Many people imagine Earth’s interior mantle as separate layers stacked on top of each other, like a layered cake, with each layer representing a plate. In reality, those internal zones are complex and often full of surprises.



Seismologists have relied on specific types of earthquake waves to learn about Earth's subsurface, but now a different technique is painting a far more detailed picture.



This fresh perspective has led scientists to wonder if there is hidden material in places once believed to be empty.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-earth-s-mantle-the-basics">Understanding Earth's mantle - the basics</h2>



Earth’s mantle is the thick layer of rock that lies between the planet's crust and its core. It stretches about 1,800 miles (2,900 kilometers) deep, making up around 84% of Earth's total volume. 



The mantle is primarily composed of silicate minerals rich in iron and magnesium, and it's mostly solid, but it behaves like a thick, slow-flowing fluid over long periods of time. 



This flow is what drives the movement of tectonic plates on Earth's surface, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/can-we-detect-major-earthquakes-months-in-advance/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">causing earthquakes</a>, volcanic eruptions, and the shifting of continents. 



Heat from the Earth’s core causes <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earths-inner-core-rotation-is-slowing-down-making/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">convection currents</a> in the mantle, where hot material rises, cools near the crust, and then sinks back down, creating a continuous cycle. This process plays a key role in shaping the planet's surface.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tectonic-plates-in-earth-s-mantle">Tectonic plates in Earth's mantle</h2>



The discovery stems from the use of a high-resolution method called <a href="https://library.seg.org/doi/10.1190/1.9781560803027.entry6">full-waveform inversion</a>. Scientists use this approach to interpret every type of <a href="https://manoa.hawaii.edu/exploringourfluidearth/physical/ocean-floor/layers-earth/compare-contrast-connect-seismic-waves-and-determining-earth-s-structure#">seismic wave</a> produced by earthquakes, rather than focusing on only one kind.



Because of that, they can build a more precise model of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earths-crust-is-dripping-under-turkey/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earth’s internal structures</a>.&nbsp;



After applying this method to the lower mantle, researchers saw pockets that appear to be leftover plate fragments in areas with no known history of subduction. 



Following their analysis, they were startled by just how common these hidden anomalies seemed to be.



This work was led by a team that includes doctoral student <a href="https://www.geology.ethz.ch/people/person-detail.Mjc3OTM4.TGlzdC82NjksNTE5NzQ3MzU0.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Thomas Schouten</a> from the <a href="https://www.geology.ethz.ch/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Geological Institute of ETH Zurich</a>, who collaborated with experts from the <a href="https://www.caltech.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">California Institute of Technology</a>.



Their combined efforts brought fresh insights that challenge assumptions about where old tectonic plate remnants might reside in Earth.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-interpreting-seismic-signals">Interpreting seismic signals</h2>



To understand how researchers got here, it helps to remember how seismic waves work. When an earthquake strikes, it sends waves radiating outward in all directions.



These waves bounce, bend, and shift as they travel through the planet. In much the same way that doctors use medical imaging techniques, geophysicists measure the time these waves take to reach various seismic stations around the globe.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/earth_lower-mantle_rock-zones_mysterious-sunken-worlds_credit-ETHZ_1s.webp" alt="Using a new model, researchers uncover zones in the Earth's lower mantle where seismic waves travel slower (red) or faster (blue). The large blue zone in the western Pacific (right above the center of the image) was previously unknown. Credit: Sebastian Noe / ETH Zurich" class="wp-image-1956322"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Using a new model, researchers uncover zones in the Earth's lower mantle where seismic waves travel slower (red) or faster (blue). The large blue zone in the western Pacific (right above the center of the image) was previously unknown. Credit: Sebastian Noe / ETH Zurich</figcaption></figure>



The velocity of those signals reveals details about rock density and stiffness. In previous years, scientists relied heavily on <a href="https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/ssa/bssa/article-abstract/108/5A/2894/546740/Generalized-Seismic-Phase-Detection-with-Deep?redirectedFrom=fulltext" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">particular seismic phases</a>. 



But by examining all available wave data instead, new shapes and densities were identified from Earth's lower <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mantle-heat-shaped-earths-crust-3-billion-years-ago/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mantle</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-is-earth-s-mantle-important">Why is Earth's mantle important?</h2>



Over hundreds of millions of years, plates have formed, shifted, and sunk back into Earth’s interior. This <a href="https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1029/JB073i006p01959">cycling</a> plays a role in controlling phenomena like volcano formation, earthquakes, and the slow drift of continents.&nbsp;



Researchers have long known that slabs of subducted plates cluster under regions where one tectonic plate slides under another. 



So it came as a surprise when the new images revealed large slabs below oceans and continental interiors that lack a clear history of plate collisions.



That signals a possible complication in our understanding of how plates evolve and where they end up.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mysterious-plate-under-the-pacific-ocean">Mysterious plate under the Pacific Ocean</h2>



One of the biggest surprises was in a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ancient-sunken-oceans-discovered-between-earth-core-and-mantle/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">zone</a> under the western Pacific. According to current plate tectonic timelines, there is no reason for old plate fragments to be there.&nbsp;



“Apparently, such zones in the Earth's mantle are much more widespread than previously thought,” said <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-77399-2">Schouten</a>.



No geologic data points to historical subduction nearby. This indicates that the anomalies might not be chunks of plates at all, or at least not in the way scientists originally imagined.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-could-it-be-something-else">Could it be something else?</h2>



Scientists now face questions about the origin and nature of these structures.



Some say they may be ancient, silica-rich pockets left over from the early <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-earths-mantle-shapes-surface-topography/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mantle</a>. Others suggest they might be iron-rich accumulations that have drifted over billions of years.&nbsp;



Schouten explained that the new model reveals anomalies throughout the Earth's interior, but the exact materials or plate fragments responsible for these patterns remain unclear. 



This uncertainty suggests a more diverse range of compositions in the Earth's mantle than previously understood.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-next-steps-for-deeper-understanding">Next steps for deeper understanding</h2>



Full-waveform inversion is a promising tool for these investigations, but it offers only a view of how fast or slowly waves move through the material. 



Researchers say they need further refinement to tease out chemical and thermal differences. 



Some are turning to additional datasets, including electromagnetic signals and data from mineral physics experiments. 



Combining those methods might highlight whether these mantle “blobs” are from primordial origins, from recycled ocean crust, or from something else entirely.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-for-plate-tectonics">Implications for plate tectonics</h2>



If scientists confirm that more zones like these exist in Earth’s depths, they may have to adjust many theories about how heat moves through the planet. 



Such hidden zones might alter patterns of convection and the formation of mantle plumes.&nbsp;



The story of plate tectonics could also see updates, with new chapters on how plate fragments wander and transform in ways not previously documented. These discoveries remind us that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-volcanic-hotspots-are-all-connected-to-earths-interior-mantle/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">geoscience</a>, like any science, is never settled.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-search-continues">The search continues</h2>



In the future, improved supercomputers may crunch even larger datasets to produce clearer images of Earth's lower mantle and its plate structures. That could resolve debates about the true nature of these mysterious anomalies.&nbsp;



By integrating various approaches - seismic, chemical, and computational - Earth scientists will keep uncovering pieces of our planet’s hidden complexity.



As Schouten’s team demonstrated, sometimes seeing the entire picture means looking beyond what we think we already know.



The study is published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-77399-2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Scientific Reports</a>.



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'Sunken worlds' discovered under the Pacific ocean in Earth's mantle

Many people imagine Earth’s interior mantle as separate layers stacked on top of each other, like a layered cake, with each layer representing a plate. In reality, those internal zones are complex and often full of surprises. Seismologists have relied on specific types of earthquake waves to learn about Earth's subsurface, but now a different technique is painting a far more detailed picture. This fresh perspective has led scientists to wonder if there is hidden material in places once believed to be empty. Understanding Earth's mantle -...

Green,Leaves,Of,Medicinal,Cannabis,With,Extract,Oil.medical,Marijuana,Flower

A new study led by the <a href="https://wsu.edu/">Washington State University</a> (WSU) has found that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cannabidiol-marijuana-treat-addiction/">cannabidiol</a> (CBD) – a non-psychoactive component of cannabis – inhibits the metabolism of nicotine, thus potentially allowing nicotine-addicted individuals to curb their need of smoking. Although more research is needed to confirm these results in humans and determine appropriate dosage levels, these findings show promise for the treatment of nicotine addiction and could help improve public health.



“The whole mission is to decrease harm from smoking, which is not from the nicotine per se, but all the carcinogens and other chemicals that are in tobacco smoke,” said study senior author Philip Lazarus, a professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences at WSU. “If we can minimize that harm, it would be a great thing for human health.”



Cigarette smoking is currently a major health problem, with one in five people in the United States dying annually from smoking-related issues. Although other nicotine delivery methods, such as vaping, snuff, and chew are often considered less harmful, they also contain a variety of chemicals that can cause cancers and other illnesses.



The scientists tested CBD and its main metabolite (called 7-hyroxycannabidiol) on microsomes from human liver tissue, as well as specialized cell lines which allowed them to zoom in on individual enzymes related to nicotine metabolism. The analysis revealed that CBD inhibited several of these enzymes, including the major one for nicotine metabolism (CYP2A6), which helps metabolizing over 70 percent of nicotine. The impact of CBD on this enzyme appeared quite strong, inhibiting its activity by over 50 percent even at relatively low CBD concentrations.



Currently, the researchers are developing a clinical study to assess the effects of CBD on nicotine levels in smokers by measuring their nicotine levels in the blood and comparing them to those of people from a placebo group. If the results will be positive, they will perform a much larger study examining the relation between CBD and nicotine addiction.&nbsp;



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.chemrestox.2c00259">Chemical Research in Toxicology</a>.



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By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer



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Cannabidiol could help cure nicotine addiction

A new study led by the Washington State University (WSU)...

<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/southern-resident-killer-whales-are-undernourished/">Southern resident killer whales</a> are an iconic species living in British Columbia’s Salish Sea and the northeastern Pacific coast. Unfortunately, there are only 73 of these fierce, social creatures left in the world. 



Now, a recent study led by the <a href="https://www.ubc.ca/">University of British Columbia</a> (UBC) has found that, although these whales are critically endangered by many anthropogenic factors, such as water contaminants and noise pollution, their decline is mostly caused by the limited availability of their preferred prey, the Chinook salmon.&nbsp;



However, while scientists previously assumed that all types of Chinook salmon are equal in terms of their energy density, the UBC researchers discovered that, in fact, the spring-run Chinook salmon (the earliest to arrive to the Salish Sea) are much richer in lipids and energy density than those that arrive later in the autumn.



“This research helps us quantify the energetic requirements of the southern residents,” said study lead author Jacob Lerner, a doctoral student in Pelagic Ecosystems at UBC. “For example, if the southern residents ate just low-lipid salmon, they would have to eat around 80,000 more Chinook salmon every year than if they just ate high-lipid salmon.”&nbsp;&nbsp;



Quantifying the lipid content of various species of salmon is important since it directly relates to their caloric value. Thus, specific estimates of lipid content for different Chinook populations could be used to inform trends in killer whale populations, properly time fishing closures, and decide which hatcheries to augment in order to ensure high quality food availability for southern residents.



“We identified a spectrum of high, medium, and low-lipid Chinook populations from the Fraser that can be used to better inform energetics models and manage both species,” Lerner explained. “We also identified life history parameters for the salmon to predict where on this spectrum they may fall.”



These findings are particularly important since southern resident killer whales are a migratory species that often spend their winter months elsewhere and return to the Salish Sea for the spring and summer. 



“Southern resident killer whales used to come here earlier in the spring season when they could eat early migrating Chinook salmon,” said study senior author Brian Hunt, an associate professor of Oceanography at UBC. 



“Those early Chinook were very energy dense as they need to fuel their long freshwater migration back to their spawning grounds, but those stocks have been declining. With the whales coming later, they mainly have access to Chinook from the lower Fraser. These fish don’t migrate very far, and have lower energy density.”



Further research is needed to clarify how ocean conditions influence energy accumulation in Chinook salmon. 



“We plan to keep monitoring Fraser Chinook salmon fat content. And one of questions we want to answer is how changing ocean conditions might be affecting their energy accumulation. Our concern is that ocean warming and food web shifts in the North Pacific Ocean are leading to lower energy accumulation in Chinook salmon. This will have implications for both the Chinook themselves – will they have enough energy for return migration and spawning? – and the killer whales that depend on them,” Hunt concluded.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-28321-9">Nature Scientific Reports</a>.



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By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer



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Killer whales threatened by lack of high quality food

Southern resident killer whales are an iconic species living in...

About 56 million years ago, our planet experienced one of the largest and fastest <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/comet-strike-caused-an-ancient-global-warming-event/">global warming</a> events in the history. The so-called Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) was exceptional both in terms of its amplitude (with global temperatures rising by five to eight degrees Celsius) and its suddenness (about 5,000 years – a very short period on a geological scale).&nbsp;



By analyzing sediments collected from the deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico, a team of scientists led by the <a href="https://www.unige.ch/en/">University of Geneva</a> (UNIGE) has now found that this event – which led to the extinction of a vast number of terrestrial and marine species – was characterized by an increase in rainfall seasonality, which led to the movement of massive quantities of clay into the ocean, making it uninhabitable for many species.&nbsp;



Due to the similarities between PETM and current global warming – including possible causes such as high concentrations of carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere – the geological remains of this period are closely studied by scientists in order to estimate what could the future of our planet look like.



“The objective of our study was to investigate the influence of these climatic changes on sedimentary systems, i.e. on the processes of sediment formation and deposition, and to understand how these changes could have been transmitted from the atmosphere to the depths of the ocean,” said lead author Lucas Vimpere, a postdoctoral fellow in Earth and Environmental Sciences at UNIGE.



The scientists analyzed sediments collected from over eight kilometers deep in the Gulf of Mexico, a giant “sink” in which material eroded and transported from North America during million of years is discharged. “For reasons of cost and infrastructure, the sediments used to study the PETM are generally taken from shallow marine or continental environments. Thanks to the collaboration of an oil company, we were able to obtain a sample of unprecedented quality, without any alteration,” Vimpere explained.



Surprisingly, the analysis revealed that the ocean floor was composed first of a massive layer of clay and then a layer of sand. “At the time of the PETM, we thought that there had been more precipitation, and therefore more erosion, and that large quantities of sand had then been transported first by the fluvial systems into the oceans. However, thanks to our sample, we were able to determine that it was the clays and not the sands that were transported in the first instance,” said study senior author Sébastien Castelltort, a professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences at UNIGE.



Thus, this period does not seem to be marked by an increase in the annual rate of precipitation – as scientists previously assumed – but rather a rise in its seasonality and intensity, which led to an increased mobility of the river channels that transported large quantities of fluvial clays to the ocean depths, significantly harming a variety of marine species.



“The PETM is a potential analogue of current warming. As recent IPCC reports show, we are also now seeing an increase in the seasonality and intensity of rainfall. As our study shows, this is likely to destabilize sedimentary systems in the same way as during the PETM and with the same consequences for the oceans and living species,” Vimpere concluded.



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1130/G50641.1">Geology</a>.



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By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer



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Ancient global warming event sheds light on Earth's future

About 56 million years ago, our planet experienced one of...

When people think about the negative impacts of climate change, they normally think of species and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-to-keep-your-houseplants-healthy/">plants</a> becoming completely extinct, and whilst this is a huge problem, many plants are able to adapt their to warming temperatures. Whilst these shifts in behaviors are signs that a species is struggling to survive, they can also help to provide researchers with insights into the velocity of climate change as well as aid conservation planning.&nbsp;



A new study from <a href="https://www.brown.edu/">Brown University</a> in Providence, Rhode Island has explored exactly this concept, studying the vegetation cover across mountainous western North America and the way species are adapting to climate change. Study lead author James R. Keller and colleagues hypothesized that species were shifting their distribution north to higher elevations in order to recover their natural temperature range.&nbsp;



This adaptive ability has not been well documented, but in an effort to better understand it, the researchers analyzed 27 years' worth of high-resolution satellite elevation data from between 1984 and 2011 within nine North American mountain ranges. Based on the images, the experts were able to quantify vegetation cover changes at different altitudes across a wide range of tropical, subarctic, coastal, and desert ecosystems.&nbsp;



The data clearly showed that across all studied ecosystems, upward shifts of vegetation toward higher elevations were ubiquitous, and occurred at rapid velocities. These velocities were identified to be significantly faster than the responses of animals to warming temperatures.&nbsp;



However, further research will be needed to consider more recent data, as the satellite data collected did not include imaging from the last twelve years. Furthermore, the lack of data prior to 1984 makes it less certain for the researchers to confirm that vegetation distribution truly has a direct correlation with climate change.&nbsp;



"Our findings help to characterize patterns of vegetation across elevations in mountains that range from the subtropics to the subarctic. If substantiated, this finding could warrant reconsideration of a current cornerstone of conservation planning," wrote the researchers.



"More work is needed to better contextualize how the vegetation shifts we observed, which measure any green vegetation, relate to individual species movements and broader ecosystem transitions–as this sort of integration offers the potential to create a more holistic understanding of change in montane systems”.



The authors concluded by expressing their gratitude for the modern satellite imaging data that we take for granted today: "NASA satellites, in combination with powerful computing, provide a view of our planet like never before, giving us the ability to understand how natural ecosystems are responding to changes in the environment."



The research findings have been published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pclm.0000071">PLOS Climate</a>.



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By <a href="mailto:calumvaughan05@gmail.com">Calum Vaughan</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer



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Plants are responding much faster to climate change than expected

When people think about the negative impacts of climate change,...

By using a new machine learning-operated algorithm, a team of scientists from the <a href="https://www.utoronto.ca/">University of Toronto</a> has recently detected eight new radio signals originating from five stars located 30 to 90 lightyears away. While there is no evidence yet that these signals might come from <a href="https://www.utoronto.ca/">extraterrestrial</a> lifeforms, the experts argue that the possibility that other advanced civilizations might use them as “technosignatures” to communicate with us should not be excluded.



The researchers developed a deep-learning algorithm to organize data from telescopes by weeding out human-made interferences to allow astronomers to focus on real patterns coming from distant areas in the universe and then look for patterns which could provide evidence that such signals could be technologically generated.



“We need to distinguish the exciting radio signals in space from the uninteresting radio signals from Earth,”&nbsp;said study lead author Peter Ma, an undergraduate student majoring in Physics at the University of Toronto.



By using this groundbreaking algorithm, the scientists examined over 150 TB of data from 820 nearby stars, on a dataset which had previously been searched through in 2017 by classical techniques, but considered as devoid of any interesting signals. However, the eight signals recently detected through this technique resemble quite closely what astronomers expect extraterrestrial signals to look like.&nbsp;



By contrast to signals caused by natural phenomena, which tend to be broadband, these signals were narrow band. Moreover, they exhibited what is known as a “slope,” meaning that their origin had a certain degree of relative acceleration with our antennas, and thus suggesting that they were not coming from Earth. Finally, while human radio interference usually occurs in both ON and OFF observations since their source is close by, these signals appeared only in ON-source observations.&nbsp;



“First, they are present when we look at the star and absent when we look away, as opposed to local interference, which is generally always present.&nbsp;Second, the signals change in frequency over time in a way that makes them appear far from the telescope,” explained study co-author Steve Croft, a project scientist at <a href="https://breakthroughinitiatives.org/initiative/1">Breakthrough Listen</a>, the world’s largest research program aimed at finding evidence of extraterrestrial civilizations.



Unfortunately, the scientists were unable to detect the radio signals again through follow-up observations. Nevertheless, these findings highlight the power of using machine learning techniques in exploring our universe and possibly put us in contact with other civilizations.&nbsp;



“We’re scaling this search effort to one million stars today with the MeerKAT telescope and beyond. We believe that work like this will help accelerate the rate we’re able to make discoveries in our grand effort to answer the question ‘are we alone in the universe?’” Ma concluded.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41550-022-01872-z">Nature Astronomy</a>.



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By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer



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Mysterious radio signals: are aliens trying to contact Earth?

By using a new machine learning-operated algorithm, a team of...

A team of researchers from the <a href="https://www.elte.hu/en/">Eötvös Loránd University</a> (ELTE) in Hungary has recently investigated whether young puppies, wolf pups, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/kittens-who-socialize-with-humans-are-less-fearful-aggressive/">kittens</a> have different tendencies to observe and imitate human actions, without pre-training or food or toy rewards. The experiments revealed that puppies – but not kittens or wolf cubs – tended to spontaneously imitate what humans did, even if they were not offered any rewards.



Imitating what others do in a new situation is an efficient way for individuals to learn about their environments and the possibilities it offers. Moreover, besides helping them learn new skills or new information, copying another’s actions is also a way of promoting belonging to a social group.



In their experiments, the researchers first observed how 42 puppies, 39 kittens, and eight wolf pups – all socialized and living in human families - reacted to a novel object placed in a room (such as touching it with their nose or paw). In a second step, while the owner was holding the pet, the experimenter demonstrated a different type of action on the object. For instance, if the animal previously touched the object with its nose, the experimenter touched it with her hand. Finally, the scientists observed whether the animals eventually performed the same action on the object.



“Since paying attention to the demonstration is a fundamental requisite for social learning, we first assessed whether the puppies, kittens, and wolf pups looked at us when we performed the demonstration,” explained study lead author&nbsp;Claudia&nbsp;Fugazza, an ethologist at ELTE. “While typically the puppies looked at us almost immediately, it took four-five times longer to get the attention of wolf pups and kittens.”



Although both puppies and wolf pups replicated the demonstrated actions in nearly 70 percent of the trials (twice as often as kittens), only puppies tended to imitate the actions with a body part homologue to that of the human experimenters, even if the action differed from the action they performed before watching a demonstration.



“Typically, most subjects touched the object with their nose, when they had not observed a demonstration. However, after observing the experimenter touching the object with her hand, the puppies tended to touch it using their paw,” reported study co-author&nbsp;Stefania&nbsp;Uccheddu, another ethologist from the same university.



These findings could be explained by the fact that while dogs’ and wolves’ ancestors were social animals with intense within-group collaboration for survival, cats’ ancestors were solitary hunters. In addition, dogs were domesticated much earlier than cats (between 20,000 and 40,000 versus 10,000 years ago) and were selected for various forms of collaboration with humans. By contrast, cats had a different domestication process: although they hunted mice, rats, or snakes in the human environment, they did not have to closely cooperate or communicate with humans.



“We believe that our findings can form the basis for the development of novel training methods that rely on the tendency of puppies to learn by observation and to imitate human actions. This way, dog training can be less dependent on the use of food rewards and more able to take advantage of dogs’ natural propensity for social learning,” concluded senior author Ákos&nbsp;Pogány, an assistant professor of Biology at ELTE.



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-28959-5">Nature Scientific Reports</a>.



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By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer



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Puppies spontaneously imitate human actions

A team of researchers from the Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE)...

Although the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/covid-risk-linked-to-specific-environmental-pollutants/">Covid-19</a> pandemic has affected the entire globe, the number of infections and deaths is unevenly distributed between geographical regions, and the risks of severe infections is extremely variable from individual to individual. Better understanding why some people develop asymptomatic infections, while others lose their lives is crucial for finding reliable treatments and controlling the pandemic.



Now, a team of scientists from <a href="https://www.elte.hu/en/">Eötvös Loránd University</a> (ELTE) in Hungary has examined over one thousand studies about risk factors for Covid-19 in order to understand how demographic factors (age, gender), the interaction of the coronavirus with other infectious and non-communicable comorbidities, genetic polymorphisms, lifestyle, gut microbiota, established immune memory, genetic variations in the coronavirus, or environmental factors such as air pollution and socioeconomic factors influence the severity of Covid.



The analysis revealed that advanced age is among the strongest risk factors for Covid-related mortality, with the risk of death in adults doubling approximately every six to seven years of life. According to the experts, aging of lung tissue and the immune system, together with age-related increases in sterile systemic inflammation levels may be responsible for this phenomenon.



In the case of comorbidities, the scientists discovered that, although some chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, or cardiovascular issues are clear risk factors, the impact of various immunological, neurological, or mental diseases is still unknown. Even in the case of lung diseases, the scientists observed controversial cases. For instance, while chronic obstructive pulmonary disease has an aggravating effect on Covid-19 infections, allergic asthma has been found to be a neutral or even risk-reducing underlying condition.



Current data also shows that men are twice at risk of developing severe Covid-19 than women (regardless of age) – most likely due to differences in genes that play a key role in the immune system - but women have greater chances of struggling with long-Covid symptoms after the acute phase of the infection. Moreover, pregnant women who are infected with the coronavirus are at high risk of developing gestational hypertension, and are more frequently admitted to intensive care.



Many studies have also focused on the indirect effects of the environment, with poor socioeconomic status, poor housing conditions, or belonging to ethnic minorities often leading to more severe disease outcomes. While regular physical activity and a healthy diet are important for strengthening the immune system and mitigating the effects of SARS-CoV-2, poor nutrition and exposure to air pollution or other infectious respiratory diseases can lead to more severe infections. Finally, although alcohol consumption was found to increase the risk of severe Covid-19, the impact of smoking is still highly debated.



“Awareness of these factors can help decisions in the clinic (whom to treat, how to allocate resources), and also public health decisions at the population level. While prevalent immunity from previous infections and vaccinations (and the emergence of the Omicron variants) has substantially reduced the overall risk of severe outcomes compared with the first waves of the pandemic, the risk factors identified in previous analyses are likely to continue to shape relative risks in the future,” the authors concluded.



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/v15010175">Viruses</a>.&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer



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COVID risk factors revealed from over 1,000 studies

Although the Covid-19 pandemic has affected the entire globe, the...

A new modeling study published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/gcb.16612">Global Change Biology</a> has found that, if <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-does-earths-thermostat-control-the-climate/">climate change</a> continues at the current pace, most of marine species will lose significant amounts of their suitable habitat ranges by 2100.&nbsp;



“Ocean’s biodiversity changes faster than in terrestrial ecosystems. To be able to protect marine species and with them all the marine resources that humans depend on, it is important to understand where and how marine species communities may change,” explained study co-lead author Irene Roca, a biologist at the <a href="https://hifmb.de/">Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity at the University of Oldenburg</a> (HIFMB).&nbsp;&nbsp;



While many marine species have already started shifting their distributional ranges due to global warming, estimating what marine biodiversity will look like in the future is challenging, particularly since previous studies have focused solely on temperature as the main environmental factor leading to future changes in biodiversity.



Now, the scientists examined occurrence data of over 33,500 marine species and took into consideration seven environmental factors, including water depth, water temperature, salinity, and oxygen concentrations. Based on this data, they estimated whether and where these species are likely to occur in the future in the case of three different CO2 emissions scenarios.



The analysis revealed that species’ core habitat ranges – the marine areas in which chances are higher than 50 percent that a species occurs based on its preferred environmental conditions – may not only shift but also considerably decline in a high emissions scenario.



Besides habitat loss, the preferred habitat area of a variety of species will be disrupted. “Especially along the equator, our model projections revealed areas which are ill-suited for most marine species, for instance because of high temperatures,” Roca said.&nbsp;



According to the researchers, fragmented habitats will lead to diminished population sizes which can threaten many species with extinction (although new species could also develop in changed climatic conditions). Another significant problem is that different species can keep up with changing environmental conditions to varying degrees, thus leading to a restructuring of food webs and changes in the relationship between habitat-forming species such as coral and their inhabitants.



“Even though our model does not account for such interspecific interactions, the results provide valuable clues on how differently marine environments and communities are likely to change depending on the future CO2&nbsp;emission scenarios,” said study co-lead author Dorothee Hodapp, a marine ecologist at HIFMB.



Understanding this high risk of critical reorganization of marine life will pose further challenges to conservation efforts. “We need to think ahead and work on effectively implementing the recent international agreements on biodiversity protection,” Hodapp concluded.



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By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer



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Climate change disrupts the distribution of marine species

A new modeling study published in the journal Global Change...

Ripe,Red,Tomatoes,Growing,On,A,Vine,In,A,Vegetable

Spiders could provide an environmentally-friendly option to protect crops against pests. New research led by the <a href="https://www.port.ac.uk/">University of Portsmouth</a> suggests that web-building groups of spiders can control a pest moth that is known to devastate important crops like tomatoes.



The tomato leafminer moth, Tuta absoluta, has developed resistance to chemical insecticides that are also known to cause human and environmental damage. Natural approaches, like using predators such as spiders, are needed to combat infestations.&nbsp;



Climate change is facilitating the spread of invasive pests that attack agricultural crops by expanding their habitable environment ranges.



To explore natural options, the researchers used tropical tent web spiders, Cyrtophora citricola, which form groups and create large webs to trap prey. In lab settings, different types of prey were introduced to colonies of spiders of varying body sizes. Larger spiders were found to build larger webs that caught more prey.



These findings suggest that the tropical tent web spiders could provide an effective alternative to controlling pests.&nbsp;



“Because they have evolved the ability to live in groups, these spiders might be better suited for biological control than more aggressive, solitary spiders that are prone to cannibalism," said study lead author Dr. Lena Grinsted.



“Spiders that can form groups of hundreds, or even thousands, of interconnected webs can provide large surface areas of capture webs capable of intercepting high frequencies of airborne insects. Spider colonies also provide a substrate for other spider species, further increasing the number of predators and therefore, potentially increasing pest insect capture capability within colonies.”



Tropical tent web spiders are found around the world and their global range overlaps with regions of moth infestations, including Mediterranean Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. In these regions, environmental health and economic stability could greatly benefit from this sustainable approach. Since the spiders are already found in these regions, using them as pest control would not likely damage the native biodiversity.



The researchers further investigated the seasonal variations in web sizes in southern Spain, and found that pest control would be most effective in the tomato planting and growing season in May and June.&nbsp;



However, a wasp species (Philolema palanichamyi) found in the region, whose larvae eat spider eggs, could be detrimental to the spider colony. About half of the spider egg sacs were infected with zero surviving spiderlings.



“If wasp infections are controlled, these spiders could form an important part of an integrated pest management system," said Dr. Grinsted. "This could potentially lead to a reduction of reliance on chemical pesticides, resulting in reduced pollutants in soils, waterways, and food chains in the future.”



“Future studies are now needed to investigate whether the spiders may negatively impact crop pollination by also catching and feeding on bees and other key pollinators.”



The study, published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/insects14010034">Insects</a>, involved researchers from the Universities of Portsmouth and Nottingham, and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel.



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By <a href="mailto:katherinebucko@gmail.com">Katherine Bucko</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer



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Spiders can protect tomatoes from invasive pests

Spiders could provide an environmentally-friendly option to protect crops against...

Sleeping at night in a room with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/artificial-light-affects-seasonal-rhythms-of-plants-in-the-us/">artificial light </a>is known to affect the duration and quality of sleep. Melatonin, the hormone produced in the pineal gland, promotes sleepiness as evening darkness descends, and leads us to wake up as the morning light strengthens. Artificial light during the night hours can disturb sleep patterns by reducing the production of melatonin at an inappropriate time. But what about the fact that the sky becomes light so much earlier in summer than in winter? Does this affect the duration or quality of our sleep?



Although it makes sense that changing day length and light exposure during the different seasons could affect our sleep, this is difficult to measure objectively. Many people wake to the call of an alarm clock in order to get to school or work timeously, and therefore modify their sleep patterns artificially. Some studies where people have assessed the quality and duration of their own sleep have suggested an increase in sleep duration during winter, when day length is shorter, but scientific measures are needed to determine how, exactly, the seasons affect sleep.&nbsp;



Many species of animals hibernate as a way of surviving the harsh conditions of winter, but humans show no such behavioral or physiological adaptation. However, they have been shown to exhibit seasonal patterns in the production of certain hormones and to become less active in winter and consume more calories. A new study of people with sleep problems has now investigated empirically whether the characteristics of sleep vary depending on the time of year.&nbsp;



“Possibly one of the most precious achievements in human evolution is an almost invisibility of seasonality on the behavioral level,” said Dr. Dieter Kunz, corresponding author of the study, based at the Clinic of Sleep &amp; Chronomedicine at the St Hedwig Hospital, Berlin. “In our study we show that human sleep architecture varies substantially across seasons in an adult population living in an urban environment.”



The study was led by Ms Aileen Seidler, a researcher in Dr. Kunz’s working group at the Charité Medical University of Berlin. Data on sleep characteristics were collected from 188 patients (98 women and 90 men, aged between 17 and 81 years) who had undergone polysomnography at the St Hedwig Hospital. These studies are regularly carried out on patients who experience sleep-related difficulties, using a special laboratory where patients are asked to sleep naturally without an alarm clock, and the quality and type of sleep can be monitored, as well as the length of sleep.&nbsp;



The researchers were interested in variables such as the total duration of sleep, the time spent in REM sleep (the phase during which the brain is more active and dreaming takes place), the time spent in deep, slow-wave sleep, the time taken to fall asleep (sleep latency), and the time taken between sleep onset and the first period of REM sleep (REM latency). They collected data from participants in all months of the year and averaged the results for each month over a full year.&nbsp;



The results of the study, published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2023.1105233">Frontiers in Neuroscience</a>, show that, even for an urban population of adults experiencing sleep difficulties, there are clear seasonal effects on certain sleep parameters. Urban dwellers are typically exposed to lower levels of natural light and higher light pollution, but the participants still needed an extra hour of sleep during the winter months than they did in the summer. This result was not statistically significant, although the trend was clearly apparent.&nbsp;



The time spent in REM sleep was an average of 30 minutes longer during the winter months, and this result was statistically significant. REM sleep is known to be directly linked to the circadian clock, which is affected by changing light levels. The researchers also found that REM latency was significantly shorter in winter and early autumn compared to late spring and late autumn. In addition, the duration of deep, slow-wave sleep was largely stable over the year, except for a significant decrease in duration shown in autumn.&nbsp;



The team acknowledged that these results may have been affected by the particular sleep disturbances experienced by the patients, and would need to be validated in a population with normal sleep patterns. However, the fact that a seasonal influence was detected in people with sleep problems may mean that this effect would be even more apparent in a healthy population.



The authors state that this is one of few studies investigating seasonal changes in polysomnography-documented human sleep architecture that looks for subtle changes by comparing months and not just seasons.



The experts suggest that seasonal changes in sleep characteristics may have implications for recommendations regarding sleep routines. For example, people may be encouraged to go to bed earlier in winter in order to fulfil the need for extra sleep time during this season. The twice-annual turning of the clock may also help people to adjust to seasonal changes in physiology that may underlie the sleep changes identified in this study.&nbsp;



“Seasonality is ubiquitous in any living being on this planet,” said Kunz. “Even though we still perform unchanged, over the winter human physiology is down-regulated, with a sensation of ‘running-on-empty’ in February or March. In general, societies need to adjust sleep habits including length and timing to season, or adjust school and working schedules to seasonal sleep needs.”



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By <a href="mailto:bosman@truewan.co.za">Alison Bosman</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer



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Humans need more sleep in the winter

Sleeping at night in a room with artificial light is...

A team of scientists led by <a href="https://www.cornell.edu/">Cornell University</a> has recently confirmed the first cases of canine distemper virus (CDV) in tigers and leopards in Nepal. This virus, usually affecting dogs, can cause fatal neurological diseases and thus be a significant threat to already dwindling <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/big-cats-meet-wild-dogs-happens/">big cat</a> populations.



“Canine distemper virus has been repeatedly identified as a threat to wild carnivores and their conservation,”&nbsp;said study senior author Martin Gilbert, a wild carnivore health specialist at Cornell. “This study is a first step to understanding the potential impact for Nepalese tiger and leopard populations.”



Although scientists have already suspected that CDV can infect big cats, this is the first definitive proof of infection in Nepal. The experts found that 11 percent of tigers (three out of 28) and 30 percent of leopards (six out of 20) had antibodies to this virus, indicating that they had been infected in the past.



While relatively little is known about Nepal’s leopards, studies suggest that their population is in decline due to a mixture of poaching, habitat loss, and human-wildlife conflicts. Moreover, they are also facing increasing competition caused by the expansion of the country’s tiger population, which has tripled over the past 12 years (although, globally, this species remains endangered too).&nbsp;



As the larger and stronger species, tigers are frequently displacing leopards from national parks into areas with more people, where they often prey on street dogs. According to the researchers, these dogs may be the source of infection. “We already know CDV is circulating in the Nepali dog population and that leopards frequently eat dogs, while tigers do not,” said study co-author Jessica Bodgener, a veterinarian at <a href="https://www.wildlifevetsinternational.org/">Wildlife Vets International</a>.&nbsp;



“When we found a greater exposure in leopards it seemed like a good fit, but we need more evidence to be sure. And we can’t forget three tigers also tested positive. If tigers aren’t eating dogs, it raises the question, how did these animals get infected? The situation may not be straightforward.” Other species, such as jackals or civets, could also act as reservoirs.



The scientists recommend several immediate actions to control the spread of the virus, including: raising awareness of wildlife managers, expanding molecular testing and genetic sequencing of leopards and tigers, continuing to monitor the presence of antibodies, vaccinating dogs and potentially the big cats themselves, and - since small, isolated populations are most at risk of CDV outbreaks - increasing habitat connectivity through wildlife corridors.



“Since 2014, we have seen ten leopards showing neurological disease that could be consistent with CDV infection. With increased awareness, we plan to confirm future cases and obtain genetic sequences to help determine the source of infections,” concluded co-author Amir Sadaula, a veterinarian at the <a href="https://www.ntnc.org.np/">National Trust for Nature Conservation</a> (NTNC).



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12020203">Pathogens</a>.



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By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer



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Canine distemper virus detected in Nepali tigers

A team of scientists led by Cornell University has recently...

Researchers from Harvard Law School’s Brooks McCormick Jr. Animal Law &amp; Policy Program and <a href="https://www.nyu.edu/">New York University</a>’s Center for Environmental and Animal Protection have been involved in an ambitious project to study the global policy responses to live animal markets and their role in the transmission of animal-borne (zoonotic) <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-rodent-borne-diseases-spill-over-into-humans/">diseases</a>. The research team has investigated case studies in 15 different countries, including the U.S. which, they say, is startlingly unprepared for the dangers posed by zoonotic diseases.&nbsp;



In an editorial published in the journal Science, and titled “Blind spots in biodefense,” the researchers highlight gaps among U.S. governmental agencies that are tasked with combating these types of diseases. Lead authors Ann Linder and Professor Dale Jamieson call for the rebuilding of the U.S. regulatory system in its entirety, in order to combat zoonotic disease risk effectively.&nbsp;



The United States is the largest importer of wildlife in the world and yet, Linder and Jamieson note, the Biden administration’s recent release of its National Biodefense Strategy (NBS-22), the first update since the COVID-19 pandemic began, considers mainly threats that originate largely outside the country.&nbsp;



“NBS-22 focuses primarily on bioterrorism and laboratory accidents, neglecting threats posed by routine practices of animal use and production inside the United States,” they write.&nbsp;



This oversight is significant, Linder and Jamieson observe, given the United States’ past and present record when it comes to interactions at the human-animal interface:



<ul><li>More zoonotic diseases originated in the U.S. than in any other country during the second half of the 20th century.&nbsp;</li><li>In 2022, the U.S. processed more than 10 billion livestock, the largest number ever recorded and an increase of 204 million over 2021.</li><li>The ongoing H5N1 avian influenza outbreak has left 58 million animals dead in backyard chicken coops and industrial farms in the U.S.</li><li>Since 2011, the U.S. has recorded more swine-origin influenza infections than any other country in the world. Most occurred at state and county fairs, which attract 150 million visitors each year and where an estimated 18 percent of swine have tested positive for the virus.&nbsp;</li></ul>



The authors of the editorial also add that the current patchwork of siloed agencies and authorities is marked by a lack of coordination which leaves significant gaps and areas of underregulation. In fact, of the many agencies that govern food animal production, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is the most important, but it has no authority to regulate on-farm animal production. The authors say that a “One Health” approach is needed such that the interconnection between the health of people, animals, plants, and their shared environment is recognized.



“What is needed is not simply for agencies to do their jobs better or to paper over the gaps, but a fundamental restructuring of the way that human–animal interfaces are governed,” Linder and Jamieson urge.&nbsp;



“A One Health approach, which NBS-22 claims as its guiding principle, would take the health of other living things not merely as the occasional means or obstacles to human health, but as continuous with it. The first step in implementing such an approach would be to create a high-level process for integrating the broken mosaic of multiple agencies, with their unclear and sometimes competing mandates, into an effective, comprehensive regime.”



The Live Animal Markets Project, which undertakes collaborative research involving local and international scientists in the 15 countries, aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of appropriate responses to zoonotic disease risks in order to aid policymakers in future, to contribute to public education about these risks, and to support the human health and animal protection communities.



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By <a href="mailto:bosman@truewan.co.za">Alison Bosman</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer



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The U.S. is alarmingly unprepared for zoonotic diseases

Researchers from Harvard Law School’s Brooks McCormick Jr. Animal Law...

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

[sendtonews key="G9bUoxcjr4-2511624-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;



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



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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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Remote sensing will revolutionize the way we monitor trees

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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

Wetlands are a major source of methane emissions

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research&nbsp;



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



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

How the immune system responds to injury

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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2022 illustrated the consequences of a warming climate

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Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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