1979 to show that the snowfall in East Antarctica actually decreased by 11 billion tons per year during both the ERS and ICESat periods. They also used information on snow accumulation for tens of thousands of years, derived by other scientists from ice cores, to conclude that East Antarctica has been thickening for a very long time.

“At the end of the last Ice Age, the air became warmer and carried more moisture across the continent, doubling the amount of snow dropped on the ice sheet,” Zwally said.

The extra snowfall that began 10,000 years ago has been slowly accumulating on the ice sheet and compacting into solid ice over millennia, thickening the ice in East Antarctica and the interior of West Antarctica by an average of 0.7 inches (1.7 centimeters) per year. This small thickening, sustained over thousands of years and spread over the vast expanse of these sectors of Antarctica, corresponds to a very large gain of ice – enough to outweigh the losses from fast-flowing glaciers in other parts of the continent and reduce global sea level rise.

Zwally’s team calculated that the mass gain from the thickening of East Antarctica remained steady from 1992 to 2008 at 200 billion tons per year, while the ice losses from the coastal regions of West Antarctica and the Antarctic Peninsula increased by 65 billion tons per year.

“The good news is that Antarctica is not currently contributing to sea level rise, but is taking 0.23 millimeters per year away,” Zwally said. “But this is also bad news. If the 0.27 millimeters per year of sea level rise attributed to Antarctica in the IPCC report is not really coming from Antarctica, there must be some other contribution to sea level rise that is not accounted for.”

“The new study highlights the difficulties of measuring the small changes in ice height happening in East Antarctica,” said Ben Smith, a glaciologist with the University of Washington in Seattle who was not involved in Zwally’s study.

"Doing altimetry accurately for very large areas is extraordinarily difficult, and there are measurements of snow accumulation that need to be done independently to understand what’s happening in these places,” Smith said.

To help accurately measure changes in Antarctica, NASA is developing the successor to the ICESat mission, ICESat-2, which is scheduled to launch in 2018. “ICESat-2 will measure changes in the ice sheet within the thickness of a No. 2 pencil,” said Tom Neumann, a glaciologist at Goddard and deputy project scientist for ICESat-2. “It will contribute to solving the problem of Antarctica’s mass balance by providing a long-term record of elevation changes.”

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<a href="http://www.nasa.gov" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">NASA</a>

Study: Mass Gains Of Antarctic Ice Sheet Greater Than Losses

Study: Mass Gains Of Antarctic Ice Sheet Greater Than Losses....

French President Goes To China To Boost Climate Negotiations. French President Francois Hollande hopes to use a state visit to China to boost difficult climate negotiations a month before a U.N. conference in Paris aimed at slowing global warming.
<a href="http://www.earth.com/image/historic-flooding-has-killed-hundreds-across-china/">China</a>, the most populous country and the biggest emitter of climate-warming greenhouse gases in the world, has promised it will try to cap its rising emissions before 2030 as part of its national pledge ahead of the <a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=paris&amp;cvid=9393f8619ea54c7fb2d557aafaad6221&amp;FORM=ANAB01&amp;PC=HCTS">Paris</a> conference. French President Goes To China To Boost Climate Negotiations
Hollande says he intends to launch a bilateral appeal with Chinese President Xi Jinping "to make the climate conference a success." France is notably trying to get China's approval of a mechanism that would require countries to step up their emissions cuts over time.
This would be "a key" to success of the U.N. climate talks, a French diplomatic official said, because the current national pledges won't be enough to achieve the goal of keeping the rise in global temperatures below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) between pre-industrial times and the end of the century.
China has "a leading role" in influencing other developing countries on this issue, the diplomat said. France is proposing to update those emissions targets automatically every five years, but the rules have yet to be defined. The official spoke anonymously because discussions on the content of the French-Chinese bilateral declaration were still ongoing.
On Monday, the French president will visit Chongqing in southwest China, where he'll see examples of the country's efforts toward more environmentally friendly technologies. Later in the day, he'll be heading to Beijing to meet with the Chinese president.
On Tuesday, Hollande will meet with Prime Minister Li Keqiang and they will speak to a French-Chinese economic forum on green growth. Hollande will then go to South Korea for a one-day visit.
The Chinese president is expected to come to France on Nov. 30 for the opening of the U.N. climate conference along with many other world leaders, including President Barack Obama. The conference runs through Dec. 11.
© 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Learn more about our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

French President Goes To China To Boost Climate Negotiations

French President Goes To China To Boost Climate Negotiations. French...

French President Goes To China To Boost <a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=climate&amp;cvid=10ea9c20ee404e32887e86238815cd63&amp;FORM=ANAB01&amp;PC=HCTS">Climate</a> Negotiations. French President Francois Hollande hopes to use a state visit to China to boost difficult climate negotiations a month before a U.N. conference in Paris aimed at slowing global warming.
China, the most populous country and the biggest emitter of climate-warming greenhouse gases in the world, has promised it will try to cap its rising emissions before 2030 as part of its national pledge ahead of the Paris conference.
Hollande says he intends to launch a bilateral appeal with <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/clouds-trace-mountain-ridges-in-the-chinese-province-of-yunnan/">Chinese</a> President Xi Jinping "to make the climate conference a success." France is notably trying to get China's approval of a mechanism that would require countries to step up their emissions cuts over time.
This would be "a key" to success of the U.N. climate talks, a French diplomatic official said, because the current national pledges won't be enough to achieve the goal of keeping the rise in global temperatures below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) between pre-industrial times and the end of the century.
China has "a leading role" in influencing other developing countries on this issue, the diplomat said. France is proposing to update those emissions targets automatically every five years, but the rules have yet to be defined. The official spoke anonymously because discussions on the content of the French-Chinese bilateral declaration were still ongoing.
On Monday, the French president will visit Chongqing in southwest China, where he'll see examples of the country's efforts toward more environmentally friendly technologies. Later in the day, he'll be heading to Beijing to meet with the Chinese president.
On Tuesday, Hollande will meet with Prime Minister Li Keqiang and they will speak to a French-Chinese economic forum on green growth. Hollande will then go to South Korea for a one-day visit.
The Chinese president is expected to come to France on Nov. 30 for the opening of the U.N. climate conference along with many other world leaders, including President Barack Obama. The conference runs through Dec. 11.
© 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Learn more about our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

French President Goes To China To Boost Climate Negotiations. <a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=paris&amp;cvid=8b1a34a27d7041e19ad6156e594e1953&amp;FORM=ANAB01&amp;PC=HCTS">French</a> President Francois Hollande hopes to use a state visit to China to boost difficult climate negotiations a month before a U.N. conference in Paris aimed at slowing global warming.
China, the most populous country and the biggest emitter of climate-warming greenhouse gases in the world, has promised it will try to cap its rising emissions before 2030 as part of its national pledge ahead of the Paris conference.
Hollande says he intends to launch a bilateral appeal with Chinese President Xi Jinping "to make the climate conference a success." France is notably trying to get <a href="http://www.earth.com/image/historic-flooding-has-killed-hundreds-across-china/">China'</a>s approval of a mechanism that would require countries to step up their emissions cuts over time.
This would be "a key" to success of the U.N. climate talks, a French diplomatic official said, because the current national pledges won't be enough to achieve the goal of keeping the rise in global temperatures below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) between pre-industrial times and the end of the century. French President Goes To China To Boost Climate Negotiations
China has "a leading role" in influencing other developing countries on this issue, the diplomat said. France is proposing to update those emissions targets automatically every five years, but the rules have yet to be defined. The official spoke anonymously because discussions on the content of the French-Chinese bilateral declaration were still ongoing.
On Monday, the French president will visit Chongqing in southwest China, where he'll see examples of the country's efforts toward more environmentally friendly technologies. Later in the day, he'll be heading to Beijing to meet with the Chinese president.
On Tuesday, Hollande will meet with Prime Minister Li Keqiang and they will speak to a French-Chinese economic forum on green growth. Hollande will then go to South Korea for a one-day visit.
The Chinese president is expected to come to France on Nov. 30 for the opening of the U.N. climate conference along with many other world leaders, including President Barack Obama. The conference runs through Dec. 11.
© 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Learn more about our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

French President Goes To China To Boost Climate

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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

[sendtonews key="JRaP49ISmm-2357509-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

[sendtonews key="e4ZG0Jawp3-2374785-12187" type="single"] Astronomers at Johns Hopkins University have created...

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research&nbsp;



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



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

How the immune system responds to injury

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

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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

2022 illustrated the consequences of a warming climate

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Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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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...