For decades, scientists have been grappling with what is considered to be the most fundamental question about the cosmos: How fast is our universe expanding? 



The rate of expansion influences everything from how galaxies form to how they might one day drift apart.



Determining the expansion rate of the universe, a number called the "Hubble constant," shapes our entire understanding of the cosmos, its age, and its ultimate fate.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hubble-tension-expansion-conundrum">"Hubble tension" expansion conundrum</h2>



Unfortunately, though many brilliant minds have dedicated their lives to finding the answer to this riddle, all who have tried thus far have failed, running repeatedly into a brick wall that has come to be known as the "Hubble tension."



Adam Riess, a physicist at <a href="https://www.jhu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Johns Hopkins University</a> in Baltimore, has been at the forefront of this debate. "With measurement errors negated, what remains is the real and exciting possibility that we have misunderstood the universe," Riess admitted.



Riess, who won a Nobel Prize for discovering that the universe's expansion is accelerating due to dark energy, has been working tirelessly to resolve what's known as the Hubble Tension.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-the-hubble-constant-matters">Why the Hubble constant matters</h2>



But before diving deeper, let's consider why the expansion rate -- called the Hubble constant -- is so crucial. 



Named after Edwin Hubble, who first observed that galaxies are moving away from us, this constant helps us map out the history and future of everything we see in the night sky. 



Determining it with precision has been a major goal of astronomers for decades.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/hubble-constant_3-steps_illustration_nasa_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/hubble-constant_3-steps_illustration_nasa_1s.webp" alt="This illustration shows the three basic steps astronomers use to calculate how fast the universe expands over time, a value called the Hubble constant. All the steps involve building a strong &quot;cosmic distance ladder,&quot; by starting with measuring accurate distances to nearby galaxies and then moving to galaxies farther and farther away. Credit: NASA" class="wp-image-1951709"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">This illustration shows the three basic steps astronomers use to calculate how fast the universe expands over time, a value called the Hubble constant. All the steps involve building a strong "cosmic distance ladder," by starting with measuring accurate distances to nearby galaxies and then moving to galaxies farther and farther away. Credit: NASA</figcaption></figure>



When the <a href="https://hubblesite.org/home" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hubble Space Telescope</a> was launched in 1990, one of its main objectives was to pin down the universe's expansion rate. 



Before Hubble, estimates of the universe's age ranged wildly from 10 to 20 billion years -- a huge uncertainty. 



Thanks to Hubble's observations of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/expansion-rate-of-the-universe-confirmed-by-jwst/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cepheid variable stars</a> -- stars that pulsate at regular intervals and serve as cosmic mileposts -- we now have a more precise age of about 13.8 billion years.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-webb-telescope-to-the-rescue">Webb telescope to the rescue?</h2>



Some scientists wondered if the discrepancies in measurements were due to errors in Hubble's data. Maybe, they thought, the way Hubble measured distances had some hidden flaws. 



Then came the James Webb Space Telescope (<a href="https://science.nasa.gov/mission/webb/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Webb</a>), launched to great fanfare as the successor to Hubble. Webb's infrared observations of Cepheids matched Hubble's optical data perfectly. 



"Combining Webb and Hubble gives us the best of both worlds. We find that the Hubble measurements remain reliable as we climb farther along the cosmic distance ladder," Riess explained.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hubble-vs-webb-vs-expansion">Hubble vs. Webb vs. expansion</h2>



Despite the new data, the tension between measurements remains. The Hubble and Webb telescopes confirm one universe expansion rate, based on observations of the local universe.



Meanwhile, observations from the early universe, like those from the Planck satellite's mapping of the cosmic microwave background radiation, suggest another. 



This leaves cosmologists scratching their heads. Is there something about the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/universe-expansion-rate-dark-energy-measured-11-billion-years-ago/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fabric of space</a> we don't yet understand? Does resolving this discrepancy require new physics, or is there another explanation?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-brenda-frye-tackles-hubble-and-expansion">Brenda Frye tackles Hubble and expansion</h2>



In October 2024, <a href="https://blogs.nasa.gov/webb/2024/10/01/webb-researchers-discover-lensed-supernova-confirm-hubble-tension/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">as reported by NASA</a>, Brenda Frye from the <a href="https://www.arizona.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Arizona</a> and an international team took a different approach. 



They used <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/webb-telescope-finds-a-second-lensed-supernova-in-a-distant-galaxy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">gravitationally lensed supernovae</a> to measure the Hubble constant -- a method independent of previous techniques. 



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/hubble-constant_galaxy-cluster-G165_supernova-H0pe_gravitational-lensing_jwst_UArizona_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/hubble-constant_galaxy-cluster-G165_supernova-H0pe_gravitational-lensing_jwst_UArizona_1s.webp" alt="NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope’s NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) image of the galaxy cluster PLCK G165.7+67.0, also known as G165, on the left shows the magnifying effect a foreground cluster can have on the distant universe beyond. The foreground cluster is 3.6 billion light-years away from Earth. The zoomed region on the right shows supernova H0pe triply imaged (labeled with white dashed circles) due to gravitational lensing. Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, B. Frye (University of Arizona)" class="wp-image-1951711"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope’s NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) image of the galaxy cluster PLCK G165.7+67.0, also known as G165, on the left shows the magnifying effect a foreground cluster can have on the distant universe beyond. The foreground cluster is 3.6 billion light-years away from Earth. The zoomed region on the right shows supernova H0pe triply imaged (labeled with white dashed circles) due to gravitational lensing. Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, B. Frye (University of Arizona)</figcaption></figure>



While observing a densely populated cluster of galaxies, they noticed something unusual. "What are those three dots that weren’t there before? Could that be a supernova?" the team wondered. 



It turned out to be a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/webb-travels-back-in-time-to-better-understand-supernovae-science/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Type Ia supernova</a>, an explosion of a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/white-dwarf-stars-may-be-billions-of-years-older-than-estimated/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">white dwarf star</a>, magnified and split into multiple images by the gravitational lensing effect of the intervening galaxy cluster.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-is-gravitational-lensing">What is gravitational lensing?</h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rare-carousel-lens-galaxy-alignment-reveals-dark-matter-secrets/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Gravitational lensing</a> is important to this experiment. The lens, consisting of a cluster of galaxies situated between the supernova and us, bends the supernova's light into multiple images. 



This effect not only magnifies the supernova but also allows scientists to measure the time delays between the images, providing another way to calculate the Hubble constant.



Their analyses confirmed that these dots corresponded to an exploding star with rare qualities. 



The team's work provided a Hubble constant value of 75.4 kilometers per second per megaparsec, plus 8.1 or minus 5.5. For context, one megaparsec is about 3.26 million light-years. 



"Our team’s results are impactful: The Hubble constant value matches other measurements in the local universe, and is somewhat in tension with values obtained when the universe was young," Frye concluded.



Another strikeout... add Brenda Frye to the long list of brilliant minds still probing the universe for an answer to Hubble tension.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-this-is-getting-sad-now-what">This is getting sad, now what?</h2>



So, where does this leave us? 



The Hubble Tension isn't going away. It might be telling us that there's new physics waiting to be discovered. 



Perhaps our understanding of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dark-energy-could-explain-the-rapid-expansion-of-the-early-universe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dark energy</a>, dark matter, or other fundamental forces needs to be revised. 



"We need to find out if we are missing something on how to connect the beginning of the universe and the present day," Riess pointed out. 



It's possible that new theories or modifications to existing ones could bridge the gap.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shaking-things-up-with-new-theories">Shaking things up with new theories</h2>



Could the solution lie in something entirely unexpected? Perhaps there's a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dark-matter-may-consist-of-particles-that-travel-faster-than-light/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">new particle or force</a> that affects the expansion rate. Or maybe the nature of dark energy changes over time. 



Some theories even propose the existence of extra dimensions or modifications to gravity at large scales. It's also worth considering that the universe might not be uniform in all directions. 



If there are variations in the density of matter and energy across vast distances, this could affect expansion rates in ways we haven't fully accounted for. 



Maybe everyone is completely off base and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/study-dark-matter-does-not-exist-and-the-universe-is-27-billion-years-old/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dark matter doesn't even exist</a>? Or maybe we're looking in the wrong place -- what if the answers can be found by looking for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-are-now-searching-for-dark-matter-inside-old-earth-rocks-minerals-crystals/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dark matter in rocks on Earth</a>?



One thing's for sure: the cosmos isn't giving up its secrets easily. But that's part of the thrill of science. Every answer leads to new questions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hubble-constant-hubble-tension-mysterious-universe">Hubble constant, Hubble tension, mysterious universe</h2>



In the end, the universe is reminding us that there's still so much we don't know. The quest to figure out how fast our universe is expanding has led to some fascinating discoveries and even more intriguing questions. 



Scientists like Adam Riess and Brenda Frye have used powerful tools like the Hubble and James Webb Space Telescopes to measure the Hubble constant with increasing precision. 



Their efforts confirm that the local universe is expanding at a certain rate, but this doesn't quite line up with measurements from the early universe.



This mismatch, known as the Hubble Tension, suggests there might be something we’re missing in our understanding of the cosmos. Maybe there are new physics to uncover, or perhaps our current models need some tweaking. 



What's clear is that the universe isn't giving up its secrets easily, and that keeps things exciting for astronomers and physicists alike.



As we look ahead, upcoming missions like NASA's <a href="https://roman.gsfc.nasa.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope</a> and ESA's <a href="https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Euclid" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Euclid mission</a> offer hope for new insights. Until then, we can marvel at the fact that we're part of an ever-expanding universe that's still full of surprises.



The full study was published in the <a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2041-8213/ad1ddd" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Astrophysical Journal Letters</a>.



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Webb telescope confirms: What we think we know about the universe is very wrong

For decades, scientists have been grappling with what is considered to be the most fundamental question about the cosmos: How fast is our universe expanding? The rate of expansion influences everything from how galaxies form to how they might one day drift apart. Determining the expansion rate of the universe, a number called the "Hubble constant," shapes our entire understanding of the cosmos, its age, and its ultimate fate. "Hubble tension" expansion conundrum Unfortunately, though many brilliant minds have dedicated their lives to finding the answer to...

Many songbirds can learn an amazing repertoire of warbles, whistles, calls, and songs during their lives. Among them, European starlings rank among the most advanced avian vocal learners.&nbsp;



Now, a team of researchers led by <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.adh3428">Rockefeller University</a> has found that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/starlings-are-a-perfect-example-of-rapid-evolution/">starlings</a> and other complex vocal learners are also superior problem solvers, demonstrating advanced cognitive skills.



<h2 id="h-focus-of-the-study">Focus of the study&nbsp;</h2>



“There is a long-standing hypothesis that only the most intelligent animals are capable of complex vocal learning,” said lead author Jean-Nicolas Audet, a behavioral ecologist at Rockefeller.&nbsp;



“If that is true, then complex vocal learners should also be better at cognitive tasks, but no one had ever demonstrated that before.”



<h2 id="h-vocal-learning">Vocal learning</h2>



Only a few animal groups are capable of complex vocal learning, defined as the ability to learn and remember a large repertoire of sounds.&nbsp;



While humans, elephants, seals, whales, and bats represent most mammalian vocal learners, songbirds, parrots, and hummingbirds are the most advanced avian vocal learners.&nbsp;



<h2 id="h-how-the-research-was-conducted">How the research was conducted&nbsp;</h2>



For the present study, the experts focused on songbirds, ranking their vocal learning complexity across three metrics: how many songs and calls are in their repertoire, whether they can continue to learn new songs and calls during their lives, and whether they can mimic other species.



To determine whether vocal learning abilities are associated to different cognitive skills, the researchers spent three years catching hundreds of wild songbirds from 21 species in mist nets at the Rockefeller University Field Research Center, a vast 1,200 protected acres of land comprising many different ecosystems in New York’s Hudson Valley.



“It’s a protected area, which means the animals have limited exposure to humans,” said co-author Mélanie Couture, a doctoral student in Computational and Systems Neuroscience at Rockefeller. “This is ideal for studying the behaviors of wild birds - what they can do, and how they react to cognitive tasks.”



<h2 id="h-what-the-researchers-learned">What the researchers learned&nbsp;</h2>



The examination revealed that three species – starlings, blue jays, and gray catbirds (relatives of hummingbirds) – were the most adept in learning and remembering a large number of sounds.&nbsp;



These species were also the only ones capable of mimicking other species, which, according to Audet, is the “epitome of vocal learning.”



<h2 id="h-cognitive-tests">Cognitive tests&nbsp;</h2>



The scientists then ran several cognitive tests on 214 birds from 23 species, including two lab-raised bird species which were added to the wild birds. To test problem-solving abilities, they challenged the birds to remove a lid, pierce foil, and pull a stick to retrieve food.&nbsp;



Moreover, they also assessed the birds’ self-control capacities by placing a transparent barrier between them and a snack, and checking how long it took the birds to stop trying to pass through the barrier and go around it.&nbsp;



Finally, other tests were used to assess whether the birds can learn to associate a specific color with a food reward, and how quickly they adapted when the color changed.



<h2 id="h-problem-solving-abilities">Problem-solving abilities&nbsp;</h2>



The experiments revealed a strong correlation between vocal learning and problem-solving abilities. Starlings, blue jays, and catbirds were both the most advanced vocal learners and the most adept at solving puzzles.&nbsp;



The researchers also discovered that the better a bird was at finding its way around an obstacle, the more complex were its vocal learning skills.&nbsp;



In addition, the investigations showed that advanced vocal learners and problem solvers had larger brains relative to the sizes of their bodies, which may be a biological basis for the study’s findings. However, no other associations were found between the rest of the cognitive tests and vocal learning ability.



“Our next step is to look at the brains of the most complex species and try to understand why they are better at problem solving and vocal learning,” Audet said. “We have a pretty good idea of where vocal learning happens in the brain, but it’s not yet clear where problem solving occurs.”



<h2 id="h-study-implications">Study implications&nbsp;</h2>



These findings suggest that vocal learning, problem solving, and brain size may have co-evolved, possibly as a way of increasing biological fitness.&nbsp;



“Our findings help support a previously unproven notion: that the evolution of a complex behavior like spoken language, which depends on vocal learning, is associated with co-evolution of other complex behaviors,” concluded senior author Erich Jarvis, a biologist at Rockefeller.



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.adh3428">Science</a>.



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Among songbirds, complex vocal learners are superior problem solvers

Many songbirds can learn an amazing repertoire of warbles, whistles,...

Distracted,By,Devices.,Cropped,Shot,Of,A,Family,Sitting,On

Three out of five American parents confess they spend more time on their electronic devices than their kids do, according to a recent survey analysis conducted by <a href="https://onepoll.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">OnePoll</a> on behalf of <a href="https://www.campspot.com/">Campspot</a>.



American households are entangled in a web of electronic devices, and the study shows that - ironically - parents rack up more screen time than their children.&nbsp;



<h2 id="h-electronic-consumption-habits">Electronic consumption habits&nbsp;</h2>



The research provides new insights into the electronic consumption habits of families and the need to reconnect.



Surprisingly, three out of five American parents confess to spending more time on their devices than their children.&nbsp;



On an average day, parents spend nearly five hours on devices. This is in sharp contrast to the slightly less than four hours they spend on significant activities with their kids.&nbsp;



An overwhelming 80 percent of parents own at least three electronic devices, while 81 percent of kids own at least two.



<h2 id="h-parents-regret-mobile-device-time">Parents regret mobile device time</h2>



The silver lining is that many parents are yearning for meaningful connections. A significant 60 percent of U.S. parents are actively seeking ways to escape the clutches of their mobile devices and bond with their kids. 



Overall, 79 percent of parents agree that experiences without electronic interference are more unforgettable.



<h2 id="h-reducing-screen-time">Reducing screen time</h2>



So, what tactics are parents using to reduce screen time? Encouraging outdoor play (76%), instituting time limits (74%), and designating device-free zones (63%) are some of the prominent strategies.&nbsp;



Moms and dads are encouraging more outdoor play (76%), setting time limits (74%) and creating device-free zones (63%).&nbsp;



<h2 id="h-outdoor-activities">Outdoor activities</h2>



There is also a surge in outdoor family adventures, with camping and hiking topping the list as the most popular choice, followed closely by picnics and trips to amusement parks.



Erin Stender, the chief marketing officer at Campspot, emphasizes the need for families to unplug and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nurturing-benefits-of-nature-are-crucial-for-human-well-being/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reconnect with nature</a> and what truly matters most.



“We know the power of stepping away from screens and immersing ourselves in nature, since it’s often in these moments that we create the strongest family bonds," said Stender.



"Camping in particular offers a unique opportunity for families to experience new adventures together, fostering not only a love for the outdoors but also nurturing children’s self-development.”



<h2 id="h-personal-development">Personal development&nbsp;</h2>



A vast majority of parents agree that outdoor adventures promote communication (60%) and forge enduring memories (57%).



Parents also acknowledge the positive impacts that specific <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthpedia-articles/camping-and-rv-travel-the-great-american-adventure/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">camping activities</a> have on their children’s personal development. These include <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthpedia-articles/what-is-plant-blindness/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">nature walks</a> (44%), campfire cooking (42%), fishing (38%) and setting up tents (32%).



These activities help children with their problem-solving skills, sense of independence, and emotional resilience.



<h2 id="h-parents-need-quality-time-with-no-devices">Parents need quality time with no devices</h2>



Parents, too, recognized personal benefits, as 72 percent reported feeling more tuned into family moments when outdoors.



“By spending quality time without electronic devices, we give ourselves the gift of undivided attention, fostering deeper connections and meaningful conversations that become the foundation of lasting memories,” said Stender.



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Parents spend more on devices than their kids do

Three out of five American parents confess they spend more...

Air pollution is a serious health hazard that has been linked to various respiratory conditions, including asthma. As the world grapples with the threats posed by increasing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/air-pollution-will-increase-dramatically-in-a-hotter-climate/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pollution levels</a>, the need for accurate and continuous monitoring has become more urgent than ever. An innovative new system called ‘Lab-on-a-drone’ aims to help, and it may be a game changer.



Traditionally, air quality monitoring instruments are stationed on the ground, capturing readings just a few feet above the surface. However, this method has its limitations, given that pollutants can drift and disperse across different altitudes. 



To bridge this gap, researchers led by João Flávio da Silveira Petruci have introduced a novel "lab-on-a-drone" system capable of detecting and analyzing pollutants, notably the noxious <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/seagrass-meadows-can-recover-after-major-die-offs/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hydrogen sulfide gas</a> (H2S), directly in mid-air.



<h2 id="h-tracking-h2s-with-lab-on-a-drone">Tracking H2S with lab-on-a-drone</h2>



H2S is infamous for its unpleasant, rotten-egg stench. While its presence in natural sources like well water and volcanic emissions is benign, the gas becomes a concern when emitted in large quantities from industrial sources such as petroleum refineries and wastewater treatment facilities. Exposure to elevated levels of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wine-smells-bad/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">H2S</a> can cause irritations, and in higher concentrations, the gas is outright toxic.



Ground-based instruments, despite their utility, are restricted in their range and scope. While satellites can capture data at higher altitudes, they come with a hefty price tag. 



Drones have made inroads into this domain by collecting samples mid-air. Yet, the captured samples would still need to be analyzed on the ground using conventional tools. This is where Petruci's innovation stands out.



<h2>How lab-on-a-drone works</h2>



Petruci's team has ingeniously combined drone technology with a unique chemical reaction to detect H2S in the air. They crafted a bespoke device using a 3D printer and attached it to a standard quadcopter drone. 



The device identifies H2S by leveraging the chemical interaction between the gas and a fluorescein mercuric acetate molecule, which emits a green glow. This glow diminishes in the presence of H2S, and the onboard blue LED light captures this change, enabling real-time quantification.



To validate their prototype, the researchers conducted tests at a wastewater treatment facility. The drone sampled air at three different altitudes, and the results were transmitted to a smartphone via Bluetooth. Remarkably, the evening readings showed a noticeable rise in H2S concentration with altitude, although it remained within safe levels.



<h2>A less stinky future</h2>



Beyond this immediate success, there's potential for scaling and diversifying the applications of this "lab-on-a-drone". The researchers are optimistic that with further development, their system can be tailored to detect a broader spectrum of pollutants.



As urbanization and industrialization progress, innovations like these are not just commendable; they are essential. The fusion of drones and real-time chemical analysis could be the dawn of a new era in air quality monitoring, making our fight against air pollution smarter, quicker, and more effective.



<h2>More about hydrogen sulfide (H2S)</h2>



Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) might be best known for its pungent, rotten-egg smell, but the dangers of this gas extend far beyond its foul odor. Present in various industrial settings, natural sources, and even within our homes, hydrogen sulfide's potential risks often fly under the radar. 



Thankfully, systems like lab-on-a-drone are poised to force real change and mitigate H2S pollution around the world. Let's explore the myriad hazards posed by H2S.



<h3>Respiratory distress and complications</h3>



When inhaled, even at low concentrations, hydrogen sulfide can irritate the eyes and respiratory tract. Prolonged exposure can lead to fluid buildup in the lungs, known as pulmonary edema, which can be fatal.



<h3>Neurological effects</h3>



H2S doesn't stop at the lungs. It affects the nervous system as well. Long-term exposure can result in headache, fatigue, irritability, and memory problems. At higher concentrations, it can cause immediate unconsciousness, seizures, and even coma.



<h3>Eye irritation and vision problems</h3>



Direct contact with H2S can cause eye irritation. Workers often report painful symptoms, and prolonged exposure can even result in temporary blindness, known as "gas eye."



<h3>Digestive system disruptions</h3>



If ingested, H2S can lead to digestive discomfort, including nausea and vomiting. While ingestion is less common, it remains a risk in environments where water sources might be contaminated.



<h3>Potential for explosion</h3>



In addition to its health risks, hydrogen sulfide is flammable. In environments with high concentrations of H2S, there's an increased risk of explosions, especially if the area isn't well-ventilated and the gas accumulates.



<h3>Environmental help from lab-on-a-drone systems</h3>



Hydrogen sulfide, when released into the atmosphere, can contribute to air pollution. It reacts in the air to form sulfur dioxide (SO2), a primary contributor to acid rain, which damages forests, acidifies water bodies, and harms aquatic life.



<h3>Accelerated corrosion</h3>



H2S can speed up the corrosion of metals, especially in industrial settings. This not only leads to the deterioration of infrastructure and machinery but can also cause catastrophic failures if not addressed.



<h3>Threat to marine life</h3>



In aquatic environments, hydrogen sulfide poses a significant threat. When present in large amounts, it can deplete oxygen levels, harming fish and other marine creatures.



<h3>Complication with other gases</h3>



When combined with other industrial gases, the toxicity of H2S can increase. For example, in the presence of carbon monoxide, the harmful effects of H2S can intensify, putting workers at even greater risk.



Given these potential dangers, industries and workers must take precautions when working in environments where H2S is present. Using appropriate protective gear, ensuring adequate ventilation, regularly monitoring air quality, and conducting routine safety drills are essential measures to mitigate the risks of hydrogen sulfide exposure.



The hazards of hydrogen sulfide underscore the importance of understanding and respecting the chemicals and compounds present in our environment. By staying informed and vigilant, we can protect ourselves, our communities, and our environment from the silent threats posed by such substances.



This research was published in <a href="https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2022EF003466" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ACS’ Analytical Chemistry</a>.



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Lab-on-a-drone system tracks smelly air pollution

Air pollution is a serious health hazard that has been...

New research from the <a href="https://www.exeter.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Exeter</a> reveals that lapwings, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sea-level-rise-threatens-turtle-breeding-grounds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ground-nesting</a> birds, have evolved unique methods to remain hidden from their predators.



<h2 id="h-clever-strategies">Clever strategies</h2>



Amidst the vast expanse of open fields, one might wonder how ground-nesting birds protect their nests from predators. The answer, according to recent research, lies in the birds' innovative use of terrain and surroundings.&nbsp;



Lapwings, in particular, have demonstrated an impressive knack for using these natural features to hide in plain sight.



<h2 id="h-decline-of-ground-nesting-birds">Decline of ground-nesting birds</h2>



Ground-nesting species across the world are in a state of decline, and various factors have driven this decline. Land management changes, such as intensive farming and urban development, have considerably impacted their habitats.&nbsp;



A surge in the populations of predators like foxes and crows exacerbates the problem. These predators are a significant threat to the eggs and chicks, leading to reduced bird populations and the failure of conservation projects aimed at preserving these species.



<h2 id="h-lapwing-nesting-habits">Lapwing nesting habits</h2>



The Exeter team set out to investigate the nesting habits of lapwings to better understand their survival tactics. The study primarily focused on the visibility or "occlusion" of lapwing nests.&nbsp;



Using advanced models that emulate the vision and viewing angles of predators, the experts assessed the effectiveness of lapwing camouflage techniques.



<h2 id="h-what-the-researchers-discovered">What the researchers discovered&nbsp;</h2>



The findings are fascinating. Even in open fields, lapwings have mastered the art of hiding their eggs by exploiting small variations in the terrain.&nbsp;



Such variations make the eggs practically invisible to ground-based predators like foxes if they are further than approximately 1.5 meters away.



“Like children playing hide and seek, lapwings use cover to complement their camouflage,” said study lead author George Hancock, from the Centre for Ecology and Conservation on Exeter’s Penryn Campus in Cornwall.



“If a nest is properly concealed in this way, it doesn’t matter how good a predator’s vision is - they simply won’t be able to see it until they are nearly on top of it.



“Nests and eggs are also camouflaged – blending in with their surroundings by matching their backgrounds colour and pattern – but it appears this is a secondary defense.”



<h2 id="h-how-the-research-was-conducted">How the research was conducted&nbsp;</h2>



Hancock collaborated with the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) and used smart phone 3D scanners to measure the shape and height of lapwing nests and their surroundings.



Specialized cameras were used to measure camouflage from the perspective of the lapwing’s predators (foxes, crows and raptors), which can see ultraviolet light.



“Lapwings tended to choose uneven ground for their nests,” said Hancock. “They selected slightly elevated positions, reducing risk of flooding and allowing them to see predators – without being so high as to stand out to predators.”



<h2 id="h-conservation-efforts">Conservation efforts</h2>



Lapwing populations have more than halved since the 1970s. This research provides crucial insights for their conservation.&nbsp;



Understanding the natural defense mechanisms of these birds can aid in designing better and more effective conservation strategies.



For instance, ensuring that natural terrains with variations are preserved or even created could enhance the safety of these nests.&nbsp;



Furthermore, this knowledge can be applied to other ground-nesting species, potentially reversing the decline seen in their numbers.



<h2 id="h-study-implications">Study implications&nbsp;</h2>



“Habitat variation appears to be crucial for allowing lapwings choice in where to nest,” Hancock explained. “The growth of intensive agriculture has left ground-nesting birds with poorer choices of where to nest.



“Grazed fields provide good habitat, as long as they’re not overstocked with too many grazing animals. New technology is allowing us to better measure how animals see and view the world.



“Tilled fields can provide really good camouflage for eggs which match the bare earth and can be concealed by the rough geometry, but might be problematic for chicks which are more exposed.”



By providing habitats that compliment lapwing camouflage, Hancock said conservation managers could use “nature’s toolkit” – in addition to direct predator control – to help lapwings breed successfully.



The study was funded by the Natural Environment Research Council and GWCT. The findings are published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ECE3.10471" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ecology and Evolution</a>.



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Lapwings are masters of camouflage, hiding in plain sight

New research from the University of Exeter reveals that lapwings,...

A new study led by <a href="https://www.psu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Penn State</a> reveals that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hypoxia-is-a-serious-problem-in-rivers-worldwide/">rivers</a> are experiencing warming and oxygen loss at a rate faster than oceans.&nbsp;



The researchers analyzed nearly 800 rivers and found that 87 percent exhibited warming while 70 percent showed a decline in oxygen.



<h2 id="h-shocking-reality">Shocking reality</h2>



The implications of these findings are alarming. The study predicts that in the next seven decades, especially in the southern parts of the US, river systems might encounter such depleted oxygen levels that certain fish species could be at risk of acute death.&nbsp;



“This is a wake-up call,” said study co-author Professor Li Li. “We know that a warming climate has led to warming and oxygen loss in oceans, but did not expect this to happen in flowing, shallow rivers."&nbsp;



"This is the first study to take a comprehensive look at temperature change and deoxygenation rates in rivers - and what we found has significant implications for water quality and the health of aquatic ecosystems worldwide.”



<h2 id="h-studying-river-warming-trends">Studying river warming trends</h2>



To investigate, the researchers utilized artificial intelligence and advanced deep learning methods. The goal was to reconstruct historical water quality data from an extensive array of rivers, primarily spread across the US and Central Europe.&nbsp;



The <a href="https://www.noaa.gov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration</a> has noted that most Americans live within a mile of a river or stream, indicating the potential widespread impact of this issue.



“Riverine water temperature and dissolved oxygen levels are essential measures of water quality and ecosystem health,” said study lead author Wei Zhi.&nbsp;



“Yet they are poorly understood because they are hard to quantify due to the lack of consistent data across different rivers and the myriad of variables involved that can change oxygen levels in each watershed.”



<h2 id="h-how-the-research-was-conducted">How the research was conducted&nbsp;</h2>



Based on deep learning techniques, the experts reconstructed data that allowed a systematic comparison across different rivers. The findings are significant because aquatic life fundamentally depends on the temperature and oxygen levels of the waters they inhabit.



The analysis accounted for variables ranging from annual precipitation rates to soil types and sunlight. The data spanned 580 rivers in the US and 216 in Central Europe.&nbsp;



<h2 id="h-what-the-researchers-discovered">What the researchers discovered&nbsp;</h2>



The researchers found that urban rivers underwent the most rapid warming. While agricultural rivers warmed more slowly, they were faster in losing oxygen.&nbsp;



One model projection indicated that future deoxygenation rates across the rivers could be between 1.6 to 2.5 times higher than what was observed historically.



<h2 id="h-repercussions-of-deoxygenation">Repercussions of deoxygenation</h2>



“The loss of oxygen in rivers is unexpected because we usually assume rivers do not lose oxygen as much as in big water bodies like lakes and oceans, but we found that rivers are rapidly losing oxygen,” said Li.&nbsp;



“That was really alarming, because if the oxygen levels get low enough, it becomes dangerous for aquatic life.”



<h2 id="h-implications-for-warming-rivers">Implications for warming rivers</h2>



The model predictions suggest that within the next 70 years, certain species of fish could die out completely due to prolonged periods of low oxygen levels, which Li said would threaten aquatic diversity broadly.&nbsp;



“Rivers are essential for the survival of many species, including our own, but they have historically been overlooked as a mechanism for understanding our changing climate. This is our first real look at how rivers throughout the world are faring - and it’s disturbing.”



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41558-023-01793-3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Climate Change</a>.



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Rivers are warming up and losing oxygen faster than oceans

A new study led by Penn State reveals that rivers...

Dna,Model,And,Earth,With,Hexagons,And,World,Map.,Blue

The winners of the 2022-2023 edition of <a href="https://www.theoceanrace.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Ocean Race</a>, one of the world’s toughest sailing competitions, facilitated a ‘’groundbreaking environmental <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/environmental-dna-can-help-monitor-pollinators/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">DNA</a> (eDNA) data collection.’’ 



The 11th Hour Racing team collected 27 water samples during the 4th leg of the race, which was 5,500 nautical miles, ranging from Itajai, Brazil to Newport, Rhode Island, USA.



The team took the eDNA samples with <a href="https://subctech.com/ocean-monitoring/systems/surface/oceanpack-race/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">OceanPack</a>, an onboard equipment which worked non-stop and automatically during the race. OceanPack collected the seawater through eDNA filters.



“Each sample collected contained millions of pieces of eDNA, from single-cell organisms, all the way up to lantern fish and the elusive Moray eel, providing a fascinating snapshot of life below the waves and how it changes throughout the Atlantic Ocean,’’ said Stefan Raimund, Ocean Advisor at The Ocean Race.



What the eDNA collection discovered



New Zealand-based independent science organization, <a href="https://www.cawthron.org.nz/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cawthron Institute</a>, did the analysis and found a link between latitude and bacteria that degrade plastic. The highest levels of ocean bacteria, including Pseudomonas and Acidobacter, were discovered at the lower latitudes near the Brazilian coastline.



The research body also detected high concentrations of parasitic bacteria that can be dangerous to humans in areas closer to land. Rising sea surface temperatures are closely linked to those bacteria.



“We’re very excited about the data collected during The Ocean Race, particularly those linked with pathogens and plastic degraders, " Xavier Pochon, team leader of molecular surveillance at the Cawthron Institute said. ‘’These are interesting findings because very little is known about their distribution and ecology across large latitudinal gradients.’’



<h2 id="h-edna-methodology-shows-great-promise">eDNA methodology shows great promise</h2>



Data produced from the samples isn’t insufficient to draw generalizations, but it could prove to be a valuable aid in further studies. More research into the geographic distribution of these bacteria may give important clues to help protect marine life.



eDNA technology has been touted as a noninvasive, accurate, and fast method of collecting water samples, unlike the traditional surveys. Scientists can track endangered species, evaluate ocean biodiversity, and understand climatic effects on marine populations.



Raimund said in a statement, ‘’eDNA sampling is at the forefront of biodiversity testing and is a powerful tool for understanding ocean health and how the major threats of climate change and pollution affect it. The more we know about the ocean, the more effectively we can protect it.’’



Pochon echoes a similar view, ‘’Our eDNA collection system on racing boats offers significant benefits over traditional research methods as it allows scientists to audit biodiversity from across the tree of life, more rapidly, cheaply and with minimum hands-on time for the sailors.’’



<h2>More about eDNA</h2>



Environmental DNA, commonly known as eDNA, is revolutionizing the way we study biodiversity and monitor ecosystems. At its core, eDNA is genetic material that organisms release into the environment. 



Every time a fish swims in water, a bird takes a bath in a pond, or an insect crawls on the ground, they leave behind traces of their DNA. Scientists can now harness this invisible data to reveal a story about the organisms that inhabit a specific environment.



<h3>How do we collect it?</h3>



Collecting eDNA is surprisingly simple. Researchers draw samples from environmental sources like water, soil, or even air. In aquatic environments, for example, a water sample can be taken from a lake, river, or ocean. 



Once collected, the sample is filtered to concentrate the DNA present. This DNA is then extracted, sequenced, and analyzed to identify the species present.



<h3>Benefits of using eDNA</h3>



<h4>Non-invasive monitoring</h4>



Traditional biodiversity studies often involve physically capturing or observing organisms, which can be disruptive. eDNA sampling is non-invasive, allowing for minimal disturbance to the environment and organisms.



<h4>Cost-effective and time-saving</h4>



eDNA sampling can provide a comprehensive snapshot of biodiversity in an area with just one sample. This reduces the time and resources spent on lengthy surveys and investigations.



<h4>Detecting hard-to-find species</h4>



Some species are elusive, nocturnal, or exist in low numbers, making them difficult to observe. eDNA can detect the presence of these hard-to-find species, making it a powerful tool for conservationists.



<h3>Challenges and considerations</h3>



While eDNA offers numerous advantages, there are challenges to consider:



<h4>Persistence of DNA</h4>



DNA in the environment can degrade over time. Factors like temperature, microbial activity, and water flow can influence how long eDNA persists. This means there's a window of detection, and recent presence might be easier to detect than older presence.



<h4>Risk of contamination</h4>



Like all DNA-based methods, eDNA sampling is susceptible to contamination. Rigorous protocols must be followed to ensure that samples aren't tainted by external DNA sources.



<h3>Applications of eDNA</h3>



eDNA is proving invaluable in various fields:



<h4>Conservation</h4>



eDNA helps in tracking endangered species, offering a non-invasive way to monitor their presence and inform conservation efforts.



<h4>Invasive species management</h4>



Early detection of invasive species can aid in their management. eDNA can detect these species even when their numbers are low.



<h4>Paleolimnology</h4>



By analyzing sediment layers, scientists can use eDNA to trace historical changes in biodiversity, shedding light on how ecosystems have evolved over time.



In summary, eDNA is a transformative tool in ecological and conservation research. By tapping into the genetic breadcrumbs left behind by organisms, scientists can gain a clearer picture of our planet's biodiversity, making more informed decisions about its protection and management.



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Racing boat collects eDNA samples on a round-the-world sailing competition

The winners of the 2022-2023 edition of The Ocean Race,...

Hands,Of,Farmer,,Agriculture,Technology,Farmer,Man,Using,Tablet,Modern

Farmers around the world are now turning their attention to traditional and modern farming methods to improve productivity despite extreme weather conditions.



Italy and Spain, the third and fourth most productive farming industries in Europe, respectively, have been facing huge losses and low productivity due to climatic factors in the region. These losses have come mainly in the production of olive oil, a product in which both countries are the top producers.



<h2 id="h-extreme-droughts-and-desertification">Extreme droughts and desertification</h2>



Both countries have suffered from desertification and drought, with severe cases leaving Spain with a serious risk of infertile land in the long run. Concurrently, Italy could yet be in for another terrible year after it experienced one of its most severe droughts in 70 years in 2022.&nbsp;



With increasing global concerns regarding climate change as well as predictions from scientists of more drought, farmers in both countries have now turned their attention modern farming techniques in order to mitigate their losses and improve production.



<h2>Cover crops may prove reliable</h2>



In Spain, farmers are now relying on cover crops to help conserve water and preserve soil nutrients. According to the <a href="https://www.mapa.gob.es/en/ministerio/funciones-estructura/organigrama/Ministro-MAPA.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Spanish Agriculture Ministry</a>, cover crops are now in use on about 30% of olive groves in the country.



Cover crops are crops grown mainly for the enrichment and protection of the soil. This practice is an ancient one, and even though a study from 2019 suggested that they may reduce yield in the short term, cover crops were found to be more beneficial in the long run.



<h2>Farming with digital technology</h2>



Following the extreme weather and huge losses that have even made Italy lose its spot as the world's largest wine producer, modern farming through digital technology has become popular. Many new forms of tech are being used that help with such things as water conservation, soil monitoring, and tracking growth factors like temperature and water evaporation from leaves.



According to the <a href="https://www.osservatori.net/en/research/active-observatories/smart-agrifood" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Smart AgriFood Observatory</a> of the Milan Polytechnic and the University of Brescia, the use of digital tools on farmlands has seen a slight increase, moving from 6% in 2021 to 8% in 2022.



A cereal farmer in the province of Mantua in northern Italy, Andrea Ronca, is one of the many farmers enjoying the use of technology on their farms. Ronca told Reuters News that he's now able to use satellite images to track the driest part of his land. He also added that he "can adjust irrigation at any time", all from his smartphone without any wastages.



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Farmers combine ancient and modern techniques to salvage crop production

Farmers around the world are now turning their attention to...

In a significant push against the rising impacts of climate change, the U.S. federal government has announced an allocation of over $1 billion for tree planting projects across the nation.&nbsp;



This initiative is expected to not only benefit hundreds of communities by mitigating <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/extreme-heat-threatens-solitary-bees-and-global-food-security/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">extreme heat</a>, but also expand their access to nature.



<h2 id="h-tree-planting-projects">Tree planting projects&nbsp;</h2>



U.S. Department of Agriculture's Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that the $1.13 billion funding will support 385 tree planting projects.&nbsp;



These projects span all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and even some tribal nations.&nbsp;



<h2 id="h-more-resilient-communities">More resilient communities&nbsp;</h2>



A noteworthy aspect of this initiative is its special emphasis on marginalized areas, a move indicative of the government's inclusive approach to combating climate issues.



Speaking to reporters ahead of the announcement, Vilsack highlighted the program's potential impact:&nbsp; “We believe we can create more resilient communities in terms of the impacts of climate. We think we can mitigate extreme heat incidents and events in many of the cities.”



<h2 id="h-releaf-cedar-rapids">ReLeaf Cedar Rapids</h2>



Vilsack announced the ambitious plans in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where thousands of trees were lost during the fierce derecho windstorm of summer 2020.&nbsp;



The winds peaked at about 140 miles per hour and persisted for more than 45 minutes. The city estimates that up to 100,000 trees were damaged or destroyed.



In 2021, a $37 million urban reforestation plan was launched called ReLeaf Cedar Rapids. The goal is to plant more than 40,000 trees along streets, in parks, and on private residences.



Recognizing the urgency of restoring the city's tree canopy, Cedar Rapids is now set to receive a grant of $6 million from the new federal program.



“We’re allocating a $6 million award to the ReLeaf program so that Cedar Rapids can continue its efforts to restore and rebuild its forest and tree population,” Vilsack said in a call with reporters.



<h2 id="h-access-to-nature">Access to nature&nbsp;</h2>



While some of the country's metropolitan areas like New York, Houston, and Los Angeles are on the list of beneficiaries, the grant also extends to smaller communities such as Tarpon Springs, Florida, and Hutchinson, Kansas.



Emphasizing the importance of this initiative, Brenda Mallory, the chair of the <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/ceq/internship-program/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">White House Council on Environmental Quality</a>, shared her insights. She pointed out the glaring disparity where many communities remain devoid of adequate access to nature.&nbsp;



With these tree grants, the government aims to ensure that marginalized and underrepresented communities are not left behind.&nbsp;



“Everyone should have access to nature,” Mallory said. “Urban forests can really play a key role in ensuring both that access but also increasing the climate resilience of communities, helping reduce extreme heat and making communities more livable.”



<h2 id="h-a-greener-future-from-tree-planting">A greener future from tree planting</h2>



The <a href="https://www.usda.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">USDA</a> Forest Service grant program will increase the overall tree canopy of cities. It has the potential to reduce temperatures in urban areas, which will lower energy costs. The projects will also promote better air quality by reducing air pollution.



As the country faces the challenges posed by climate change and urbanization, such initiatives are a testament to the government's commitment to promoting a greener, healthier future.



The source of funding for the federal grant program is the Inflation Reduction Act. 



<h2>More about planting trees to fight climate change</h2>



Trees, nature's powerful carbon scrubbers, have always stood as guardians of our environment. As the climate crisis deepens, we are increasingly recognizing the role they play in mitigating global warming. 



Planting trees is not just an environmental nicety -- it's a necessity. This article delves deep into the benefits of tree planting in our battle against climate change.



<h3>Trees act as carbon sinks</h3>



Trees absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) during photosynthesis. By doing so, they reduce the amount of this greenhouse gas in the atmosphere. Over its lifetime, a single tree can absorb as much as one ton of CO2. As forests grow, they continue to consume increasing amounts of CO2, making them invaluable as natural carbon sinks.



<h3>Trees cool their surroundings</h3>



Beyond absorbing CO2, trees cool the environment in two primary ways:



<ul>
<li>Shade provision: Trees block sunlight, creating shaded areas. This shading reduces the need for air conditioning, thereby lowering electricity consumption and greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. </li>



<li>Transpiration: Trees release water vapor through their leaves, a process known as transpiration. This not only cools the surrounding air but also introduces moisture, helping to regulate local climates.</li>
</ul>



<h3>Trees foster biodiversity</h3>



Trees serve as homes, feeding grounds, and protective shelters for countless species. As we plant more trees, we bolster habitats and support biodiversity. A diverse ecosystem is more resilient to the stresses induced by climate change.



<h3>Tree planting prevents soil erosion</h3>



Root systems hold soil together, preventing it from being washed away during heavy rains. This not only preserves fertile topsoil, but it also reduces runoff. Less runoff means fewer landslides and reduced sedimentation in rivers and streams, ensuring cleaner water systems.



<h3>Trees boost water conservation</h3>



Trees act like natural sponges. They capture rainwater, helping to recharge groundwater supplies. This storage and slow release of water are crucial in drought-prone areas, where it can be a lifeline for local communities.



<h3>Trees reduce urban heat islands</h3>



Urban areas often experience higher temperatures due to human-made surfaces absorbing and re-emitting the sun's heat. Trees counteract this effect. By planting more trees in urban areas, we can lower temperatures, making cities more livable while reducing energy demands.



<h3>Trees enhance mental well-being</h3>



While not directly a climate change combatant, the mental health benefits of trees are noteworthy. Studies show that green spaces can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. As climate change intensifies, fostering a connection with nature becomes increasingly vital for our collective well-being.



<h3>Tree planting supports livelihoods</h3>



Across the world, many communities rely on forests for their livelihoods. By planting trees, we not only fight climate change but also provide resources like timber, fruits, and medicines. This creates economic incentives for communities to preserve and expand their forests.



In summary, the act of planting trees offers a multi-pronged approach to tackling climate change. From carbon sequestration to urban temperature regulation, trees stand as one of our most formidable allies in this fight. 



As we continue to face mounting environmental challenges, we have the responsibility to recognize, advocate for, and engage in tree-planting initiatives on a global scale. It's not just about adding greenery to our landscapes -- it's about securing a sustainable future.



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US cities are about to get a lot greener with $1 billion for tree planting

In a significant push against the rising impacts of climate...

NASA is edging closer to the conclusion of its ambitious seven-year mission, aiming to prevent a catastrophic collision of a massive asteroid named <a href="https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/asteroids-comets-and-meteors/asteroids/101955-bennu/overview/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bennu</a> with Earth. Recent findings have indicated that there's a 1 in 2700 chance of Bennu slamming into Earth on September 24, 2182.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-menace-of-asteroid-bennu">The menace of asteroid Bennu</h2>



Roughly the size of the iconic Empire State Building, Bennu spans about a third of a mile wide. The potential aftermath of its predicted collision with Earth could equate to the explosive energy of 22 atomic bombs.



The asteroid makes its presence felt by passing Earth approximately every six years. However, scientists anticipate that its most perilous close encounter could be a mere 159 years away.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-osiris-rex-mission">OSIRIS-REx mission</h2>



In a proactive move, <a href="https://www.nasa.gov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA</a> dispatched a spacecraft to Bennu in 2016. This mission was crucial for collecting samples and advancing the agency's strategy to stave off a doomsday-like asteroid deflection scenario.



"It feels very much like the last few miles of a marathon, with a confluence of emotions like pride and joy coexisting with a determined focus to complete the race well,” expressed an impassioned Rich Burns, the project manager for OSIRIS-REx at NASA’s <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Goddard Space Flight Center</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-historic-sample-collection">Historic sample collection</h2>



In October 2020, NASA's <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/osiris-rex-is-bringing-an-asteroid-sample-back-to-earth-this-month-worrying-many-people/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">OSIRIS-REx</a> spacecraft made history by alighting on Bennu's surface and procuring a chunk of rocky material. Weighing in at approximately 8.8 ounces (250 grams), this represents not only NASA's inaugural asteroid sample but also the largest ever extracted from space.



Come this Sunday, September 24 at around 10:42 AM U.S. Eastern Time, the world will watch with bated breath as the OSIRIS-REx mission dispatches this precious sample <a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/OSIRIS-REx_mission_infographic_2big-scaled.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">back to Earth</a>. When the spacecraft is roughly 63,000 miles from Earth, it will jettison the sample-return capsule, roughly the size of a mini-fridge.



Entering Earth's atmosphere at an intense 28,000 mph, enduring temperatures akin to double that of lava, the capsule's descent will be <a href="https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/20381/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tempered using parachutes</a>. This will ensure a controlled landing in the Great Salt Lake Desert, Utah, marking the culmination of the OSIRIS-REx's monumental seven-year odyssey.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-deciphering-the-secrets-of-the-solar-system">Deciphering the secrets of the solar system</h2>



These asteroid fragments are expected to furnish scientists with a rare peek into the planet formation phenomena that created our solar system approximately 4.5 billion years ago.



"Pristine material from asteroid Bennu will help shed light on the formation of our solar system 4.5 billion years ago and perhaps even on how life on Earth began,” elucidated Nicola Fox, an associate administrator of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-origin-of-asteroid-bennu-s-name">Origin of asteroid Bennu's name</h2>



Discovered in September 1999 by the <a href="https://www.ll.mit.edu/impact/watch-potentially-hazardous-asteroids" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lincoln Near-Earth Asteroid Research</a> (LINEAR) survey, the asteroid initially bore the moniker 1999 RQ36. It wasn't until 2013 that a nine-year-old from North Carolina christened it Bennu. Following his triumph in the 'Name that Asteroid!' competition, he drew inspiration for the name from an ancient Egyptian deity.



As NASA approaches the final leg of this critical mission, the world watches in anticipation, rooting for its success and the vast potential knowledge it promises to unravel about our universe.



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Armageddon-style mission to stop asteroid Bennu collision with earth ends this week

NASA is edging closer to the conclusion of its ambitious...

The old saying about all work and no play has finally been put to the test and the results are in: it might actually be true.&nbsp;



This is according to a new study on work-life balance led by Dr. Paul Hanel, an assistant professor at the <a href="https://www.essex.ac.uk/">University of Essex</a>.&nbsp;



The research suggests that balancing work and play may be the secret to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/what-is-the-path-to-happiness-the-science-is-still-not-clear/">happiness</a> and life satisfaction.



<h2 id="h-overemphasizing-achievement">Overemphasizing achievement&nbsp;</h2>



The study, which spanned across three countries - India, Turkey, and the UK, revealed that individuals who prioritized achievement over enjoyment reported being less content.



<h2 id="h-valuing-freedom">Valuing Freedom</h2>



In addition, those who aimed for autonomy experienced a 13 percent surge in their overall well-being. Notably, these individuals also reported enhanced sleep quality and a heightened sense of life satisfaction.



<h2 id="h-engaging-in-hobbies">Engaging in hobbies</h2>



Participants who took out time to unwind and indulge in their hobbies noted an 8 percent increase in well-being. Moreover, these individuals experienced a substantial 10 percent reduction in stress and anxiety levels.



Dr. Hanel said: “We all know the old saying ‘All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy’ and this study shows it might actually be true."



“There is no benefit to well-being in prioritizing achievement over fun and autonomy."



<h2 id="h-maintaining-a-balanced-life">Maintaining a balanced life&nbsp;</h2>



Dr. Hanel emphasized the importance of maintaining a balanced life, stating that doing so might inadvertently lead to more success.&nbsp;



“This research shows that there are real benefits to having a balanced life and taking time to focus on enjoying ourselves and following individual goals."



“Ironically by doing this, people could in fact be more successful as they will be more relaxed, happier and satisfied.”



<h2 id="h-focus-of-the-study">Focus of the study</h2>



Over 180 participants filled out diaries over a period of nine days, recording how different values influenced their moods and overall mental state. Regardless of nationality, the results were consistent.&nbsp;



<h2 id="h-happiness-levels">Happiness levels</h2>



Emphasizing values of "hedonism" and "self-direction" was directly correlated with increased happiness. On the other hand, values revolving around "achievement" and "conformity" did not affect happiness levels.



However, the team believes that the value of achievement might be linked to happiness when associated with job satisfaction or the frequency of workdays.



<h2 id="h-achievement-oriented-values">Achievement-oriented values&nbsp;</h2>



Professor Greg Maio from the University of Bath, who collaborated on the research, mentioned how in today's society, where achievement-oriented values dominate a large chunk of our lives, there's an evident need to value freedom and other similar values to establish a balanced life.



“This multination project was an exciting foray into questions about how values affect well-being in day-to-day life. People often spend most of their days working hard for their daily income, studies, and careers."



“Against this backdrop, where achievement-oriented values have ring-fenced a great portion of our time, we found that it helps to value freedom and other values just enough to bring in balance and recovery."



<h2 id="h-study-implications">Study implications&nbsp;</h2>



“In the future, it will be interesting to consider how this pattern interacts with relevant traits, such as conscientiousness, and situational contexts, such as type of employment," said Professor Maio.



The experts hope their research will influence mental health provision and inform therapeutic interventions.



“Our research further shows that it might be more important to focus on increasing happiness rather than reducing anxiety and stress, which is of course also important, just not as much," said Dr. Hanel.



The study is published in the <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jopy.12869">Journal of Personality</a>.



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All work and no play? Striking the balance may be the key to life satisfaction 

The old saying about all work and no play has...

Herbig-Haro (HH) objects have always been of immense fascination in the field of astronomy. Acting as radiant neon signs of stellar infancy, these objects provide rare insights into the very early moments of a star's life. The latest image from NASA's <a href="https://webb.nasa.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">James Webb Space Telescope</a> (Webb) has now thrown light on an especially intriguing HH object - HH 211, giving us a glimpse into the early life of a Sun-like star.



<h2 id="h-the-science-behind-hh-objects">The science behind HH objects</h2>



HH objects are bright regions that emerge around nascent stars. Their brilliance is a result of stellar winds or gas jets that the newborn stars eject. These winds and jets, travelling at astonishing speeds, collide with the neighboring gas and dust, creating shock waves in the process.



HH 211 is particularly captivating because it presents an outflow from what's referred to as a Class 0 protostar. This protostar stands as an early representation of what our very own Sun might have looked like when it was only a few tens of thousands of years into its existence. Currently, it holds just 8% of the Sun's present-day mass, though it is projected to mature into a Sun-like star in the future.



<h2>The power of infrared imaging</h2>



Infrared imaging has emerged as a revolutionary tool in the observation of these stellar infants. The reason? Newborn stars are typically surrounded by the gas from the molecular cloud of their birth. 



This gas, while protective, also obscures our view. Infrared imaging, however, can penetrate this veil. The infrared emission from the star's outflows, as in the case of HH 211, is distinctly observable using Webb's sensitive infrared instruments.



Webb's image not only brings forward the HH 211 in incredible clarity, but it also captures the turbulence that surrounds it. Molecules such as molecular hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and silicon monoxide get excited amidst these turbulent conditions and release infrared light. This light, as captured by <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/jwst-celebrates-one-year-anniversary-with-stunning-new-image-of-rho-ophiuchi/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Webb</a>, assists researchers in mapping the structure of these stellar outflows.



<h2>A deeper dive into HH 211</h2>



The clarity of the image from Webb is unmatched. It has a spatial resolution that's about 5 to 10 times finer than any preceding images of HH 211. This unmatched precision showcases a series of bow shocks, with directions pointing to the southeast and northwest. Moreover, the image reveals a narrow bipolar jet that powers these shocks.



Intriguingly, there's a noticeable "wiggle" in the inner jet. This symmetric wriggle on either side of the central protostar aligns with earlier observations and gives credence to the theory that the protostar could be an unresolved binary star.



The image also confirms certain observations made with ground-based telescopes. These previous observations had revealed giant bow shocks moving in opposite directions and structures resembling cavities in shocked hydrogen and carbon monoxide. Moreover, they captured a knotty and oscillating bipolar jet in silicon monoxide.



<h2>Insights into HH 211's outflows</h2>



With the added data from Webb, researchers have gained new insights into HH 211's outflows. Compared to similar protostars that are more evolved, HH 211's outflow is slower. Measurements indicate velocities ranging between 48-60 miles per second. Yet, when this outflow collides with the leading material, the shockwave's velocity differential is minimal.



The comparatively low velocity of these shock waves offers an interesting revelation. The researchers posit that outflows from very young stars, such as the one at the center of HH 211, are predominantly molecular. The velocity of the shockwaves isn't high enough to disintegrate these molecules into simpler atoms and ions.



In summary, the James Webb Space Telescope's observations of HH 211 offer a comprehensive understanding of a Sun-like star's early life. As technology and research advance, these insights become invaluable in painting a clearer picture of our universe's intricate dynamics.



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Webb captures supersonic outflow of young star HH 211

Herbig-Haro (HH) objects have always been of immense fascination in...

Galaxy,Explosion,Big,Bang,Of,Star,Universe,Illustration,Concept

One of the fundamental parameters for understanding the evolution and ultimate fate of the cosmos is the rate at which the universe is expanding. This is known as the Hubble constant, and it has now been confirmed thanks to the unprecedented capabilities of NASA’s <a href="https://webb.nasa.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">James Webb Space Telescope</a> (JWST).



<h2 id="h-understanding-the-hubble-constant-and-its-tension">Understanding the Hubble constant and its tension</h2>



The rate at which the universe expands is termed the Hubble constant. Its precise measurement provides insights into the universe's evolution and its ultimate fate. 



However, a difference, known as the "Hubble Tension", <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-study-claims-our-universe-is-27-billion-years-old-double-the-current-age-estimate/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">has persisted</a>. This difference arises between the Hubble constant's measured value using various distance indicators and the value predicted from the afterglow of the big bang.



<h2>JWST's role in refining the measurements</h2>



Nobel Laureate Adam Riess, affiliated with the <a href="https://www.jhu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Johns Hopkins University</a> and the Space Telescope Science Institute, recently highlighted the significant contribution of the JWST in enhancing the precision of local measurements of the Hubble constant.



For astronomers, deciphering the universe's expansion rate is akin to squinting to see a sign on the horizon. The sign, in this case, is the brightness of distant galaxies' stars, which can reveal the universe's expansion rate.



Particularly, <a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/expansion-rate-of-the-universe_hubble_jwst_1big.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cepheid variables</a>, a type of supergiant star with brightness levels a hundred thousand times that of the Sun, have been a gold standard for measuring distances in the universe. Their unique pulsating nature allows for accurate distance measurements to galaxies hundreds of millions of light years away. However, one significant challenge arises due to the close proximity of stars in galaxies when viewed from Earth. This makes it difficult to differentiate one star from another.



<h2>The Hubble Space Telescope and its limitations</h2>



The <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/hubble/main/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hubble Space Telescope</a>, launched in 1990, was developed partly to address this differentiation problem. It offered enhanced visible-wavelength resolution, allowing it to identify individual Cepheid variables in distant galaxies and determine the interval they took to change their brightness. 



However, the Hubble had limitations in observing the Cepheids in near-infrared, which is crucial to bypass the effects of intervening dust on light. This introduced noise into the measurements.



<h2>Webb's infrared superpowers</h2>



The JWST, with its powerful infrared vision, steps in here. Its advanced optics enable it to separate Cepheid light from nearby stars with minimal blending. In their study, Riess and his team utilized the JWST to observe over 320 Cepheids and found that previous measurements made by Hubble were indeed accurate, though with more noise. The data from the JWST corroborated Hubble's, solidifying the confidence in those measurements.



The underlying question, however, remains unresolved: why is the universe expanding so quickly? Predictions from the cosmic microwave background suggest a certain rate of expansion, but current measurements surpass this prediction, leading to the Hubble Tension. 



Some theorize that this discrepancy may point to previously unknown cosmic phenomena, such as strange forms of dark energy or dark matter, a potential revision in our understanding of gravity, or even a new kind of particle or field.



<h2>Webb's contribution and the road ahead</h2>



With the JWST affirming Hubble's readings, the possibility of systematic errors in Hubble’s measurements being the cause of the Hubble Tension diminishes. This places more profound explanations firmly on the table. As the mystery deepens, scientists eagerly anticipate further revelations from the JWST and other advanced instruments, hoping to unravel this cosmic conundrum.



In its journey, the James Webb Space Telescope, an ambitious collaboration between NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Canadian Space Agency, promises to unlock many more secrets of our universe, reaffirming our quest to understand our place within it.



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Expansion rate of the universe confirmed by JWST

One of the fundamental parameters for understanding the evolution and...

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

[sendtonews key="G9bUoxcjr4-2511624-12187" 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 Lake Trasimeno, which is located west of Perugia in central Italy. It is the fourth largest lake in the country. While Trasimeno’s water level varies, it has a maximum depth of approximately six meters.&nbsp;



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;



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



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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



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Designing crops that can beat the heat

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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How does salt makes things taste better?

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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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



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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



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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



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The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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

Wetlands are a major source of methane emissions

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research&nbsp;



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



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

How the immune system responds to injury

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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



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2022 illustrated the consequences of a warming climate

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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



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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



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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...