The influence of synthetic plastic on our planet is concerning, to say the least. It's everywhere - from the depths of our oceans to the food we eat, even finding its way into our bodies. But, Avinash Manjula-Basavanna, a seasoned research scientist at Northeastern University, sees "MECHS" as a solution. 



"The kind of impact that human-made materials are making on the living world is resulting in&nbsp;climate change, pollution and more," he says. 



"One of the ways that we are able to address this is to make materials sustainable and also make materials which are smart or intelligent."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-birth-of-a-new-bioplastic">Birth of a new bioplastic</h2>



Joining forces with Neel S. Joshi, an associate professor of chemistry and chemical biology at Northeastern, Manjula-Basavanna gave birth to a new bioplastic named MECHS.



It stands for Mechanical Engineered Living Materials with Compostability, Healability, and Scalability.



The team recently showcased their discovery in the journal Nature Communications. Here, they articulated their unique work with engineered living materials, living cells that produce functional <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plastic-pollution-is-changing-the-entire-earth-system/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">materials</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wonders-of-bioplastic">Wonders of bioplastic</h2>



What makes MECHS stand out? Manjula-Basavanna and Joshi gave us two major reasons.



Firstly, MECHS exhibits the beauty of nature-inspired solutions, with the ability to regenerate, regulate themselves, and respond to external stimuli such as light. 



The second reason is even more significant in today's context. Unlike the harmful plastics choking our planet and bodies, MECHS is biodegradable in water and even in a compost bin. 



"Right now we use a lot of conventional nonbiodegradable plastics for applications they don't need to be used in at all," Joshi says. "If we replace that with our <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/major-plastic-pollution-lurks-beneath-the-surface-of-rivers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plastic</a>, you could just flush it down the toilet and it would biodegrade."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-engineered-living-materials">Engineered living materials</h2>



Until now, such engineered living materials haven't been scalable for broad production. Enter MECHS.



Essentially, it's comprised of engineered E. coli bacteria intertwined with a fiber matrix, crafted into a paper- or film-like material. 



The fibrous structure gives MECHS some desirable properties. For instance, the bioplastic can stretch like plastic wrap and be genetically engineered for variable stiffness. And, quite fascinatingly, it has self-healing capabilities.



But the real cherry on top? MECHS is fully dissolvable, be it in large amounts of water or a compost bin. It dissolves rapidly, much faster than other existing biodegradable plastics. Plus, it can be mass-produced similarly to paper.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-potential-applications">Potential applications</h2>



The scientific marvels envision MECHS as the solution to "primary packaging." This includes the plastic cover protecting your new iPhone or the detergent pods for your appliances. Imagine MECHS wrapped around a pot plant, slowly breaking down and releasing proteins to fertilize the plant!



Addressing the global problem of plastic pollution, Manjula-Basavanna sees a strong potential for MECHS in plastic packaging, which covers almost one-third of the plastic market. 



He observes that such packaging’s lifespan could last a few days to two years, but the petrochemical plastics used can take hundreds of years to biodegrade.



"For such a short lifespan of packaging, the petrochemical plastics that can take hundreds of years to biodegrade are unnecessary in many cases and thus a sustainable alternative like MECHS due to its biodegradability, flushability, and mechanical tunability could be a game changer," says Manjula-Basavanna.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-challenges-in-adopting-mechs">Challenges in adopting MECHS</h2>



While MECHS presents a revolutionary solution to the global plastic crisis, adopting this technology on a large scale is not devoid of challenges. One primary concern lies in the genomic stability of the engineered E. coli bacteria used in MECHS. 



Scientists must ensure that the bacteria remain safe and stable under various environmental conditions to avoid unintended consequences. Additionally, transitioning industries reliant on traditional plastics to MECHS involves overcoming significant economic and logistical barriers. 



Production facilities worldwide may need to adopt new techniques and infrastructure to accommodate this novel material, potentially incurring considerable costs in the short term. 



Furthermore, public perception and regulatory hurdles need to be navigated to gain trust and approval for its widespread use.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-of-sustainable-materials">Future of sustainable materials</h2>



Looking to the future, the innovations around MECHS signal a burgeoning era of sustainable and adaptable materials capable of transforming industries. 



As research into living materials progresses, new possibilities emerge, such as enabling the development of dynamic, adaptable materials for technologies yet to be imagined. 



Building on their success with MECHS, Manjula-Basavanna and Joshi envision an expanding palette of biodegradable materials, each tailored for specific applications ranging from environmental conservation to health care. 



Their work emphasizes collaboration across disciplines - bridging biology, chemistry, and engineering - to advance sustainable solutions.



Ultimately, MECHS is a testament to how embracing nature-inspired innovation can lead to breakthroughs with the power to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plastic-on-beaches-is-now-visible-from-space/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reshape our relationship with the materials</a> we use and the environment we inhabit.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-53052-4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications</a>.



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Nature-inspired solutions: New bioplastic dissolves rapidly in water

The influence of synthetic plastic on our planet is concerning, to say the least. It's everywhere - from the depths of our oceans to the food we eat, even finding its way into our bodies. But, Avinash Manjula-Basavanna, a seasoned research scientist at Northeastern University, sees "MECHS" as a solution. "The kind of impact that human-made materials are making on the living world is resulting in&nbsp;climate change, pollution and more," he says. "One of the ways that we are able to address this is to make materials...

Leaving home to explore the world can be a difficult decision. Tiny coral reef fish called neon gobies help their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/older-parents-may-be-beneficial-to-offspring/">offspring</a> by pushing them out the door when the time is right, according to a new study from <a href="https://www.utexas.edu/">UT Austin</a>. This research provides the first documented case of a coral reef fish regulating when its offspring hatch.&nbsp;



Coral reef fish are incredibly vulnerable when hatching, which means that choosing the right time to hatch is a crucial decision. Male neon gobies hatch their embryos by removing eggs from the nest with their mouth. They transport the eggs to the opening of the sponge where the fish live - and then spit them out of the sponge entrance.



“We often think that eggs are like tiny kitchen timers: they develop for a set period of time, then - ding! - they hatch. But, in many species, embryos have to actively decide when to hatch," explained study co-author John Majoris.



The researchers found that when neon goby embryos develop without parents, they hatch up to 50 percent earlier than embryos cared for by their parents.



All of the male parents in the study hatched their offspring at sunrise on the seventh day of development, suggesting that all of the goby parents know the best time for their embryos to hatch.



“Goby embryos are ready and waiting,” said Majoris. “When parents are around, they wait patiently for their dads to make the call that it’s time to hatch.”



Offspring hatched by their parents are more developed and likely benefit from their larger size when catching food, escaping predators and navigating the ocean. This is the first time scientists have discovered a coral reef fish that tells its offspring when to hatch, which could be more common than we think.&nbsp;



Cryptobenthic coral reef fishes - a group of tiny bottom dwellers - often lay their eggs deep in reef crevices, where it is difficult for embryos to judge hatching conditions. In this case, parents can help out by hatching their eggs at just the right time.&nbsp;



“This is a remarkably complex parenting behavior for a tiny fish,” Majoris said. “It goes to show that we still have so much to learn about life in our oceans.”



The surprising complexities of fish parenting behavior provides evidence that&nbsp; fish parents can make decisions based on the local conditions that influence the survival, resilience and success of their offspring.



The paper is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2022.1466">Proceedings of the Royal Society B</a>. The research was supported by the National Science Foundation, and a Dana Wright Summer Research Fellowship.



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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

Neon gobies decide when to hatch their embryos

Leaving home to explore the world can be a difficult...

<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mangrove-forest-reveals-ancient-climate-change-effects/">Mangroves</a> are known to thrive in conditions that most other plants cannot tolerate, such as salty coastal waters. Several species have air-conducting, vertical roots which act like snorkels when tides are high, giving them the appearance of trees floating on stilts.&nbsp;



A new study led by the <a href="https://www.ucr.edu/">University of California, Riverside</a> (UCR) and the <a href="https://ucsd.edu/">University of California, San Diego</a> (UCSD) has investigated how marine mangroves off the coast of La Paz in Mexico absorb and release substances such as carbon and nitrogen, through a process called biogeochemical cycling. The experts were amazed to discovered that these mangrove forests have been quietly keeping carbon out of the Earth’s atmosphere for nearly 5,000 years.



“What’s special about these mangrove sites isn’t that they’re the fastest at carbon storage, but that they have kept the carbon for so long,” said study senior co-author Emma Aronson, an environmental microbiologist at UCR. “It is orders of magnitude more carbon storage than most other ecosystems in the region.”



While the scientists expected that carbon would be found in the layer of peat beneath the forest – which consists of a mixture of submerged sediment and partially decayed organic matter, extending up to ten feet below the coastal water line – they did not expect that carbon to be 5,000 years old.



Since biogeochemical cycling is largely driven by microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi, the researchers set out to investigate which of these microbes are thriving in in the peat beneath mangroves. The analysis revealed no fungi living there, most likely due to the fact that little oxygen – which is needed by fungi to break down carbon - can make it to the deepest peat layer.&nbsp;



While the scientists identified over 1,100 types of bacteria living beneath the mangroves that can function in extreme environments with low or no oxygen, these microbes are not sufficient for breaking down carbon – which could explain the mangroves’ immense potential of safely storing this hazardous gas.&nbsp;



“The deeper you go into the peat soils, the fewer microorganisms you find. Not much can break down the carbon down there, or the peat itself, for that matter,” said study co-author Mia Maltz, a microbial ecologist at UCR. “Because it persists for so long, it’s not easy to make more of it or replicate the communities of microbes within it.”&nbsp;



“These sites are protecting carbon that has been there for millennia. Disturbing them would cause a carbon emission that we wouldn’t be able to repair any time soon,” added study lead author Matthew Costa, a coastal ecologist at UCSD.



“If we let these forests keep functioning, they can retain the carbon they’ve sequestered out of our atmosphere, essentially permanently. These mangroves have an important role in mitigating climate change,” he concluded.



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.3354/meps14117">Marine Ecology Progress Series</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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Mexican mangroves have been storing carbon for nearly five millennia

Mangroves are known to thrive in conditions that most other...

A team of researchers led by the <a href="https://www.ucsb.edu/">University of California, Santa Barbara</a> has discovered a process far more dynamic than volcanologists had assumed to be possible in the two centuries they have been studying <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/major-volcanic-events-linked-to-the-slowing-of-tectonic-plates/">volcanic events</a>. The experts made this discovery while sampling magma from the Fagradalsfjall volcano in Iceland, which erupted in March 2021.



By trying to clarify how deep in the mantle the magma originated, how far beneath the surface it was stored prior to the eruption, and what was happening in the reservoir before and during the eruption, the researchers got “a big surprise” – as study co-author Matthew Jackson put it.



“The assumption was that a magma chamber fills up slowly over time, and the magma becomes well mixed. And then it drains over the course of the eruption.”&nbsp;



According to Jackson (and most other volcanologists), as a result of this well-defined two step process, there are usually no significant changes in the chemical composition of the magma as it flows out of the earth.&nbsp;



“This is what we see at Mount Kīlauea, in Hawaii,” said Jackson. “You’ll have eruptions that go on for years, and there will be minor changes over time.&nbsp;&nbsp;



“But in Iceland, there was more than a factor of 1,000 higher rates of change for key chemical indicators. In a month, the Fagradalsfjall eruption showed more compositional variability than the Kīlauea eruptions showed in decades. The total range of chemical compositions that were sampled at this eruption over the course of the first month span the entire range that has ever erupted in southwest Iceland in the last 10,000 years.”



The experts said this extreme variability is most likely a result of subsequent batches of magma flowing into the chamber from the deeper layers of the mantle. “Picture a lava lamp in your mind. You have a hot lightbulb at the bottom, it heats up a blob and the blob rises, cools and then sinks. We can think of the Earth’s mantle - from the top of the core to under the tectonic plates - operating much like a lava lamp,” explained Jackson.



As the heat causes some regions of the mantle to rise and plumes form and move upwards towards the surface, molten rock accumulates in chambers and crystallizes, gases escape through the crust, and pressure builds allowing the magma to eventually erupt. In the case of the Fagradalsfjall volcano, although what first erupted was the expected “depleted” magma type accumulating in the reservoir, in about a month, the chamber was recharged by deeper, “enriched” type melts with a different composition (higher magnesium and carbon dioxide levels). In yet another month, the magma which dominated the flow was the deeper, enriched type.&nbsp;



Although such rapid, extreme changes&nbsp;in magma composition have never been observed before – most likely due to the fact that opportunities to sample eruptions at such an early stage are not common - they may not be so rare. Further research is needed to assess the frequency of such phenomena in other volcanic eruptions, and clarify the mysterious ways in which volcanoes work.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-022-04981-x">Nature</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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Mysterious aspect of volcanic eruptions observed for the first time

A team of researchers led by the University of California,...

By using both field observations and a machine-learning algorithm applied to the audio clips recorded in the field, a research team led by the <a href="https://www.unl.edu/">University of Nebraska-Lincoln</a> (UNL) has investigated the “whoops” of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/spotted-hyenas-change-their-foraging-behavior-to-adapt/">spotted hyenas</a> in the Maasai Mara grasslands of southwestern Kenya. The analysis revealed that hyena whoops feature signatures unique to individuals – a form of “caller ID” distinct enough that hyenas can distinguish one from another – and that repetition of such whoops often improves identification.&nbsp;



Since spotted hyena clans are built on hierarchies depending upon social rank, but consist of multiple families that regularly come together and disperse across the savannah, a capacity for identifying specific individuals is particularly important.&nbsp;



“Hyenas don’t treat every individual in the clan the same, so if they’re deciding whether to show up and help someone, they want to know who they’re showing up to help,” said study lead author Kenna Lehmann, a postdoctoral fellow in Biology at UNL.



By recording the sounds of hundreds of hyenas in the African savannah and employing a machine-learning algorithm trained to pair specific hyenas with the whoops they emitted, Dr. Lehmann and her colleagues identified three major traits of the whoops that helped hyenas recognize the individual that emitted them: the duration of the call, the highest frequency of the call, and the average frequency during the portion of the call which was most consistent in pitch. According to their analysis, the greater the disparity in these traits, the more likely the hyenas would be to distinguish among the sources of the whoops.



However, since many acoustic nuances can get lost during transmission – when the calls come from far away, or are masked by environmental noises from wind, precipitation, or other animal calls – repetition of the whoops becomes essential. “There’s an understanding that one of the ways to get your message across is to repeat it, especially if you’re in a noisy environment or if you’re communicating over long distances,” Dr. Lehmann explained. “It’s like getting a little bit more information (each time). The first time you hear it, you might notice: Oh, that was definitely a male or a female voice. Then, the next whoop, you might be able to narrow it down further.”



Although the calls of some animal species also contain signatures that differentiate the groups to which they belong from other same-species groups – somewhat similar to human accents or dialects – the researchers were surprised to find that this was not the case for hyenas. Apparently, the amazing ability to memorize so many individual signatures may have rendered a clan signature either useless or not useful enough to bother developing.



“If you know who the individual is, you know what group they’re in,” Dr. Lehmann said. “Animals are pretty good at associating that information. So if they need individual signatures for other reasons, then there just may have never been a need to also develop a group signature, which is what this finding suggests. They should be able to keep track of all the individual voices and be able to distinguish: If this is Individual X, they’re in my group. I can choose to help them based on them being a group member, but maybe there are more decisions to be made about whether they’re a group mate that I actually want to help,” she concluded.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2022.0548">Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences</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&nbsp;&nbsp;

Spotted hyenas recognize each other from their distinctive whoops

By using both field observations and a machine-learning algorithm applied...

Burmese pythons are not only huge <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/snakes-depend-on-their-sex-chromosomes-for-survival/">snakes</a> – reaching over 18 feet in length and 200 pounds in weight – but also voracious eaters, often feeding on prey as large as a deer. Now, a team of biologists from the <a href="https://www.uc.edu/">University of Cincinnati</a> (UC) has found that it’s not only the size of the head and the body that make pythons able to consume such large animals; they also evolved highly stretchy skin between their lower jaws which allows them to feed on prey up to six times larger than similar-sized snakes.



Since most snakes swallow they prey whole, they must have extremely wide mouths to accommodate such meals. Unlike humans’ lower jawbones, those of snakes are not connected, allowing them to open wide.&nbsp;



“The stretchy skin between left and right lower jaws is radically different in pythons. Just over 40 percent of their total gape area on average is from stretchy skin,” said study lead author Bruce Jayne, a professor of Biology at UC. “Even after you correct for their large heads, their gape is enormous.”



Pythons are constrictors, meaning that they bite their prey and wrap their powerful coils around it, cutting off its vital blood flow before consuming it whole – and the larger the prey, the more energy snakes derive from a single meal. Due to this, pythons do not need to hunt that often, which can carry high risks in a world replete with other dangerous predators and busy roads.



Since small snakes derive greater benefits in relative mass prey from just a modest increase in gape size, python babies have an early advantage from being able to consume a broader range of prey compared to other snakes of similar size.&nbsp;



Moreover, being big also helps snakes avoid being eaten themselves by predators ranging from wading birds, minks, and raccoons to alligators and other snakes. “Once those pythons get to a reasonable size, it’s pretty much just alligators that can eat them,” Professor Jayne said. “And pythons eat alligators.”&nbsp;



Currently, Burmese pythons are wreaking havoc on the ecology of Everglades National Park where they were introduced due to the release of captive animals from the exotic pet trade in the 1980s.&nbsp;



“The Everglades ecosystem is changing in real time based on one species, the Burmese python,” said study co-author Ian Bartoszek, an environmental science project manager for the <a href="https://conservancy.org/">Conservancy of Southwest Florida</a>.&nbsp;



Fortunately, they rarely attack people. According to Bartoszek, the only defensive encounters he has had with wild pythons were with females guarding their nests. “It’s way more dangerous to drive there than to work with the snakes,” he concluded.



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/iob/obac033">Integrative Organismal Biology</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&nbsp;&nbsp;

How can pythons eat prey as large as a deer?

Burmese pythons are not only huge snakes – reaching over...

Common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) is a spectacularly successful <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/managing-invasive-species-can-improve-climate-resilience/">invasive species</a>. It is indigenous to North America and was introduced into Europe in the late 19th century. Since then it has become established in more than 30 European countries and is currently ranked as the 12th “worst” exotic plant in Europe, in terms of its environmental and socioeconomic impact. And yet the reasons behind the success of this resilient weed have not been investigated.&nbsp;



For as long as humans have been traveling to different parts of the globe, they have carried with them the seeds and spores of plants that do not belong – sometimes this has been intentional, but often it has occurred inadvertently. In this way, humans have succeeded in changing the planet, as alien species have flourished in new regions and brought with them problems for indigenous flora and fauna, and for humans.



Alien species that become invasive currently pose one of the world’s major environmental problems as they outcompete local species and take over their habitats. As a consequence, the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) has identified&nbsp;invasive alien species as one of the biggest global threats to biodiversity.&nbsp;



“Invasive species are a key factor in the crisis that is affecting biological diversity now,” says Michael D. Martin, professor of evolutionary genomics at the <a href="https://www.ntnu.edu/">Norwegian University of Science and Technology</a>'s&nbsp;(NTNU) University Museum.



There are many examples of alien plants and animals that have become established in new areas and caused havoc among indigenous species. A striking example is the rabbits that were introduced to Australia to make the place feel more like ‘home.’ Within decades there were half a billion rabbits and their destruction of grazing and habitat were notorious. Currently, on Marion Island in the sub-Antarctic, a costly project has been underway to eradicate the mice that were introduced inadvertently and that quickly went to work eating the eggs and chicks of the ground-nesting seabirds that breed there.&nbsp;



Despite numerous such examples, not much research has been done on what makes some alien species able to adapt to new environmental conditions and spread so quickly. An international research group including some of the world’s leading genetic researchers has therefore taken up the case of common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) in order to investigate the likely source populations of ragweed introduced into Europe, to test whether there are perhaps fewer plant pathogens in Europe than in North America, and to identify potential genetic reasons for the success of ragweed populations in Europe.



To answer these questions, the researchers conducted analysis of the genomes of ragweed plants, both from North America and from Europe. They also included specimens that were preserved in herbaria, in order to get a historical perspective on genetic changes in populations of this plant and to understand how ragweed genomes have evolved since being introduced into Europe. They searched in particular for the genetic basis of successful invasiveness in these plants. Their results have now been published in the journal&nbsp;<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abo5115">Science Advances</a>.



“We examined the genetic material in 655 specimens of common ragweed, of which 308 were taken from historical plant collections in herbaria. Some of them were as much as 190 years old and are from the time the plant got first introduced to Europe,” says Vanessa C. Bieker, an expert in evolutionary genetics at the NTNU University Museum and lead author on the publication.



The results of the analysis showed that significant changes had occurred in the genomes of ragweed plants in Europe over the past 200 years, but not in those from North America. The researchers state that these changes likely reflect the introduction of ragweeds from multiple diverse sources, as well as genetic drift during introduction bottlenecks. Furthermore, the European ragweed specimens all showed evidence of genes from other Ambrosia&nbsp;species with which they hybridized.&nbsp;



“We discovered that the plant hybridized in Europe with closely related species that were introduced around the same time,” says co-author Michael Martin. This behavior meant that common ragweed did not need to have another common ragweed plant nearby for reproduction purposes as pollen from close relatives could be used to produce seeds. This is especially useful in the early stages of the introduction when population sizes were small.



In more detailed analysis, the researchers found that genes associated with defense against pathogens, plant growth and flowering time had been selected for recently in European populations of ragweed. “The invasive populations in Europe favor the development of genes that contribute to their defense, like ones against pathogens that trigger disease,” says Bieker.



When the ragweed was introduced into Europe it was less exposed to some of its more significant pathogens from back home in the U.S. Some bacteria that commonly infect ragweed plants in North America were absent or rare in Europe, particularly in France where ragweeds were first introduced. This could have helped&nbsp;the species&nbsp;to establish a stable population in France and aided its subsequent spread.&nbsp;



The genomes of ragweed plants from historical collections in France indicate that these early plants were derived from different sources. Eleven percent of them were genetically similar to plants from western North America, 15 percent carried the genetic signature of plants from the eastern North America, and the majority (57 percent) were identified with plants from the Mideast. This indicates that ragweeds were introduced multiple times into France alone, probably mixed in with horse fodder or bags of seed.



Although Denmark is currently the northern limit for the common ragweed, it is now becoming more established there. The plant is not a threat in Norway at the moment, probably because of the country’s harsh climate. However, as global warming changes the world’s temperatures it is likely that the common ragweed will be at an advantage. It grows quickly, and reproduces very successfully using the wind to disperse its pollen. One plant can produce about a billion pollen grains per season, which causes hay fever sufferers much discomfort but means that sexual reproduction can be very effective in this species. It is likely that the advance of the common ragweed will not stop at Denmark, particularly as global warming takes effect.



The authors conclude that their study illustrates the potential of global herbarium collections as a rich source of historical material for the investigation of population genomics over continental, and even global scales. These meticulously curated and often well-preserved plant specimens contain not only the host plant genome but also a complex community of associated microbes that can reveal a rich history of coevolution during the Anthropocene.&nbsp;



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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

What makes ragweed so successful as an invasive species?

Common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) is a spectacularly successful invasive species....

We've all heard about the benefits of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/exercise-over-social-media-less-stress-more-life-satisfaction/">exercise</a> for our minds and bodies. However, researchers at <a href="https://home.dartmouth.edu/">Dartmouth College</a> have discovered that the relationship between mental health and physical activity is more complicated than previously thought.&nbsp;



"Mental health and memory are central to nearly everything we do in our everyday lives," said lead author Jeremy Manning, an assistant professor of psychological and brain sciences at Dartmouth. "Our study is trying to build a foundation for understanding how different intensities of physical exercise affect different aspects of mental and cognitive health."



The researchers gathered a year of activity data from 113 Fitbit users and surveyed them on their mental health. They predicted that more active individuals would have better memory and report better mental health. This was true compared to low-activity individuals, but they noticed something else.&nbsp;



The researchers found that the type of exercise played a significant role in the types of mental health benefits the participants reported. Those who participated in medium-intensity workouts did better on episodic memory (recalling autobiographical events) tasks, and those who did high-intensity workouts did better on spatial memory tasks (remembering locations). They also found that participants who exercised at lower intensities reported less depression and anxiety.



"When it comes to physical activity, memory, and mental health, there's a really complicated dynamic at play that cannot be summarized in single sentences like 'walking improves your memory' or 'stress hurts your memory,'" said Manning. "Instead, specific forms of physical activity and specific aspects of mental health seem to affect each aspect of memory differently."



The researchers also found that individuals who reported anxiety and depression did better at spatial and associative (recognizing connections between concepts or other memories) memory tasks. By contrast, those with self-reported bipolar disorder did better on episodic memory tasks.&nbsp;



The authors believe the knowledge gained in this study could help develop programs to support various communities coping with mental illness. "For example, to help students prepare for an exam or reduce their depression symptoms, specific exercise regimens could be designed to help improve their cognitive performance and mental health," said Manning.&nbsp;



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-17781-0">Scientific Reports</a>.



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By <a href="mailto:nire518@gmail.com">Erin Moody </a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Exercise intensity linked to different mental health benefits

We've all heard about the benefits of exercise for our...

A new report has been released by the <a href="https://covid19commission.org/">Lancet Covid-19 Commission</a> – a group of 28 international experts in epidemiology, vaccinology, public policy, and international cooperation established in 2020. According to the report, the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/covid-related-deaths-are-much-higher-than-the-official-count/">death toll from Covid-19</a> is “both a profound tragedy and a massive global failure at multiple levels.”



“Too many governments have failed to adhere to basic norms of institutional rationality and transparency, too many people – often influenced by misinformation – have disrespected and protested against basic public health precautions, and the world’s major powers have failed to collaborate to control the pandemic,” the report authors explained.



The commission identified some major failures in handling the pandemic, including: a lack of timely notification of the initial outbreak in Wuhan, delays in acknowledging the fact that SARS-CoV-2 is airborne, lack of coordination among countries regarding suppression strategies, and the failure of many governments to properly examine available evidence and adopt the best policies for pandemic management. The experts also acknowledged a lack of funding for low- and middle-income countries, poor enforcement of biosafety regulations prior to the pandemic, and failure to combat misinformation in the wider population.



The commissioners criticized the <a href="https://www.who.int/">World Health Organization</a> (WHO) for acting too cautiously and too slowly on several crucial matters, such as warning about the virus’ transmissibility or declaring a state of emergency of international concern earlier. Moreover, many national governments were also considered too slow in acknowledging the severity of the outbreak, while the public opposition to social distancing measures or vaccination campaigns “seriously hindered” epidemic control. However, the experts have also identified “some important bright spots” in response to the pandemic, such as the fast development of vaccines.



Regarding the origins of SARS-CoV-2, the experts argued that “all three research-associated hypotheses are still plausible: infection in the field, infection with a natural virus in the laboratory, and infection with a manipulated virus in the laboratory. No independent, transparent, and science-based investigation has been carried out regarding the bioengineering of SARS-like viruses that was underway before the outbreak of Covid-19.”



To avoid future failures in the management of the Covid pandemic and other possible public health threats, the scientists made several recommendations, including better global coordination of efforts to end the pandemic through vaccination campaign and other non-medical strategies, an intensification of the search for the origins of the virus, a strengthening of the WHO and national healthcare systems, and increased efforts to prevent future pandemics by quickly identifying and controlling both natural and research-related spillovers.



The report is published in the journal <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/commissions/covid19">The Lancet</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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Massive global failures to control the Covid pandemic

A new report has been released by the Lancet Covid-19...

Researchers from <a href="https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/">Lund University</a> in Sweden have discovered that when <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bee-diversity-is-key-to-sustainable-agriculture/">bees</a> consume the pesticide clothianidin on rapeseed flowers, they move more slowly than non-exposed bees. The experts also found that strawberries pollinated by the affected bees are smaller.



"We studied bees that ingested clothianidin, a pesticide that was previously used in rapeseed to control flea beetles. Our study indicates that the substance made the bees slower and impaired their ability to pollinate the strawberry flowers," explained study lead author Lina Herbertsson.



The researchers conducted an experiment using 12 outdoor cages containing the bees and rapeseed plants. Half the cages had rapeseed plants treated with clothianidin, and the other half were not treated with the pesticide.&nbsp;



The bees in the treated containers took more time to visit the same number of rapeseed flowers as the non-exposed bees. When they weighed the strawberries pollinated by the bees, researchers determined the strawberries pollinated by the exposed bees weighed less.



"Previous studies have shown that clothianidin affects wild bees negatively in terms of foraging speed, development and reproduction. Our results indicate that it can also impair the bees' ability to pollinate strawberry flowers," said Herbertsson.



Although the study is significant, the authors are careful not to jump to conclusions. "In our study, we did not identify the cause for the lower strawberry weight, and after only having performed a single study under rather special circumstances, we also don't know if this is a general pattern," explained Herbertsson.



"Although clothianidin is now banned, other substances that affect the nervous system of insects in a similar way have partly replaced it. It is therefore of the utmost importance to continue this research and investigate how these substances affect bee behavior and pollination."



This study can be found in the journal <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0273851">PLoS ONE</a>.



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By <a href="mailto:nire518@gmail.com">Erin Moody </a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Pesticides impair the ability of bees to pollinate strawberries

Researchers from Lund University in Sweden have discovered that when...

Southern cattail (Typha domingensis) is a reedy marsh <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plants-may-remove-toxic-metals-from-soil/">plant</a> which inhabits fresh to slightly brackish waters and stands about five to 13 feet tall. A new study led by the <a href="https://www5.usp.br/">University of São Paulo</a> (USP) in Brazil has found that these marsh plants can scavenge up to 34 times more manganese from contaminated soils than other plants such as hibiscus, sedges, or rushes that inhabit similar environments. The findings demonstrate the Southern cattail’s potential for use in the sustainable rehabilitation of areas affected by iron mine tailings.



The scientists conducted the study in Regência on the Doce River estuary in the Espírito Santo state, an area that was flooded by part of the 50 million cubic meters of iron mining waste released when the Fundão tailings dam burst in November 2015 in Mariana, a city located in Minas Gerais (a neighboring state to Espírito Santo), leading to the worst environmental disaster in Brazilian history, which affected 41 towns and killed 19 people.&nbsp;



Moreover, the toxic waste that reached the estuary about two weeks later is estimated to have contaminated 240.8 hectares of the Atlantic Rainforest and killed 14 metric tons of fish. While many projects to mitigate the damage have been launched since then, the estuary remains contaminated.



Now, the scientists discovered that the Southern cattail can effectively extract and remove elemental pollutants or lower their bioavailability in soil through a process called phytoremediation.&nbsp;



“We knew from research by others that manganese is a problem in the region, contaminating the water, soil and fish. When we went to the area affected by iron ore tailings, we expected to find that&nbsp;T. domingensis&nbsp;and&nbsp;Eleocharis acutangula&nbsp;[Acute spikerush] accumulated more manganese than&nbsp;H. tiliaceus, a tree species found in the area, but the results showed that&nbsp;T. domingensis&nbsp;can accumulate 13 times more manganese in its aerial parts than the other two species,” explained study lead author Amanda Duim Ferreira, a PhD student in Soil Science at USP.



“These discoveries open up a range of possibilities for the use of phytoremediation. Knowledge of absorption mechanisms can be a basis for growing&nbsp;T. domingensis&nbsp;via different strategies to obtain optimal results,” added study senior author Professor Tiago Ferreira.



"We’re applying several techniques on the basis of what we know about the best time for planting and the number of harvests per year to increase biomass production and remove the most manganese and iron,” concludes Ferreira.



The study is published in the <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.132811">Journal of Cleaner Production</a>.&nbsp;&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&nbsp;&nbsp;

Marsh plant can effectively clean contaminated soil

Southern cattail (Typha domingensis) is a reedy marsh plant which...

As the frequency of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/measuring-the-effect-of-wildfires-on-air-quality/">wildfires</a> increases, more research is needed on the release of toxic pollutants into watersheds, according to a new review study published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2021WR030699">Water Resources Research</a>. Better understanding how urban wildfires affect water quality will help water quality managers to anticipate, respond to, and potentially mitigate wildfire impacts.



“Much less studied are the effects of fire burning not only forests and grasslands but also houses, vehicles, and other human-made material,” said study co-author Stephen LeDuc, a biologist at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s <a href="https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/about-center-public-health-and-environmental-assessment-cphea">Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment</a>. “There have only been a few studies of pollutants mobilized from these types of fires.”



Together with his colleagues, LeDuc examined trends in water after wildfires as documented in 184 scientific articles published since 1980. The analysis revealed that stream flow often increases for several years after a wildfire, as do sediments, water temperature, nutrients, as well as toxic metals and organic chemicals - which sometimes reach between ten to 100 times higher concentrations than before the fire.



Some of these dangerous post-wildfire chemicals found in water, including arsenic or benzene, frequently exceed regulatory limits, even in processed drinking water. In addition, many researchers have identified higher concentrations of metals in the ash from the wildfires, which could potentially affect runoff.



Since little research has been done on identifying the variety of pollutants emerging from urban wildfires, water managers and planners are often at a disadvantage when recovering from wildfires. “In my view, the main reason for the knowledge gap is the challenge of setting up an urban water quality monitoring program on short notice, like after a fire,” said Dennis Hallema, a hydrologist at the <a href="https://www.dri.edu/">Desert Research Institute</a> in Nevada, who was not involved in the study. “There’s plenty of interest, but at the end of the day, successful water quality monitoring efforts come out of projects that were approved in time.”



This new study will hopefully help water quality managers and communities plan for, and recover from, the negative impacts of wildfires on their water.



“Fire frequency is increasing in places like in the western U.S. due in part to climate change, and there is potential for areas burned by fire to become longer-term stressors to water quality if the previous vegetation is slow to recover or fails altogether. [But] burned areas could be targeted for restoration efforts, such as erosion control or plantings,” LeDuc 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&nbsp;&nbsp;

Wildfire pollutants negatively impact water quality

As the frequency of wildfires increases, more research is needed...

According to a new study presented at the <a href="http://www.eurospe.org/meetings/2022/espe-2022/programme/">60th Annual European Society for Paediatric Endocrinology Meeting</a>, exposure to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/blue-light-exposure-may-cause-premature-aging/">blue light</a> through regular use of smartphones and tablets may alter hormone levels and increase the risk of early-onset puberty. Although this study has only focused on the effects of blue light exposure on rats, its findings could potentially be applied to humans too, due to the similarities between the time-point of puberty and the hormonal changes occurring during pre-puberty and puberty in both rats and humans.&nbsp;



Scientists have long noticed that the escalating use of blue light emitting devices can reduce sleep quality in both children and adults, by disrupting the functioning of melatonin, a hormone which plays a fundamental role in regulating our circadian rhythms. Since melatonin levels are generally higher during pre-puberty than in puberty, researchers have argued that this hormone could also play a role in delaying the onset of puberty.



To test this potential correlation in the case of rats, the scientists used a cohort of female rats divided into three groups and exposed to either a normal light cycle, or to six hours or 12 hours of blue light. In both groups exposed to blue light, the first signs of puberty occurred significantly earlier, and the longer the duration of exposure, the earlier the onset of puberty. Rats exposed to blue light also had lower melatonin levels and higher levels of specific reproductive hormones – such as oestradiol and luteinising hormone - as well as physical changes in their ovarian tissues, which are all known to be trademarks of puberty onset. Moreover, at the 12 hours exposure, rats showed some signs of inflammation and even cell damage in their ovaries.



“We have found that blue light exposure, sufficient to alter melatonin levels, is also able to alter reproductive hormone levels and cause earlier puberty onset in our rat model. In addition, the longer the exposure, the earlier the onset,” said study lead author Aylin Kilinç Uğurlu, an expert in Pediatric Endocrinology at the <a href="https://gazi.edu.tr/">Gazi University</a> in Turkey. “As this a rat study, we can’t be sure that these findings would be replicated in children but these data suggest that blue light exposure could be considered as a risk factor for earlier puberty onset.”



“Although not conclusive, we would advise that the use of blue light emitting devices should be minimized in pre-pubertal children, especially in the evening when exposure may have the most hormone-altering effects,” she 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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Excessive screen time may lead to early puberty

According to a new study presented at the 60th Annual...

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

[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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;



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



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

Kainji Lake in north central Nigeria

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Amanda Nguyen/University of Illinois



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



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

Designing crops that can beat the heat

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

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Remote sensing will revolutionize the way we monitor trees

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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

Wetlands are a major source of methane emissions

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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



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...