The development of a big brain in humans and its connection to social bonding has been a hot topic of debate, and secrets found in fossil teeth may hold the answers.



Researchers have been studying the fossilized teeth of an early Homo from Georgia, dating back approximately 1.77 million years. The research was made possible by the European Synchrotron in Grenoble, France.



The findings suggest that despite having a small brain and reaching adulthood at a similar pace to great apes, these early humans had a prolonged childhood. 



This could mean that the large brain of modern humans resulted from an extended childhood along with cultural transmission across generations instead of vice versa.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-long-childhood-big-brains">Long childhood, big brains</h2>



A team of researchers - including specialists from Switzerland's <a href="https://www.uzh.ch/en.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Zurich</a>, the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility and Georgia's National Museum - have challenged the theory that modern humans' extended childhood is directly linked to their large brains.



The team analyzed dental development in an early Homo that was almost an adult. The results suggest that though these early humans reached adulthood at a similar age as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/buronius-manfredschmidi-tiny-great-ape-species-lived-11-million-years-ago/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">great apes</a>, their tooth development followed a longer timeline similar to modern humans.



This proposes the distinct possibility of a longer dependency on adults and an elongated childhood for these early humans.



Remarkably, the brain size of these early Homo specimens was only marginally larger than that of a chimpanzee. This made the researchers question the link between the prolonged development and cultural transmission across generations.



An extended childhood within a three-generation context might have allowed the immature members of the group to effectively assimilate growing amounts of knowledge. 



Eventually, this led to the development of larger brains and longer life spans, traits characteristic of modern humans.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dental-development-in-early-homo">Dental development in early Homo</h2>



An enduring assumption has been that humans' extended growth period is a consequence of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/our-brain-sizes-are-growing-possibly-lowering-dementia-risk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">increased brain volume</a> since a larger organ requires more energy resources to grow. But analysis of the fossil's dental growth has caused researchers to question this hypothesis.



The research team used synchrotron imaging to study the dental development of a near-adult fossil of early Homo from the Dmanisi site in Georgia, dated to around 1.77 million years ago. 



<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="CWxiqQg039-4024544-12187" type="single"]</div>



“Childhood and cognition do not fossilize, so we have to rely on indirect information. Teeth are ideal because they fossilize well and produce daily rings, in the same way that trees produce annual rings, which record their development,” noted study first author Christoph Zollikofer from the University of Zurich.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unexpected-findings-and-a-new-perspective">Unexpected findings and a new perspective</h2>



“Dental development is strongly correlated with the development of the rest of the body, including brain development," explained study co-author Paul Tafforeau, scientist at the ESRF.



"Access to the details of a <a href="https://www.earth.com/search-results/?search=fossil%20hominid&amp;start=0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fossil</a> hominid's dental growth therefore provides a great deal of information about its general growth."



After almost two decades of research beginning in 2005, the initial results startled researchers. 



“We expected to find either dental development typical of early hominids, close to that of the great apes, or dental development close to that of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/neanderthal-genes-still-influence-modern-humans/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">modern humans</a>," said Tafforeau.



"When we obtained the first results, we couldn’t believe what we saw, because it was something different that implied faster molar crown growth than in any other fossil hominin or living great ape."



In the following years, the team conducted five series of experiments and completed four full analyses, employing various methods as dental synchrotron imaging technology advanced.



As the consistent results suggested significant implications for the "big brain - long childhood" hypothesis, the scientists needed to think creatively to interpret this fossil's findings.



“It's been a slow maturation, both technically and intellectually, to finally arrive at the hypothesis we are publishing today,” said Tafforeau.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-longer-childhood-evolution-s-early-experiment">Longer childhood: Evolution's early experiment?</h2>



The dental development of the studied fossil suggested that milk teeth were used longer than in great apes, implying that early Homo children were dependent on adult care for a longer duration.



This could be the first experiment evolution took towards a prolonged childhood. Despite having brains only slightly larger than australopithecines or great apes, early Homo are believed to have lived longer.



The survival of a very old individual with no teeth for several years indicates that the group sufficiently cared for him. This alludes to a three-generation structure, a key aspect of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/humans-started-cumulative-culture-around-600000-years-ago/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cultural transmission in humans</a>.



The new hypothesis begins with children's growth slowing down as cultural transmission increased. 



The accumulation of information from older to younger individuals had an advantageous effect on resource utilization and the development of complex behaviors, thus favoring a longer childhood. 



Once this mechanism was established, natural selection acted on cultural transmission, not just biological traits. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-big-brains-and-delayed-adulthood">Big brains and delayed adulthood</h2>



As the volume of transferrable information grew, evolution supported a larger brain and delayed adulthood, enabling a longer learning period in childhood and time to grow a bigger brain despite limited food resources.



The large brain of modern humans could be attributed to an extended childhood and a three-generation structure encouraging bio-cultural evolution. These mechanisms may have led to increased brain size, delayed adulthood, and longer lifespan. 



The study of this exceptional fossil could motivate researchers to rethink the evolutionary mechanisms that led to Homo sapiens.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-08205-2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a>.



Image &amp; Video Credit: ESRF/Paul Tafforeau, Vincent Beyrand



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How did humans get big brains? Fossil teeth reveal new clues

The development of a big brain in humans and its connection to social bonding has been a hot topic of debate, and secrets found in fossil teeth may hold the answers. Researchers have been studying the fossilized teeth of an early Homo from Georgia, dating back approximately 1.77 million years. The research was made possible by the European Synchrotron in Grenoble, France. The findings suggest that despite having a small brain and reaching adulthood at a similar pace to great apes, these early humans had a prolonged...

Oceans are more than vast expanses of water that exceed the horizon. They are home to millions of creatures. Among those creatures, nesting deep underwater, are the vibrant, colorful coral reefs. 



These magical marine ecosystems are the unsung heroes of our planet. But did you know that coral reefs survival is intricately tied to our very own human rights?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-coral-survival-matters-to-humans">Why coral survival matters to humans</h2>



An estimated billion people depend on healthy coral reefs for their basic needs. From food to coastal protection and even tourism revenue, coral reefs make a massive contribution to our lives.



If the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/feeding-corals-can-help-them-recover-from-heat-stress/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reefs crumble</a> and their ecosystems vanish, the human cost might be too hefty to bear. The loss of marine ecosystems would mean a blow to our health and financial welfare.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-time-to-protect-reefs-is-diminishing">Time to protect reefs is diminishing</h2>



Enter Dr. Emma Camp from the University of Technology Sydney (<a href="https://www.uts.edu.au" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UTS</a>). She has been exploring the murky waters of marine conservation.



Dr. Camp warns that the time we have to save coral reefs is diminishing quickly. Despite numerous protective actions, coral reefs worldwide continue on their path of degradation.



In 2024, a global coral bleaching event affected more than half of the world's coral reefs. Add to this the relentless onslaught of pollution, and we've got a time bomb ticking away. As Dr. Camp noted, “the loss of coral ecosystems negatively impacts both humans and nonhumans.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-last-hope-for-coral-reef-rescue">Last hope for coral reef rescue?</h2>



So how do we untangle this knotty issue? According to Dr. Camp, we need to change our approach. We need to tackle coral conservation through the lens of human rights.



Consider it the human face of coral loss. This way, we can inspire a profound transformation in governance at all levels - local, national, and global.



Dr. Camp is the lead author of a paper titled "Coral reef protection is fundamental to human rights," which is co-authored by experts from the <a href="https://www.buffalo.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University at Buffalo</a>, State University of New York (<a href="https://www.suny.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SUNY</a>), and the <a href="https://www.uni-konstanz.de/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Konstanz</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rethinking-reef-conservation">Rethinking reef conservation </h2>



Just this year, the United Nations General Assembly affirmed our human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment. However, this right is hanging by a thread in the face of a rapidly changing climate, pollution and biodiversity loss.



The International Coral Reef Society’s elected President, Professor Christian Voolstra, elaborated on the issue. He highlighted the findings of a recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report. If the Earth heats up to even 1.5°C, most of our <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dead-coral-skeletons-prevent-reefs-from-recovering/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">coral</a>-dominated systems will be a thing of past.



Hence, we urgently need to rethink our strategy for reef conservation. We need to shift gears and hasten our efforts to shield these crucial ecosystems for present and future generations.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-human-rights-based-approach-to-conservation">Human-rights based approach to conservation </h2>



“In other fields, applying a human-rights based approach to environmental protection has advanced both social and environmental conservation,” said co-author Dr Genevieve Wilkinson from UTS Law, a founder of the Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Network.



“A rights-based approach embeds non-discrimination, empowerment and participation so that litigation is not the only available avenue for participation and empowerment of vulnerable rightsholders. States must be accountable to obligations to protect human rights and find just solutions.



Dr. Wilkinson noted that a human rights-based approach to coral reef protection is an important opportunity to expedite reef protection while simultaneously advancing climate justice for humans and non-humans.



With numerous governments failing to address climate change effectively, our rights are under threat. But Dr Wilkinson believes that implementing a human rights-based approach to coral reef protection might just be the game-changer we need.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-human-rights-of-low-lying-reef-nations">Human rights of low-lying reef nations</h2>



The study highlights the 2022 decision in Billy v. Australia. It's the first successful climate litigation framed through the language of rights. 



“The case was submitted by a group of eight Torres Strait Islanders, and six of their children. It demonstrates how states’ failure to effectively address climate change can threaten the human rights of low-lying reef nation inhabitants who rely on healthy coral reefs to ensure their way of life," said Dr. Wilkinson.



“Coral bleaching and its damaging impact on crayfish habitats were specifically identified as a harmful climate change impact by the Human Rights Committee."



“The Committee determined that failure to implement adequate climate change <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/crown-of-thorns-starfish-thrive-in-degraded-coral-reefs/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">adaptation measures</a> by the Australian Government violated the Torres Strait Islander inhabitants’ rights to culture and to private and family life, contrary to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-coral-reefs-and-human-rights">Coral reefs and human rights</h2>



The United Nations’ High Commissioner for Human Rights calls the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution the greatest future challenge for human rights worldwide.



As we navigate these troubled waters, it's important to remember that protecting our coral reefs is more than an environmental issue. It's a matter of safeguarding our human rights. 



Will we rise to the occasion and fight for our future or will we watch as our vibrant marine ecosystems turn into lifeless, bleached skeletons? The choice is ours.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/gcb.17512" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Global Change Biology</a>.



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Protecting coral reefs is a matter of humans rights

Oceans are more than vast expanses of water that exceed...

This summer, Arctic sea ice has retreated to near-record lows in the Northern Hemisphere, continuing the decades-long trend of shrinking and thinning ice cover in the Arctic Ocean. 



This is the conclusion of researchers at <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA</a> and the <a href="https://nsidc.org/home" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Snow and Ice Data Center</a> (NSIDC).&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-melting-and-less-ice-formation-nbsp">More melting and less ice formation&nbsp;</h2>



The amount of frozen seawater in the Arctic changes throughout the year as ice melts and refreezes between seasons. Scientists monitor these fluctuations to understand how the Arctic responds over time to rising air and sea temperatures and longer melting seasons.



Over the past several decades, satellites have consistently observed more melting during the summer and less ice formation in the winter.&nbsp;



Tracking sea ice changes in real time has revealed wide-ranging impacts - from losses and changes in polar wildlife <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nasa-is-tracking-endangered-animal-habitats-from-space/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">habitats</a> to effects on local Arctic communities and international trade routes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-minimal-extent-of-arctic-sea-ice-nbsp">Minimal extent of Arctic sea ice&nbsp;</h2>



This year, Arctic sea ice shrank to a minimal extent of about 1.65 million square miles (4.28 million square kilometers).&nbsp;



That's approximately 750,000 square miles (1.94 million square kilometers) below the 1981 to 2010 end-of-summer average of 2.4 million square miles (6.22 million square kilometers).&nbsp;



To put it in perspective, the reduction in ice cover spans an area larger than the state of Alaska. Sea ice extent is defined as the total area of the ocean with at least 15% ice concentration.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-downward-trend-in-arctic-sea-ice-nbsp">Downward trend in Arctic sea ice&nbsp;</h2>



While this year's minimum remained above the all-time low of about 1.31 million square miles set in September 2012, the overall trend since the late 1970s has been a downward one. According to NSIDC, the Arctic has been losing about 30,000 square miles of sea ice per year.



Scientists measure sea ice extent using data from passive microwave sensors aboard satellites in the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program, along with historical data from the Nimbus-7 satellite, jointly operated by NASA and the <a href="https://www.noaa.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration</a> (NOAA).



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sea-ice-is-getting-younger">Sea ice is getting younger</h2>



Nathan Kurtz, lab chief of NASA's Cryospheric Sciences Laboratory at the agency's <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Goddard Space Flight Center</a>, noted that sea ice isn't just shrinking - it's also getting younger.&nbsp;



“Today, the overwhelming majority of ice in the Arctic Ocean is thinner, first-year ice, which is less able to survive the warmer months. There is far, far less ice that is three years or older now,” said Kurtz.&nbsp;



Measurements collected with spaceborne altimeters, including NASA's ICESat and ICESat-2 satellites, have found that much of the oldest, thickest ice has already been lost.&nbsp;



New research from NASA's <a href="https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jet Propulsion Laboratory</a> in Southern California shows that in the central Arctic, away from the coasts, fall sea ice now averages around 4.2 feet thick, down from a peak of 8.8 feet in 1980.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-downward-trend-in-antarctic-sea-ice">Downward trend in Antarctic sea ice</h2>



Meanwhile, sea ice in the southern polar regions has also been unusually low. Around <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sea-ice-levels-in-antarctica-have-reached-an-unprecedented-low/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Antarctica</a>, scientists are tracking near-record-low sea ice at a time when it should have been expanding during the Southern Hemisphere's darkest and coldest months.&nbsp;



Ice around the continent is on track to be just over 6.6 million square miles (16.96 million square kilometers), compared to the average maximum extent of 7.22 million square miles (18.71 million square kilometers) between 1981 and 2010.



This meager growth prolongs a recent downward trend. Prior to 2014, Antarctic sea ice was increasing slightly by about 1% per decade.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shifting-conditions-in-the-southern-ocean">Shifting conditions in the Southern Ocean</h2>



However, following a spike in 2014, ice growth has declined dramatically. Scientists are working to understand the cause of this reversal. The recurring loss hints at a long-term shift in conditions in the Southern Ocean, likely resulting from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/arctic-warming-permafrost-melt-devastating-role-accelerating-global-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">global climate change</a>.



“While changes in sea ice have been dramatic in the Arctic over several decades, Antarctic sea ice was relatively stable. But that has changed,” said Walt Meier, a sea ice scientist at NSIDC. “It appears that global warming has come to the Southern Ocean.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-vicious-cycle-of-sea-ice-loss">Vicious cycle of sea ice loss</h2>



In both the Arctic and Antarctic, the loss of sea ice accelerates further ice loss. This happens because bright sea ice reflects most of the sun's energy back into space, while open ocean water absorbs about 90% of it.&nbsp;



With more ocean exposed to sunlight, water temperatures rise, further delaying sea ice growth - a cycle known as ice-albedo feedback.



Overall, the decline of sea ice contributes to increased heat in the Arctic, where temperatures have risen about four times the global average, Kurtz concluded.



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Arctic sea ice is headed toward a historic low

This summer, Arctic sea ice has retreated to near-record lows...

An ancient log buried for nearly four millennia is providing scientists with critical insights into how nature can preserve carbon for thousands of years. 



The research has the potential to transform our climate change mitigation strategies by offering a low-cost option for carbon storage.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-preservation-of-an-ancient-log">Preservation of an ancient log</h2>



The log's preservation offers a glimpse into a technique that could reshape the way we think about carbon sequestration and help address one of the most pressing issues of our time - global warming.



"Six-times more carbon dioxide (CO2) is removed each year by terrestrial photosynthesis than fossil fuel emissions. However, the carbon is mostly returned to the atmosphere by decomposition," wrote the researchers.



"We found a 3,775-year-old ancient wood log buried 2 meters belowground that was preserved far beyond its expected lifetime."&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-remarkable-storage-capacity">Remarkable storage capacity</h2>



Led by Professor Ning Zeng in the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science at the <a href="https://umd.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Maryland</a>, the study revealed that the log had lost less than 5% of its carbon dioxide content. 



According to the researchers, this remarkable carbon storage capability is mainly due to the log being buried in low-permeability clay soil.



“The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-super-black-wonder-wood-called-nyxlon-absorbs-almost-all-light/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wood</a> is nice and solid - you could probably make a piece of furniture out of it,” noted Zeng.



During a pilot project in 2013, Zeng and his team stumbled upon the ancient log while digging a trench to test the wood vaulting concept in Quebec.



“When the excavator pulled a log out of the ground and threw it over to us, the three ecologists from <a href="https://www.mcgill.ca/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">McGill University</a> immediately identified it as Eastern red cedar,” said Zeng. “I remember standing there thinking, ‘Wow, here’s the evidence that we need!’”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wood-vaulting-a-new-climate-solution">Wood vaulting: A new climate solution?</h2>



This surprising discovery has opened up new possibilities for a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/beccs-a-divisive-energy-technology-hailed-as-a-climate-solution-by-some-and-worse-than-coal-by-others/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate solution</a> called "wood vaulting." 



The strategy involves burying non-commercially viable wood - such as old construction materials, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dead-trees-in-the-arctic-store-massive-amount-of-carbon/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">diseased trees</a>, or even discarded furniture -- under specific conditions to prevent its decomposition and stop carbon dioxide from being released back into the atmosphere.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/ancient-log_eastern-red-cedar-log_Zeng_Wood_credit-UMaryland_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/ancient-log_eastern-red-cedar-log_Zeng_Wood_credit-UMaryland_1s.webp" alt="Excavated in Canada, this Eastern red cedar log turned out to be remarkably well-preserved for its age: 3,775 years old. Credit: University of Maryland" class="wp-image-1946127" style="width:300px;height:auto"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Excavated in Canada, this Eastern red cedar log turned out to be remarkably well-preserved for its age: 3,775 years old. Credit: University of Maryland</figcaption></figure>



“People tend to think, ‘Who doesn’t know how to dig a hole and bury some wood?’ But think about how many wooden coffins were buried in human history. How many of them survived? For a timescale of hundreds or thousands of years, we need the right conditions," said Zeng. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-vital-role-of-soil-conditions">Vital role of soil conditions</h2>



The study highlights the importance of soil conditions in preserving the wood of ancient log. The low-permeability clay soil in Quebec was crucial in keeping out oxygen, fungi, and insects that typically cause wood to decompose.



“There is a lot of geological and archeological evidence of preserved wood from hundreds to millions of years ago, but the focus of those studies was not ‘How can we engineer a wood vault to preserve that wood?’” Zeng noted. 



The research demonstrates that wood vaulting could be a viable, low-cost climate solution, especially in regions where clay soil is abundant.



Shortly after the Quebec excavation, Zeng’s collaborators at Montreal’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ) helped determine the log's age through <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/radiocarbon-could-be-key-in-predicting-earths-future/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">carbon dating</a>. 



In 2021, UMD Professor Liangbing Hu analyzed the log’s microscopic structure, revealing that it had retained much of its original carbon content. This confirms the effectiveness of the clay soil preservation method.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-potential-of-the-wood-vaulting-technique">Potential of the wood vaulting technique </h2>



As Zeng continues to refine the wood vaulting technique, he remains optimistic about its potential to help mitigate climate change, noting that this approach works best in conjunction with other strategies like reducing greenhouse gas emissions. 



“It’s quite an exciting discovery,” Zeng said. “The urgency of climate change has become such a prominent issue, so there was even more motivation to get this analysis going.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-solutions-from-an-ancient-log">Climate solutions from an ancient log</h2>



As research progresses, Zeng and his team will continue to explore the broader applications of wood vaulting as a viable climate solution.



The ancient log’s remarkable preservation offers valuable insights into how we might slow the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/canadian-fires-have-released-a-billion-tons-of-carbon-dioxide/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">release of carbon dioxide</a> on a larger scale. 



By replicating the natural conditions that preserved this log for nearly four millennia, researchers aim to implement wood vaulting in regions with suitable soil conditions, potentially providing an affordable and effective method for carbon sequestration.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adm8133" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science</a>.



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Ancient log inspires a simple yet effective climate solution

An ancient log buried for nearly four millennia is providing...

Scientists recently used paramotoring to uncover new plant species and support desert conservation.



We've all heard about scientists exploring the ocean's depths and mountain heights. But have you ever heard of paramotorists, airborne in the sky, teaming up with scientists to explore the rich biodiversity of Peru's desert ecosystems? 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-paramotoring-to-discover-plants">Paramotoring to discover plants</h2>



Historically, off-road vehicles have been the go-to mode of transportation for researchers conducting fieldwork in challenging terrains. 



However, with our planet's health in dire straits, the need for more sustainable methods has become a pressing concern. Enter paramotoring - a faster, less intrusive, and more environmentally-friendly alternative.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-peru-s-fog-oasis-desert">Peru’s fog oasis desert</h2>



What does a desert, a paramotor, and a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-do-plants-make-life-and-death-decisions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plant</a>-loving scientist have in common? The thrilling, unique expedition to the fog oasis desert of Peru. 



Here, the fusion of cutting-edge technology and traditional botanical research led to the discovery of unique plant species, enriching our understanding of this fragile ecosystem's biodiversity.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-planting-seeds-for-a-greener-future">Planting seeds for a greener future</h2>



Partnerships often breed success, and the joint efforts of renowned scientists from RBG Kew and local Peruvian organization Huarango Nature resoundingly prove this. Their tireless efforts resulted in the declaration of a conservation reserve in Peru. 



"Plants are often ignored or outright taken for granted when we think about wildlife conservation, which is unfortunate as every single aspect of our lives depends on them," said Oliver Whaley, Honorary Research Associate at RBG Kew.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-inspiring-people-to-take-action">Inspiring people to take action</h2>



"The planet is in serious trouble and with botanical sciences facing a precipitous decline just when we need it most, we have to think of new ways in which we can inspire people to take action."



"Our study shows that through an exciting and multidisciplinary collaboration, today's extreme sports enthusiasts can work alongside scientists to help monitor <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/newly-discovered-fairy-lantern-plant-thismia-malayana-fungus-parasite/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ecosystems</a>, and with some basic training, gather crucial environmental data, protect species and aid conservation efforts. 



"By engaging local and international adventurers in our scientific work, we're not only empowering them to take nature-positive action, but helping to safeguard our amazing planet - our Pachamama!"



<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="rjHWXssJ8r-3884348-12187" type="single"]</div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-exploring-plants-from-the-air">Exploring plants from the air</h2>



Dr Justin Moat, senior research leader at <a href="https://www.kew.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RBG Kew</a> and <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.org/society/national-geographic-explorers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Geographic Explorer</a> said this study was a unique and exciting experience for everyone involved.



"For many years we have attempted to reach some suspected large areas of endemic vegetation in the Peruvian desert, but found it very difficult to access without major damage to the desert surface using 4x4s, due to the harsh desert conditions and soft shifting sands," said Dr. Moat.



"To overcome this challenge, we would have had to mount a major expedition, probably lasting weeks. Meanwhile, the paramotorists had flown great distances and returned with plant specimens and aerial photographic evidence of the vegetation within the space of two hours."



Bringing in the muscle for this innovative conservation effort was Forest Air, an international non-profit organization. Their sturdy paramotor pilots volunteered their skills and time for the challenging, yet rewarding, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/evidence-of-ancient-plant-farming-found-in-east-africa/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">conservation projects</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-botanical-science-and-plant-conservation">Botanical science and plant conservation </h2>



The experts hope that their innovative approach will ignite interest in botanical science and conservation efforts. Now, here's a thought - what can we do as individuals to contribute to these efforts too?



As the saying goes, 'Change starts at home.' So, let’s roll up our sleeves and get to work. Your own backyard might be the starting point of the next big plant discovery or conservation effort. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-accessing-remote-areas">Accessing remote areas </h2>



Understanding the mechanics behind paramotoring is essential to grasp its role in conservation efforts. A paramotor, often tethered to a pilot's back, combines a paraglider wing with a lightweight motor, granting the capacity to soar effortlessly and silently above diverse landscapes. 



This ingenious technology, leveraging simplicity and efficiency, allows scientists and conservationists intimate access to otherwise unreachable terrains without disturbing the delicate ecosystems below. 



Its low fuel consumption not only epitomizes sustainability but also reveals a fascinating convergence of aerodynamics and ecological science creatively applied to field research.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-paramotoring-for-plant-conservation">Paramotoring for plant conservation </h2>



The success of this research project paves the way for future advancements in plant exploration and conservation. By integrating cutting-edge technology like paramotoring with robust scientific inquiry, the horizon promises groundbreaking discoveries, crucial for protecting our plant biodiversity.



The constant evolution of tools and methods highlights the adaptability of scientific fields in response to ever-present <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plant-pandemic-looms-as-pathogens-move-from-wild-plants-to-crops/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">environmental challenges</a>. 



Already, these efforts hint at a paradigm shift where traditional fieldwork methods are paired with innovative technology.



As academic interest and public support grow, such dynamic projects will likely become cornerstones of sustainability endeavors worldwide.



The research is published in the journal&nbsp;<a href="https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ppp3.10571" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Plants, People, Planet</a>.



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Extreme botany: How paramotoring assists in plant conservation

Scientists recently used paramotoring to uncover new plant species and...

A new study sheds light on the birthplace of asteroid Ryugu, which is now believed to have formed near Jupiter.&nbsp;Previous studies suggested that the asteroid originated beyond the orbit of Saturn. 



The return of samples from Ryugu to Earth by the space probe Hayabusa 2 in 2020 set the stage for a new wave of research. 



Since then, the samples have journeyed through research facilities around the globe. The tiny, jet-black grains have undergone a variety of tests such as weight measurement, chemical analysis, and exposure to infrared, X-ray, and synchrotron radiation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracing-the-origins-of-ryugu">Tracing the origins of Ryugu</h2>



At the <a href="https://www.mps.mpg.de/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research</a> (MPS), one method of analysis proved to be particularly useful. The experts tested the ratios of certain metal isotopes present in the samples.



Isotopes function as distinct signatures of elements, with variants differing only in the number of neutrons contained in their nucleus. 



This meticulous study of isotopes has been instrumental in tracing the origins of Ryugu back in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mysterious-objects-spotted-in-the-outer-solar-system-beyond-pluto/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Solar System</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ryugu-s-journey-through-the-solar-system">Ryugu's journey through the solar system</h2>



Ryugu, an intriguing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/asteroid-samples-could-reveal-how-earth-was-formed/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">near-Earth asteroid</a>, is not originally from the inner Solar System but is believed to have traveled there from the asteroid belt between <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mars-and-jupiter-will-have-a-close-encounter-in-the-sky-this-week/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mars and Jupiter</a>. 



Some scientists suggest its birthplace might even be farther away, beyond Jupiter's orbit.



To decipher Ryugu's ancient family ties, researchers compared its characteristics with meteorites - the terrestrial breadcrumb trail left by asteroids.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unique-composition-of-ryugu">Unique composition of Ryugu</h2>



Detailed studies of Ryugu's composition have unveiled quite a surprise. While Ryugu matches the carbon-rich structure of the expected carbonaceous chondrites, it belongs to a rare group known as CI chondrites or Ivuna-type <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/asteroid-ryugu-may-be-a-leftover-from-the-suns-formation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">chondrites</a>.



Only nine of these exotic specimens have been discovered to date, and they are thought to contain particularly pristine material formed at the outermost edge of the Solar System.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rethinking-the-origins-of-ryugu">Rethinking the origins of Ryugu</h2>



Previously, scientists believed that the specific isotopic composition of CI chondrites suggested their birthplace was beyond Saturn's orbit, but the new analyses challenge this assumption.



The researchers' recalculation suggests that a missing fourth component - tiny iron-nickel grains - must have played a part in Ryugu's formation, leading to a drastic re-evaluation of its origins.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-birth-of-ci-chondrites">The birth of CI chondrites</h2>



The proposed theory suggests that a process of gas evaporation, influenced by the Sun, led to an accumulation of dust and iron-nickel grains outside of Jupiter's orbit, giving birth to the CI chondrites. 



This would place their formation around two million years after that of the Solar System. The new results have shocked even the researchers themselves.



"The results surprised us very much. We had to completely rethink - not only with regard to Ryugu, but also with regard to the entire group of CI chondrites," said study co-author Dr. Christoph Burkhard.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-formation-history-of-the-solar-system">Formation history of the Solar System </h2>



The findings reframe the CI chondrites not as distant relatives of the other carbonaceous chondrites, but rather as younger siblings that formed through a different process and later in time.



The ongoing exploration of Ryugu and its samples will continue to provide new insights into the formation of our Solar System.



“The current study shows how crucial laboratory investigations can be in deciphering the formation history of our Solar System,” said Dr. Thorsten Kleine, Director of the Department of Planetary Sciences at MPS.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-missions-to-sample-asteroids">Future missions to sample asteroids</h2>



As the analysis of Ryugu’s samples continues to unfold, researchers are eagerly anticipating what further secrets the asteroid may hold. 



Beyond understanding Ryugu’s birthplace, the findings could have broader implications for future <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/spacex-sending-four-civilians-dangerous-private-space-mission-polaris-dawn/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">space missions</a>.



With more space agencies turning their attention to asteroid mining and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nasa-dart-mission-proves-humanity-can-be-saved-from-asteroid-collision/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">planetary defense</a>, Ryugu’s composition and journey through the Solar System offer a valuable case study. 



Future missions could target similar asteroids, seeking to unlock more about the building blocks of planets and the potential for harnessing these celestial bodies for resources.



Moreover, Ryugu’s successful sample return mission sets a precedent for future exploratory missions that will collect, study, and perhaps even manipulate celestial material. 



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adp2426" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science Advances</a>.



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Asteroid Ryugu has unexpected 'family ties' near Jupiter

A new study sheds light on the birthplace of asteroid...

Mount Everest is between 15 to 50 meters taller than it would be without the uplift caused by a nearby eroding river gorge, and it continues to grow as a result. This is the conclusion of a recent study led by a team of researchers from University College London (UCL).



The research, published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41561-024-01535-w" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Geoscience</a>, reveals that erosion from a river network located approximately 75 kilometers from Mount Everest has carved away a significant gorge - causing the mountain to rise by up to two millimeters per year.&nbsp;



This process has already added between 15 and 50 meters to Everest's height over the last 89,000 years.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tallest-peak-grows-even-taller">Tallest peak grows even taller</h2>



Mount Everest, which stands at 8,849 meters, is the highest mountain on Earth and rises about 250 meters above the next tallest peak in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/himalayan-glaciers-retreating-threat-is-much-worse-than-previously-believed/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Himalayas</a>.&nbsp;



This elevation is considered unusually high for the range, especially when compared to the next tallest peaks - K2, Kangchenjunga, and Lhotse - which differ by only about 120 meters.



Part of this anomaly is attributed to a process known as isostatic rebound. This occurs when <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fish-evolution-and-biodiversity-is-shaped-by-river-erosion/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">erosion</a> reduces the mass of the Earth's crust in an area, causing the underlying mantle's pressure to push upwards, as the downward force of gravity is reduced.&nbsp;



This gradual uplift happens at a rate of a few millimeters per year, but over long periods of time, it can significantly alter the landscape.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mount-everest-springs-upwards-nbsp">Mount Everest springs upwards&nbsp;</h2>



The experts determined that Everest's height increase began approximately 89,000 years ago when the Arun River merged with the Kosi river network.&nbsp;



“Mount Everest is a remarkable mountain of myth and legend and it’s still growing. Our research shows that as the nearby river system cuts deeper, the loss of material is causing the mountain to spring further upwards,” said co-author Adam Smith, a doctoral student at <a href="https://www.ucl.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UCL</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unsteady-river-alters-mount-everest-s-height-nbsp">Unsteady river alters Mount Everest's height&nbsp;</h2>



Currently, the Arun River runs east of Everest, joining with the Kosi River downstream. Over time, it has carved out a deep gorge, washing away billions of tons of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/solar-system-chaos/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sediment</a> and contributing to the ongoing uplift of the region.



“An interesting river system exists in the Everest region,” said co-author Jin-Gen Dai of the China University of Geosciences.



“The upstream Arun river flows east at high altitude with a flat valley. It then abruptly turns south as the Kosi river, dropping in elevation and becoming steeper. This unique topography, indicative of an unsteady state, likely relates to Everest's extreme height.”&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-neighboring-peaks-are-also-growing">Neighboring peaks are also growing</h2>



The uplift caused by isostatic rebound affects not only Mount Everest but also neighboring peaks, including Lhotse and Makalu, the fourth and fifth tallest peaks in the world.&nbsp;



The process elevates all of these mountains by a similar amount, with Makalu, being closer to the Arun River, experiencing slightly faster uplift.



“Mount Everest and its neighboring peaks are growing because the isostatic rebound is raising them up faster than erosion is wearing them down," said co-author Matthew Fox, an earth scientist at UCL.



"We can see them growing by about two millimeters a year using GPS instruments, and now we have a better understanding of what’s driving it.” 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-merging-rivers-accelerated-the-uplift">Merging rivers accelerated the uplift</h2>



By studying the erosion rates of the Arun, Kosi, and other <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-warming-is-disrupting-the-seasonal-flow-of-rivers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">rivers</a> in the area, the researchers determined that the Arun River merged with the Kosi river network 89,000 years ago in a process known as drainage piracy.&nbsp;



This increased the water flow through the Kosi, amplifying its erosive power and washing away more of the surrounding landscape. This erosion accelerated the rate of uplift, pushing the mountains even higher.



“The changing height of Mount Everest really highlights the dynamic nature of the Earth’s surface,” said study lead author Xu Han of the China University of Geosciences, who conducted the research while visiting UCL on a China Scholarship Council fellowship.



“The interaction between the erosion of the Arun river and the upward pressure of the Earth’s mantle gives Mount Everest a boost, pushing it up higher than it would otherwise be.”



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What is making Mount Everest grow taller?

Mount Everest is between 15 to 50 meters taller than...

Exposure to certain pollutants, such as fine particles (PM2.5) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), during pregnancy and childhood has been linked to alterations in the microstructure of the brain's white matter.&nbsp;



Some of these effects persist into adolescence, according to a new study led by the <a href="https://www.isglobal.org/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Barcelona Institute for Global Health</a> (ISGlobal). 



White matter is an essential brain structure responsible for connecting different brain regions. The findings highlight the urgent need to address <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/air-pollution-will-increase-dramatically-in-a-hotter-climate/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">air pollution</a> as a public health concern, particularly for pregnant women and children.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-air-pollution-and-brain-development">Air pollution and brain development</h2>



There is mounting evidence suggesting that air pollution negatively impacts neurodevelopment in children.&nbsp;



While earlier research using imaging techniques has explored how air pollutants affect white matter, these studies were limited to snapshots at a single timepoint. They also failed to track participants over the course of childhood.



“Following participants throughout childhood and including two neuroimaging assessments for each child would shed new light on whether the effects of air pollution on white matter persist, attenuate, or worsen,” explained study senior author Mònica Guxens. This is precisely what her team set out to investigate.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-childhood-exposure-to-various-pollutants-nbsp">Childhood exposure to various pollutants&nbsp;</h2>



The study examined over 4,000 children who had been followed from birth as part of the Generation R Study in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.&nbsp;



The research team estimated the children's exposure to 14 different air pollutants during <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pregnancy-may-speed-up-aging-in-women/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pregnancy</a> and childhood based on where their families lived. 



For 1,314 of these children, the researchers were able to analyze data from two brain scans - one at around age 10 and the other at age 14 - to assess changes in the microstructure of white matter.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-changes-in-white-matter-development-nbsp">Changes in white matter development&nbsp;</h2>



The analysis revealed that exposure to pollutants like fine particles (PM2.5) and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/reducing-nitrogen-oxide-pollution-could-boost-crop-yields/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">nitrogen oxides</a> (NOx) was associated with differences in white matter development. 



Specifically, higher exposure to PM2.5 during pregnancy, and to PM2.5, PM10, PM2.5-10, and NOx during childhood, correlated with lower levels of fractional anisotropy (FA) - a measure of how water molecules diffuse within the brain.&nbsp;



In more developed brains, water flows more in one direction, leading to higher fractional anisotropy values. The study found that this impact persisted into adolescence, with evidence of long-term effects on brain development.&nbsp;



Each increase in air pollution exposure corresponded to a developmental delay in fractional anisotropy equivalent to over five months.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-are-small-particles-reaching-the-brain">Are small particles reaching the brain?</h2>



“We think that the lower fractional anisotropy is likely the result of changes in myelin, the protective sheath that forms around nerves, rather than changes in the structure or packaging of the nerve fibers,” said lead author Michelle Kusters, a researcher at ISGlobal.&nbsp;



The exact mechanism by which air pollutants affect myelin remains unclear, but it may involve small particles reaching the brain or inflammatory responses triggered by particles entering the lungs.&nbsp;



This process could lead to neuroinflammation, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/exposure-to-green-space-reduces-oxidative-stress-in-children/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">oxidative stress</a>, and, ultimately, neuronal death, as seen in animal studies.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-additional-impacts-on-white-matter">Additional impacts on white matter</h2>



The experts also discovered that some pollutants influenced another measure of white matter, called mean diffusivity (MD), which typically decreases as the brain matures.&nbsp;



Higher exposure to pollutants like silicon in fine particles (PM2.5) during pregnancy was associated with initially higher mean diffusivity, which then decreased more rapidly as the children aged. This suggests that certain effects of air pollution may lessen over time.



“Even if the size of the effects were small, this can have a meaningful impact on a population scale,” Guxens said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stricter-pollution-guidelines-are-needed">Stricter pollution guidelines are needed</h2>



The researchers also found that these effects occurred at levels of PM2.5 and PM10 above the World Health Organization's recommended limits but below those currently allowed by the European Union.&nbsp;



“Our study provides support to the need for more stringent European guidelines on air pollution, which are expected to be approved soon by the European Parliament,” Guxens added.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lasting-changes-in-white-matter">Lasting changes in white matter</h2>



In a previous study, Guxens and her team demonstrated that white matter microstructure could also be affected by early exposure to heat and cold, particularly among children living in lower-income neighborhoods.



“Even though we found an attenuation of the initial association between air pollution and higher MD in early adolescence, residential outdoor air pollution exposure during pregnancy and childhood was also associated with lasting changes in white matter microstructure across adolescence,” wrote the study authors.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Each increase in exposure to air pollution corresponded to more than a 5-month delay in the development of fractional anisotropy, noted the researchers.



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2024.119828" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Environmental Research</a>. 



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Air pollution impacts brain development in children

Exposure to certain pollutants, such as fine particles (PM2.5) and...

In our modern world, the sight of forest fires, and their devastating impacts, is becoming all too common, a stark contrast to the past. We're not just talking about an uptick in the number and frequency of these occurrences, but also their intensity and the severity of the burn. 



There's been a significant upward trend, particularly in places like the western United States and the eastern side of Spain, where fire events have come close to doubling or tripling in size in the recent past.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-do-forest-fires-leave-behind">What do forest fires leave behind?</h2>



We know how damaging forest fires can be, their effects aren't just limited to the destroyed vegetation and the loss of habitats. 



Our focus here, however, is on a specific aftermath that has received lesser attention -- the increased exposure of land brought upon by these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/droughts-and-fires-diminish-forests-carbon-storage-ability/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fires</a>. But what does this exposure mean for our planet’s climate?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-satellite-data-and-forest-fires">Satellite data and forest fires</h2>



Chao Yue, along with his team of dedicated researchers, decided to tackle this question by analyzing satellite data. 



They took a deep dive into more than a decade worth of data (from 2003 to 2016) involving wildfire events across northern temperate and boreal forests (from 40° N to 70° N). 



What they discovered has implications for how we view the link between forest <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wildfires-threaten-the-recovery-of-the-ozone-layer/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fires</a> and global warming.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unseen-impact-of-forest-fires">Unseen impact of forest fires</h2>



After a year following a fire event, the surface starts to warm up, a finding consistent with previous research. 



However, Yue and his team went a step further and developed a mathematical model to show fire sizes successfully amplified surface warming in North America and eastern boreal Asia. 



This discovery was a game-changer, unearthing an aspect of surface warming that had previously been hiding in plain sight.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reflectivity-and-evapotranspiration">Reflectivity and evapotranspiration</h2>



The team found decreased evapotranspiration and surface reflectivity a year after the fires, with larger fires leading to greater decreases. 



This means, the surface, now devoid of much of its vegetation and exposed to incoming radiation, was <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wildfire-season-of-2023-redefined-what-is-possible/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">getting warmer</a>, making the planet a tad hotter than before. 



However, this was not the case in certain regions, like western, central, and southeastern Siberia and eastern Europe.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-deciduous-broadleaf-trees">Deciduous broadleaf trees</h2>



There's a reason why these regions weren't experiencing the same surface warming effects. They predominantly house mixed forests or forests filled with deciduous broadleaf trees. 



These trees, the authors speculate, may be moderating fire vulnerability, and could be pivotal in our future fire mitigation strategies.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-potential-solution-a-leafier-future">Potential solution: A leafier future?</h2>



Could planting more broadleaf trees be the answer to combating post-fire surface warming? The concept does offer a potential solution. 



Yet, it's not without its challenges and needs more research to determine just how effective broadleaf trees might be in suppressing surface warming in forests across Eurasia.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-carbon-dynamics-and-forest-fires">Carbon dynamics and forest fires</h2>



The relationship between forest fires and carbon dynamics presents another intricate layer of their impact on climate. 



As forests burn, they release vast amounts of stored carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, exacerbating greenhouse gas concentrations and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/most-people-attribute-extreme-heat-and-wildfires-to-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">contributing to global warming</a>. 



However, the role of regrowth in carbon sequestration following a fire is equally significant.



When forests regenerate, they can reabsorb some of the carbon released during the burning, potentially mitigating these emissions over time. 



Yet, the pattern of regrowth is highly variable and depends on factors like fire intensity, frequency, and forest type.



Understanding this balance is crucial, as future forest management and reforestation strategies could greatly benefit from insights into optimizing carbon recapture capabilities of post-fire landscapes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-research-and-policy">Future research and policy</h2>



The findings of Chao Yue and his research team open up a myriad of opportunities for further exploration and the refinement of strategies to combat climate change. 



Future research could delve deeper into the efficacy of increasing broadleaf tree populations, assessing their true potential in mitigating post-fire surface warming. 



Simultaneously, policy-makers are being urged to consider these insights as they formulate wildfire management strategies and climate action plans.



Integrating this knowledge into environmental policies could not only help in reducing the adverse impacts of forest fires but also enhance our approach to sustainable forestry and land management. 



Moreover, it underscores the importance of developing international collaborations to address this global challenge, ensuring the deployment of informed and effective solutions on a larger scale.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-impact-of-forest-fires">Impact of forest fires</h2>



The relationship between forest fires and climate change is complex and multifaceted. As we unravel more about this interplay, we're left with more questions than answers. 



Fire mitigation measures and future climate projections need to take into account these newly discovered dynamics. 



If there’s a lesson to be learnt here, it’s that the after-effects of forest fires can be as significant as the fires themselves. This becomes not just an <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/international-day-of-forests-2024-new-solutions-for-a-better-world/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">environmental issue</a> but a global one that affects us all.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07918-8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a>.



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Intense forest fires leave scorched earth, heating the planet faster

In our modern world, the sight of forest fires, and...

Spaceship,Approaching,Asteroid,,Dwarf,Planet,Mission,,Deep,Space,Exploration,(3d

"Space, the final frontier," is a sentiment that has been echoed for generations, ever since we first set our sights on exploring the universe. With the help of the scientists at the University of Southampton, a new technology that uses metal-fueled thrusters could take spacecraft further than we've ever imagined.



The research team is currently putting this new rocket propulsion system through rigorous trials, developing a thruster fueled by metals that promises to push the boundaries of human exploration.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-metal-fueled-journey-among-stars">Metal fueled journey among stars</h2>



This innovative propulsion system boasts the power to propel spacecraft using any type of metal as a fuel source. Hard to believe, yet completely true.



The ramifications are fascinating. If a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/voyager-1-spacecraft-team-accomplishes-tricky-thruster-swap-from-15-billion-miles-away/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">spacecraft</a> is fitted with this kind of system, theoretically, it could fly without pause. 



How? By simply refueling from the abundance of minerals that are just waiting to be harvested from asteroids or distant moons.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mining-metals-for-fuel-in-space">Mining metals for fuel in space</h2>



Asteroids and moons are packed with valuable metals and minerals that we could use on Earth or for space exploration. 



These cosmic bodies are home to precious <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/psyche-asteroid-is-worth-10000-quadrillion-and-nasa-is-sending-a-space-probe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">metals like platinum, gold, and silver</a>, which are rare and expensive to mine here on our planet. 



Platinum group metals are especially in demand because they're used in electronics, catalysts, and even renewable energy tech. 



Plus, many asteroids have plenty of iron and nickel, opening up possibilities for large-scale space manufacturing and construction.



The presence of silicate minerals like olivine and pyroxene in these space rocks could also come in handy for fueling spacecraft that use this new propulsion system.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-metal-fueled-space-travel">Metal-fueled space travel</h2>



Dr. Minkwan Kim from the <a href="https://www.southampton.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Southampton</a>, the lead scientist on the project, is in charge of testing the propulsion system in the lab, calculating its thrust. 



His sights are set on the farthest regions of space, ones we previously thought were unreachable. The limitations of traditional fuel are no small hurdle.



"<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/draco-mission-spacecraft-is-built-for-spectacular-destruction/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Spacecraft</a> have limited amounts of fuel because of the enormous cost and energy it takes to launch them into space. But these new thrusters are capable of being powered by any metal that can burn, such as iron, aluminum or copper," Dr. Kim explained.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-space-odyssey">New space odyssey</h2>



Imagine a future where spacecraft can land on a moon or comet, rich in these burnable metals, and extract what they need to refuel. 



It's a vision that can rewrite our understanding of space, tearing down frontiers and expanding our knowledge of the universe.



At present, once <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sentinel-2c-satellite-delivers-first-breathtaking-images-of-earth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">spacecraft</a> are launched and get past Earth's atmosphere, they are mostly powered by rare gas phase fuels like krypton or xenon. One example of spacecraft using these types of fuels are the <a href="https://www.starlink.com/us/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Starlink satellites</a>.



The scientists are collaborating with British space firm Magdrive on the development of this game-changing propulsion system, dubbed the <a href="https://www.magdrive.space/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Super Magdrive</a>. 



It's an exciting step forward, and one that promises to have far-reaching effects.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-beyond-metal-fueled-thruster">Beyond metal fueled thruster</h2>



Dr. Kim, whose commendable career includes the creation of a plasma thruster design for the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, is on an ambitious mission. 



He envisions this technology being utilized for future deep-space missions, quite possibly revolutionizing our approach towards space exploration.



"This system," Dr. Kim mentioned, "could help us explore new planets, seek out new life, and go where no human has gone before -- enabling never-ending discovery."



This might be the beginning of a new era of exploration, marking a shift in the way we aim to understand our universe, and maybe even our place in it.



The possibilities this revolutionary propulsion system presents are limitless. A future where space travel isn't restricted by the limited availability of fuel. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-science-fiction-vs-reality">Science fiction vs reality</h2>



Science fiction has long imagined a future where humanity explores the stars using <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/take-a-glimpse-at-our-planets-new-ai-satellite-phsat2/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">advanced technologies</a>. 



At the University of Southampton, projects like the Super Magdrive system are making this vision a possible reality. 



Science fiction greatly influences scientific progress, inspiring scientists and engineers to dream big and explore new possibilities.



As we approach this new era of space exploration, society should embrace the challenges and opportunities it brings, bringing us closer to our greatest interstellar adventures.



Could a metal fueled thruster be the next big leap in our space odyssey? As we strap in and set our sights on a future filled with celestial possibilities, all we can do is wait and see.



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Spaceship thruster technology fueled by any type of metal could fly 'indefinitely'

"Space, the final frontier," is a sentiment that has been...

Antarctica, our planet's largest ice mass, holds the potential to drastically alter the global sea level. But how much can we expect it to rise? It's one of the most challenging aspects of climate science to answer. 



The Antarctic Ice Sheet (AIS), along with the dynamic and unpredictable nature of the Southern Ocean, add a layer of uncertainty to this critical question.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-antarctic-ice-mystery">Antarctic ice mystery</h2>



The good news? Scientists and researchers from Australia, the United States, and Canada are diligently working to reduce this uncertainty. What's their strategy? Well, they're focused on understanding the AIS's future behavior and how it influences sea-level rise projections.



The findings, currently accessible at the Australian Antarctic Data Centre, aim to guide research that can assist policymakers, decision-makers, and communities to plan and adapt in an ever-changing world.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sources-of-uncertainty">Sources of uncertainty</h2>



Under the leadership of Dr. Ben Galton-Fenzi, a glaciologist at the <a href="https://www.antarctica.gov.au" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Australian Antarctic Division</a>, the research team explored the significant processes and potential feedbacks that could speed up AIS retreat.



"We examined how Antarctica will contribute to sea-level change in the coming decades to centuries and where the uncertainties lie that make it difficult to project future behavior of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/shrinking-sea-ice-makes-it-harder-for-seabirds-to-find-food/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ice sheet</a>," explained Dr. Galton-Fenzi.



"Then we looked at what processes and regions should be the focus of future scientific research to reduce these uncertainties."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-potential-sea-level-rise-from-antarctica">Potential sea level rise from Antarctica</h2>



If the AIS were to melt entirely, it could lead to a staggering 58 meters of global sea-level rise. The East Antarctic Ice Sheet alone, which covers two-thirds of the continent, would account for about 52 meters of that rise. The rest would come from the West Antarctic Ice Sheet and the Antarctic Peninsula.



However, the AIS's behavior is not as straightforward as it may seem. The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/doomsday-glacier-may-collapse-sooner-than-we-thought/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ice sheet</a> grows due to snowfall that compresses into ice, and shrinks due to iceberg calving and melting from beneath the ice shelves.



Yet, the complex interactions, feedback mechanisms, and ice movements involved in these processes often make it hard to predict the behavior of the Ice Sheet.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-models-and-data">Climate models and data</h2>



Another factor contributing to this uncertainty is the limitation of current climate and ice sheet models in simulating these physical processes and feedback mechanisms.



Furthermore, there is a lack of data that captures physical processes on the correct time and spatial scales.



"When the Antarctic Ice Sheet loses mass from ice melting into the ocean, it weakens the gravitational pull of the continent, causing the sea level to drop close to the continent, but rise in more distant locations," said Dr. Galton-Fenzi, further explaining the less-known aspects of sea-level rise.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reducing-the-uncertainties">Reducing the uncertainties </h2>



So what's our best course of action in this scientific quest? The researchers identified several priority areas, such as carrying out high-resolution measurements focused on regions particularly susceptible to rapid change. 



These observations will enhance our understanding of the physical processes impacting the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/when-will-the-antarctic-ice-sheet-collapse/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ice sheet</a>.



A better understanding of these processes will improve models and analytical tools, thereby refining projections of sea-level rise and helping inform effective policy decisions.



"By reducing the uncertainties associated with the Antarctic Ice Sheet and sea-level rise, we'll give policymakers and decision-makers better information to develop coastal planning measures, resilient infrastructure, and adaption strategies," said Dr. Galton-Fenzi.



He advocates for interdisciplinary and international collaboration, particularly in regions where the East Antarctic Ice Sheet may retreat rapidly. This collaboration, according to Dr. Galton-Fenzi, will enhance research quality and speed up progress in reducing the level of uncertainty.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-innovations-in-antarctic-ice-research">Innovations in Antarctic ice research</h2>



Technological advancements are playing a crucial role in Antarctic research, helping scientists gather more accurate and detailed information than ever before. 



With cutting-edge satellite technology, we can now see high-resolution images of the ice sheet, tracking its thickness, movement, and melting patterns. 



Plus, tools like unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) allow researchers to explore hard-to-reach areas, like the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/antarcticas-ice-loss-may-have-reached-an-irreversible-tipping-point/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">underside of ice shelves</a>. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-predicting-future-changes">Predicting future changes</h2>



Technological innovations not only help us monitor the current condition of Antarctica, but also enhance our ability to predict future changes by offering real-time data and insights into the forces affecting the ice sheet.



Understanding the future behavior of the AIS holds significant implications for our global sea level and, consequently, our lives.



By minimizing the uncertainties surrounding this colossal ice mass, we can equip ourselves better to adapt and plan in this changing world.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://data.aad.gov.au/metadata/ACP_IceSheetSeaLevel_Outlook" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Australian Antarctic Data Centre.</a>



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How much will Antarctica contribute to sea level rise?

Antarctica, our planet's largest ice mass, holds the potential to...

Have you ever crossed paths with someone who exhausts their energy during the week and leaves all the fitness goals for the weekend? These folks are widely acknowledged as "weekend warriors." 



A new study led by a team at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) suggests that these weekend workouts might be paying off in a big way.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-invasion-of-the-weekend-warriors">Invasion of the weekend warriors</h2>



For the majority of us, keeping up with a regular <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/metamorphosis-exercise-triggers-molecular-changes-in-major-organs/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">workout schedule</a> during the weekdays can be a herculean task. That's where the weekend warriors come in, condensing all their exercise into a day or two each week. 



According to a research study conducted under the expert guidance of <a href="https://www.massgeneral.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MGH</a>, this pattern of concentrated physical activity can be just as beneficial for reducing disease risks as a more spread out workout regime.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-miracles-of-physical-movement">Miracles of physical movement</h2>



The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/long-term-exercise-can-make-belly-fat-healthy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">magic of physical movement</a> and its impact on our well-being is no secret. 



Study co-senior author Dr. Shaan Khurshid is a faculty member in the Demoulas Center for Cardiac Arrhythmias at Massachusetts General Hospital.



"Physical activity is known to affect risk of many diseases," said Dr. Khurshid.



"Here, we show the potential benefits of weekend warrior activity for risk not only of cardiovascular diseases, as we've shown in the past, but also future diseases spanning the whole spectrum, ranging from conditions like chronic kidney disease to mood disorders and beyond."



The universal recommendation is to clock in a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous exercise every week for overall health. Now, an intriguing question arises - does it really matter how these 150 minutes are divided throughout our weekly schedule?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-weekend-warriors-vs-regular-exercisers">Weekend warriors vs. regular exercisers</h2>



The research team also included co-senior author Dr. Patrick Ellinor, the acting chief of Cardiology and the co-director of the Corrigan Minehan Heart Center at Massachusetts General Hospital.



The experts investigated the fitness patterns of 89,573 individuals. Based on the data logged from wrist accelerometers, participants were categorized into three sectors: weekend warriors, regular exercisers, and the inactive.



The results? Quite surprising, to say the least! Both the weekend warriors and the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/evening-workouts-are-best-for-blood-sugar-control/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">regularly active</a> exhibited significantly lower risks of more than 200 diseases in comparison to their inactive counterparts. 



This included not only robust links with cardiometabolic conditions like hypertension and diabetes but also an array of other disease categories.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dissecting-exercise-patterns">Dissecting exercise patterns</h2>



The research team further investigated the nuances between weekend warriors and regular exercisers, exploring the intensity and duration of their activities. 



While both parties achieved the recommended 150 minutes per week, weekend warriors leaned towards longer, intense sessions while regular exercisers displayed a more balanced distribution. 



Interestingly, this research points to unique benefits that weekend warriors might reap such as enhanced metabolic efficiency and improved endurance. 



However, the sudden intensity can pose injury risks, flagging the need for meticulous exercise planning and progression.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-broader-implications-of-the-study">Broader implications of the study</h2>



The insights from this study stretch beyond individual exercise habits and pave the way for public health recommendations. 



The revelation that weekend warrior activities can match up to regular exercise routines might steer more people towards physical activity without the rigid confines of a strict weekly schedule. 



Moreover, this flexibility can reduce the burden of daily routines for those with packed lifestyles, leading to a potentially more active population. 



It is crucial to extend these studies across <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/daylight-saving-time-disrupts-diet-and-exercise/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">diverse groups</a> and understand the long-standing impacts, but these preliminary findings are definitely encouraging.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-total-volume-of-activity">Total volume of activity</h2>



"Because there appears to be similar benefits for weekend warrior versus regular activity, it may be the total volume of activity, rather than the pattern, that matters most," said Dr. Khurshid.



"<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-ai-artificial-intelligence-changing-health-diet-fitness-exercise-approach/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Future interventions</a> testing the effectiveness of concentrated activity to improve public health are warranted, and patients should be encouraged to engage in guideline-adherent physical activity using any pattern that may work best for them."



As this study reveals, whether you choose to pack your exercise into the weekend, or spread it out through the week, the key is merely to keep moving. 



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.124.068669" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Circulation</a>.



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'Weekend warrior' workouts lower the risk of 200 diseases

Have you ever crossed paths with someone who exhausts their...

The International Space Station (ISS) is set to advance Earth monitoring and environmental research. An ISS National Laboratory®-sponsored payload, hosted on the Airbus-developed platform Bartolomeo, will expand access to the space station’s unparalleled vantage point.



This innovation will enhance Earth observation and provide unprecedented research opportunities, providing a deeper understanding of our planet.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-earth-observation-with-bartolomeo">Earth observation with Bartolomeo</h2>



“Airbus is improving our ability to observe and understand our planet as well as democratizing access to space by accommodating more research and technology demonstrations on the ISS than ever before,” said Debra Facktor, head of U.S. Space Systems for Airbus.



"Our ArgUS platform on Bartolomeo will accommodate smaller payloads with the same power, data regulation, and monitoring as larger projects.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-advancing-global-monitoring-with-bartolomeo">Advancing global monitoring with Bartolomeo</h2>



Bartolomeo offers an array of mission services, including technical support, operations, and data transfer from Earth.



 Taking advantage of the European Columbus Module's unobstructed <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/astronaut-perspective-earth-space/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earth view</a>, multiple missions related to Earth observation, robotics, materials science, and astrophysics are enabled.



The platform’s new ArgUS Multi-Payload Adapter supports smaller payloads within a standard Bartolomeo slot, allowing multiple experiments to co-exist.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cosmic-co-working-space">Cosmic co-working space</h2>



"ArgUS is essentially a cosmic co-working space, where diverse experiments perform side by side," said Facktor.



Operations for the first payloads utilizing the ArgUS adaptation are already underway. Among them is Sen’s SpaceTV-1, a new 4K camera system that will provide real-time video of Earth and the ISS.



“We hope that our imagery will provide valuable and timely insights into environmental events, and we invite environmental agencies interested in working with our data to contact us," said Charles Black, founder and CEO of Sen.



"We want to ensure that our data is used to help people affected by environmental events."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-exploring-new-frontiers-with-argus">Exploring new frontiers with ArgUS</h2>



BAE Systems is also utilizing ArgUS to test new hardware and software for Earth observation and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/satellite-data-could-revolutionize-weather-forecasts/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">weather monitoring</a>. 



These experiments could provide crucial insights into climate change, natural disasters, and even assist future <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/contact-lost-with-chandrayaan-3-placing-the-moon-mission-in-jeopardy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">lunar missions</a>. 



“Our goal is to take concrete steps toward improving our Earth observation and data processing capabilities and to exhibit our ability to rapidly develop these technologies at low costs,” said Steve Smith, vice president of the engineering, science, and analysis unit for BAE Systems Space &amp; Mission Systems.



The payload features a next-generation radio frequency receiver conducting passive atmospheric sounding and a short-wavelength infrared camera that enhances low-cost environmental monitoring capabilities. 



BAE Systems will also provide in-orbit data processing through its Linux-based software, marking significant advancements in space-based environmental monitoring.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-improving-earth-observations-with-bartolomeo">Improving Earth observations with Bartolomeo</h2>



Facktor noted that Bartolomeo not only offers high data downlink rates, allowing researchers to receive critical data quickly, but also lowers the barrier to entry for space missions.



Researchers, institutions, and private organizations can now affordably access low Earth orbit, further enhancing scientific research results due to Bartolomeo's high data downlink rate.



Airbus’s collaboration with the <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/international-space-station/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">International Space Station</a> through the Bartolomeo platform represents a significant step forward in advancing environmental monitoring and research capabilities from space.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-insights-into-key-environmental-issues">Insights into key environmental issues </h2>



The platform’s real-time data collection capabilities provide researchers with detailed and critical insights into key environmental issues, including <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-patterns-influence-coral-bleaching-on-the-great-barrier-reef/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate patterns</a>, natural disasters, and ongoing ecological changes. 



By supporting a wide variety of compact payloads, such as the ArgUS Multi-Payload Adapter, Bartolomeo enables an expanded range of experiments and promotes deeper, more effective study of Earth’s complex systems across multiple scientific fields.



This continuous stream of high-quality data will play a crucial role in guiding global efforts related to disaster response, environmental conservation, and the creation of more effective sustainable solutions, while shaping future research directions and policy decisions aimed at protecting our planet.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bartolomeo-opportunities-for-earth-innovation">Bartolomeo opportunities for Earth innovation</h2>



The Bartolomeo platform is driving innovation by creating new opportunities for diverse scientific research and technological development. 



With its adaptable design, Bartolomeo accommodates a variety of payloads, from environmental monitoring tools to advanced robotics and materials science experiments. 



This flexibility allows researchers to test cutting-edge <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nasas-cold-atom-lab-is-revolutionizing-quantum-science-in-space-iss/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">technologies in space</a>, accelerating the development of solutions that can be applied both in orbit and on Earth.



By enabling these advancements, the platform not only supports ongoing research but also opens the door to future discoveries that could reshape industries and improve global sustainability efforts.



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Earth observation technology will transform climate monitoring

The International Space Station (ISS) is set to advance Earth...

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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

[sendtonews key="0ynNMYkMKa-2340414-12187" 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.acs.org/">American Chemical Society</a> (ACS) reveals that proteins on flu viruses are actually flexible, tilting and waving in a “breath-like” motion. According to the experts, these proteins could be used to better defend against the flu.



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

[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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;



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Kainji Lake in north central Nigeria

[sendtonews key="iuA5mpp3jv-1641775-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

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

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

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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How does salt makes things taste better?

[sendtonews key="X0f6OHYoI4-2310561-12187" 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 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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Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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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

[sendtonews key="qjvhBOBnY8-2426650-12187" 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 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

[sendtonews key="oL4FnPTGCV-2384527-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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Wetlands are a major source of methane emissions

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research&nbsp;



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



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How the immune system responds to injury

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

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: NASA Goddard



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2022 illustrated the consequences of a warming climate

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

Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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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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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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Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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