Consciousness has long intrigued thinkers, from ancient philosophers to contemporary neuroscientists. It is a complex phenomenon we encounter daily, yet we often find it difficult to fully define or comprehend.



This elusive aspect of our existence encompasses our thoughts, emotions, perceptions, and self-awareness. 



Despite significant advancements in fields like cognitive science and psychology, the true nature of consciousness remains one of humanity's <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/panpsychism-what-if-all-things-humans-plants-atoms-have-universal-consciousness/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">most profound mysteries</a>.



Researchers are actively investigating how consciousness emerges from brain activity, the distinctions between conscious and unconscious states, and the broader implications of consciousness on our understanding of reality and existence.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hyperdimensional-paradigm">Hyperdimensional paradigm</h2>



Michael Pravica, a physics professor at the <a href="https://www.unr.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Nevada</a>, offers a fresh perspective on the age-old mystery of consciousness. 



He proposes that understanding this <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/understanding-human-consciousness-through-eureka-moments/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">complex phenomenon</a> may require us to look beyond our familiar dimensions.



Central to his theory is the concept of hyperdimensionality -- the intriguing possibility that our universe harbors more dimensions than the four we can perceive (three spatial dimensions and one of time).



Could this expanded view open new pathways for exploring the nature of consciousness? 



By examining these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/where-in-the-brain-does-consciousness-reside-scientists-think-they-might-know/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">broader dimensions</a>, we may uncover insights that have significant implications for our understanding of the universe and our place within it.



"The sheer fact we can conceive of higher dimensions than four within our mind, within our mathematics, is a gift... It's something that transcends biology," Pravica told Popular Mechanics. 



He believes that our ability to imagine and mathematically describe dimensions beyond <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/when-do-babies-start-gaining-their-consciousness/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">our physical experience</a> hints at a deeper connection between consciousness and the fabric of the universe.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-string-theory-and-higher-dimensions">String theory and higher dimensions</h2>



String theory is an ambitious framework in physics that seeks to unify all fundamental forces and particles into a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/radical-new-theory-finally-unites-gravity-spacetime-and-the-quantum-realm/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">single theoretical model</a>. It proposes that the basic building blocks of the universe aren't point-like particles but tiny, one-dimensional "strings" that vibrate at specific frequencies. 



These vibrations correspond to different particles, much like how different musical notes come from vibrations of a guitar string. To make the mathematics of string theory work, scientists have found that it requires additional spatial dimensions. 



These new dimensions extend beyond the three we experience daily. In some versions of the theory, there are up to ten or eleven dimensions in total.



The extra dimensions aren't easily observed because they might be compactified or curled up at scales so small they're beyond our current ability to detect. Imagine dimensions folded in on themselves like tiny loops at every point in space. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dimension-of-consciousness">Dimension of consciousness</h2>



While the concepts of hyperdimensionality and string theory have received overwhelming acceptance from physicists, attributing a link between higher dimensions and consciousness can stir up a tempest in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/meditation-reveals-common-altered-states-of-consciousness/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">scientific teapot</a>.



Interestingly, Pravica, an Orthodox Christian with a PhD from <a href="https://www.harvard.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Harvard</a>, harnesses hyperdimensionality to bridge the gap between his scientific understanding and religious faith. He posits a fascinating theory: Jesus could be a hyperdimensional entity.



Pravica explained his perspective by citing a Biblical event. "According to the Bible, Jesus ascended into heaven 40 days after being on Earth. How do you ascend into heaven if you're a four-dimensional creature?" he pondered.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-science-fiction-or-fact">Science fiction or fact?</h2>



Not everyone in the scientific field is convinced by Pravica's approach. Some argue that linking consciousness to hyperdimensionality -- and by extension, to religious concepts -- blurs the line between empirical science and personal belief. 



One scientist commented that such theories are bordering "on science fiction." <a href="https://www.fordham.edu/academics/departments/physics-and-engineering-physics/faculty-and-staff/stephen-holler/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stephen Holler</a>, an associate professor of physics at <a href="https://www.fordham.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Fordham University</a> in New York, shares this skepticism. 



He emphasizes the importance of acknowledging gaps in our scientific knowledge without resorting to non-scientific explanations. 



"Gaps in scientific knowledge are attributed to divine intervention, rather than being seen as opportunities for further inquiry and understanding," Holler told Popular Mechanics.



He further expresses concern that this approach might <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/quantum-consciousness-and-you-what-happens-when-machines-become-sentient/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hinder scientific progress</a>. "It's a poor explanation mechanism that arguably stifles the inquisitive nature required for good science and teaches that it’s not okay to say, 'I don’t know'," Holler added. 



His viewpoint highlights the delicate balance between remaining open to new ideas and maintaining rigorous scientific standards.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dimension-of-consciousness-0">Dimension of consciousness</h2>



The debate sparked by Pravica's theory brings to light the broader conversation about how we explore consciousness. Could considering extra dimensions <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mindfulness-can-lead-to-altered-states-of-consciousness/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">offer new insights</a>, or does it complicate the matter further? 



While hyperdimensionality is a well-established concept in theoretical physics, its application to consciousness is relatively uncharted territory.



This discussion also touches on how personal beliefs can influence scientific exploration. Throughout history, many scientists have drawn inspiration from their philosophical or religious views. 



The key challenge lies in ensuring that such influences encourage curiosity rather than limit it.



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



As we continue to investigate the nature of consciousness, it's essential to keep an open mind while adhering to scientific principles. 



Theories like Pravica's invite us to think creatively and consider possibilities beyond conventional wisdom. They remind us that much about the human mind -- and the universe -- remains unknown.



Advancements in technology, such as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/quantum-connection-behind-brain-signals-and-human-consciousness/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">quantum computing</a> and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ai-will-outsmart-humans-when-we-crack-the-neural-code/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">artificial intelligence</a>, may soon provide new tools to study consciousness. 



These developments could help us understand how cognitive processes might interact with dimensions we have yet to explore fully.



The quest to comprehend consciousness is far from over. Ideas that challenge the status quo, like the hyperdimensional paradigm, play a crucial role in pushing the boundaries of knowledge. 



Whether or not such theories withstand scientific scrutiny, they provoke valuable discussions that drive progress.



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Consciousness may stem from unseen dimensions beyond our reality

Consciousness has long intrigued thinkers, from ancient philosophers to contemporary neuroscientists. It is a complex phenomenon we encounter daily, yet we often find it difficult to fully define or comprehend. This elusive aspect of our existence encompasses our thoughts, emotions, perceptions, and self-awareness. Despite significant advancements in fields like cognitive science and psychology, the true nature of consciousness remains one of humanity's most profound mysteries. Researchers are actively investigating how consciousness emerges from brain activity, the distinctions between conscious and unconscious states, and the broader implications of...

Bird populations are decreasing across the United States as their preferred habitats are replaced. This is particularly true in urban areas where impervious surfaces and man-made structures predominate. However, a recent study of bird diversity in six US cities has found that the way in which people manage and landscape their own backyards has the potential to increase habitat for wild birds and improve <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/coral-reef-biodiversity-expected-to-shuffle-but-not-decline/">biodiversity</a> on a regional scale.&nbsp;



The research was co-led by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/people/sblerman">Susannah Lerman</a>&nbsp;of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/">USDA&nbsp;Forest Service</a>&nbsp;and <a href="https://asrc.gc.cuny.edu/people/desiree-narango/">Desirée L. Narango</a>&nbsp;from City University of New York.&nbsp;The team recorded bird diversity in four residential yard types and in natural parks across six cities with distinctly different climate conditions, including Baltimore, Boston, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, and Phoenix.



Urbanization usually leads to the homogenization of biodiversity because fewer different types of habitats are available for birds. In addition, bird communities in urban areas contain fewer indigenous species and have a lower conservation value. But few studies have explored whether or how land management by urban residents can ameliorate the negative effects of this homogenization on species composition.&nbsp;



The researchers tested the effects of local (back yard land management) and neighborhood-scale (amount of impervious surface and tree canopy cover) features on breeding bird diversity in the six metropolitan areas. &nbsp;They considered six land management types: two natural area park types (separate and adjacent to residential areas), two yard types with conservation features (wildlife-certified and water conservation) and two lawn-dominated yard types (high- and low-fertilizer application), in addition to the surrounding neighborhood-scale features.&nbsp;



The results were similar in all six cities; species diversity was higher in yards than in urban parks, although parks supported more species of conservation concern. In addition, yards certified as wildlife habitat through the National Wildlife Federation’s certification program supported a wider variety of bird species when compared with more traditional yard landscaping that was dominated by lawn.



Within yard types, species richness was positively associated with the amount of tree cover in the neighborhood, and negatively correlated with the amount of impervious surface in the neighborhood.&nbsp;



The experts also found that bird species in backyards generated high public interest within the community of citizen birdwatchers, and this made the management of back yards for the purpose of attracting wildlife very significant.&nbsp;



“This study shows that when people landscape with wildlife in mind, householders can contribute to conservation right in their own back yards,” said Lerman. “And our yards often support some of our most beloved backyard birds.”



According to the study authors, their results show that preserving natural areas, minimizing impervious surfaces and increasing tree canopy are essential strategies to support bird diversity and conserve regionally important species.&nbsp;



Back yards - especially those managed for wildlife - support diverse, heterogeneous bird communities with high public interest that can advance successful conservation in American residential landscapes.



“Scientists are finding that we can’t study cities in isolation," said Narango. "It will improve bird conservation efforts if we can understand which management practices are effective across regions and nationally, and which are effective at a more local level."



The research findings were published today in the journal <a href="https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/19395582">Ecological Applications</a>.&nbsp;&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

Background gardens increase regional bird diversity

Bird populations are decreasing across the United States as their...

A new study led by the <a href="https://www.fchampalimaud.org/champalimaud-foundation/champalimaud-centre">Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown</a> from Lisbon, Portugal has found that flies’ hearts respond to danger in the same way human hearts do: they accelerate if the flies decide to escape an imminent danger, and slow down if the flies freeze into place.



Although it has been long known that the hearts of non-human vertebrates, such as cats, frogs, or antelopes, follow the same rules as human hearts when the animals are in danger, much less was understood about insects’ hearts. This new study, published in the journal <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2021.10.013">Current Biology</a>, is one of the first to explore these issues.



“We were quite surprised by this result," recalled study lead author Marta Moita, a neuroscientist and leader of the <a href="https://moitalab.org/lab-members/">Moita Lab</a>. “We know that when vertebrates face a threat, their autonomic nervous system kicks into action, generating the changes in cardiac activity that we are all familiar with. However, this system doesn’t exist in insects, and so it was unclear whether they would exhibit similar cardiac alterations.”



By lighting up each fly’s heart cells with fluorescent molecules, the scientists observed the heart’s activity through the fly’s transparent exoskeleton, and found that, just like in humans, the heart pumps faster when the fly decides to flee and slower when the insect freezes into place.



“This finding is very intriguing," said Professor Moita. “Since flies don’t have an autonomic nervous system, it means there’s another mechanism at play here. The question is whether there’s an autonomic-nervous-system-like structure that we are not aware of, or is there an entirely different mechanism yet to be discovered.”



The researchers also discovered that whether the fly was attempting to escape or freezing, the heart was pumping more actively towards the insect’s front section.&nbsp;



"Pumping more nutrients into the front section while escaping makes sense,” explained study co-author Natalia Barrios, a researcher at the Champalimaud Centre. “This is where the brain, legs and wings are located, so that's where the action is. But we didn't expect to see this while the fly was freezing."



According to the scientists, this surprising finding was caused by the fact that even while freezing, the fly was preparing for action.&nbsp;



More research needs to be done to unravel the surprising similarities between flies and humans. “Eventually, we hope that insight gained in the fly will lead to an understanding of how the brain controls behavior in other animals, including humans," Moita 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

Flies respond to danger like humans

A new study led by the Champalimaud Centre for the...

A new study led by <a href="https://www.stanford.edu/">Stanford University</a> argues that policy interventions to slow deforestation are most effective when enacted in a specific order. This study provides an important blueprint for both public and private interventions which can empower nations all around the world to reverse the destruction of one of the planet’s most precious resource.



“Stopping deforestation is a classic collective action problem,” said study lead author&nbsp;Paul Furumo, a postdoctoral research at Stanford’s&nbsp;<a href="https://earth.stanford.edu/?gclid=CjwKCAjwr56IBhAvEiwA1fuqGmmke5NW8dmvfkTP7l7oEoJ1-vh1YosUjSNrsPV5-0XS0p7XaROEvxoCMQ0QAvD_BwE">School of Earth, Energy &amp; Environmental Sciences</a> (Science Earth). “While it is encouraging to see new public and private actors making commitments, we need to accelerate progress.”



Although an increasing number of public and private decision-makers are struggling to slow deforestation, forest loss over the past ten years has been greater than in the previous decade, with the Amazon rainforest witnessing an enormous amount of destruction.



By focusing on commodity production in Brazil, Columbia, and Costa Rico in order to identify the policy mix of over 60 public and private zero-deforestation interventions in each country, the researchers attempted to suggest a series of steps that could improve the currently messy mix of strategies employed to save the world’s forests.



According to them, the policy sequence should match the evolving threats of drivers of deforestation. In an initial step, land clearing in frontier forests should be slowed by initiating state-led command-and-control measures, such as fines for illegally cutting trees, or incentives like cash payments to reduce opportunity costs.&nbsp;



In later stages, policies should focus on accelerating forest recovery. Sustainable agricultural policies which expand available means of production and provide access to non-forested lands are crucial to protect endangered forests.



New public-private coalitions, such as companies that make performance-based commitments working together with governments who monitor progress, are also essential to implement stronger conservation measures.



“We are in the midst of an unprecedented opportunity to reduce deforestation through public and private collaboration,” said Furumo. “It won’t be done with a single strategy and it won’t be a matter of copy-pasting successful interventions from one country to another. It will be a product of more efficient and coordinated governance that designs synergies across instruments and actors.”



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1017/sus.2021.21">Global Sustainability</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

Coordinated efforts needed to slow deforestation

A new study led by Stanford University argues that policy...

According to the Emission Gap <a href="https://www.unep.org/resources/emissions-gap-report-2021">report</a> provided by the <a href="https://www.unep.org/">United Nations Environment Programme</a> (UNEP), national plans to curb carbon emissions fall short of the level needed to avert dangerous <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mammoths-were-wiped-out-by-climate-change-not-humans/">climate</a> change. Instead of limiting global warming to 1.5C above the pre-industrial levels, as planned through the Paris Agreement, the global temperatures may rise by 2.7C by the end of this century, leading to catastrophic changes in the Earth’s climate.



The Emission Gap report looked at the nationally-determined contributions (NDCs) or carbon-cutting plans that countries have submitted to UN in preparation for the <a href="https://ukcop26.org/">COP26</a> conference. When added together, these plans will cut greenhouse gas emissions by around 7.5 percent compared to the pledges made five years ago. This is far from sufficient to meet the 1.5C temperature threshold. In fact, 55 percent cuts would be needed to achieve this goal.



"To stand a chance of limiting global warming to 1.5C, we have eight years to almost halve greenhouse gas emissions: eight years to make the plans, put in place the policies, implement them and ultimately deliver the cuts," said Inger Andersen, executive director of UNEP. "The clock is ticking loudly."



"The emissions gap is the result of a leadership gap," added Antonio Gutteres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations. "But leaders can still make this a turning point to a greener future instead of a tipping point to climate catastrophe."



Around 50 countries, together with the EU, have pledged a net zero target of greenhouse emissions by mid-21st century. If these plans are fully implemented, the global temperature rise could be limited to 2.2C by the end of the century.



In 2020, the restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic offered a glimmer of hope that emissions could be significantly curbed. However, according to the report’s authors, the opportunity to develop a greener world in the wake of the pandemic is in danger of being lost.



"The huge sums spent to recover economies from Covid-19 are a once-in-a-generation opportunity to boost low-carbon technologies and industries. In most cases, this opportunity is not being taken," said co-author Brian O'Callaghan, project manager of the <a href="https://recovery.smithschool.ox.ac.uk/">Oxford University Economic Recovery Project</a>.



"This is a particular slap in the face for vulnerable nations who are suffering the worst consequences of climate change. We remain without a commitment from the highest emitters to cover the loss and damage that they have brought on the world."



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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

Emissions gap report: greener world or climate catastrophe

According to the Emission Gap report provided by the United...

Some of us need a good strong cup of coffee to start the day. Others will chug down a pot or two before even thinking about engaging in conversation. Whatever style you adopt, you likely don't consider how many environmental factors are involved in the production of your coffee. 



Now, a study from the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at <a href="https://www.tufts.edu/">Tufts</a> and Montana State University is Shedding new light on the impacts of climate change on coffee production.



"A subpar cup of coffee has economic implications as well as sensory. Factors that influence coffee production have great impacts on buyers’ interest, the price of coffee, and ultimately the livelihoods of the farmers who grow it," said Sean Cash, lead author of the study.



The scientists examined ten environmental factors across 73 relevant studies, attempting to parse out their effect on coffee production.&nbsp;



"Climate change is impacting crop performance and agricultural systems around the world with implications for farmers and consumers," wrote the researchers.



"We carried out a systematic review to synthesize evidence regarding the effects of environmental factors associated with climate change and management conditions associated with climate adaptation on the crop quality of a culturally-relevant perennial crop, coffee."



The researchers found that plants grown at higher elevations tend to produce coffee that tastes better, while plants exposed to more light tend to produce a worse taste.&nbsp;



The study authors note that climate change has the potential to have a negative effect on the production of higher quality plants.&nbsp;Increased temperature and an increase in carbon dioxide concentration can make coffee taste worse, and both will be consequences of our fossil-fueled energy production.&nbsp;



“These impacts on crops are important to study in general, not just for coffee. Our food systems support our food security, nutrition and health," said study co-author Selena Ahmed.



If we want to continue to enjoy our cup of morning joe, mitigation strategies will be necessary, such as providing shade to crops or implementing more sustainable practices.&nbsp;



“These strategies are giving some hope that coffee quality can be maintained or improved and will ultimately help farmers consider how to design evidence-based interventions to support their farms," said Ahmed.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science">Frontiers in Plant Science</a>.



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By <a href="http://mailto:rugerpaleo@gmail.com">Alex Ruger</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Climate change will impact the quality and taste of coffee

Some of us need a good strong cup of coffee...

A lack of sleep can affect not only <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/peanuts-improve-cognitive-function-in-young-adults/">cognitive</a> functioning, as many previous studies have shown, but also physical activities such as walking, according to a new study led by the <a href="https://www.mit.edu/">Massachusetts Institute of Technology</a> (MIT) and the <a href="https://www5.usp.br/">University of São Paulo</a>.



The scientists performed a series of experiments with student volunteers from the University of São Paulo in order to investigate the effects of sleep deprivation on gait control. The students were given watches to track their activities over a 14-day period. On average, each student slept about six hours per day, although some of them compensated by catching up on sleep over the weekends.



In the night before the experiment, one group of students stayed awake all night (the Sleep Acute Deprivation (SAD) group). In the next morning all students were asked to walk on a treadmill, while researchers played a metronome. The participants were asked to keep step with the metronome’s beat, as the scientists slowly and subtly modified the metronome’s speed, without informing the students that they were doing so.



“They had to synchronize their heel strike to the beat, and we found the errors were larger in people with acute sleep deprivation,” said study lead author Arturo Forner-Cordero, an associate professor of Mechatronics Engineering at the University of São Paulo. “They were off the rhythm, they missed beeps, and were performing in general, worse.”



While these findings were expected, what surprised the scientists was that those who fared better in the experiment were the students who compensated and got slightly more sleep over the weekends.



“That’s paradoxical,” Forner-Cordero said. “Even at the peak of when most people would be tired, this compensating group did better, which we didn’t expect.”&nbsp;



“Scientifically, it wasn’t clear that almost automatic activities like walking would be influenced by lack of sleep,” added study co-author Hermano Krebs, a research scientist at MIT. “We also found that compensating for sleep could be an important strategy. For instance, for those who are chronically sleep-deprived, like shift workers, clinicians, and some military personnel, if they build in regular sleep compensation, they might have better control over their gait.”



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-00705-9">Scientific Reports</a>.



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

Lack of sleep changes how you walk

A lack of sleep can affect not only cognitive functioning,...

A new study published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s43017-021-00219-y">Nature Reviews: Earth and Environment</a> found that, due to climate change, low-to-no-snow winters may become a regular occurrence in the western United States in 35 to 60 years from now. This dwindling snowpack will have highly negative impacts on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/chemicals-from-42000-sources-are-polluting-drinking-water-in-the-u-s/">water</a> resources, disrupting the country’s economy and agriculture.



<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="fnjTFgbUkd-1580626-12187" type="single"]</div>



Due to global warming, mountain snowpacks are on the decline, and could soon shrink dramatically or even disappear. In the western U.S., mountain ranges such as the Sierra Nevada, the Rockies, or the Cascades play a crucial role in capturing, storing, and releasing water for downstream use.&nbsp;



Historically, snowmelt timing provided a critical delay in the delivery of water supplies during spring and summer, when precipitation is low and water demands are at their highest due to agriculture. With shrinking snowpacks, these patterns will significantly change.&nbsp;



By reviewing hundreds of scientific studies on snow loss, a research team led by the <a href="https://www.lbl.gov/">Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory</a> (Berkeley Lab) has found that there has already been a 21 percent decline in spring snowpack water storage in the western U.S. since the 1950s, and a comparable decline could be expected by mid-21st century. If greenhouse emissions are not urgently curbed, the second half of the century could witness even more severe snowpack loss.



“Through the middle and end of the 21st century, an increasing fraction of the western U.S. is impacted by snow water equivalent deficits relative to the historical period. In particular, only 8 to 14 percent of years are classified as low-to-no snow over 1950-2000, compared to 78 to 94 percent over 2050-2099. In all regions, an abrupt transition occurs in the mid-to-late 21st century,” the study authors predicted.



The impacts of a low-to-no-snow future extend beyond decreased streamflow. “A low-to-no-snow future has massive implications for where and when water is stored in the western U.S.,” explained co-author Erica Siirila-Woodburn, a research scientist at Berkeley Lab.&nbsp;



“In addition to the direct impacts on recreation and the like, there are a lot of secondary effects on natural and managed systems, from a hydrologic perspective. So that's anything ranging from increased wildfire occurrence to changes in groundwater and surface water patterns and changes in vegetation type and density.”



Urgent climate adaptations strategies - such as underground storing of excess surface water for later use, or employing weather and hydrological forecasts to inform decisions about retaining or releasing water from reservoirs - are needed in order to mitigate the negative effects of snowpack loss.&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

Mountain snowpacks could disappear in the western U.S.

A new study published in the journal Nature Reviews: Earth...

About 92 percent of the world’s population lives in areas where air pollution due to fine particulate matter (less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter) exceeds the safety standards set by the World Health Organization. These minute particles can come from car exhaust fumes, factory emissions, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wildfires-in-the-west-linked-to-smoke-related-deaths-in-the-east/">wildfires</a>, and woodburning stoves.



The correlation between air pollution and increased risk of disorders such as obesity, diabetes, and infertility, has long been recognized, but scientists did not understand the exact mechanism whereby breathing polluted air can lead to these health conditions.



While unraveling the mechanism involved, researchers from the <a href="https://www.medschool.umaryland.edu/">University of Maryland School of Medicine</a> (UMSOM) referred to previous studies which found mice exposed to air pollution showed reduced sperm counts. However, these mice did not always have inflammation of the testes, the sex organs that make the sperm. The researchers set out to search elsewhere for the mechanism, as testicular inflammation was clearly not responsible for reduced sperm counts.&nbsp;



The experts knew that the brain communicates with the reproductive organs as fertility and sperm count can be affected by stress. For example, emotional stress can lead to skipped menstrual periods in women. The researchers decided to expose mice to air pollution and test whether their reduction in sperm count was perhaps mediated by changes in the brain..



The experiments showed that mice exposed to air pollution had increased inflammation in the brain. The testing was focused on both healthy mice and mice that had been bred to lack a particular brain inflammation marker called Inhibitor&nbsp;Kappa&nbsp;B&nbsp;Kinase 2, or&nbsp;IKK2 for short. This protein is specifically located in the brain’s neurons.&nbsp;



The two groups of mice were exposed to either filtered or polluted air. When the scientists tested sperm counts, they found that the mice bred without the IKK2 inflammation marker did not have reduced sperm counts when exposed to the polluted air. By contrast, the healthy mice did show reduced sperm production.&nbsp;



“Our findings showed that the damage due to air pollution – at least to the sperm count – could be remedied by removing a single inflammation marker in the brains of mice, suggesting that we may be able to develop therapies that could prevent or reverse the damaging effects of air pollution on fertility,” said lead study author Dr.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.medschool.umaryland.edu/profiles/Ying-Zhekang/">Zhekang Ying</a>.



“These findings have wider implications than just fertility, as there are many conditions, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease that can result from brain inflammation due to air pollution," explained Dr. Charles Hong.



Upon further, more detailed analysis, the scientists tried to locate the exact neurons in the brain that were becoming inflamed. They found that one specific kind of neuron, usually associated with sleep cycle and obesity, was responsible for the reduction in sperm count in the presence of air pollution. These neurons are found in the hypothalamus, a region of the brain that controls hunger, thirst and sex drive. The hypothalamus also works with the brain’s pituitary gland, which makes hormones that communicate directly with reproductive organs.



“Looking back, it makes perfect sense that the neurons in the hypothalamus are the culprits perpetuating this inflammation response that results in low sperm count, as we know that the hypothalamus is a major pathway link between the brain and the reproductive system,” explained Dr. Ying.



“Environmental pollution is a problem of equity in that some persons who are poor or of color tend to face more severe health-related conditions due to greater exposure," said Dr. <a href="https://www.medschool.umaryland.edu/profiles/Reece-E-Albert/">E. Albert Reece</a>. "It is important to explore the mechanisms by which pollution affects the body, so we can devise ways to prevent or treat these conditions to eliminate these health disparities.”



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/">Environmental Health Perspectives</a>.



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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

Air pollution may lower sperm count through brain inflammation

About 92 percent of the world’s population lives in areas...

Oil,And,Gas,Processing,Plant,With,Pipe,Line,Valves

&nbsp;A new study from the <a href="https://www.seas.harvard.edu/">Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences</a> (SEAS) has found that methane <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plant-based-jet-fuel-could-reduce-carbon-emissions-by-68-percent/">emissions</a> from the distribution and use of natural gases across the United States are two to 10 times higher than those estimated by the <a href="https://www.epa.gov/">Environmental Protection Agency</a>. In Boston, the methane emissions from the natural gas system are six times higher than recent estimates and did not significantly change over a period of eight years.&nbsp;



Methane is the most potent greenhouse gas after CO2. While CO2 has longer-lasting effects, methane has over 80 times the warming power of CO2 in the first two decades after being released into the atmosphere, thus contributing significantly to near term global warming. Oil and natural gas systems account for 30 percent of human-made methane emissions in the U.S.



"Natural gas has been sold as a transitional fuel as we move toward green energy - but its low greenhouse emissions are contingent on a low loss rate as any amount of methane that escapes is going to have a strong climate impact,” said study first author Maryann Sargent, a Research Scientist in Environmental Science and Engineering at SEAS.&nbsp;



By using atmospheric measurements to track methane emissions over a period of eight years in Boston, scientists discovered that over half of these emissions might emerge from sources other than pipelines (which were previously considered as the main sources of methane emissions), including compressing stations, meters, and appliances such as furnaces or boilers.



“Traditional approaches to estimating emissions from natural gas systems are missing significant sources of methane emissions,” said study senior author Steven Wofsy, a professor of Atmospheric and Environmental Science at SEAS. “If cities and states want to pass meaningful legislation to curb emissions, they need to know where emissions are coming from, how they change over time, and whether or not the policies put in place to reduce them are working.”



The researchers found that emissions were three times higher than recent estimates and remained constant over a period of eight years, despite the development of legislation aiming to curb them by fixing leaking pipelines.



“The government needs to be looking at emissions beyond just pipes and provides more evidence that we should be moving away from natural gas toward renewable energy to heat and electrify our cities,” Sargent concluded.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2105804118">Proceedings of the National Academy of 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

Methane emissions are higher than previously estimated

&nbsp;A new study from the Harvard John A. Paulson School...

A new study led by the <a href="https://www.mit.edu/">Massachusetts Institute of Technology</a> (MIT) has found that artificial intelligence models of language that excel at predicting the next word in a string of text are surprisingly similar to the human <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-brain-responds-to-bad-smells-within-300-milliseconds/">brain</a>, which appears to use next-word prediction to drive language processing. These predictive language models are able to perform tasks that require some degree of genuine understanding, such as question answering, story completion, or document summarization.&nbsp;



Although such computer models were designed to optimize performance in search engines or texting apps, without attempting to mimic human cognition, this new study suggests that their underlying functioning resembles the ways in which language-processing centers in the human brain work.&nbsp;



“The better the model is at predicting the next word, the more closely it fits the human brain,” said study co-author Nancy Kanwisher, a professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at MIT. “It’s amazing that the models fit so well, and it very indirectly suggests that maybe what the human language system is doing is predicting what’s going to happen next.”&nbsp;



The researchers analyzed 43 different language models, including some that were optimized for next-word prediction. By comparing the functioning of these artificial models with neuronal patterns activated when humans listened to stories or read sentences, they discovered that the best-performing next-word prediction models had activity patterns closely resembling those found in human brains.&nbsp;



“We found that the models that predict the neural responses well also tend to best predict human behavior responses, in the form of reading times. And then both of these are explained by the model performance on next-word prediction. This triangle really connects everything together,” explained study first author Martin Schrimpf, an MIT graduate student.



The researchers now plan to build variants of these language processing models that can perform other kinds of tasks, such as the construction of perceptual representations of the physical world.&nbsp;



“If we’re able to understand what these language models do and how they can connect to models which do things that are more like perceiving and thinking, then that can give us more integrative models of how things work in the brain,” explained study senior author Joshua Tenenbaum.&nbsp;



“This could take us toward better artificial intelligence models, as well as giving us better models of how more of the brain works and how general intelligence emerges, than we’ve had in the past.”



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

Computer models can mimic human language processing

A new study led by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology...

A new study has revealed that black spruce trees, a key species of trees from the boreal forests, are starting to lose their resilience and capacity to regenerate in the face of increasingly frequent Arctic wildfires caused by climate change. If this trend continues, the Arctic forests might face significant ecological shifts, resulting in a loss of biodiversity and an acceleration in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/permafrost-melting-may-release-nuclear-waste-into-the-atmosphere/">permafrost</a> melting.&nbsp;



In North America’s boreal forests, the soils on which black spruce trees grow consist of highly flammable peat moss and lichens. Although the black spruce usually relies on fires for regeneration, with its cones opening up in the heat and dropping seeds on the charred organic soil, more severe and frequent fires appear to damage the spruce’s capacity to regenerate.



By collecting data from over 1,500 sites where fires occurred, scientists found that black spruce’s capacity to regenerate dropped at 38 percent of the sites and failed completely 18 percent of the time. Such phenomena could make the black spruce lose its place as the dominant species of trees in boreal North America.



“This trend is especially alarming given its potential impact on Arctic carbon storage,” said co-author Dr. Brendan Rogers, an Associate Scientist at <a href="https://www.woodwellclimate.org/">Woodwell Climate Research Center</a>. “In many parts of the boreal region, the mossy soil layers that promote black spruce regeneration also insulate permafrost. As fires increase and these forests dry out, however, loss of black spruce forests could accelerate permafrost thaw and trigger a warming feedback loop, pushing black spruce to its tipping point and facilitating the release of massive amounts of carbon from the permafrost into the atmosphere.”



Moreover, widespread loss of black spruce trees could also have harmful effects on biodiversity. Caribou species that feed on lichen are already in decline and might suffer even more losses with the disappearance of the trees that offer them shelter and food.



“Basically, as the climate warms, rising Arctic temperatures are causing black spruce forests to dry out, and the drier the system is, the more vulnerable it is to fire,” said&nbsp;study leader Dr. Jennifer Baltzer, a professor at <a href="https://www.wlu.ca/">Wilfrid Laurier University</a>.



“As climate change continues to push these systems to an ever drier state, these tipping points are more likely to be reached, with devastating impacts on the boreal biome and the rest of the world,” she concluded.



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

Black spruce trees are endangered by Arctic wildfires

A new study has revealed that black spruce trees, a...

Toxic algal blooms are on the rise, even in the frigid waters of the Arctic, according to a new study published in the journal <a href="https://www.pnas.org/">Proceedings of the National Academy of the Sciences</a>.&nbsp;



An international group of researchers from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the <a href="https://www.whoi.edu/">Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution</a> (WHOI), and other institutions took samples from the very top and the very bottom of the water column from across the seas surrounding <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-threatens-seal-hunting-in-alaska/">Alaska</a>. The depth of the samples as well as their geographic range allowed the researchers to study the algal genus Alexandrium, in particular.&nbsp;



Alexandrium begins its life as a “seed” on the ocean floor, rising through the water column as it matures. Though microscopic algae is a normal part of the marine ecosystem, when conditions are right they can “bloom” - rapidly multiplying and dispersing. The toxic blooms can lead to widespread health impacts for both wildlife and people, and can even be fatal.&nbsp;



“We’ve known about human and marine wildlife health risks associated with Alexandrium and its toxins in Alaskan waters for a long time, including occasional events north of Bering Strait, but these results show increased potential for large and recurrent blooms of this species as a new hazard for Alaska’s Arctic," said WHOI senior scientist Don Anderson.



"The rapid warming that we’re seeing all across the Arctic is setting the stage for dangerous bloom events in the waters of western and northern Alaska that we formerly thought were too cold for significant germination and growth.”



The decline of seasonal ice, in large part due to anthropogenic global warming, has changed the timing of germination and growth. Prior to the last couple of decades, temperatures on the seafloor have been too cold to allow significant blooming events. That’s changed, said Anderson. “What we’re seeing now are very different Arctic Ocean conditions than anyone in living memory has known.”&nbsp;



These modified conditions mean that species which are already vulnerable to climate change face an additional threat - one of those species just happens to be us.&nbsp;



“The threat is clear, but we don’t yet know the extent to which these toxins will ultimately lead to increased human exposure or to impacts on the health of wildlife at all levels of the food web,” said NOAA researcher Kathi Lefebvre.&nbsp;



Fisheries and coastal communities will be an integral part of managing this new risk factor. Lefebvre said that Alaskan coastal communities are now aware of this emerging issue and have helped throughout the research process to protect their subsistence life. These communities are also hoping to help advance our understanding of the changing Arctic and what it means for the future.



“We’ve learned from the Gulf of Maine in the Atlantic Ocean how to monitor and manage Alexandrium bloom events and how to sustain commercial and recreational fisheries in the face of HABs, but navigating this new Alaskan Arctic HAB problem is going to take a great deal of targeted research and far more attention to the food security of coastal residents and Alaska Natives and the health of Arctic wildlife than we’ve paid so far," said Anderson.&nbsp;



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By <a href="http://mailto:rugerpaleo@gmail.com">Alex Ruger</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Rapid Arctic warming sets the stage for dangerous algae blooms

Toxic algal blooms are on the rise, even in the...

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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

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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

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

[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



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The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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



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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"

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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

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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...