Scientists have searched for alien life for years, but space is huge, and technology has limits, making it hard to find answers. Traditionally, researchers have focused on finding planets similar to Earth, believing that conditions mirroring our own would be the best place to look for life.



However, a new study suggests that an entirely different type of planet could provide clearer <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-super-earth-hd-20794-found-just-20-light-years-away-is-best-target-yet-for-alien-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">evidence of living organisms</a>.



Instead of focusing on Earth-like planets, scientists have identified a unique biosignature gas that could reveal life in environments that are vastly different from our own.



This discovery shifts the search toward larger, ocean-covered planets with thick hydrogen atmospheres, known as hycean planets, where certain microbes could potentially thrive.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gases-could-be-key-indicators">Gases could be key indicators</h2>



The recent study, led by researchers from the <a href="https://www.ucr.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of California, Riverside</a>, explored the unexpected gases that may signify life on exoplanets.



The research was focused on methyl halides, compounds made of a carbon and three hydrogen atoms bonded to a halogen, such as chlorine or bromine. 



On Earth, these gases are produced by bacteria, marine algae, fungi, and certain plants.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hycean-planets-and-extraterrestrial-life">Hycean planets and extraterrestrial life</h2>



Detecting these biosignatures presents challenges. Exoplanets similar to Earth are too small and dim for the James Webb Space Telescope (<a href="https://science.nasa.gov/mission/webb/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">JWST</a>) to observe effectively. 



Instead, researchers suggest targeting hycean planets, which are larger and in orbit around small red stars.



These bodies are covered in deep oceans, and enveloped in thick hydrogen atmospheres. Though humans cannot survive on these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/if-aliens-could-detect-earth-what-would-they-see/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">planets</a>, some microbes might.



“Unlike an Earth-like planet, where atmospheric noise and telescope limitations make it difficult to detect biosignatures, hycean planets offer a much clearer signal,” explained Eddie Schwieterman, <a href="https://www.ucr.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UCR</a> astrobiologist and co-author of the paper .



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-practical-approach-to-finding-life">Practical approach to finding life</h2>



Scientists believe looking for methyl halides on hycean planets is a practical strategy, given current technology.



“Oxygen is currently difficult or impossible to detect on an Earth-like planet. However, methyl halides on hycean worlds offer a unique opportunity for detection with existing technology,” said Michaela Leung, UCR planetary scientist and first author of the paper.



Finding these gases could also be more efficient than searching for other <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/finding-alien-life-may-be-as-simple-as-watching-microbes-move/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">biosignatures</a>.



“One of the great benefits of looking for methyl halides is you could potentially find them in as few as 13 hours with James Webb. That is similar or lower, by a lot, to how much telescope time you’d need to find gases like oxygen or methane,” Leung said. 



“Less time with the telescope means it’s less expensive.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-detecting-life-from-vast-distances">Detecting life from vast distances</h2>



Methyl halides exist on Earth in small amounts, but hycean planets could have atmospheric conditions that allow these gases to accumulate. This makes detection easier from vast distances.



“These microbes, if we found them, would be anaerobic. They’d be adapted to a very different type of environment, and we can’t really conceive of what that looks like, except to say that these gases are a plausible output from their metabolism,” Schwieterman said.



The study builds on previous research into biosignature gases, including dimethyl sulfide. 



Methyl halides stand out due to their strong absorption of infrared light and their ability to accumulate in hydrogen-rich <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/four-small-planets-discovered-orbiting-the-nearest-single-star-to-earth-barnards-star/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">atmospheres</a>.



While JWST is currently the most powerful tool for this search, future missions could enhance detection. 



The proposed <a href="https://eu-life.eu/about/mission-values" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">European LIFE mission</a>, expected to launch in the 2040s, may confirm these biosignatures in less than a day.



“If we start finding methyl halides on multiple planets, it would suggest that microbial life is common across the universe,” Leung said. 



“That would reshape our understanding of life’s distribution and the processes that lead to the origins of life.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-expanding-the-search-for-extraterrestrial-life">Expanding the search for extraterrestrial life</h2>



Researchers plan to extend their investigations to other planetary types and biosignature gases. 



They have already studied gases from extreme environments on Earth, such as the Salton Sea, which emits halogenated compounds like chloroform.



“We want to get measurements of other things produced in extreme <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dark-oxygen-in-the-deep-sea-may-hold-clues-about-alien-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">environments</a> on Earth, which could be more common elsewhere,” Schwieterman said.



Direct sampling of exoplanet atmospheres remains out of reach, but advances in telescope technology and observational techniques could change that.



“Humans are not going to visit an exoplanet anytime soon,” Schwieterman said. “But knowing where to look, and what to look for, could be the first step in finding life beyond Earth.”



The study is published in <a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2041-8213/adb558" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Astrophysical Journal Letters</a>. 



Image Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, Joseph Olmsted/STScI



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Weird planets may be the best place to look for strange alien life, according to new research

Scientists have searched for alien life for years, but space is huge, and technology has limits, making it hard to find answers. Traditionally, researchers have focused on finding planets similar to Earth, believing that conditions mirroring our own would be the best place to look for life. However, a new study suggests that an entirely different type of planet could provide clearer evidence of living organisms. Instead of focusing on Earth-like planets, scientists have identified a unique biosignature gas that could reveal life in environments that are...

A recent study led by the <a href="https://uci.edu/">University of California, Irvine</a> has investigated how microbes re-establish their presence after the disturbance of a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wildfire-impacts-are-evolving-due-to-climate-change-but-in-what-ways/">wildfire</a>.



The researchers found that the re-establishment of microbial communities is strongly influenced by dispersal mechanisms.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-environmental-shifts">Environmental shifts</h2>



Ecological upheavals, like wildfires, severely disrupt microbial communities. A deeper understanding of this can potentially allow researchers to predict how microbes might react to significant environmental shifts.&nbsp;



The research, now published in mSystems, suggests that microbial succession post wildfires is predominantly driven by dispersal mechanisms like wind and rain.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-focus-of-the-study">Focus of the study</h2>



Over the last few decades, the frequency and extent of major ecological disturbances like wildfires have been increasing.



“We know with climate change and human activity we’re disturbing our ecosystems more and more,” said study lead author Kristin Barbour. “Microbes, especially those in the surface soil, perform a number of really key ecosystem processes, like carbon and nitrogen cycling.”&nbsp;



Bacteria and fungi, she said, break down the dead and decaying plant matter on the floor of a field or forest.&nbsp;



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



Over a year, the researchers observed how bacterial and fungal communities resurfaced in the leaf litter of a burned field.&nbsp;



The team noted that these communities underwent changes in accordance with seasonal shifts and the regrowth of plants.&nbsp;



Surprisingly, air-driven dispersal was a major factor in the return of these microbial entities.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wind-rain-and-soil">Wind, rain, and soil</h2>



A significant revelation of the study was that the majority of fungal species made their comeback primarily due to dispersal via wind or rain.&nbsp;



Bacterial communities, however, were influenced by both airborne dispersal and the deeper layers of soil, known as bulk soil.



In the initial months after the wildfire, before any visible plant regrowth, the bacteria predominantly originated from the bulk soil.&nbsp;



These findings indicate that there is an intricate relationship between surface and deeper soil layers in the recovery process post disturbances.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-loma-ridge-fire">The Loma Ridge fire</h2>



Kristin Barbour, who is a PhD student at UC Irvine, initially aimed to study microbes in relation to droughts. But an unforeseen wildfire at Loma Ridge, close to Irvine, changed the focus of her research.&nbsp;



Barbour saw the fire as an opportunity to investigate the repercussions of a phenomenon growing increasingly common due to climate change and human activities.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-the-research-was-conducted-nbsp-0">How the research was conducted&nbsp;</h2>



The team studied two distinct ecosystems post-fire: a semi-arid grassland and a coastal sage scrub.&nbsp;



Utilizing four unique configurations of dispersal bags, they sought to understand microbial movement. These bags were either porous, letting microbes move freely, or sealed, keeping microbes isolated.&nbsp;



Some were filled with burned leaf litter, while others had glass slides to capture migrating microbes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-microbial-responses-nbsp">Microbial responses&nbsp;</h2>



By analyzing these bags at five different intervals over a year, the researchers observed the microbial activity on the leaf litter.&nbsp;



They discovered that microbial responses varied depending on the environment, challenging the ability to generalize the findings.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-recurring-patterns-nbsp">Recurring patterns&nbsp;</h2>



However, the experts noted some recurring patterns. When it came to microbes entering the soil surface, 34% of the bacteria and 42% of the fungi were driven primarily by dispersal from the air.



The study also revealed that in the first few months after the fire, before plants had re-emerged, the soil beneath the leaf litter explained the largest share of immigrating bacteria.&nbsp;



The study of how microbes move through the environment is an emerging area of research, said Barbour, but one that’s intimately connected to larger issues of how big disturbances change the environment.&nbsp;



“There’s a lot of exciting work being done right now, looking at dispersal and at microbial communities out in the environment."



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How do microbes return after a wildfire?

A recent study led by the University of California, Irvine...

Gillnet,Attached,To,An,Old,Shipwreck,In,The,Alger,Underwater

In a war against time, archaeologists and historians are vigorously searching to uncover the remnants of shipwrecks and downed aircraft in the Great Lakes region. This undertaking aims to secure and document the crucial pieces of the area's extensive maritime history before the <a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Quagga-Mussels_Dreissena-bugensis_1medium.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">invasive quagga</a> mussels obliterate all tangible evidence.



The Great Lakes, which border eight U.S. states and the Canadian province of Ontario, have been the victim of these voracious mussels, primarily in the lower Great Lakes, over the last three decades. <a href="https://www.wdhof.org/members/tamara-thomsen" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tamara Thomsen</a>, a Wisconsin state maritime archaeologist, warns, “Every shipwreck is covered with quagga mussels in the lower Great Lakes… If you drain the lakes, you’ll get a bowl of quagga mussels.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-are-quagga-mussels">What are quagga mussels?</h2>



Quagga mussels, originating from Ukraine’s Dnieper River drainage, compromise the integrity of wooden ships by boring through them and stacking up in thick layers, causing structural failures. They also release acids capable of corroding steel and iron vessels. 



The destructive power of these small invaders leaves submerged aircraft resembling "Swiss cheese," corroding and burning holes into the remnants, as depicted by Wayne Lusardi, Michigan's state maritime archaeologist.



Lusardi has been actively involved in uncovering more from the 1944 crash site of a World War II aircraft in Lake Huron, piloted by a Tuskegee airman. The prolific presence of quaggas has made this task increasingly crucial, as each uncovered artifact carries with it the visible scars and damages inflicted by these mollusks.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-devastating-quagga-invasion">Devastating quagga invasion</h2>



However, Lake Superior remains a bastion against the quagga invasion due to its lower calcium levels, inhibiting the mussels' ability to form their shells. This has offered temporary sanctuary to the remnants of ships like the Edmund Fitzgerald, which sank in 1975.



Shipwrecks such as the Cedarville, Carl D. Bradley, and Daniel J. Morrell are just a few examples listed by Lusardi where the relentless mussels have left their mark, obliterating significant portions of the historical wrecks. These ships, which witnessed tragic losses, now face a silent adversary, compromising our ability to study and understand our maritime past.



The focus is not only on vessels but also on submerged aircraft. Divers, since the 1960s, have discovered aircraft so well preserved they could potentially take to the skies again. But the pervasive quagga mussels are fast compromising this underwater time capsule, corroding and consuming these relics.



Great Lakes historians, like Brendon Baillod, are also in a race against time to locate and document ships like the Trinidad, a grain schooner which sank in 1881. This ship, found off Algoma, Wisconsin in July, presented a stark visual of the quagga infestation, the site being "fully carpeted" with them, compromising the integrity of the ship's structure and its identifiable features.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-zebra-mussels-are-also-causing-problems">Zebra mussels are also causing problems</h2>



The invasion of quagga mussels, discovered in 1989 alongside the notorious <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mussels-reveal-shocking-changes-in-the-river-thames/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">zebra mussels</a>, entered the Great Lakes through ballast dumps from transoceanic freighters. They are more resilient, tolerant to lower temperatures, and have larger appetites compared to their zebra counterparts, causing more extensive destruction by consuming plankton and suspended nutrients, which are foundational to food chains in the lakes.



The severe clarity they bring to some parts of the once murky Great Lakes might appear beneficial at first glance, but it is a clear indication of the ecological imbalance and historical destruction caused by these invaders.



The destruction of these maritime artifacts represents a loss of tangible connections to our past, severing the links to the history of port cities like Milwaukee, Detroit, Chicago, and Toledo, Ohio. The Great Lakes, which were essential in the settlement and establishment of these cities, are losing their physical narratives to the invasive mussels. 



Once these tangible links are gone, we are left with mere memories and written records, making the quest to uncover and preserve them all the more urgent and essential. The rapid pace of this silent destruction underscores the importance of acting now to preserve our submerged heritage before it disappears into the shadows of the past.

Quagga mussel invasion threatens preservation of shipwrecks in the Great Lakes

In a war against time, archaeologists and historians are vigorously...

The Indian Space Research Organization (<a href="https://www.isro.gov.in/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ISRO</a>) finds itself in the midst of a tense situation as it embarks on efforts to revive Chandrayaan-3, which entered hibernation mode during the lunar night two weeks ago. This mission, which harbors the Pragyan rover and the Vikram lander, successfully landed near the moon's south pole on August 23.



Chandrayaan-3 stands as a testament to India’s pioneering spirit in space exploration, with the nation becoming the fourth country to achieve a soft landing on the moon, following in the footsteps of the U.S, Russia, and China. 



The focus of the mission is to study potential resources and gain insights into the moon's development, primarily due to the scientific interest surrounding the lunar south pole’s potential reserves of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earths-plasma-sheet-may-be-forming-water-on-the-moon/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">frozen water</a> and other essential resources for future human exploration.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-efforts-to-revive-chandrayaan-3">Efforts to revive Chandrayaan-3</h2>



ISRO declared on X (formerly Twitter) on September 22 that initiatives were underway to reestablish contact with the Vikram lander and Pragyan rover to verify their wake-up conditions. 



Despite the ongoing endeavors, the space agency has yet to receive any response from the two spacecraft. ISRO remains resilient, emphasizing that efforts to regain contact will persist.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-insights-and-discoveries-so-far">Insights and discoveries so far</h2>



Prior to entering hibernation, the Pragyan rover actively explored the landing site and transmitted significant imagery back to Earth on September 2, 2023, with the Vikram lander following suit on September 4. 



The lander played a pivotal role in analyzing the lunar soil's top layer, evaluating its chemical composition, and determining its temperature. Notably, it identified sulfur residues, indicative of previous volcanic activities on the moon.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-challenges-of-the-lunar-night">Challenges of the lunar night</h2>



The lunar night, equivalent to approximately 14 Earth days, poses severe challenges due to temperatures plunging to as low as -253 degrees Celsius. 



Typically, Radioisotope Heater Units (RHUs) are deployed in moon missions to maintain operational temperatures by producing heat and electricity through the radioactive decay of elements. Unfortunately, Chandrayaan-3 has no RHUs to keep it warm.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-isro-s-persistent-pursuit">ISRO’s persistent pursuit</h2>



Even though the mission's primary objectives have been accomplished, ISRO is determined to extend its exploration and extract additional data from the lunar south pole. The organization commits to persevering in its attempts to reconnect with Chandrayaan-3, either until communication is restored or until time runs out.



This mission was particularly crucial for India, representing a redemption of sorts after the unsuccessful lunar landing attempt of <a href="https://www.isro.gov.in/Chandrayaan2_science.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chandrayaan-2</a> in 2019 due to a software glitch. Nonetheless, Chandrayaan-2 continues its lunar orbit, contributing valuable data to ISRO’s research pool.



In summary, Chandrayaan-3's historical achievement not only positioned India among the elite group of countries capable of lunar landings, but also opened new frontiers in lunar research. The mission’s focus on the lunar south pole could pave the way for future human expeditions to the moon by unraveling the mysteries of the celestial body and uncovering vital resources. 



While the current scenario is fraught with anticipation as ISRO toils to reestablish communication, the endeavors and discoveries of the mission have already illuminated uncharted territories of lunar exploration.



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After successful lunar mission, ISRO attempts to reconnect with Chandrayaan-3

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) finds itself in the...

In another display of technological prowess, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket has equaled the company’s rocket reuse record by flawlessly accomplishing its 17th journey to space and back. The noteworthy launch took place at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, with the rocket transporting 22 of SpaceX’s innovative Starlink internet satellites.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-series-of-seamless-journeys-to-space-and-back">Series of seamless journeys to space and back</h2>



This latest achievement unfolded just four days after another Falcon 9 rocket previously established the record during a separate <a href="https://www.spacex.com/launches/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Starlink mission</a>. Notably, the company continues to shatter its own records. This mission marked SpaceX’s 65th orbital launch of the year, surpassing 2022’s impressive total of 61 missions.



The Falcon 9 ascended seamlessly, and approximately 8.5 minutes post-launch, its first stage executed a precise return to Earth, ultimately landing on a SpaceX drone ship situated at sea. Post-launch reports affirm that the 22 satellites were deployed from the Falcon 9's upper stage around 65 minutes after launch, adhering to the mission’s outlined schedule.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-expanding-starlink-constellation">The expanding Starlink constellation</h2>



<a href="https://www.starlink.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Starlink</a>, owned by SpaceX, is a revolutionary satellite internet constellation designed to offer internet services to customers globally. 



Since its inception, it has successfully launched over 4,750 operational satellites. Starlink expects to see substantial growth in the foreseeable future, adding thousands of satellites.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reusability-revolution">Reusability revolution</h2>



The unprecedented reusability of the Falcon 9 rocket stands as a testament to SpaceX’s commitment to innovation, sustainability, and cost-efficiency in space exploration. The repeated successful launches and landings of the Falcon 9 rocket have sparked discussions among experts regarding its potential to transport heavier cargo into space. 



This reliable reusability opens doors to a myriad of possibilities, including the conceptual launch of materials to construct space-based solar power plants. While discussions and planning are ongoing, the reduced costs and enhanced reliability brought about by Falcon 9’s reusability make these futuristic projects more attainable.



The potential developments in space technology, aided by the reusability of rockets like Falcon 9, bring the prospects of advanced space exploration and utilization closer to reality. It lowers the barrier to undertaking ambitious space projects and accelerates humanity’s progress in exploring and understanding the cosmos.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-and-future-prospects">Implications and future prospects</h2>



The successful completion and exceptional reusability of the Falcon 9 rocket not only signify advancements in space technology but also bolster SpaceX’s position as a leader in the aerospace industry. This achievement illustrates the ongoing evolution and the seemingly limitless potential of space exploration technologies.



The recurring accomplishments and advancements by SpaceX continue to set unprecedented standards in the aerospace sector, fostering an environment of innovation and paving the way for future explorations and potentially transformative space projects.



SpaceX’s continuous pursuit of excellence and innovation is contributing to the reshaping of space travel norms, driving the industry towards a future where space becomes a more accessible and integral part of human progress and development. 



The accomplishments of the Falcon 9 rocket exemplify how the infusion of technology, sustainability, and vision can propel the boundaries of what is conceivable, rendering the once impossible a tangible reality.



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Falcon 9 ties SpaceX records for most consecutive reuse rocket launches

In another display of technological prowess, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket...

A new study published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41559-023-02201-x">Nature Ecology &amp; Evolution</a> suggests that well-established ecological theories might need to be revised to account for human interference with natural systems.



According to the researchers, due to the cumulative nature of science, theories about the natural world must now be changed to reflect human impacts.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-distribution-theories">Distribution theories</h2>



In the 1950s and 1960s, scientists crafted theories to predict the ecological distribution of species across various <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/animals-have-a-generic-memory-of-their-ancestral-environments/">environments</a>.&nbsp;



The projections were also based on certain variables such as temperature and food availability. These theories, when tested on smaller scales, proved accurate.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-depth-zonation-model">Depth zonation model</h2>



One of the earliest theories was focused on coral reef zones. This particular model explains how various fish types or corals are discovered on reefs at differing depths.



Today, advancements in modern computing make it possible for researchers to test these ecological theories on a larger scale.



Scientists from <a href="https://www.bangor.ac.uk/">Bangor University</a> and the US Government National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) set out to verify the depth zonation theory on coral reefs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-human-influence-nbsp">The human influence&nbsp;</h2>



Led by Dr. Laura Richardson, the team analyzed data from 5,525 surveys across 35 Pacific Ocean islands.



The results were alarming. On uninhabited islands with no past or present human activity, the zonation model accurately predicted fish species distribution based on depth.&nbsp;



However, islands with a history of human habitation revealed an inconsistent pattern, deviating from the predictions of the classical model.



This deviation underscores a pressing concern – the long-standing ecological models may be showing cracks under the weight of local human impacts. These once-reliable frameworks might now be antiquated for a world so profoundly shaped by human actions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-study-implications-nbsp">Study implications&nbsp;</h2>



“Science is cumulative, building on past work. Now that we have greater computing capabilities, we should be testing these widely accepted but spatially under-validated theories at scale," said Dr. Richardson.



"Moreover the intervening years have seen human impacts on the environment increase to such an extent that these models may no longer predict the ecological distribution patterns we see today."



“This leads to more questions, both about the usefulness of models which represented a world less impacted by human activity, and about how to quantify or model our impact on the natural environment.”



“The results show that now is the time to consider whether and how to include human impacts into our understanding of the natural world today.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-human-interference-with-the-natural-world">Human interference with the natural world</h2>



Our impact on nature has been a topic of increasing concern in recent decades. The effects of human actions on the environment have led to a myriad of consequences, both direct and indirect.&nbsp;



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-deforestation">Deforestation</h3>



One of the most visible impacts, deforestation involves clearing large areas of forests for urban development, agriculture, and logging. This results in habitat loss for many species, reduces biodiversity, and affects the global carbon cycle.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pollution">Pollution</h3>



Ranging from air and water pollution to soil contamination, pollution has severe implications for both human health and the environment. Pollutants can harm aquatic life, affect forest ecosystems, and lead to global issues like acid rain and the greenhouse effect.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-change">Climate change</h3>



Largely a result of burning fossil fuels and deforestation, human-induced climate change is leading to rising global temperatures, melting polar ice, and more frequent extreme weather events. Sea level rise and ocean acidification also pose significant threats to marine ecosystems.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-overfishing">Overfishing</h3>



Humans have depleted many fish stocks to the point where they cannot regenerate, leading to ecological imbalances in marine ecosystems.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-land-degradation">Land degradation</h3>



Agriculture, mining, and urban sprawl have resulted in soil erosion, salinization, and other forms of land degradation, which in turn affect agriculture and biodiversity.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-loss-of-biodiversity">Loss of biodiversity</h3>



Habitat destruction, pollution, climate change, and introduction of invasive species are all human-induced factors that lead to a decline in biodiversity. This decline has long-term consequences for ecosystems' resilience and functioning.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-water-usage">Water usage</h3>



Over-extraction of freshwater for agricultural, industrial, and domestic purposes has led to shrinking lakes, rivers, and groundwater levels, affecting both human populations and ecosystems that rely on these water sources.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-waste-production">Waste production</h3>



The massive amounts of waste, including plastics, produced by human societies end up in landfills, oceans, and other ecosystems. This not only poses a threat to wildlife but also contributes to soil and water contamination.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-urbanization">Urbanization</h3>



Rapid urban growth without sustainable planning can lead to habitat fragmentation, increased pollution, and strain on local resources.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chemical-agriculture">Chemical agriculture</h3>



The use of pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers in modern agriculture can have detrimental effects on local ecosystems, contaminating waterways and negatively impacting non-target species.



The challenge for society is to find ways to meet human needs and aspirations while minimizing negative impacts on the environment. We can do this by embracing sustainable practices, promoting conservation, and adopting innovative technologies to reduce our ecological footprint.



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Theories about the natural world must be updated due to human interference

A new study published in the journal Nature Ecology &amp;...

A team of marine biologists led by the <a href="https://www.gu.se/en">University of Gothenburg</a> and the <a href="https://www.kth.se/en">KTH Royal Institute of Technology</a> has recently predicted that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/preparing-for-ocean-acidification-a-silent-killer-of-climate-change/">ocean acidification</a> will nearly triple by the end of this century.&nbsp;



This significant environmental shift could affect vital marine life such as fleshy seaweeds, which play a crucial role in promoting biodiversity across over a third of the world’s coastlines.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fate-of-seaweeds">Fate of seaweeds</h2>



The experts investigated the potential fate of seaweeds in oceans that are undergoing rapid acidification. They exposed a common fleshy seaweed species to the acidification levels anticipated by 2100.&nbsp;



The analyses revealed that this increased acidification altered the seaweed’s chemical balance, weakened its structure and tissues, and decreased its likelihood of survival.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unprecedented-changes">Unprecedented changes</h2>



“Climate change is resulting in unprecedented changes in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems through the emission of greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide,” the authors wrote. “Almost a third of that CO2 is taken up by the ocean, which has profound effects on seaweeds.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-ocean-acidification">Future ocean acidification</h2>



To simulate the conditions of future ocean acidification, the researchers cultivated Fucus vesiculosus, a common brown fleshy algae, in water enriched with dissolved CO2 for a span of 90 days.&nbsp;



The concentration of carbon dioxide was adjusted to mirror the levels of acidification projected for the year 2100, which is almost threefold the current levels of acidification in the oceans.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-structural-changes-nbsp">Structural changes&nbsp;</h2>



Throughout the experiment, both the visible growth and microscopic structural changes of the seaweed were closely observed.&nbsp;



The researchers measured how well the seaweed performed photosynthesis, analyzed its chemical composition, evaluated its thallus strength, and monitored its response to mechanical stress by mimicking waves to assess its vulnerability to damage or detachment in the ocean (a metric called “drag”).



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mixed-results">Mixed results</h2>



Comparison of these findings with data from F. vesiculosus grown in non-acidified water led to mixed results.&nbsp;



The seaweed cultivated in acidified water surprisingly demonstrated greater growth, more efficient photosynthesis, and no significant rise in drag.&nbsp;



However, such seaweed had reduced thallus strength, less compact tissues, a more porous overall structure, and diminished levels of calcium and magnesium - essential elements contributing to the strength and flexibility of a plant’s structure.&nbsp;



As a result, seaweeds in acidified water seemed to be more susceptible to breakage and had a higher mortality rate.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-study-implications-nbsp">Study implications&nbsp;</h2>



“Negative effects of ocean acidification on the tissue structure and breaking strength of seaweeds like F. vesiculosus could have drastic effects on coastal ecosystems,” the scientists explained.



“Such changes could lead to an overall decrease in seaweed coverage, with corresponding negative effects on organisms that depend on these habitats for food and shelter.”



Further studies are needed to explore whether the repercussions of ocean acidification are consistent across all fleshy seaweed species.&nbsp;



“If this proves to be a general mechanism affecting fleshy seaweeds, the expectation is that ocean acidification will have critical structuring effects on rocky-shore ecosystems given how widely distributed and fundamental brown seaweeds are across one-third of the coastlines of the world,” the authors concluded.



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2023.07.056">Current Biology</a>.



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Ocean acidification endangers ecologically important seaweed

A team of marine biologists led by the University of...

The U.S. Space Force has set a new record by launching a satellite into orbit with a mere 27 hours' notice. Unfortunately, Earth's ionosphere was damaged by the launch. 



This unexpected and swift action took place on September 14th with the launch of the <a href="https://fireflyspace.com/missions/victus-nox/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Victus Nox mission</a> from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California aboard a Firefly Alpha rocket. The rapid deployment showcases the United States’ capacity to respond and augment its space capabilities with minimal notice.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-record-setting-deployment">Record-setting deployment</h2>



The Victus Nox, Latin for "conquer the night," managed to shock the space exploration community due to the lack of prior announcement regarding the timing and the absence of live streaming of the event. 



The rush from approval to launch was a staggering and unprecedented 27 hours, as mentioned above, highlighting the agility and responsiveness of the nation’s space endeavors.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mission-goals-and-observations">Mission goals and observations</h2>



Victus Nox is set to conduct "space domain awareness" operations, aimed at enhancing the Space Force's ability to monitor the orbital environment, playing a critical role in overseeing space activities and potential threats. 



The launch drew notable attention, not only for its rapid execution but also due to the enormous exhaust plume it produced, which was visible from more than 1,000 miles away. This visibility, marked by a lingering faint red glow in the sky, indicated that the rocket likely pierced the Earth's ionosphere during liftoff.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-the-ionosphere">Understanding the ionosphere</h2>



The ionosphere, situated between 50 and 600 miles above Earth’s surface, is a region of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-uncover-new-way-that-earth-cleans-its-atmosphere/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">atmosphere</a> where gases undergo ionization. Ionospheric holes are formed where rocket fuel combusts within this layer, around 125–185 miles above the Earth. 



The exhaust, comprising carbon dioxide and water vapor, causes ionized oxygen atoms to recombine into oxygen molecules, releasing energy as light in the process.



Such interactions are not unprecedented, with a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket having created a similarly expansive red patch earlier this year. Importantly, these ionospheric holes pose no threat to terrestrial life and naturally close after a few hours when the recombined gases revert to their ionized state.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-behind-the-scenes">Behind-the-scenes</h2>



Firefly Aerospace, having secured the Victus Nox contract in October 2022, was prepared to launch the satellite with less than 24 hours' notice, which was specified at the time of the agreement. 



The launch team efficiently executed all necessary preparations, including software updates, satellite encapsulation, transportation, mounting, and final inspections within the stringent timeframe. However, inclement weather conditions necessitated a slight delay in the launch.



Lt. Col. MacKenzie Birchenough of the Space Force's Space Systems Command emphasized the mission's importance, stating it was designed to "demonstrate the United States' ability to rapidly place an asset in orbit when and where we need it," underlining the strategic flexibility and enhanced operational capability offered by such rapid deployment options.



In summary, the unanticipated and swift launch of the Victus Nox mission by the <a href="https://www.spaceforce.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">U.S. Space Force</a> has set a new benchmark in space mission execution, illustrating the United States’ capability to fortify its space assets rapidly and efficiently. 



This development, coupled with the public visibility of the launch’s interaction with the ionosphere, has highlighted the dynamism and strategic evolution within modern space exploration and military operations.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-about-the-ionosphere">More about the ionosphere</h2>



The ionosphere is a critical and electrically charged layer of the Earth's atmosphere that plays an essential role in the propagation of radio waves. As mentioned previously, this layer, comprising ions and free electrons, extends from approximately 50 miles to over 600 miles above the Earth's surface.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-formation-of-the-ionosphere">Formation of the ionosphere</h3>



The sun emits ultraviolet and X-ray radiation that interacts with the gases in the Earth's upper atmosphere, primarily stripping electrons from atoms and molecules, a process known as ionization. This interaction creates ions and free electrons, leading to the formation of the ionosphere.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-composition-and-structure">Composition and structure</h3>



The ionosphere contains several distinct layers, each characterized by its unique density of ions and electrons. Scientists divide it mainly into the D, E, F1, and F2 layers.



D Layer: Existing from about 50 to 90 km above the Earth, the D layer mainly dissipates during the night due to the recombination of ions and electrons. It significantly absorbs lower-frequency radio waves, causing difficulties for long-distance radio communication during the day.



E Layer: This layer resides between approximately 90 to 120 km above the Earth. The E layer partially ionizes in the presence of sunlight and reflects medium-frequency radio waves, aiding in their propagation over long distances.



F Layer: The F layer extends above the E layer and usually splits into two sub-layers, F1 and F2, during the day. The F1 layer forms at about 140 km, while the F2 layer, which is the highest and most electron-dense layer, exists around 300 km above the Earth. The F layers facilitate the reflection of high-frequency radio waves, enabling long-distance communication, particularly during the night when the F layers combine.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ionosphere-and-radio-communication">Ionosphere and radio communication</h3>



The ionosphere plays a pivotal role in radio communication by reflecting and refracting radio waves back to the Earth's surface. Radio operators often utilize the ionosphere to communicate over vast distances without the aid of satellites or cables. They select appropriate frequencies to maximize signal reach, ensuring that waves reflect off the ionosphere effectively, rather than passing through to space.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scientific-and-practical-importance">Scientific and practical importance</h3>



Understanding the ionosphere is crucial for various scientific and practical applications, such as the study of space weather, satellite communication, navigation systems, and radio astronomy.



Space Weather Studies: Scientists study the ionosphere to understand the effects of solar activities, like solar flares and geomagnetic storms, on the Earth’s atmosphere and magnetic field. This knowledge is crucial for predicting space weather and its potential impact on technology and human activities.



Satellite Communication: The ionosphere influences satellite communication by altering the signal paths of radio waves as they traverse through it. Engineers and scientists monitor and study ionospheric conditions to mitigate disruption in satellite-based communication and navigation systems, like GPS.



Radio Astronomy: The ionosphere also affects the observation of celestial bodies using radio telescopes. Astronomers analyze ionospheric conditions to correct distortions in the received signals and to enhance the clarity and accuracy of their observations.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-challenges-and-developments">Challenges and developments</h3>



The dynamic nature of the ionosphere, influenced by solar activity, atmospheric conditions, and geomagnetic activity, poses challenges to our understanding and prediction of its behavior. Scientists employ advanced technologies, like ionosondes and satellites, to monitor the ionosphere continuously. They also develop sophisticated models to predict its variability and its effects on radio wave propagation.



Moreover, advancements in ionospheric research offer the possibility of harnessing this layer for technological innovations, such as developing new communication systems and improving existing technologies like GPS.



In summary, the ionosphere, with its charged particles and intricate layered structure, is a vital component of our planet’s atmosphere. It aids in the propagation of radio waves, impacting various technologies and scientific fields. 



Continuous research and advancements in this domain are imperative for enhancing our understanding of the ionosphere, mitigating its challenges, and exploiting its potentials for scientific and technological advancements. The exploration of the ionosphere thus remains a key frontier in atmospheric and space science.



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U.S. rocket launch ripped a hole in Earth's ionosphere

The U.S. Space Force has set a new record by...

In an era where the emphasis on creating a nature-friendly <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cigarette-butts-leak-thousands-of-deadly-toxins-into-the-environment/">environment</a> has never been greater, researchers are warning of the dangers posed by greenwashing.&nbsp;



The concept of greenwashing has emerged as a significant barrier to achieving a ‘nature positive’ world, an aspirational vision of halting environmental degradation and protecting biodiversity.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nature-positive-nbsp">Nature positive&nbsp;</h2>



According to World Economic Forum, nature positive means enhancing the resilience of our planet and societies to halt and reverse nature loss.



It represents an intent to go a step beyond the present measures, which largely orbit around damage control.



"Nature positive is a hot topic in conservation. Described as the biodiversity version of a ‘net zero’ climate goal, the desired outcome is an improvement in the state of nature and not merely the mitigation of impacts," wrote the researchers.



The team was led by Professor Martine Maron from <a href="https://www.uq.edu.au/">The University of Queensland</a>.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-leaders-pledge-for-nature">Leaders’ Pledge for Nature</h2>



Professor Maron stressed the indispensability of a nature positive approach, especially in the face of the ongoing mass extinction.&nbsp;



“Countries around the world are starting to back the concept – more than 90 world leaders have signed on to the Leaders’ Pledge for Nature calling for a nature positive future by 2030," said Professor Maron.&nbsp;



“And 11 of the global Fortune 100 companies already aspire to contribute to nature positive."



“This is fantastic news, but these laudable ambitions mustn’t be sidelined by a well-known enemy of the environmental movement: greenwash.”



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



Greenwashing is the tactic employed by organizations to project an inflated image of their environmental commitments.&nbsp;



It involves dishing out misleading or deceptive information to appear more environmentally responsible than one truly is.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-misleading-information-nbsp">Misleading information&nbsp;</h2>



Professor E.J. Milner-Gulland from the University of Oxford said the team hopes that the public does not get the proverbial wool pulled over their eyes.



“Our message to the public is that it’s incredibly important to scrutinize these claims,” said Professor Milner-Gulland.



“As with the term ‘net zero,' you’ll soon start to see the businesses you buy from, and the governments you vote for, making claims that they are being, doing, or contributing to nature positive."



“But to be clear, such an achievement is only possible if we fundamentally change how we run our society and economy."



“What we really need are standards, so that it’s clear what constitutes misleading information, and transparency, so that consumers and voters can tell the greenwash from the genuine efforts for change.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-we-still-have-a-long-way-to-go">We still have a long way to go</h2>



Australia is currently framing its national environmental law reforms around the concept of nature positive.



“For these initiatives to truly achieve that goal, they’ll need to be substantial and far-reaching, preventing the accumulation of further impacts, especially on our threatened biodiversity,” said Professor Maron.



“Hundreds of thousands of hectares of habitat are still being cleared in Australia every year, so we still have a long way to go before we can say we’re nature positive.”



The research is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41559-023-02199-2">Nature Ecology and Evolution</a>.



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Greenwashing jeopardizes efforts for a "nature positive" world

In an era where the emphasis on creating a nature-friendly...

Young,Woman,Looking,At,Math,Problem,On,Blackboard

An international collective of mathematicians has unveiled 12,000 innovative solutions to the notoriously challenging three-body problem, a puzzle that has historically perplexed both mathematicians and physicists. 



The leader of this effort, Ivan Hristov, a mathematician from Sofia University in Bulgaria, along with his team, unearthed these solutions utilizing advanced computational technology.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unraveling-the-three-body-problem">Unraveling the three-body problem</h2>



The three-body problem involves deciphering the subsequent motion of three point masses given their initial positions and velocities, according to Newton’s laws of motion and the law of universal gravitation. 



Unlike simpler two-body systems, which can be expressed with straightforward mathematical equations, the introduction of a third body complicates the dynamics. That, in turn, creates a multifaceted problem that has confounded scientists since the inception of Newtonian physics, roughly 300 years ago.



Historically, the first recognized three-body conundrum, involving the Moon, Earth, and Sun, raised substantial concerns. While conceptualizing one planet in orbit around a star is manageable, articulating the behavior of multiple orbiting objects proves to be a substantial challenge in astrophysics.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-delving-into-the-new-solutions">Delving into the new solutions</h2>



Hristov and his team explored the potential orbits applicable to the three-body problem with the assistance of a supercomputer. Hristov suggests that with enhanced technology, they could have discovered “five times more” solutions. He characterizes the newly discovered orbits as possessing “a very beautiful spatial and temporal structure.”



Although the researchers have only published their findings as a preprint to the database arXiv, and the study still awaits peer review, the outcomes could offer substantial insights and resources for astronomers striving to comprehend the complexities of the cosmos.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-of-these-three-body-problem-solutions">Implications of these three-body problem solutions</h2>



While these solutions hold immense theoretical value, experts remain cautious. Questions remain as to whether or not the new orbits will indeed be stable and practically beneficial for astronomers in real-world applications. The stability of these orbits is crucial for their utility within the laws of physics for triple orbiting objects.



Despite the skepticism surrounding the practical application of the solutions, Hristov remains confident about the theoretical significance of their findings. He asserts that whether stable or not, the newly found solutions contribute substantially to theoretical understandings and discussions regarding multi-body celestial mechanics.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-impact-on-astronomy-and-astrophysics">Impact on astronomy and astrophysics</h2>



Should these solutions prove to be stable, they could revolutionize our understanding of celestial mechanics and provide enhanced models for astronomers. It could ultimately prove to be an enormous benefit to scientists in the ongoing endeavor to unravel the mysteries of the universe. The solutions could offer enriched perspectives on the dynamics of celestial bodies and catalyze further research and discoveries in the fields of astronomy and astrophysics.



In summary, the discovery of 12,000 new solutions to the three-body problem by Ivan Hristov and his team marks a pivotal advancement in the realm of mathematics and celestial mechanics. Although still pending peer review and further validation, the findings illuminate new possibilities and theoretical frameworks, potentially propelling our understanding of the cosmos to unprecedented heights. 



The active engagement and persistent pursuit of solutions by mathematicians and scientists worldwide signify the relentless human quest for knowledge and the unraveling of the mysteries embedded in the fabric of the universe.



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The elusive three-body problem now has 12,000 new solutions

An international collective of mathematicians has unveiled 12,000 innovative solutions...

A recent study from <a href="https://www.elte.hu/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eötvös Loránd University</a> has explored the question of why flat-faced dogs are so popular despite their major health risks.&nbsp;



The results of the study suggest that flat-faced dogs such as pugs and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/english-bulldogs-are-suffering-from-poor-breeding-practices/">bulldogs</a> have infant-like traits and behaviors that humans find irresistible.



"Infant-like traits may be present not only in appearance but also in behavior in brachycephalic breeds, eliciting caring behavior in owners," wrote the study authors.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-health-issues">Health issues</h2>



Pugs and French bulldogs, with their wrinkled faces and flat noses, have charmed their way into the hearts of many dog lovers



However, these brachycephalic breeds are also prone to severe health issues, raising questions about the seemingly paradoxical rise in their popularity.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-are-brachycephalic-dogs-so-popular">Why are brachycephalic dogs so popular?</h2>



The term "brachycephalic" refers to breeds of dogs that have flattened faces and shortened muzzles, a result of selective breeding rather than natural evolution.&nbsp;



Despite the known health risks, such as breathing and skin problems, these breeds have witnessed an unprecedented rise in ownership in recent years.&nbsp;



The Kennel Club reported a 2,747-percent increase in registered French Bulldogs since 2004 in the UK alone.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-brachycephalic-paradox">The brachycephalic paradox</h2>



The researchers aimed to understand the so-called "brachycephalic paradox" - why these breeds continue to gain popularity despite well-documented welfare issues, high veterinary costs, and shorter lifespans.&nbsp;



"The focus of this paper is the ‘kindchenschema’ effect (also known as the cute effect); a well-studied phenomenon in psychological research in which infantile features in images of both children and animals are regularly found to provoke positive and affectionate feelings in human observers, and to prompt careful and nurturant behaviors," wrote the study authors.



"Our aim here is to discover whether relative muzzle shortening across a range of dog breeds is linked to the key facial features known to be appealing to, and to elicit nurturant behaviors in, human observers."&nbsp;



"Specifically, we sought to discover whether muzzle shortening in the sagittal plane of dogs’ heads (i.e. in profile) is statistically associated with known ‘kindchenschema’ features in the coronal plane (i.e. fronto-facial features such as the relative size of eyes and forehead)."



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



The team used a unique experiment to compare 30 flat-faced dogs, including 15 English bulldogs and 15 French bulldogs, and 13 Hungarian Mudis, a breed with mid-length muzzles.



The dogs were presented with three boxes with different opening mechanisms, each containing a sausage.&nbsp;



The animals had two minutes to open the boxes while both the experimenter and the owner stood out of direct sight.&nbsp;



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



Interestingly, Mudis were much more adept at solving the task, but the brachycephalic breeds were 4.5 times more likely to look back at the human observers for help.



This suggests that short-faced dogs have a tendency to seek out human assistance when faced with problems. As a result, the dogs may be perceived as helpless - forging a stronger bond with their owners.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-kindchenschema-effect">The kindchenschema effect</h2>



Furthermore, the assistance-seeking behavior of these dogs seems to be tied to the kindchenschema effect, just as the researchers had hypothesized.



The experts also confirmed that the short muzzle length in brachycephalic dogs correlates with more infant-like facial proportions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-basic-human-instincts">Basic human instincts</h2>



Despite the public's understanding of the adverse health impacts, the study suggests that the innate human tendency to care for creatures that appear helpless or childlike may override cognitive reasoning.&nbsp;



The behaviors of flat-faced dogs that people interpret as helplessness and help- seeking - together with childlike looks - seem to activate our basic nurturing instinct.



"Humans find it very difficult to cognitively override strong instinctive predispositions and still choose brachycephalic breeds, disregarding future health and welfare issues," wrote the researchers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-paradoxical-appeal-nbsp">Paradoxical appeal&nbsp;</h2>



This brings to light the ethical dilemma surrounding the demand for these breeds. While their "cute" features may be compelling, they also set the stage for a range of health problems.



"Recent research has indicated that many owners understand that brachycephalia can have adverse consequences for health but choose to keep such breeds anyway," wrote the researchers.



"This may be partly due to the perceived positive behavioral traits of some of these breeds, with owners’ denial of their dogs’ health problems, or with the paradoxical appeal of disabled dogs."&nbsp;



"Either way, there is little doubt that some aspects of the appearance of brachycephalic animals is also a crucial driver of ownership."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-study-implications-nbsp">Study implications&nbsp;</h2>



The study forces us to confront questions about responsible pet ownership and ethical breeding practices.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Going forward, increased awareness and education are crucial for prospective pet owners to make informed decisions that consider the well-being of these beloved animals.



The research is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-41229-8#:~:text=Owners%20might%20interpret%20these%20behaviours,eliciting%20caring%20behaviour%20in%20owners." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a>.



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Flat-faced dogs are so popular because they have childlike traits

A recent study from Eötvös Loránd University has explored the...

NASA's OSIRIS-REx team has achieved a monumental milestone in space exploration, successfully returning a capsule containing rocks and dust from asteroid Bennu to Earth. This capsule marked its entry on Earth at 8:52 a.m. MDT on Sunday, landing meticulously in a predetermined area of the Department of Defense’s Utah Test and Training Range, near Salt Lake City.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-to-bennu-and-back">To Bennu and back</h2>



The spacecraft traversed billions of miles to reach Bennu and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mission-prevent-earth-collision-asteroid-bennu-lands-utah/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">return the capsule</a>. It released the capsule toward Earth's atmosphere when it was about 63,000 miles from the Earth’s surface, approximately one-third the distance from Earth to the Moon. 



Traveling at a speed of 27,650 mph, the capsule entered the atmosphere, landing within 10 minutes on the military range, supported by <a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/OSIRIS-REx_sample-return-capsule_parachute_landed_1medium.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">two parachutes</a>, ensuring stability and a gradual speed reduction to 11 mph at touchdown.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-importance-of-nitrogen-purge">Importance of nitrogen purge</h2>



Post-landing, the capsule saw immediate action, being transported by helicopter to a temporary clean room in a hangar on the training range within an hour and a half. 



Here, it connected to a continuous flow of nitrogen, referred to as a “nitrogen purge” by scientists, to ensure the sample's purity by keeping out earthly contaminants. Nitrogen, being chemically inert with most substances, is crucial in maintaining the pristine condition of the samples.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scientific-treasure-from-bennu">Scientific treasure from Bennu</h2>



The samples collected, estimated at around 8.8 ounces or 250 grams, are of immense scientific value. They are expected to unravel mysteries regarding planet formation and the origins of organics and water that enabled life on Earth. They will provide scientists worldwide with unparalleled insight into the formation of our solar system and help humanity understand more about potentially hazardous asteroids.



NASA Administrator Bill Nelson congratulated the <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/osiris-rex" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">OSIRIS-REx</a> team on the successful return of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/osiris-rex-is-bringing-an-asteroid-sample-back-to-earth-this-month-worrying-many-people/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">first American asteroid sample</a>, emphasizing how such missions unite and inspire humanity, proving "nothing is beyond our reach when we work together."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-post-landing-procedures">Post-landing procedures</h2>



The unopened canister, holding the unprecedented samples from Bennu, will be transported by aircraft to NASA’s <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/home/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Johnson Space Center</a> in Houston on Monday, Sept. 25. Scientists will disassemble the canister, extract, weigh the sample, create an inventory of the rocks and dust, and over time, distribute pieces of Bennu to scientists globally.



Dante Lauretta, the principal investigator for OSIRIS-REx at the University of Arizona, Tucson, emphasized that the delivery of the samples marks a significant achievement not just for the OSIRIS-REx team but for science as a whole. This accomplishment, according to Lauretta, is a testament to collaborative ingenuity and symbolizes what unity with a common purpose can achieve.



Rich Burns, the project manager for OSIRIS-REx at NASA’s <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Goddard Space Flight Center</a> in Greenbelt, Maryland, drew parallels between the mission's success and a triumphant moment in a crucial baseball match, illustrating the team’s heightened anticipation and preparedness.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-asteroid-autumn">Asteroid Autumn</h2>



This triumphant return of the asteroid sample is not the end but the commencement of a new chapter in space exploration. The upcoming missions, including Psyche launch, DART’s one year anniversary, and Lucy’s first asteroid approach, are setting the stage for an intense period of exploration, aptly named "Asteroid Autumn."



NASA’s successful execution of this mission is a stepping stone to further groundbreaking discoveries and advancements in space exploration, reaffirming that when driven by unity and shared ambitions, the possibilities for humankind are limitless.



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OSIRIS-REx safely delivers rock samples from asteroid Bennu back to Earth

NASA's OSIRIS-REx team has achieved a monumental milestone in space...

In the global fight against climate change, a cutting-edge approach is emerging to specifically target methane, which is responsible for roughly 30 percent of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earth-endured-rapid-global-warming-300-million-years-ago/">global warming</a> since pre-industrial times



Experts from the <a href="https://www.sron.nl/">Netherlands Institute for Space Research</a> (SRON) have revolutionized methane detection by combining the power of Sentinel satellites and machine learning algorithms.&nbsp;



This groundbreaking technology could provide a major boost to efforts aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions by identifying super-emitters and other large methane sources.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-methane-matters">Why methane matters</h2>



Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, ranking second only to carbon dioxide in its contribution to global warming.&nbsp;



However, its impact is more intense: a ton of methane can retain 30 times more heat than an equal amount of carbon dioxide over a century.&nbsp;



Importantly, the short lifespan of methane - about 10 years - makes it a prime target for rapid climate action.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-methane-super-emitters">Methane super-emitters</h2>



Methane emissions are not evenly distributed. Methane super-emitters, which are typically industrial facilities like oil and gas operations or coal mines, disproportionately contribute to the problem.&nbsp;



These sources often have equipment or infrastructure issues that lead to significant leaks. Identifying super-emitters has been a major challenge.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-sentinel-satellites-nbsp">The Sentinel satellites&nbsp;</h2>



The Tropomi instrument aboard the Copernicus Sentinel-5P satellite creates a global map of methane concentrations every day, using shortwave infrared bands as unique fingerprints for methane detection.&nbsp;



SRON researchers have developed a new algorithm that uses machine learning to automatically identify methane super-emitters based on the satellite data.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-methane-plumes">Methane plumes</h2>



"Before, we manually identified the largest emitters, but it remains difficult to search through the millions of Tropomi pixels. A methane plume often only covers a few pixels. We now automatically get a list of detections from the machine learning model every day," explained Berend Schuit from SRON.



“We check those manually every week to make sure we are confident about the detections. What remains, dozens of methane plumes every week, we publish online. We communicate persistent leaks to other satellites with higher resolution so they can precisely identify the source.”



“This information is used by the United Nations' International Methane Emissions Observatory to find a solution together with the responsible companies or authorities.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-golden-opportunity-nbsp">Golden opportunity&nbsp;</h2>



Study co-author Bram Maasakkers said that the dozens of methane plumes that are detected by Tropomi every week present a golden opportunity in the fight against global warming,



“If it’s visible from space, it is serious. For the first time, we now get a good global picture of these super-emitters. In our publication, we describe the 2974 plumes that we found in 2021; 45% originate from oil and gas facilities but we also see plumes from urban areas (35%) and coal mines (20%)," said Maasakkers.



“We detect human-made emissions with a climate impact that is significantly larger than total greenhouse gas emissions of The Netherlands. In many cases, those leaks are easy to fix.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-multi-tiered-approach">A multi-tiered approach</h2>



The Sentinel-5P, Sentinel-2, and Sentinel-3 satellites are used in a tiered approach to methane detection.&nbsp;



While Sentinel-5P offers daily global coverage but lacks spatial resolution, Sentinel-2 can identify exact locations but doesn't offer daily coverage. Sentinel-3 sits at the sweet spot, providing both daily global coverage and remarkable resolution for methane detection.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-study-implications">Study implications</h2>



This new approach of using machine learning and a multi-tiered satellite system opens up vast opportunities in the fight against climate change.&nbsp;



Sudhanshu Pandey, lead author and now scientist at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, commented, “Who would have thought we can use three different Sentinel missions in a tiered approach to first spot methane super emitters from space globally with Tropomi on Sentinel-5P, then zooming in with Sentinel-3 and Sentinel-2, we’re able to identify the exact source responsible at facility level. This is the type of information we need to take swift action.”



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://acp.copernicus.org/articles/23/9071/2023/">Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics</a>.



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New methane detection method will expose super-emitters

In the global fight against climate change, a cutting-edge approach...

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;



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



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Kainji Lake in north central Nigeria

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Amanda Nguyen/University of Illinois



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



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Designing crops that can beat the heat

[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?

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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Wetlands are a major source of methane emissions

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research&nbsp;



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



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

How the immune system responds to injury

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

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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

2022 illustrated the consequences of a warming climate

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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

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