We all know processed food isn't the best thing on the plate. But how do we navigate the confusing language of food labeling? A remarkable tool now helps consumers and policymakers understand the processing levels of over 50,000 different items.



Researchers from Mass General Brigham created this public database to promote informed food choices and advocate for better food regulation.



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



Processed foods are those that have been altered from their natural state in some way, usually to make them last longer or taste better. 



This includes things like freezing vegetables, canning beans, or adding salt and sugar to bread. These changes can be pretty simple and often retain most of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/most-baby-food-isnt-nutritious-despite-what-the-label-says/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">original nutrients</a>. 



For example, a jar of tomato sauce or a bag of roasted nuts are considered processed foods because they've been prepared or packaged, but they still contain ingredients you’d recognize and are generally healthy when eaten in moderation.



On the other hand, ultra-processed foods go through much more extensive manufacturing and contain ingredients you wouldn’t normally find in a home kitchen. 



These foods often include artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, and other additives designed to enhance taste, texture, and shelf life. 



Think of things like sugary cereals, sodas, packaged snacks, instant noodles, and frozen dinners. Ultra-processed foods are usually higher in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/high-fat-diets-cause-high-anxiety-through-changes-in-gut-bacteria/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">unhealthy fats</a>, sugars, and salt, and they tend to be lower in essential nutrients.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-processed-foods-dominate-grocery-shelves">Processed foods dominate grocery shelves</h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ultra-processed-foods-make-our-bodies-age-faster/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Highly and ultra-processed foods</a> make up a significant portion of what is available in most grocery stores.



While they may be convenient or taste appealing, research has linked diets high in these types of foods to serious health issues, including obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.



Despite growing awareness about the risks associated with these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/eating-ultra-processed-foods-makes-your-muscles-weaker-and-more-fragile/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">foods</a>, many shoppers struggle to determine how processed a particular food item is. 



Ingredient labels and nutritional information can be overwhelming or unclear, making it difficult for the average consumer to make informed choices.



“There are a lot of mixed messages about what a person should eat. Our work aims to create a sort of translator to help people look at food information in a more digestible way,” said Dr. Giulia Menichetti, a lead researcher at <a href="https://www.brighamandwomens.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brigham and Women’s Hospital</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-grocerydb-simplifies-healthy-eating">GroceryDB simplifies healthy eating</h2>



To address the challenge of understanding <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/minimally-processed-foods-cost-more-offer-no-extra-nutrition/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">food processing levels</a>, researchers applied machine learning to analyze detailed data from three major grocery retailers: <a href="https://www.target.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Target</a>, Whole Foods, and Walmart. 



They examined ingredient lists, nutritional information, and pricing data to create a clear picture of the processing levels of various food items.



This effort led to the development of <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11177926/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">GroceryDB</a>, a comprehensive database tool designed to empower consumers with easy-to-understand information about processed food ingredients.



GroceryDB provides each food item with a "processing score," which indicates the degree of processing involved in the production of the food.



The database is accessible to the public through the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.truefood.tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TrueFood</a>&nbsp;website, where users can explore essential details such as processing scores, ingredient breakdowns, and complete nutritional facts. 



This innovative tool simplifies the often-confusing task of evaluating food processing, making healthier choices more attainable for everyone.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-not-all-grocery-stores-are-the-same">Not all grocery stores are the same</h2>



The researchers employed the FPro algorithm to analyze <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/health-risks-of-ultra-processed-foods-revealed-in-30-year-study/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">food processing</a> levels across products from the three major grocery retailers. Their findings revealed that the majority of items available in these stores were classified as ultra-processed.



While <a href="https://www.wholefoodsmarket.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Whole Foods</a> stood out for offering a broader selection of minimally processed foods, Walmart and Target provided fewer options in this category. 



For example, cereals at Whole Foods showed a wide range, spanning from minimally to ultra-processed. In contrast, all cereals available at <a href="https://www.walmart.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Walmart</a> and Target were categorized as highly processed.



This pattern extended beyond cereals to other product categories, including soups, milk substitutes, and cookies. Despite the apparent variety of brands and products on store shelves, the processing options remained strikingly limited. 



These findings highlight the challenge consumers face when trying to access healthier, less-processed food options, even in stores that appear to offer significant variety.



“When people hear about the dangers of ultra-processed <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ultra-processed-foods-are-harmful-to-nearly-every-part-of-the-body/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">foods</a>, they ask, ‘OK, what are the rules? How can we apply this knowledge?’” said Menichetti. “We are building tools to help people implement changes to their diet.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ai-enters-the-fight-against-processed-foods">AI enters the fight against processed foods</h2>



This initiative demonstrates how artificial intelligence (AI) can play a transformative role in advancing public health. 



By leveraging AI and data science, the research team created a scalable system for analyzing and categorizing the processing levels of food items.



The team plans to enhance this database further by incorporating geolocation data and temporal monitoring. 



This expansion would provide insights into regional differences in food availability and how these variations influence social determinants of health, such as access to nutritious options.



“Most research activities in nutrition still depend on manual curation, but our study shows that artificial intelligence and data science can be used to scale up,” Menichetti emphasized. 



The ultimate goal is to make this an internationally comparable, open-access resource to advance global nutrition security.



With the TrueFood database, consumers now have the tools to make better informed food choices and push for healthier options in their communities.



The study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s43016-024-01095-7" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Food</a>.



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New tool lets you check how processed and unhealthy your food is

We all know processed food isn't the best thing on the plate. But how do we navigate the confusing language of food labeling? A remarkable tool now helps consumers and policymakers understand the processing levels of over 50,000 different items. Researchers from Mass General Brigham created this public database to promote informed food choices and advocate for better food regulation. Understanding processed foods - the basics Processed foods are those that have been altered from their natural state in some way, usually to make them last longer...

Although a nearly limitless supply of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/less-fresh-water/">fresh water</a> exists in the form of water vapor above Earth’s oceans, it currently remains untapped. According to a new study led by the <a href="https://illinois.edu/">University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign</a>, an investment in new infrastructure capable of harvesting oceanic water vapor could be a feasible and sustainable solution to limited supplies of fresh water in various locations around the globe.



The scientists evaluated 14 water-stressed locations across the world for the feasibility of a hypothetical structure that could capture water vapor from above the ocean and condense it into fresh water.&nbsp;



“Water scarcity is a global problem and hits close to home here in the U.S. regarding the sinking water levels in the Colorado River basin, which affects the whole Western U.S.,” said study corresponding author Praveen Kumar, an expert in Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Illinois. “However, in subtropical regions, like the Western U.S., nearby oceans are continuously evaporating water because there is enough solar radiation due to the very little cloud coverage throughout the year.”



Previous wastewater recycling, cloud seeding, and desalination methods were only partly successful. For instance, desalination plants face sustainability issues due to the brine and heavy metal-laden wastewater produced.&nbsp;



“Eventually, we will need to find a way to increase the supply of fresh water as conservation and recycled water from existing sources, albeit essential, will not be sufficient to meet human needs. We think our newly proposed method can do that at large scales,” Kumar said.



By performing atmospheric and economic analyses of the placement of hypothetical offshore structures 210 meters wide and 100 meters high, the researchers concluded that capturing moisture over ocean surfaces could be feasible for many water-stressed regions worldwide, and provide fresh water for large subtropical population centers.&nbsp;



“The climate projections show that the oceanic vapor flux will only increase over time, providing even more fresh water supply,” said study lead author Afeefa Rahman, a PhD student at the University of Illinois. “So, the idea we are proposing will be feasible under climate change. This provides a much needed and effective approach for adaptation to climate change, particularly to vulnerable populations living in arid and semi-arid regions of the world.”



Interestingly, one of the most elegant features of this proposed technique is that it works in a similar way to the natural water cycle. “The difference is that we can guide where the evaporated water from the ocean goes,” concluded senior author Francina Dominguez, an atmospheric scientist at the same university.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-24314-2">Nature Scientific Reports</a>.



—



By Andrei Ionescu, Earth.com Staff Writer



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Could water vapor become a reliable source of fresh water?

Although a nearly limitless supply of fresh water exists in...

According to a recent study presented at the <a href="https://www.britishecologicalsociety.org/events/bes-annual-meeting-2022/">British Ecological Society’s annual meeting</a> in Edinburgh on December&nbsp;20, 2022, animals that perceive <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/time-fly-faster-older/">time</a> the fastest are those that are small, can fly, or are marine predators.&nbsp;



The scientists used data collected from a variety of studies that measured temporal perception in over 100 animal species through flickering light experiments, which recorded the rate of optic nerve sent information with the help of special devices called electroretinograms. The analysis revealed that animals with fast-paced lifestyles have visual systems which can detect changes at highest rates.



For instance, species such as blow flies or dragon flies were able to detect changes at the highest rate, having visual systems operating at 300hz (that is, they were able to detect changes 300 times a second) – a significantly higher rate than in humans, who can see at 65hz. In vertebrates, the fastest temporal perceptions belonged to the pied fly catchers (146hz), while animals such as salmon and dogs clocked in at 96hz and 75hz, respectively. The slowest time perception belonged to crown-of-thorn starfish (0.7hz).



“Having fast vision helps a species perceive rapid changes in the environment. Such detailed perception of changes is very useful if you move quickly or need to pinpoint the trajectory of&nbsp;moving prey,” said Kevin Healy, an expert in Macroecology at the <a href="https://www.universityofgalway.ie/">University of Galway</a>, who presented the study.



“By looking at such a wide range of animals, from dragonflies to starfish, our findings show that a species’ perception of time itself is linked to how fast its environment can change. This can help our understanding of predator-prey interactions or even how aspects such as light pollution may affect some species more than others.”



The scientists were surprised to find that many terrestrial predators have relatively slow temporal perception compared to aquatic predators. “We think this difference may be because in aquatic environments predators can continuously adjust their position when lunging for prey, while in terrestrial environments, predators that lunge at prey, such as a jumping spider, are not able to make adjustments once they’ve launched,” Healey explained.



Since having fast temporal perception is energetically costly and limited by how quickly neurons linked to retinal cells in the eye can recharge, many animals that don’t require such skills have slower time perception and use their energy for growth or reproduction.



Finally, the researchers found that variation in time perception can also occur within species, including in humans, with some studies showing that in football, for instance, goalkeepers can see changes at a higher rate.



—



By Andrei Ionescu, Earth.com Staff Writer



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Which animals perceive time the fastest?

According to a recent study presented at the British Ecological...

Collisions with glass windows on buildings, fences, transportation shelters, and noise barriers are currently a major cause of bird mortality in many parts of the world. Public awareness of bird-window collisions has increased in recent years, due to surveys for dead <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/solar-parks-could-boost-bumblebee-populations/">birds</a> beneath windows. But since collision events are difficult to observe directly, there are still substantial gaps in understanding how and why birds fly into windows, and what happens to them afterwards.



A recent study published in the journal <a href="about:blank">PeerJ</a> has now provided a first glimpse of what happens immediately before a bird collides – or avoids impact – with a window, by analyzing audio and video recordings of 29 collisions and nine near-misses at a residential setting with bird feeders. According to the researchers, birds’ velocity and angle of approach predicted the outcomes following collisions, with faster flights at near-perpendicular angles of approach being the most dangerous for birds.



Of the 29 collisions that were recorded, very few resulted in an immediate fatality and were detected by building inhabitants. Thus, some birds may suffer injuries, but manage to fly away, only to die afterwards far from the window site. This finding has major implications for estimating population-level impacts of bird-window collisions, suggesting that the number of collisions may be highly underestimated by traditional survey methods.



“Bird-window collisions happen all over the world throughout the year, but the frequency and severity of collisions seem to be underestimated by the public, especially at residential settings,” said study lead author Brendon Samuels, a doctoral student in Biology at the <a href="https://www.uwo.ca/">University of Western Ontario</a> in Canada. “One reason is that collisions happen suddenly and are difficult for people to observe directly. When birds fly away afterwards, it’s unclear what ultimately happens to them. Our findings highlight how common collisions can be in residential settings, especially where there are bird attractants like feeders.”



Moreover, although previous studies of bird-windows collisions have tended to focus mostly on quantifying the incidence of fatal collisions at larger structures, residential buildings are the most abundant types of structures with windows, and could thus represent the greatest cumulative threat to birds. In addition, since backyard bird feeding has gained in popularity during the Covid-19 pandemic, more birds are now drawn into high-risk settings.



According to the experts, new buildings can be designed based on practices that limit the risk of collisions. Moreover, existing building windows could be retrofitted by using simple materials to add visual markers to the exterior of the glass. Further research is needed though to characterize how birds orient their eyes to detect and avoid collisions with windows, so that collision deterrents may be designed optimally to match bird vision.&nbsp;



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By Andrei Ionescu, Earth.com Staff Writer



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Window collisions are a leading cause of bird mortality

Collisions with glass windows on buildings, fences, transportation shelters, and...

In a special late-year event, all of the planets in our solar system will be visible together in the sky tonight. About half an hour after sunset, the planets will line up from the southwest to the eastern sky.



Venus, Mercury, Saturn, Jupiter and Mars can be viewed with the naked eye, (and in that order). Uranus and Neptune can be viewed with a telescope or binoculars.



Look for Uranus between Mars and Jupiter, while Neptune can be spotted between Saturn and Jupiter.



According to Space.com, the five planets visible with the naked eye will line up in the sky starting from the southwestern horizon.&nbsp;



With Mercury being the smallest planet in the solar system, it may require a telescope for viewing if the sky is not dark enough. Mercury is also located next to the ultra-vivid Venus, which is 70 times brighter. Look for Venus about 30 minutes after sunset, before it vanishes 40 minutes later.&nbsp;



According to The Guardian, Jupiter will appear brighter than all of the stars and will be high in the southern sky. Meanwhile, Saturn will glow with a golden color when it emerges in the southwest sky.&nbsp;



All eight planets will appear just 1.5 degrees apart, and are set to reach their closest point - or conjunction - on December 29 at 2100 GMT. This special event occurs about once every one to two years.&nbsp;



The moon will also join tonight's planet parade, appearing as a waxing crescent between Jupiter and Saturn.



Gianluca Masi, an astronomer with the Virtual Telescope Project, told Newsweek: "These nights, we can see all the planets of our solar system at a glance, soon after sunset. It happens from time to time, but it is always a spectacular sight.



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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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Spectacular "planet parade" will be visible tonight

In a special late-year event, all of the planets in...

Brown algae could remove up to half a billion tons of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-did-ancient-plants-affect-atmospheric-co2-levels/">carbon dioxide</a> from the atmosphere each year, storing it in the form of slime, according to a new study led by the <a href="https://www.mpi-bremen.de/en/Home.html">Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology</a>. The slimy mucus, known as fucoidan, is extremely hard to break down, which means that the carbon is securely stored for a long time.&nbsp;



“Fucoidan made up about half of the excretions of the brown algae species we studied, the so-called bladderwrack,” explained study first author Hagen Buck-Wiese.“The fucoidan is so complex that it is very hard for other organisms to use it. No one seems to like it.”&nbsp;



“This makes the brown algae particularly good helpers in removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in the long term - for hundreds to thousands of years.”



Once the algae absorb atmospheric carbon dioxide, up to a third of this carbon is released back into the ocean through sugary excretions. These excrements are either used by other organisms or sink to the bottom of the ocean.&nbsp;



“The excretions of brown algae are very complex and therefore incredibly complicated to measure,” said Buck-Wiese. “However, we have managed to develop a method to analyze them in detail.”&nbsp;



The researchers used this technique to examine many different substances, including fucoidan. The experts found that, on an annual basis, brown algae sequester the equivalent of 0.55 gigatons of carbon dioxide. To put this into perspective, carbon dioxide emissions from Germany reach about 0.74 gigatons per year.&nbsp;



“And even better: The fucoidan does not contain any nutrients such as nitrogen,” explained Buck-Wiese. This means that the carbon losses do not affect the growth of brown algae.&nbsp;



“Next we want to look into other brown algae species and other locations,” said Buck-Wiese. “The great potential of brown algae for climate protection definitely needs to be further researched and utilized.”



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.pnas.org/">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.



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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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Brown algae absorb half a billion tons of CO2 each year

Brown algae could remove up to half a billion tons...

Flowering,Saintpaulias,,Commonly,Known,As,African,Violet.,Mini,Potted,Plant.

Flowers are complex, three-dimensional structures that thrill us with their shapes and colors. Their diverse morphology and rich hues have evolved to attract <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/small-patches-of-land-can-help-support-pollinators/">pollinators</a> and ensure successful reproduction in a 3D world, and yet we are often more familiar with them captured in 2D, in the form of photographs and artworks.&nbsp;



A team of scientists from <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/nph.18553">McGill University</a>, Université de Montréal, and the Montreal Botanical Garden, have now developed a method of generating 3D images from photographs and other 2D sources. Photogrammetry is the technology used to obtain 3D information about physical objects and the environment through the process of recording, measuring and interpreting photographic images. This methodology has been extensively used in the field of geography, to reconstruct physical objects from aerial or satellite photographs. It has never before been used to understand the 3D structure of flowers.



The researchers developed a photogrammetry method to reconstruct 3D models of flowers based on numerous images taken from different angles using a digital, single-lens reflex camera, a turntable and a lightbox. They tested their method on 18 different species from the family Gesneriaceae, which includes primroses and African violets. Their results are published in the journal&nbsp;<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/nph.18553">New Phytologist</a>.



The researchers say that photogrammetry has the potential to boost research on flower evolution and ecology because it provides a simple way to access three-dimensional morphological data. Databases of flower structures - or even of the structures of complete plants - could give scientists and the public a way to finally see the unique features of plant species that usually remain hidden from view.



“The variety of shapes and colors seen in the plant world are difficult to capture with simple photography. That’s why I became interested in adapting technological tools to capture the form of flowers,” said Professor&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mcgill.ca/newsroom/daniel-schoen">Daniel Schoen</a>, who first had the idea of applying photogrammetry to flowers, while doing research at the Institut de Recherche en Biologie Végétale. “Understanding floral evolution is important because flowers are the principal drivers of plant diversification through speciation, a major determinant of plant biodiversity."



“Together, the team developed something we think will help advance our understanding of how flowers diversify in response to their interaction with pollinators. Thanks to our 3D models, it’s possible to admire flowers from every angle."



According to the researchers, the use of photogrammetry has real advantages compared to other existing methods, in particular X-ray microtomography, which is by far the most widely used method to build 3D flower models.&nbsp;



"Photogrammetry is much more accessible, since it’s cheap, requires little specialized equipment and can even be used directly in nature,” said study lead author Marion Leménager. “In addition, photogrammetry has the advantage of reproducing the colors of flowers, which is not possible with methods using X-rays.”



The first results, although imperfect, were enough to convince Leménager to devote a chapter of her thesis to it. “The method is not perfected yet,” said Leménager. “Some parts of the flowers remain difficult to reconstruct in 3D, such as reflective, translucent or very hairy surfaces.”



The method is an important step towards understanding more about the development and evolution of flowers, and how they interact with their pollinators. At least 90 percent of flowering plants make use of pollinators to ensure their reproduction, and the 3D morphology of flowers is an important factor that attracts appropriate pollinators. In the past, the 3D structure of flowers was rarely studied, because it is difficult to quantify structures in 3D.&nbsp;



“We have shown that photogrammetry works at least as well as more complicated and expensive X-ray methods for visible flower structures,” said study co-author Simon Joly. “Thanks to the living collections of the Montreal Botanical Garden, our study of plants from the Gesneriaceae family, like the African violet, demonstrates that 3D models produced using this technique allow us to explore a large number of questions about the evolution of flowers.”



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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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Looking deep inside of flowers may reveal their hidden secrets

Flowers are complex, three-dimensional structures that thrill us with their...

Along,Way,At,Khardung,La,Pass,In,Ladakh,,India.,Khardung

The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/temperatures-are-rising-unexpectedly-fast-on-the-tibetan-plateau/">Tibetan Plateau</a> has experienced significant warming and wetting since the mid-1990s, which has substantially altered the thermal properties of its frozen ground. A new study led by the <a href="https://english.cuit.edu.cn/index.jsp">Chengdu University of Information Technology</a> in China has found that the dual effect of this wetting and the projected increase in precipitation of the Plateau in the future is rapidly becoming a critical factor in determining the thermodynamics of the frozen ground.



“In the face of the greatest increase in the occurrence frequency of heavy precipitation over the entire Tibetan Plateau, we need to address how warming and wetting might be jointly influencing the thermal responses of the permafrost and seasonally frozen ground to climate change,” said study lead author Xuewei Fang, an expert in Atmospheric Sciences at Chengdu.



The scientists used the average annual precipitation as a criterion to divide the Tibetan Plateau into four different regions: an arid zone (with annual precipitation below 200 mm), a semi-arid zone (200–400 mm), a semi-humid zone (400–800 mm), and a humid zone (above 800 mm). The analysis revealed that, compared to the 1961–1990 period, the average annual air temperature and precipitation over the Tibetan Plateau between 1991 and 2010 increased by 0.72C and 75.64 mm, respectively, with the arid and semi-arid regions becoming warmer and wetter, and the humid and semi-humid zones becoming warmer but drier.



Moreover, by comparing the freezing and thawing durations of the ground surface in these two time frames, the researchers discovered that the wetting in drier areas before the 1990s prolonged the freezing duration of the frozen ground, while the continuous wetting after the 1990s reduced the thawing period. These findings suggest that the significant wetting in arid regions has exerted the opposite warming effect on the permafrost since the 1990s, shrinking the frozen area by 28 percent.



By contrast, the decline in precipitation in the humid zones has prolonged the thawing duration in seasonally frozen ground since the 1990s, due to the fact that the drying and warming environment enhances heat loss at the ground level, thereby decreasing the heat supply for the melting of ice and extending the thawing process.



“Next, we plan to investigate how energy and water fluxes in the frozen ground interact with wetting and warming conditions,” Dr. Feng concluded.



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00376-022-2109-z">Advances in Atmospheric Sciences</a>.&nbsp;



—



By Andrei Ionescu, Earth.com Staff Writer



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How is frozen ground responding to climate change?

The Tibetan Plateau has experienced significant warming and wetting since...

C. difficile is a bacterium which can cause potentially deadly <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/covid-19-reinfection-increases-the-risk-of-fatal-complications/">infections</a>, especially among the elderly and individuals on long-term treatments with antibiotics. Infections with these bacteria – averaging about 350,000 cases per year in the U.S. – are usually characterized by diarrhea, nausea, and fever, and once infected, patients are prone to recurrent re-infections.



Now, a team of scientists from the <a href="https://www.virginia.edu/">University of Virginia</a> (UVA) have found that certain microorganisms present in our guts – a group of antibiotic-resistant “opportunistic pathogens” called enterococci - could make C. difficile more potent and dangerous for certain people.



“The interactions between&nbsp;C. diff,&nbsp;other microbes, and the human gut are highly complex. This study leveraged expertise from a large, multidisciplinary team across several institutions to disentangle these complex interactions and discover key mechanisms that help&nbsp;C. diff&nbsp;cause disease,” said study co-author Jason Papin, an expert in Biomedical Engineering at UVA. “With this greater understanding, we have an opportunity to develop new therapeutic strategies to treat this dangerous infection.”



The scientists collected stool samples from a cohort of patients infected with C. difficile, and, using a combination of lab tests and advanced computer modelling, they investigated how C. diff. interacts with other microorganisms in the gut. The analysis revealed that enterococci – bacteria that, even on their own, can sometimes cause dangerous and difficult to treat infections, such as meningitis, diverticulitis, or urinary tract infections – make for a dangerous ally to C. diff, since they produce amino acids such as leucine and ornithine, which make C. diff more dangerous for people on long-term antibiotics.



By clarifying how this bacterium interacts with enterococci and other gut microorganisms, doctors will be better positioned to battle this common, yet possibly serious infection. “Biology is a data-rich science and the power of computational models to use these data is only in its infancy. We’re excited about the innumerable opportunities to use data science and computer modeling to drive biological discovery,” Papin concluded.



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-05438-x">Nature</a>.



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By Andrei Ionescu, Earth.com Staff Writer



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Deadly bacteria has an ally lurking in our guts

C. difficile is a bacterium which can cause potentially deadly...

A multi-institutional team of researchers led by the <a href="https://www.uta.edu/">University of Texas at Arlington</a> (UTA) has recently received a $5 million research grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) through&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usda.gov/climate-solutions/climate-smart-commodities">Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities</a>. The goal is to establish climate-smart <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/agricultural-diversity-has-a-positive-impact-on-food-security/">agricultural</a> practices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase soybean production of small and underserved farmers in Texas, Arkansas, and Missouri.



“The agricultural industry will soon be a leader in the fight against climate change,” said principal investigator Woo-Suk Chang, a professor of Biology at UTA. “Within the last 20 years, advances in plant breeding and biological soil amendments have allowed sustainable and regenerative agriculture to take on a more pivotal role in aiding the fight against the destruction of our planet.”



To reinforce efficient and sustainable soybean production, the experts will collaborate with farmers to combine new methods and innovative project pilots, including: no-till agriculture, cover crops, climate-smart soybean varieties, crop rotation, bio-inoculants, and biochar.



For instance, since tillage can lead to soil degradation and nutrient loss, converting to no-till planting will help farmers preserve below- and above-ground carbon storage. At the same time, using cover-crop mixtures that are adapted to the appropriate soil type and moisture profile, while developing climate-smart soybean varieties tolerant to droughts or flooding would help farms thrive under inclement conditions.&nbsp;



Moreover, using crop rotation could achieve sustainable soil health, prevent soil erosion, and optimize biodiversity, while having drought-tolerant bio-inoculants as a part of a climate-smart commodity package could mitigate the negative impact on biological nitrogen fixation that drought events usually cause. Finally, due to its high surface area and porous structure, using biochar can enhance water-holding capacity and protect nutrients and organics from harsh abiotic conditions.



Until now, fourteen soybean producers from the three states have accepted to participate in the project. By providing them with climate-smart community packages, financial incentives, and the ability to accrue carbon credits, the scientists aim to accumulate a growing list of producers across all three and neighboring states.



“Expanding opportunities for small and underserved producers is a key goal of Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities,” said Robert Bonnie, USDA Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation. “Small and underserved producers, including those here in Texas, are facing the impacts of climate change head-on, with limited resources, and have the most to gain from leveraging the growing market demand for agricultural goods produced in a sustainable, climate-smart way. We look forward to working with The University of Texas at Arlington to expand markets for climate-smart commodities and ensure that small and underserved producers reap the benefits of these market opportunities.”&nbsp;&nbsp;



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By Andrei Ionescu, Earth.com Staff Writer



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Developing climate-smart agricultural practices

A multi-institutional team of researchers led by the University of...

According to a new study led by the <a href="https://www.ku.dk/english/">University of Copenhagen</a> in Denmark, being overweight may not be related only to how healthy one eats or how much exercise one gets, but also to the particular composition of a person’s <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/our-gut-microbiome-is-shaped-by-what-we-eat/">gut microbiome</a>. Surprisingly, the experts found that a portion of the population may be disadvantaged by gut bacteria that are highly effective at extracting energy from food.



The scientists investigated the residual energy in the stool of 85 participants to estimate how effective their gut microbes were at extracting energy from food. The analyses revealed that about 40 percent of the participants had a greater abundance of Bacteroides bacteria in their gut microbiome (a so-called B-Type composition), which are more effective at extracting nutrients from food. However, this effectiveness may also result in more calories available for the human host from the same amount of food, a finding previously confirmed by studies of mice.



“The fact that our gut bacteria are great at extracting energy from food is a good thing, as the bacteria’s metabolism of food provides extra energy in the form of, for example, short-chain fatty acids, which are molecules that our body can use as energy-supplying fuel. But if we consume more than we burn, the extra energy provided by the intestinal bacteria may increase the risk of obesity over time,” explained study senior author Henrik Roager, an expert in the Microbiome and Metabolomics at Copenhagen.



By studying how the composition of the gut microbiome is related to the length of food’s journey from consumption to excretion (which can last between 12 and 36 hours), the scientists stumbled upon another unexpected discovery: while they initially hypothesized that people with long digestive travel times would be the ones who harvested the most nutrition from their food, the analysis found the exact opposite.



“We thought that there would be a long digestive travel time would allow more energy to be extracted. But here, we see that participants with the B-type gut bacteria that extract the most energy, also have the fastest passage through the gastrointestinal system, which has given us something to think about,” Roager said.&nbsp;



“We may have found a key to understanding why some people gain more weight than others, even when they don’t eat more or any differently. But this needs to be investigated further,” he concluded.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://microbiomejournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40168-022-01418-5">Microbiome</a>.



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Some gut bacteria promote obesity

According to a new study led by the University of...

Food waste could be dramatically reduced by changing simple words about freshness on product labels, according to a new study led by <a href="https://www.cornell.edu/">Cornell University</a>. Depending on the type of product, words like "best by" or "best if used by" can make a big difference in whether <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/benefits-of-blue-foods-are-not-reaching-millions-of-people/">food</a> is tossed out too early.&nbsp;



"We developed a survey to collect information on consumers’ intentions to discard 15 food products when exposed to different date labels," wrote the researchers. "Results show that the use of certain date labels has the capacity to reduce food waste, but the reductions would happen differentially across food groups."



“Some consumers might do a sniff test to see if food is still good, while others might just look at the date label and throw it away,” said study senior author Professor Brad Rickard. He explained that most of the date labels used on food products in the United States are not even regulated. “And they’re not food safety dates; they’re just food quality dates.”



In particular, the researchers found that the words “use” or “use by” lead to an increase in food waste because these terms seem to imply that it may not be safe to consume foods beyond the established date. On the other hand, the words “best by” seem to refer to the perceived quality of a product beyond a certain date, which could lead to less food waste.&nbsp;



“You go into the yogurt section at the grocery store, and you see many different labels - some say ‘use by,’ some say ‘best by,’ some say ‘best if used by’ or ‘fresh by,’ ‘sell by.’ And there are no rules about this.”



Professor Rickard said the motivation for this work stems from the “wild west” landscape of food date labels which is expected to be driven, in part, by manufacturers’ desire to sell more products. Last year, the Food Date Labeling Act was introduced in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate in an effort to reduce the discarding of safe food.



The study is published in the <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/erae/jbac021">European Review of Agricultural Economics</a>.



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Food waste could be greatly reduced with better labels

Food waste could be dramatically reduced by changing simple words...

From food and water purification to oxygen production and CO2 removal, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plants-engineer-their-petals-to-be-visually-attractive-to-bees/">plants</a> are essential for life on Earth. Now, with technological advancements such as rockets and other exploratory devices, astronauts can reach the moon and beyond. 



However, as <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/">NASA</a>&nbsp;explores the potential for longer space flights, prolonged stays on the International Space Station, or even the future colonization of the moon or planets such as Mars, scientists are well-aware that plants are needed for survival in outer space too. Yet, it is still unclear how exposure to extreme environmental factors related to space travel, such as microgravity or space radiation, may impact biological systems such as plants.



In a new research project led by the <a href="https://www.tamu.edu/">Texas A&amp;M University</a> and funded by NASA, a team of researchers will explore how radiation exposure in space impacts plant telomeres, which are the basic building blocks in their DNA, located at the very end of chromosomes, and have a crucial role in keeping the chromosomes healthy and stable. However, telomeres are far from static. In fact, they continually contract and expand due to environmental stressors, and if they get outside of their normal range, they frequently lose their protective function.



“Plants are obviously very important for space travel, and so from a practical point of view we want to understand how we can help them survive the extreme conditions of space,” said project leader Dorothy Shippen, a professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics at Texas A&amp;M. “There is so much we don’t know, but this telomere research will answer some of the basic questions we have related to plants and space radiation.”&nbsp;



“There is interest in telomeres because they are linked to survivability, and it turns out the environment can influence the size of telomeric DNA tract. The telomeres are like a reporter for the physiological health of organisms and a biomarker for their ability to be healthy. We are interested in understanding how plants respond to the stress of space radiation and then figure out how to protect them,” she explained.



The researchers hypothesize that exposure to space radiation may trigger genome oxidation and an increase in the activity of telomerase, a specialized enzyme that plays a crucial role in maintaining telomeric DNA. Preliminary data from plant seedlings sent into low Earth orbit on a previous space flight have shown that, while the telomere lengths of the plants did not change, telomerase activity increased 150-fold.



“This is all very new, and we need to understand how this exposure to radiation plays out,” said Borja Barbero Barcenilla, a postdoctoral fellow in Biochemistry and Biophysics at Texas A&amp;M, who will also be involved in the project. “Right now, the level of radiation these samples were exposed to in our preliminary experiments in low Earth orbit aboard the International Space Station are much less than what they will suffer on the moon or Mars. The radiation exposure will exponentially increase on those missions, so we need to understand how plants will react to the much higher levels of radiation.”



During the following years, the scientists aim to comprehensively investigate how space radiation impacts plants from seed to flower, as well as across generations. “I think we are in a really good position to deliver some interesting data. We have the right collaborators, and we feel privileged that NASA sees the value in these experiments and trusts us with them,” Shippen concluded.



—



By Andrei Ionescu, Earth.com Staff Writer



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How does space radiation affect plants?

From food and water purification to oxygen production and CO2...

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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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Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;



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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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Designing crops that can beat the heat

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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How does salt makes things taste better?

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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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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Remote sensing will revolutionize the way we monitor trees

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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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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The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research&nbsp;



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



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

How the immune system responds to injury

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

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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

2022 illustrated the consequences of a warming climate

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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



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...