An,Artist's,Illustration,Of,A,Black,Hole,In,Interstellar,Space

Astronomers recently discovered the biggest pair of black hole jets ever observed and named this system Porphyrion. Imagine something so massive that it lines up 140 Milky Way galaxies back to back. Then multiply that thought by two. It's almost too much for our minds to fathom, but that's exactly what they found.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-meet-black-hole-jet-system-porphyrion">Meet black hole jet system Porphyrion</h2>



Martijn Oei is a <a href="https://www.caltech.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Caltech</a> postdoctoral scholar with a flair for digging into the mysteries of the universe. His recent work published in a new Nature paper has everyone talking.



Oei and his team discovered this enormous pair of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/awakening-of-a-black-hole-witnessed-for-the-first-time/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">black hole</a> jets named Porphyrion. Derived from Greek mythology, Porphyrion is a fitting moniker for a structure with such colossal proportions.



This jet megastructure not only spans 23 million light-years in total length, but it also dates back to when our universe was just 6.3 billion years old. 



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/black-hole-jet_23-million-light-years_Porphyrion_credit-Caltech-Oei_Martijn_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/black-hole-jet_23-million-light-years_Porphyrion_credit-Caltech-Oei_Martijn_1s.webp" alt="An artist's illustration of the longest black hole jet system ever observed. Nicknamed Porphyrion after a mythological Greek giant, these jets span roughly 7 megaparsecs, or 23 million light-years. That is equivalent to lining up 140 Milky Way galaxies back-to-back. Porphyrion dates back to a time when our universe was less than half its present age. Credit: Caltech" class="wp-image-1945007"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">An artist's illustration of the longest black hole jet system ever observed. Nicknamed Porphyrion after a mythological Greek giant, these jets span roughly 7 megaparsecs, or 23 million light-years. That is equivalent to lining up 140 Milky Way galaxies back-to-back. Porphyrion dates back to a time when our universe was less than half its present age. Credit: Caltech</figcaption></figure>



That's less than half its present age of 13.8 billion years. To put that into perspective, it's like the universe was still in its adolescence.



These ferocious outflows of energy, with a total power output equivalent to trillions of suns, emanate from a supermassive <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/directly-detecting-dark-matter-primordial-black-holes-simple-as-monitoring-mars-orbit/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">black hole</a> at the heart of a distant galaxy. 



Before Porphyrion, the record-holder for the largest jet system was Alcyoneus, another giant named after a figure in Greek mythology. 



Alcyoneus, discovered in 2022 by the same team, measures about the equivalent of 100 <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/newly-discovered-stars-milky-way-are-old-as-universe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Milky Ways</a>. Comparatively, the Centaurus A jets, the closest major jet system to Earth, only spans 10 Milky Ways.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shaking-up-the-neighborhood">Shaking up the neighborhood</h2>



What makes Porphyrion's discovery more groundbreaking is the implications it holds for our understanding of galaxy formation. 



Co-author George Djorgovski, professor of astronomy and data science at <a href="https://www.caltech.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Caltech</a>, provided some insights on this.



"Astronomers believe that galaxies and their central black holes co-evolve, and one key aspect of this is that jets can spread huge amounts of energy that affect the growth of their host galaxies and other galaxies near them,” he says. "This discovery shows that their effects can extend much farther out than we thought."



But Porphyrion's scale reveals that the effects of these jets may extend far beyond our previous understanding.



<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="D4GGVHtxYz-3864208-12187" type="single"]</div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scanning-the-cosmos-and-black-hole-jets">Scanning the cosmos and black hole jets</h2>



The discovery of Porphyrion is part of a larger sky survey, which unveiled a staggering number of similar structures -- over 10,000.



This massive population of gargantuan <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/black-holes-captured-redirecting-jets-beams-like-death-star-weapon/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">jets</a> was found using Europe's <a href="https://www.astron.nl/telescopes/lofar/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LOFAR</a> (LOw Frequency ARray) radio telescope.



"Giant jets were known before we started the campaign, but we had no idea that there would turn out to be so many," says Martin Hardcastle, second author of the study and a professor of astrophysics at the <a href="https://www.herts.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Hertfordshire</a> in England. 



"Usually when we get a new observational capability, such as LOFAR's combination of wide field of view and very high sensitivity to extended structures, we find something new, but it was still very exciting to see so many of these objects emerging."



The origins of Porphyrion took the team across continents and observatories. They used the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) in India and supplementary data from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) at Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona. 



The observations pointed the team to a hefty galaxy, about 10 times more massive than our Milky Way, as the birthplace of Porphyrion.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-black-hole-jet-system-porphyrion-s-size">Black hole jet system Porphyrion's size</h2>



Porphyrion resides a mind-boggling 7.5 billion light-years from Earth. Its far-off residency and its emergence from a radiative-mode black hole suggest that it may not be a lone titan, but the harbinger of countless colossal jets yet to be discovered. 



Oei suggests as much, saying, "We may be looking at the tip of the iceberg."



There are still many unanswered questions surrounding these giant black hole jet systems. How do they extend so far and get so big without destabilizing? 



"Martijn's work has shown us that there isn't anything particularly special about the environments of these giant sources that causes them to reach those large sizes," says Hardcastle, who is an expert in the physics of black hole jets. 



"My interpretation is that we need an unusually long-lived and stable accretion event around the central, supermassive black hole to allow it to be active for so long -- about a billion years -- and to ensure that the jets keep pointing in the same direction over all of that time. What we're learning from the large number of giants is that this must be a relatively common occurrence," Hardcastle concluded.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-surrounding-influence-and-magnetism">Surrounding influence and magnetism</h2>



How do they influence their surroundings? And perhaps most intriguingly, have these giant jets spread magnetism throughout the cosmos?



"We know magnetism pervades the cosmic web, then makes its way into galaxies and stars, and eventually to planets, but the question is: Where does it start?" Oei rightly says.



This research is the exciting beginning of a new chapter in our understanding of the universe. With the discovery of Porphyrion, we're reminded that we still have a lot to uncover about the mysteries of the cosmos. Even a sky full of stars is just the beginning.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07879-y" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a>.



Video Credit: Caltech 



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Largest black hole jets ever seen are 23 million light years long

Astronomers recently discovered the biggest pair of black hole jets ever observed and named this system Porphyrion. Imagine something so massive that it lines up 140 Milky Way galaxies back to back. Then multiply that thought by two. It's almost too much for our minds to fathom, but that's exactly what they found. Meet black hole jet system Porphyrion Martijn Oei is a Caltech postdoctoral scholar with a flair for digging into the mysteries of the universe. His recent work published in a new Nature paper has...

The,Maw,Of,Infinity:,A,Stellar,Black,Hole

For nearly the last seventy years, the corridors of astrophysics have been echoing with the murmur of an exciting theory: the existence of 'kugelblitze'. 



These are not your average black holes. They are born not from the collapse of matter, but conceived through incredibly dense concentrations of light.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-when-light-becomes-matter">When light becomes matter</h2>



Kugelblitze have been speculated as the potential key to unlocking mysteries of the universe, like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/theory-gravity-exists-without-mass-so-dark-matter-does-not-exist/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dark matter</a>, and perhaps more enticingly, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/faster-than-light-warp-speed-drive-interstellar-travel-now-believed-possible/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">powering spaceships</a> of the future.



However, this extraordinary theory has just hit a roadblock. 



A formidable team of researchers from the <a href="https://uwaterloo.ca/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Waterloo</a> and <a href="https://www.ucm.es/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Universidad Complutense de Madrid</a>, led by the brilliant Eduardo Martín-Martínez, a professor of applied mathematics and mathematical physics, has established that kugelblitz might not be a reality in our universe. 



Their compelling research, conveniently titled "No black holes from light," is soon to be published in the Physical Review Letters after a preprint on arXiv.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-black-holes-and-the-quantum-realm">Black holes and the quantum realm</h2>



The quantum realm and black holes share intriguing connections. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/impossibility-paradox-calculating-incalculable-quantum-realm-particles/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Quantum mechanics</a> governs the behavior of particles at the smallest scales. Black holes represent extreme gravity at cosmic scales. 



Scientists believe <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/quantum-entanglement-discovery-is-a-revolutionary-step-forward/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">quantum effects</a> become important near a black hole's center. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/black-hole-jets-are-like-million-light-year-long-jedi-lightsabers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hawking radiation</a>, a quantum phenomenon, causes black holes to slowly evaporate. 



The black hole information paradox arises from conflicts between quantum theory and general relativity. 



Researchers study black holes to better understand quantum gravity. Some theories propose black holes as gateways to other universes via quantum effects. 



The relationship between these realms remains an active area of research in theoretical physics.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-kugelblitze-bites-the-dust">Kugelblitze bites the dust</h2>



"The most commonly known black holes are those caused by enormous concentrations of regular matter collapsing under its own gravity," said Prof. Martín-Martínez, who is also affiliated with the <a href="https://perimeterinstitute.ca/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics</a>. "However, this prediction was made without considering quantum effects."



Trying to shed light on the matter, the team built a mathematical model, incorporating <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/quantum-tunneling-allow-particles-break-light-speed-barrier/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">quantum effects</a>. 



They found that the concentration of light needed to spawn a kugelblitz outpaces the light intensity found in quasars, the brightest objects in our cosmos, by tens of orders of magnitude.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-quantum-quirks-and-light-limits">Quantum quirks and light limits</h2>



"Long before you could reach that intensity of light, certain <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bose-einstein-condensate-bec-rare-form-quantum-matter-created-with-molecules/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">quantum effects</a> would occur first," José Polo-Gómez, a Ph.D. candidate in applied mathematics and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/transmitting-quantum-information-using-electron-spin/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">quantum information</a>, remarked. 



"That strong of a concentration of light would lead to the spontaneous creation of particles like electron-positron pairs, which would move very quickly away from the area."



Though testing such effects on Earth isn't possible with current technologies, the team's confidence in their findings stems from the rock-solid principles of mathematics and science, that also power positron emission tomography (PET) scans.



"Electrons, and their antiparticles (positrons) can annihilate each other and disintegrate into pairs of photons, or light 'particles'," Martín-Martínez explained. 



"When there is a large <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/quantum-vortex-created-lab-mimic-black-hole-behavior/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">concentration of photons</a> they can disintegrate into electron-positron pairs, which are quickly scattered away taking the energy with them and preventing the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/matter-spacetime-gravitational-waves-fabric-of-the-universe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">gravitational collapse</a>."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fundamental-physics-strikes-again">Fundamental physics strikes again</h2>



While the sprint towards kugelblitze might've hit an unexpected speed breaker, the research is a massive victory for fundamental physics. 



This collaborative effort between applied mathematics, the Perimeter Institute, and the Institute for Quantum Computing at Waterloo is laying the foundation for future significant scientific breakthroughs.



"While these discoveries may not have known applications right now, we are laying the groundwork for our descendants' technological innovations," Polo-Gómez ambitiously outlines. 



"The science behind PET scan machines was once just as theoretical, and now there's one in every hospital."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-kugelblitze-pushed-boundaries-but-fell-short">Kugelblitze pushed boundaries but fell short</h2>



As we conclude this enlightening journey, let's remember science is not just about confirming theories but also about disproving them. Today's <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/gluons-quarks-and-mystery-what-makes-proton-spin/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">quantum quirks</a> are the stepping stones for tomorrow's path-breaking technologies. 



While kugelblitze may not have panned out the way they were imagined, they've undoubtedly illuminated a new direction for further exploration. 



Whether it's understanding the universe or developing technologies for future generations, every 'eureka' moment counts, including those that remind us of what is not possible. 



And in this vast expanse of what we know and what remains unknown, one fact remains resolute - on the journey of scientific discovery, there's never a dull moment.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://arxiv.org/abs/2405.02389" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">arXiv</a>.



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What is a ‘kugelblitze’ and why should you care?

For nearly the last seventy years, the corridors of astrophysics...

In a noteworthy revelation, astronomers have made a game-changing discovery in the quest to understand the enigmatic nature of the Cygnus X-3 binary system that has baffled scientists for years. 



Recently published in the prestigious Nature Astronomy journal, it turns out that this well-known X-ray binary system is actually a hidden ultraluminous X-ray source.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-is-an-x-ray-binary-star-system">What is an X-ray binary star system?</h2>



X-ray binaries are a stellar ballet between two cosmic dancers: a normal star and a compact object such as a neutron star or a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/colossal-black-hole-found-in-our-galaxy-is-33-times-the-suns-mass/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">black hole</a>. 



As these entities coalesce in mutual gravitational interaction, the compact object, with its immense gravity, begins to siphon material from its companion star. 



This astronomical larceny results in the accretion of the donor star's material onto the compact object.



The diabolical beauty of this process lies in the sheer efficiency of energy conversion. As the stolen material spirals inward, it heats up because of friction and gravitational compression, getting so hot that it emits X-rays. 



These X-rays can be spotted by specialized telescopes and satellites, making <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/small-black-hole-disrupts-a-bigger-one-causing-cosmic-hiccups/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">X-ray binaries</a> important beacons in the cosmos.



X-ray binaries are vital for understanding fundamental physics and astrophysics. They help scientists figure out how matter behaves under extreme conditions, explore the secrets of <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/cosmic-cannibalism-and-stellar-winds-unveiling-the-secrets-of-messier-76/" rel="sponsored nofollow">stellar evolution</a>, and understand the dynamics of gravitational interactions. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-enigma-of-the-cygnus-x-3-system">Enigma of the Cygnus X-3 system</h2>



Cygnus X-3 is one of the first X-ray binary systems observed in the cosmos. It has a reputation for its ability to flare up as one of the most intense radio sources for brief periods before dimming or vanishing altogether within days. 



This erratic behavior, which contrasted with its otherwise "normal" nature, inspired early coordinated global astronomical observations.



In 1973, because of its peculiar behavior, R.M. Hjellming coined it the "astronomical puzzle Cygnus X-3." Since then, the exploration to understand this astronomical puzzle has been a core focus of numerous scientific communities.



But, the mystery has finally started to unravel thanks to the study by Alexandra Veledina, an Academy Research Fellow from the <a href="https://www.utu.fi/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Turku</a> in Finland, and her team, who analyzed Cygnus X-3 using the satellite Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (<a href="https://www.nasa.gov/mission/imaging-x-ray-polarimetry-explorer-ixpe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">IXPE</a>) -- a NASA initiative launched in December 2021.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unveiling-the-hidden-ulx">Unveiling the hidden ULX</h2>



Through the application of X-ray polarized vision, Veledina and her team gained crucial insights into the configuration of matter surrounding the compact object nearest to the black hole. 



"We discovered that the compact object is enveloped by a layer of dense, opaque matter. The light we observe reflects off the inner funnel walls formed by the surrounding gas, resembling a cup with a mirrored interior," Veledina explains.



This revelation identified Cygnus X-3 as a member of the ultra-luminous X-ray sources (ULXs) class, which are known for consuming matter at a colossal rate. 



The consumption is so immense that a significant portion of the material doesn't fit inside the event horizon but instead is ejected away from the system.



"ULXs usually appear as bright spots in images of far-off galaxies. Their emissions are amplified by the compact object's surrounding funnel, acting as a megaphone," adds Professor Juri Poutanen, a co-author of the research.



What makes this revelation even more extraordinary is that despite these sources being thousands of times beyond the span of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stars-at-the-edge-of-our-milky-way-galaxy-travel-more-slowly/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Milky Way</a>, they appear relatively faint to X-ray telescopes. 



This discovery has now revealed a bright counterpart of these distant ULXs residing within our own galaxy.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-broader-implications-of-cygnus-x-3">Broader implications of Cygnus X-3</h2>



This significant development in deciphering the astronomical puzzle Cygnus X-3 marks the beginning of a new chapter in our exploration of this remarkable cosmic source. 



It will open avenues for researchers to delve deeper into the enigma, providing an opportunity for a thorough investigation of extreme matter consumption.



Indeed, there is still much to learn and understand about our vast universe, but as this breakthrough has shown, every intriguing puzzle holds the potential for a remarkable revelation that may challenge our understanding of the cosmos.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41550-024-02294-9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Astronomy</a>.



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Truth behind the ultrabright X-ray source of Cygnus X-3 revealed

In a noteworthy revelation, astronomers have made a game-changing discovery...

In the symphony of nature, ephemeral streams might seem like obscure players. However, these unassuming waterways, which flow only briefly after precipitation events, pack a punch. 



Notably, they play a crucial role in the transfer of water - and all that it carries - from land surfaces to larger bodies of water.



A recent study has revealed the surprising extent of the importance of ephemeral streams, particularly regarding U.S. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rivers-at-risk-climate-change-is-diminishing-global-water-quality/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">water quality</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-lasting-impact-of-ephemeral-streams">The lasting impact of ephemeral streams</h2>



Though they might be out of sight, ephemeral streams leave a lasting impact on the nation's waterscape.



Essentially, these temporary watercourses serve as transportation channels. They carry water <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/water-quality-threatened-by-nutrient-pollution-in-40-u-s-states/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pollutants</a>, sediments, and nutrients from land to rivers, lakes, reservoirs and even to the oceans.



The reach of these streams is unexpectedly vast. According to the researchers, they influence a considerable portion of the water output from U.S. rivers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-legal-loopholes-in-waterway-protection">Legal loopholes in waterway protection</h2>



The importance of these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stream-quality-is-strongly-correlated-with-human-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">streams</a> is in sharp contrast with their legal status in the United States.



Following a 2023 Supreme Court decision, these streams no longer fall under the jurisdiction of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/what-is-actually-protected-by-the-clean-water-act/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Clean Water Act</a> (CWA). This ruling, brought forth in Sackett v EPA, redefined the scope of the Clean Water Act.



The "waters of the United States" (WOTUS) now only encapsulate "relatively permanent, standing, or continuously flowing bodies of water" - a definition that conveniently sidesteps ephemeral streams.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shedding-light-on-the-invisible-streams">Shedding light on the invisible streams</h2>



The research was conducted by scientists from the <a href="https://environment.yale.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Yale School of the Environment</a> and the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. The study was led by Craig Brinkerhoff, an incoming Yale postdoctoral fellow.



The team modeled ephemeral stream contributions to a colossal U.S. network of more than 20 million rivers, lakes, reservoirs, canals, and ditches.



The researchers found that ephemeral streams accounted for over 50 percent of the water in some of the nation's largest rivers, like the Mississippi and Columbia. In some instances, the water contribution of ephemeral streams reached up to a staggering 90 percent.



Regardless of river basin size, ephemeral streams made up an average of 59 percent of drainage networks by length. Through these streams, pollutants such as nitrogen and pesticides are channeled into <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/iconic-american-rivers-are-threatened-by-pollution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">rivers</a>, mirroring the streams' water input magnitude.



“Our findings show that ephemeral streams are likely a substantial pathway through which pollution may influence downstream water quality, a finding that can inform evaluation of the consequences of limiting U.S. federal jurisdiction over ephemeral streams under the CWA,” noted the researchers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-legal-oversight-of-ephemeral-streams">The legal oversight of ephemeral streams</h2>



Critics of the Supreme Court's decision argue that it overlooked scientific findings. Instead, the decision hinged on dictionary definitions, resulting in a ruling that lifted protection on more than half of the annual discharge from U.S. drainage networks under the Clean Water Act.



“When the Supreme Court narrowed the scope of the federal Clean Water Act, it did so by referring to abstract dictionary definitions rather than science," said study co-author Doug Kysar, a professor at Yale Law School. 



"This research underscores the impact of that approach since, by our estimate, over half of annual discharge from U.S. drainage networks will no longer be protected by the Act."



By documenting the significance of ephemeral stream flow to downstream water quality, the results provide a basis for Congress to amend the Clean Water Act to expressly include ephemeral streams as an exercise of its power over interstate commerce, noted Professor Kysar. He said that the findings also point to the need for enhanced regulation by state and local governments.



“The chemistry of water is dependent on how you manage the entire watershed, not just pieces of it,” said study co-author Peter Raymond. “These streams are a critical source of water and pollutants and have to be regulated.”&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-all-things-are-connected">All things are connected</h2>



Despite their unassuming nature, ephemeral streams have an influence that extends far beyond their immediate surroundings.



Brinkerhoff said the research shows the vast impacts of waterways that were once considered to influence only their immediate areas. “Our study provides more concrete evidence that all of these things are connected."



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adg9430" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science</a>.



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Ephemeral streams have an overlooked impact on water quality

In the symphony of nature, ephemeral streams might seem like...

Earth’s geological history is written in layers of dirt and stone - evidence of climatic shifts, ancient cultures, and celestial impacts. The Younger Dryas period is one of the most widely studied examples of extreme environmental change. 



The significant climatic shift abruptly ended a warming trend and ushered in a near-<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/clues-from-the-last-ice-age-help-predict-oceans-response-to-continued-warming/">glacial</a> period. The Younger Dryas Impact Hypothesis suggests this cooling event was triggered by a cosmic airburst, a fragmented <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/prehistoric-comet-impact-triggered-the-invention-of-agriculture/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">comet</a> crashing into Earth's atmosphere approximately 12,800 years ago.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-evidence-of-a-younger-dryas-airburst">Evidence of a Younger Dryas airburst</h2>



Recently, scientists have unveiled more evidence supporting this hypothesis. Traces of cosmic airbursts were found scattered across several sites in the eastern United States (New Jersey, Maryland, and South Carolina).



The new evidence includes materials indicative of the force and temperature involved in such an event - like platinum, microspherules, meltglass, and shock-fractured quartz.



"What we've found is that the pressures and temperatures were not characteristic of major crater-forming impacts but were consistent with so-called 'touchdown' airbursts that don't form much in the way of craters," said <a href="https://www.ucsb.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UC Santa Barbara</a> Professor James Kennett, who led the study.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-the-younger-dryas-period">Understanding the Younger Dryas period</h2>



The Younger Dryas holds great importance for climate researchers. It offers valuable insights into the sensitivity and potential for rapid changes in Earth's climate system. This period perfectly illustrates the interconnectedness of our oceanic, atmospheric, and terrestrial systems.



As we move towards the conclusion of our journey through the Younger Dryas, it is worthwhile noting the significance of understanding this past climatic event. 



The Younger Dryas signifies a sudden return to icy conditions, disrupting the gentle warming of the Earth's climate following the last Ice Age. This chilly phase spanned roughly from 12,900 to 11,700 years ago.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-potential-causes">Potential causes</h3>



Scientists have suggested various reasons that could have led to the Younger Dryas. For instance, a large pool of freshwater entering the North Atlantic could have messed with the customary flow of ocean currents.



Shifting solar activity might have had an effect on the global climate. Even a comet or asteroid's impact could have sparked a cooling effect all over the world.



The Younger Dryas ushered in a swift drop in temperature, down by 10°C in some places. Ice caps and glaciers grew in size, while many regions saw their moisture levels drop. Wind routes and ocean currents underwent major shifts.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-abrupt-ending">Abrupt ending</h3>



This abrupt transformation also influenced the global vegetation layouts. It led to the extinction of several large animal species and nudged human societies to tweak their hunting and gathering maneuvers.



As suddenly as it had started, the Younger Dryas period ended, with temperatures in Greenland shooting up by 10°C in just ten years. This swift rise in temperature marked the advent of the Holocene epoch, the geological period we find ourselves in today.



Recognizing and learning from the dramatic changes that occurred during this relatively short period can offer us valuable insights into the workings of our planet. It underscores the fact that our climate system is sensitive and can change rapidly.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cosmic-impacts-on-earth">Cosmic impacts on Earth</h2>



Earth is showered daily by tons of celestial debris, from minuscule dust particles to cataclysmic impacts such as the <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthpedia-articles/the-chicxulub-disaster/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chicxulub</a> event that caused the extinction of dinosaurs about 65 million years ago.



While the former hardly leaves a trace on our planet, the latter leaves massive craters, like the 150-kilometer-wide <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-impact-crater-dates-back-to-the-end-of-the-dinosaurs/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">impact crater</a> on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico.



Somewhere in between are impacts that, while not forming craters, still create significant destruction. 



An example is the 1908 <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/two-large-asteroids-will-pass-near-earth-this-week/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tunguska event</a>, which flattened a hefty 2,150 square-kilometer swath of Siberian forest despite the asteroid being only 40 meters diameter and disintegrating almost 10 kilometers above ground.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracing-the-younger-dryas-culprit">Tracing the Younger Dryas culprit</h2>



The comet that supposedly triggered the Younger Dryas cooling episode was significantly larger. It is estimated to have been 100 kilometers wide before fragmenting into thousands of pieces.



It scattered a sediment layer that stretches across much of the northern hemisphere and even some locations south of the equator. 



This layer contains high levels of rare materials associated with cosmic impacts, such as iridium and platinum, and materials formed under high temperatures and pressures, like microspherules, meltglass, and nanodiamonds.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shocked-quartz-a-clue-from-the-past">Shocked quartz: A clue from the past</h2>



One type of evidence that is particularly interesting to the researchers is shocked quartz. This form of quartz contains a pattern of lines that represent exposure to intense pressure - great enough to deform the crystalline structure of the quartz.



Shocked quartz grains are commonly found in impact craters but associating them with cosmic airbursts has been challenging.



The researchers noted that these quartz grains did not always present the "traditional" shocked quartz with parallel fractures. 



Instead, they discovered grains with an irregular, web-like pattern of intersecting, meandering lines and surface and subsurface fissures.



The research suggests that these deformations are due to the relatively lower pressures caused by explosions that take place above the ground, as opposed to impacts that make contact with the Earth.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cataclysmic-event-with-far-reaching-effects">Cataclysmic event with far-reaching effects</h2>



These insights, coupled with other findings, strengthen the case for a fragmented comet that not only caused widespread burning but also triggered <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/past-tipping-points-where-the-climate-changed-abruptly/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climatic change</a> resulting in the extinction of 35 genera of megafauna in North America and the collapse of the flourishing Clovis human culture.



As scientists continue to unearth new clues about our planet's geological history, we are given a more in-depth understanding of the celestial events that shaped our world and the life that inhabits it.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.scienceopen.com/hosted-document?doi=10.14293/ACI.2024.0003" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Airbursts and Cratering Impacts</a>.



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Atmospheric comet explosion may have set Earth on fire 12,800 years ago

Earth’s geological history is written in layers of dirt and...

From Jurassic Park to school textbooks, dinosaurs have always been a hot topic. But how often do we hear about the unseen impact of their extinction, such as the spread of a universally loved <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/grapes-have-astonishing-health-benefits/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fruit</a> – the grape? Fascinating new research gives us insight into this unexpected connection.



Study lead author Fabiany Herrera is an assistant curator of paleobotany at the <a href="https://www.fieldmuseum.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Field Museum</a> in Chicago’s Negaunee Integrative Research Center.



Herrera and his team have stumbled upon a discovery that shifts our understanding of how the humble grape became a global <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/grapes-lower-bad-cholesterol-and-protect-heart-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">superstar</a> in the fruit world.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nine-new-fossil-grape-species">Nine new fossil grape species</h2>



The researchers have identified nine new species of fossil grapes, some aging up to 60 million years.



The seeds were unearthed in Colombia, Panama, and Peru. One of these ancient seeds represents the oldest known plant from the grape family on our side of the planet.



“These are the oldest grapes ever found in this part of the world, and they’re a few million years younger than the oldest ones ever found on the other side of the planet,” said Herrera.



“This discovery is important because it shows that after the extinction of the dinosaurs, grapes really started to spread across the world.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dinosaurs-and-their-botanical-impact">Dinosaurs and their botanical impact</h2>



While we often think of T-rex and his brethren when discussing the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/violent-volcanic-eruptions-likely-caused-dinosaur-extinction/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dinosaur extinction</a>, we overlook the colossal botanical changes that were set in motion.&nbsp;



“The forest reset itself, in a way that changed the composition of the plants,” explained Herrera.



This means that the dinosaur's departure may have reshaped the forest, thus creating a more favorable environment for grapes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-denser-forests-after-dinosaur-departure-nbsp">Denser forests after dinosaur departure&nbsp;</h2>



Study co-author Mónica Carvalho, an assistant curator at the University of Michigan’s Museum of Paleontology, shed light on this relationship.&nbsp;



“Large animals, such as dinosaurs, are known to alter their surrounding ecosystems. They likely maintained forests more open by knocking down trees.”&nbsp;



Once these “lumberjacks” disappeared, some forests, especially in South America, became denser - a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/grapevines-first-domesticated-in-israel-11000-years-ago/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">grapevine</a> dream come true.



”In the fossil record, we start to see more plants that use vines to climb up trees, like grapes, around this time,” said Herrera.



The study throws in a side note: the diversification of birds and mammals after the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nuclear-winter-dinosaurs-were-likely-killed-by-dust/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">extinction</a> of dinosaurs could have also aided grapes by spreading their seeds.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-elusive-south-american-grape-fossil">The elusive South American grape fossil</h2>



Back in 2013, Herrera's PhD advisor, Steven Manchester, had published a paper describing the oldest known grape seed fossil from India.&nbsp;



Herrera, driven by his insatiable curiosity, went on a quest for the elusive South American grape fossil. In 2022, he and Carvalho stumbled upon a 60-million-year-old grape fossil in the Colombian Andes.



Their discovery of the fossil seed is as enchanting as the seed itself. "She looked at me and said, 'Fabiany, a grape!' And then I looked at it, I was like, 'Oh my God.' It was so exciting,” said Herrera.



It turns out this tiny fossil was not just the first South American grape fossil, but also one of the world's oldest. This was confirmed with the help of CT scans.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lithouva-susmanii-nbsp">Lithouva susmanii&nbsp;</h2>



The researchers named the fossil Lithouva susmanii, "Susman's stone grape," paying tribute to Arthur T. Susman - a supporter of South American paleobotany at the Field Museum.



“This new species is also important because it supports a South American origin of the group in which the common grape vine Vitis evolved,” said study co-author Gregory Stull of the National Museum of Natural History.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-journey-back-in-time">A journey back in time</h2>



The team's relentless fieldwork in South and Central America led them to a discovery of nine new species of fossil grapes.&nbsp;



These age-old seeds chronicle the story of the grape family's migration across the Western Hemisphere amid a series of extinctions and dispersals.



“The fossil record tells us that grapes are a very resilient order. They're a group that has suffered a lot of extinction in the Central and South American region, but they also managed to adapt and survive in other parts of the world,” said Herrera.



In an era of ongoing and impending mass extinctions, discoveries like this provide invaluable insights into the patterns of biodiversity crises.&nbsp;



“But the other thing I like about these fossils is that these little tiny, humble seeds can tell us so much about the evolution of the forest,” concluded Herrera.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41477-024-01717-9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Plants</a>.



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Death of the dinosaurs helped grapes conquer the world

From Jurassic Park to school textbooks, dinosaurs have always been...

A team of researchers at <a href="https://www.yale.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Yale University</a> has recently discovered that children’s frequent exposure to cold <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/thousands-of-new-rna-viruses-identified-in-ocean-waters/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">viruses</a> and bacteria may have protected them from severe disease caused by <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nasal-cells-protect-children-against-severe-covid-19/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SARS-CoV-2</a>. 



According to the experts, common types of infections improve innate nasal immunity of young children so they can better confront the new coronavirus in earlier stages of infection.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-heightened-nasal-innate-immunity-nbsp">Heightened nasal innate immunity&nbsp;</h2>



Children are often more susceptible to various respiratory infections than adults, but during the pandemic, SARS-CoV-2 generally caused milder symptoms in children leading to fewer hospitalizations and deaths.&nbsp;



The first line of defense, known as the innate immune system, appears to be more active in the nasal passages of children, thus hindering the early stage of coronavirus infection. Yet, the reasons behind this increased activity were previously unclear.



Study senior author Ellen F. Foxman is an associate professor of laboratory medicine and immunobiology at Yale.&nbsp;



“Prior work suggested that heightened nasal innate immunity in children was due to intrinsic biological mechanisms inherent to their age,” said Professor Foxman.&nbsp;



“But we thought it could also be due to the high burden of respiratory viruses and bacterial infections in children.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-common-colds-and-innate-immunity-in-children">Common colds and innate immunity in children </h2>



To assess whether frequent <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/air-pollution-respiratory-infections/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">respiratory infections</a> elevate nasal innate immunity in children, the experts re-screened over 600 nasal swabs collected during the pandemic from pediatric patients undergoing elective surgery or emergency room evaluations to test them for 19 different respiratory viruses and bacteria. 



During this process, they measured the levels of antiviral and inflammatory proteins produced by children’s innate immune systems.



The analyses revealed that many children - even those without symptoms - were infected with other respiratory pathogens. This was especially common among younger children, with around 50% of asymptomatic patients under five years old harboring various viruses or <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-method-for-classification-of-bacteria-includes-all-strains/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bacteria</a>. 



Regardless of age though, children with higher levels of respiratory pathogens exhibited increased nasal innate immune activity.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-activation-of-viral-defenses">Activation of viral defenses</h2>



To further understand the relationship between respiratory infections and nasal innate immunity, the experts compared nasal swabs from healthy one-year-olds at routine checkups and follow-up appointments one to two weeks later.&nbsp;



Over half of the children tested positive for a respiratory virus during one of their two visits, indicating they had either acquired or cleared an infection in that period. Nearly every time, the child's innate immune activity was higher during infection and lower when virus-free.



“This reveals that nasal antiviral defenses are not continually on high alert in young children but are activated in response to acquisition of a respiratory virus, even when that virus is not causing symptoms,” Foxman explained.



The innate immune system in children's nasal passages is frequently activated due to frequent infections with pathogens such as rhinoviruses, which cause <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cure-common-cold/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">common colds</a>. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-role-of-seasonal-respiratory-viruses-nbsp">The role of seasonal respiratory viruses&nbsp;</h2>



According to Foxman, children have more infections with such seasonal viruses than adults because they lack immunological protection from prior exposures.&nbsp;



During the COVID-19 pandemic, neither adults nor children had prior protection against the new coronavirus. Thus, the activation of generalized antiviral defenses in children by other infections may have helped them fight off early stages of SARS-CoV-2 infection, resulting in milder outcomes compared to adults.



“We have identified respiratory viruses and bacteria as key drivers of the enhanced nasal innate immunity in children. Our results compel further study of how seasonal respiratory viruses and nasal bacteria impact disease severity of COVID-19 and pediatric immune responses in general,” Foxman concluded.



The study is published in the <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1084/jem.20230911" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of Experimental Medicine</a>.



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Common colds boost children’s immunity against severe COVID

A team of researchers at Yale University has recently discovered...

Tai Chi, an ancient Chinese exercise practice, frequently shows up in our health and wellness chat. A recent study from <a href="https://www.uclahealth.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UCLA Health</a> reveals Tai Chi brings much-needed relief for breast cancer survivors struggling with insomnia while offering some surprising additional health perks.



This latest research, completed under the leadership of Dr. Michael Irwin, reveals how Tai Chi and cognitive behavioral therapy can help breast cancer survivors get better sleep. These remedies might also be reducing inflammation and improving anti-viral defenses.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-is-tai-chi">What is Tai Chi?</h2>



Tai chi is an ancient Chinese practice that blends gentle movements, meditation, and breathing techniques. Often called "meditation in motion," it features slow, flowing movements performed with relaxation and focus. 



This practice offers many health benefits, such as improved balance, flexibility, and muscle strength. It also helps reduce stress and anxiety, promoting a sense of calm and overall well-being.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sleepless-nights-and-inflammation">Sleepless nights and inflammation</h2>



It's common for cancer survivors to face chronic insomnia. This unpleasant symptom can even trigger inflammatory diseases, potentially amplifying the risk of cancer <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rising-cancer-rates-in-young-adults-linked-to-accelerated-aging/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">recurrence</a>. 



Worryingly, 30% of breast cancer survivors report suffering insomnia, a rate double that among the general populace. While Tai Chi and cognitive behavioral therapy have been successful insomnia treatments, their effects on inflammation reversal were previously unknown.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tai-chi-vs-cognitive-behavioral-therapy">Tai Chi vs. cognitive behavioral therapy</h2>



For 15 months, researchers at UCLA Health kept a close eye on 90 breast cancer survivors, analyzing inflammation biomarkers in frequent blood samples. The results? Both Tai Chi and cognitive behavioral therapy work wonders, but in different areas.



Tai Chi led to a pronounced, lasting reduction in inflammation among participants compared to cognitive behavioral therapy. "Tai Chi can be readily provided in community settings, with minimal cost, and can treat insomnia in adults, older adults and cancer survivors," said Irwin. 



"Further, Tai Chi, as compared to cognitive behavioral therapy, has additional advantage in reducing inflammation in breast cancer survivors."



On the flip side, those participants undergoing cognitive behavioral therapy demonstrated greater anti-viral gene transcripts, thus possibly boosting body defenses against infections.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-the-takeaway">What’s the takeaway?</h2>



"Tai Chi preferentially reduces inflammation as compared to cognitive behavioral therapy, whereas cognitive behavioral therapy preferentially improves antiviral viral <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/reprogramming-the-immune-system-to-attack-cancer-cells/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">immunity</a> or resistance to infectious disease," said Irwin. 



Further research that examines the combined benefit of Tai Chi and cognitive behavioral therapy is needed, especially in cancer survivors who are at risk for inflammatory disorder as well as infectious disease.



The study relied on blood samples from breast cancer survivors collected from 2008 to 2012 from 90 participants in the Los Angeles area. Over 15 months, half were assigned weekly Tai Chi sessions, while the remaining participants were allocated to cognitive behavioral therapy sessions, each lasting 120 minutes for a three-month period.



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



Although the study’s results are profound, there were some limitations. The participant pool was mainly white, older adults with higher education levels and lacked individuals with coexisting medical <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/obesity-is-linked-to-32-cancer-types-that-could-drive-40-of-cases/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">conditions</a>. 



Plus, access to Tai Chi instruction could prove challenging in some communities. The practice requires commitment, usually involving several days per week; a significant factor in comparison to cognitive behavioral therapy.



So, what’s next? Ongoing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/eating-small-fish-whole-reduces-cancer-risk-in-women/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">research</a> is delving into the inflammation activation trajectories and accelerated aging amongst breast cancer survivors compared to non-cancer women. 



This will clarify the behavioral and biological targets for depression prevention and reducing other health risks in cancer survivors. So, let’s wait for the next wave of fascinating research on this healing journey.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-integration-in-daily-life">Integration in daily life </h2>



Incorporating Tai Chi into your daily routine might seem daunting at first, but the benefits are absolutely worth it. 



Beginners can start with simple, low-impact sequences, gradually building confidence and skill. Local community centers, online classes, and instructional videos make it easy to get started. Even just a few minutes of regular practice can significantly boost your physical and mental health. 



Studies show that consistency is key -practicing Tai Chi multiple times a week leads to the best results. This ancient practice not only brings harmonic balance but also fosters a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mindfulness-protects-against-work-stress-burnout/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mindful</a> attitude that enhances all areas of life.



Embracing Tai Chi's meditative motion brings mental clarity and reduces stress, making it a holistic approach to wellness. 



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0889159124004094?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brain, Behavior and Immunity</a>.



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Tai Chi reduces inflammatory risks in cancer survivors

Tai Chi, an ancient Chinese exercise practice, frequently shows up...

Have you ever stopped to think about how the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/living-green-spaces-boosts-bone-density-reduces-osteoporosis/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">spaces and places</a> around us could impact our health? A recent study from <a href="https://www.northwestern.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Northwestern University</a> lays fascinating groundwork, linking urban green and water spaces to lower chances of coronary artery calcification (CAC), a crucial marker of heart disease.



Leading this significant research is Dr. Lifang Hou, a seasoned professor of preventive medicine at Northwestern University <a href="https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Feinberg School of Medicine</a>. The study reveals that these associations of green-blue spaces and heart health are most evident among Black individuals living in economically challenged neighborhoods.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-green-and-blue-spaces">Green and blue spaces </h2>



How does having more green and blue spaces bring down the likelihood of CAC? The research points towards the potential of these spaces to provide increased opportunities for physical activities, social interactions, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/green-spaces-near-homes-reduce-emotional-problems-in-children/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stress relief</a>. 



"Having more green and blue spaces may provide increased opportunities for physical activities, social interactions, stress relief and restoration, all of which have been linked to improved metabolic and cardiovascular health," Hou said. 



"Additionally, exposure to green and blue spaces has been shown to boost people's immune system, reduce chronic inflammation and slow down the biological aging process, all of which are biologically important in people's overall health and cardiovascular health. More studies are needed to fully understand the role of urban natural environments in pathways related to human health."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-heart-health-near-urban-green-and-blue-spaces">Heart health near urban green and blue spaces </h2>



The numbers from the study speak volumes. Black participants with the highest access to a river showed 32% lower odds of CAC, compared to those with limited access. 



Similarly, those with more access to green spaces had up to a staggering 35% lower odds of calcification. 



It seems that for each 10%-point increase in green space, the odds of CAC decreased by about 15% on average. Hypothetically, if we could paint our cities a bit greener and bluer, we could chip away at the heart risks that so many face.



Interestingly, the study also found that shorter distances to parks were associated with higher CAC odds in these neighborhoods. The explanation? It could lie in the quality of these parks and safety concerns in the underserved <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/city-residents-better-mental-health-access-green-space/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">urban neighborhoods</a> that might deter their use. As always, quality trumps quantity.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-need-for-green-and-blue-spaces">Need for green and blue spaces</h2>



The Northwestern study included almost 3,000 Black and white men and women hailing from four urban cities in the U.S. The research drew its data from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study, which followed the participants for 25 whopping years.



"The protective effect of having access to urban blue and green spaces with coronary artery calcification highlighted in our study underscore the potential benefits of such infrastructure, particularly for underserved populations at higher risk for cardiovascular disease," said Hou. 



"Our findings provide quantitative evidence supporting environmental policies to enhance the accessibility and quality of residential blue and green spaces, which can promote public health benefit and address racial and neighborhood-related health disparities."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-environmental-and-social-justice">Environmental and social justice</h2>



The gap in access to quality green and blue spaces often reflects wider social inequalities. 



Neighborhoods with fewer resources, especially those where Black and other minority communities live, usually have fewer and less well-kept green areas. This unfairness not only affects physical health but also mental well-being, social bonds, and overall quality of life. 



To fix these issues, we need a mix of better urban planning, active community involvement, and policy changes. By bringing environmental justice into city planning, we can create healthier living spaces, reduce health disparities, and build more fair and inclusive urban areas for everyone.



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



The study's findings highlight heart and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/green-environments-and-sidewalks-improve-heart-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">overall health benefits</a> related to accessible and quality urban green and blue spaces. They stress the importance of environmental policies that enhance these spaces, especially for underserved populations at higher risk for cardiovascular diseases.



In the end, it's not just about providing green spaces for all, but about making sure they're safe, clean, and accessible to everyone. After all, when it comes to our neighborhoods, we should all be sitting' on the dock of the bay, watching the health benefits roll away.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.123.067992" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Circulation</a>.



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Green and blue spaces like parks and rivers keep hearts healthy

Have you ever stopped to think about how the spaces...

When you think of extinction and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/huge-progress-made-in-the-race-to-resurrect-extinct-species/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">extinct creatures</a>, dinosaurs and ammonites are likely the first that come to mind. 



These marine creatures, whose existence spans over 350 million years, became extinct around 66 million years ago, intriguing scientists and fossil fanatics alike.



The prevailing narrative amongst palaeontologists has been that the extinction of ammonites was inevitable due to their decreasing diversity. 



Yet a game-changing study recently published in a renowned scientific journal begs to differ.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-decoding-the-extinction-of-ammonites">Decoding the extinction of ammonites</h2>



Led by a group of palaeontologists from the <a href="https://www.bristol.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Bristol</a>, the research unraveled the complexity of the last chapter of the ammonite evolutionary history.



"Understanding how and why biodiversity has changed through time is very challenging. The fossil record tells us some of the story, but it is often an unreliable narrator," stated Dr. Joseph Flannery-Sutherland, the lead author of the study.



By simply analyzing the Late Cretaceous ammonite fossil record, previous researchers were led to believe the ammonites were in a long-term ecological decline. However, this team took an audaciously different approach.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-filling-in-the-gaps-of-the-record">Filling in the gaps of the record</h2>



Understanding the need for a more thorough assessment, the team created a new database of Late Cretaceous ammonite fossils, drawing from diverse museum collections. 



Study co-author Cameron Crossan, a graduate of a prestigious palaeobiology program, noted that the strategy was to "provide new sources of specimens rather than just relying on what had already been published."



This expansive new approach allowed for a more accurate depiction of ammonite biodiversity prior to their extinction.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-assessing-global-trends-and-variances">Assessing global trends and variances</h2>



Upon an in-depth analysis of their database, the team discovered a surprising trend: the balances of speciation and extinction of ammonites weren't consistent - they varied across different regions and geological times.



"Their fossil record in parts of North America is very well sampled, but if you looked at this alone, then you might think that they were struggling, while they were actually flourishing in other regions. Their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/extinction-event-shows-how-life-responds-to-extreme-changes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">extinction</a> really was a chance event and not an inevitable outcome," explained Dr. James Witts, a senior researcher from the Natural History Museum, London.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-factors-contributing-to-ammonite-success">Factors contributing to ammonite success</h2>



Exploring what drove the continued success of ammonites during the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-shed-new-light-on-europes-enigmatic-dinosaurs/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Late Cretaceous</a>, the team identified multiple potential factors.



They considered if the speciation and extinction of ammonites were primarily due to environmental conditions (the Court Jester Hypothesis) or biological processes (the Red Queen Hypothesis).



As per the findings, the causes of these phenomena were tied to geographical differences. 



"You couldn’t just look at their total fossil record and say that their diversity was driven entirely by changing temperature, for example," said study co-author Dr. Corinne Myers of the <a href="https://www.unm.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of New Mexico</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-complex-reality-of-ammonite-extinction">Complex reality of ammonite extinction</h2>



The new research has shed light on the more complex reality of ammonite history. 



"We can’t necessarily trust global fossil datasets and need to analyze them at regional scales," concluded Dr. Flannery Sutherland.



The story of ammonites' extinction is indeed a complex tale of varied environmental conditions, geographical diversities, and consistent evolution.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-legacy-of-ammonites-in-modern-science">Legacy of ammonites in modern science</h2>



Ammonites continue to leave an indelible mark on contemporary science. Their well-preserved fossils provide crucial chronological markers, aiding geologists in dating rock layers and correlating geological events across different regions. 



Dubbed "index fossils," these remnants are invaluable in reconstructing ancient environments, offering a window into Earth's evolutionary narrative.



Furthermore, the intricate patterns on ammonite shells, reminiscent of nature's very own art, serve as a source of inspiration in the study of mathematical models and biological processes. 



The echo of their existence isn't confined to history - it's a cornerstone for ongoing scientific exploration and understanding. Perhaps, in studying these ancient mariners, we might find not just answers about the past, but keys to navigating the future.



Moreover, the evolutionary adaptations observed in ammonites - such as variations in shell shape, size, and ornamentation - offer insights into the mechanisms of natural selection and speciation.



Delving into these ancient organisms not only enriches our understanding of evolutionary biology but also sharpens our tools for scientific investigation.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-49462-z" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications</a>.



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Ammonites' extinction was complex, not inevitable

When you think of extinction and extinct creatures, dinosaurs and...

The mysteries of the cosmos are as numerous as its stars, with astronomers and scientists relentlessly pursuing answers through iron <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stunning-discovery-earths-building-blocks-contained-water/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">meteorites</a> and other clues.



Among the many enigmas is the elusive nature of our solar system's formation about four and a half billion years ago. 



Originally a swirling cloud of gas and dust centered around the sun, its exact structure has remained a matter of conjecture.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-peering-through-the-cosmic-veil">Peering through the cosmic veil</h2>



What might our <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/asteroid-ryugu-holds-clues-about-bombardment-in-the-early-solar-system/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">early solar system</a>, a protoplanetary disk, have looked like? While astronomers can harness the power of telescopes to examine distant protoplanetary disks, our own solar system's infancy remains beyond our visual reach.



But space, in its vastness, has gifted us with certain clues in the form of meteorites – fragments that formed early in the solar system's history and subsequently plunged through <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/geomagnetic-storms-are-influenced-by-earths-atmosphere/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earth's atmosphere</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unearthing-secrets-of-iron-meteorites">Unearthing secrets of iron meteorites</h2>



These meteorites, specifically iron meteorites, are akin to cosmic historians, their compositions narrating tales of the solar system's inception. However, decoding these tales often leads to additional queries. 



A recent paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, featuring insights from a team of planetary scientists from <a href="https://www.ucla.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UCLA</a> and <a href="https://www.jhuapl.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory</a>, delves into this cosmic cryptic narrative.



The study found that iridium and platinum, refractory metals which are known to condense in high temperatures, were more abundant in meteorites formed in the outer (colder) solar disk at a distance from the sun. This discovery was puzzling. Logically, these metals should have formed closer to the sun, where temperatures were higher.



Could there have been a pathway that moved these metals from the inner disk to the outskirts?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-journey-of-meteorites">The journey of meteorites</h2>



Most meteorites came into being within the first few million years of our solar system's existence. Some, known as chondrites, are unmelted amalgamations of grains and dust left from the formation of planets. 



Others experienced sufficient heat to melt while their parent asteroids were in process of creation. As these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earths-new-quasi-moon-will-stick-around-for-hundreds-of-years/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">asteroids</a> melted, the silicate and metallic parts separated due to their density difference, much like oil and water.



Presently, the majority of asteroids reside in a dense belt between Mars and Jupiter. Scientists theorize that Jupiter's gravitational pull may have disrupted these asteroids, leading to collisions and subsequent fragmentation.



The remnants of these asteroids, when they fall to Earth and are recovered, are what we call meteorites.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-iron-meteorites-keys-to-our-solar-system-s-past">Iron meteorites: Keys to our solar system's past</h2>



Iron meteorites, specifically, come from the metallic cores of the earliest asteroids - making them older than any other rocks or <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/space-snowman-arrokoth-celestial-objects-become-ice-bombs/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">celestial objects</a> in our solar system.



The molybdenum isotopes contained within these iron siblings of ours, point to various locations across the protoplanetary disk where they were formed, subsequently giving scientists insights into the disk's chemical composition.



Observations using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array in Chile has revealed many disks around other stars resembling concentric rings, akin to a dartboard. 



These planetary disks, such as HL Tau, have physical gaps, rendering them incapable of creating a route that could transport refractory metals from inner to outer disk.



The study, therefore, suggests that our solar disk didn’t share a similar ring structure at the start. More likely, our planetary disk was akin to a doughnut, and the asteroids with metal grains rich in iridium and platinum metals migrated to the outer disk as it rapidly expanded.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unveiling-the-doughnut-theory">Unveiling the doughnut theory</h2>



This doughnut theory led to another perplexing question. Following the disk's expansion, why didn't gravity pull these metals back into the sun?



The answer to that lies with Jupiter, according to UCLA planetary scientist Bidong Zhang. "Once Jupiter formed, it very likely opened a physical gap that trapped the iridium and platinum metals in the outer disk and prevented them from falling into the sun," Zhang explained.



These metals were then incorporated into asteroids that formed in the outer disk, validating why meteorites formed there have much higher iridium and platinum contents than their inner-disk counterparts.



This is not the first time Zhang and his team have utilized iron meteorites to unlock cosmic secrets. They also used them to reconstruct how water was distributed in the protoplanetary disk. 



"Iron meteorites are hidden gems. The more we learn about iron meteorites, the more they unravel the mystery of our solar system's birth," concluded Zhang.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2306995121" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.



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Iron meteorites reveal unexpected metal distribution in solar system

The mysteries of the cosmos are as numerous as its...

Every now and then, something ordinary reveals extraordinary potential. At first glance, a robust desert moss known as Syntrichia caninervis might not strike you as particularly impressive. However, new research suggests it might just be the key to opening up the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mars-may-have-once-been-a-cradle-for-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">possibility of life</a> on Mars.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-syntrichia-caninervis">Syntrichia caninervis</h2>



The exceptional resilience of this moss, brought to light by ecologists Yuanming Zhang and Daoyuan Zhang, along with botanist Tingyun Kuang, has set the scientific world abuzz. All three are affiliated with the esteemed Chinese Academy of Sciences and have dedicated extensive time and effort to their research.



In the wild, Syntrichia caninervis is found in extreme desert environments from Tibet to Antarctica and the circumpolar regions. This moss forms the biological soil crust, a resilient, widespread ground cover often found in arid lands.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-moss-under-mars-extreme-conditions">Moss under Mars' extreme conditions</h2>



The researchers put Syntrichia caninervis through a series of rigorous tests in their lab, pushing the plant to its limits. The results are nothing short of staggering.



The team tested the cold tolerance of the moss by storing it in below-freezing temperatures. Remarkably, the plants sprung back to life after being thawed, especially those that had been dehydrated before they were frozen.



&nbsp;Syntrichia caninervis showed remarkable resilience to gamma radiation, with doses of 500 Gy even seeming to boost the plant's growth. For perspective, exposure to around 50 Gy would cause severe damage, even death, in humans. 



In fact, gamma radiation at such high levels is known to break down the DNA structure in most organisms, leading to catastrophic cell damage. 



However, this resilient plant not only survives but thrives, demonstrating an incredible natural adaptation that could have significant implications for understanding radiation resistance and potentially aiding in biotechnological advancements.



“Our study shows that the environmental resilience of S. caninervis is superior to that of some of highly stress-tolerant microorganisms and tardigrades,” noted the researchers.



“S. caninervis&nbsp;is a promising candidate pioneer plant for colonizing extraterrestrial environments, laying the foundation for building biologically sustainable human habitats beyond Earth.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-surviving-on-mars-piece-of-cake-or-moss">Surviving on Mars? Piece of cake (or moss)</h2>



The true test of the moss was its ability to survive simulated Martian conditions within the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Planetary Atmospheres Simulation Facility. 



This simulator mimicked Mars’ harsh environment, complete with fluctuating temperatures, high levels of UV radiation, low atmospheric pressure, and a CO2-heavy atmosphere.



Astoundingly, the moss demonstrated a 100% regeneration rate, even after enduring these conditions for up to a week. The hydrated plants, though regenerating more slowly than their dried counterparts, also <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mysterious-holes-on-mars-might-harbor-alien-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">survived</a> the Martian simulation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-giant-leap-for-moss">A giant leap for moss</h2>



Clearly, Syntrichia caninervis is no ordinary moss but an extraordinary potential pioneer for extraterrestrial colonization. The researchers see a bright future where this moss might find a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/manganese-discovery-ancient-mars-earth-like-water-lake-habitable/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">home</a> on Mars or the Moon.



“Although there is still a long way to go to create self-sufficient habitats on other planets, we demonstrated the great potential of S. caninervis as a pioneer plant for growth on Mars,” said the researchers.



“Looking to the future, we expect that this promising moss could be brought to Mars or the Moon to further test the possibility of plant colonization and growth in outer space.”



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



The resilience of Syntrichia caninervis is a promising leap toward a future where we might see sustainable human habitats in outer space. So, the next time you come across a patch of moss, take a moment to marvel at the potential it might hold.



Are we ready to move to Mars? Will this small plant be the key to colonizing the Red Planet? Only time will tell. Scientists around the world are working tirelessly to unlock the secrets of Mars' environment and its potential to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/lake-sediments-found-in-jezero-crater-hint-at-past-life-on-mars/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">support human life</a>. 



Until then, keep your eyes peeled for the next big revelation in the world of science. Advances in technology and space exploration are happening at an unprecedented rate, promising exciting discoveries just around the corner.



The extensive <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/searching-for-life-on-mars-quest-continues/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">research</a> on Syntrichia caninervis is supported by the <a href="https://english.cas.cn" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chinese Academy of Sciences</a>, the Leading Talents in Technological Innovation Program, and The Third Xinjiang Scientific Expedition Program.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/the-innovation/fulltext/S2666-6758(24)00095-X" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Innovation</a>.



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This desert moss might help humans live on Mars

Every now and then, something ordinary reveals extraordinary potential. At...

In a world grappling with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/obesity-now-affects-more-than-a-billion-people/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">rising obesity rates</a> and the related diabetes <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sleep-deprivation-linked-type-2-diabetes-risk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">crisis</a>, enter stage left – elenolic acid, a natural compound found in olives. This humble constituent of your favorite <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/japanese-diet-puts-the-brakes-on-brain-aging/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mediterranean</a> salad is now stealing the limelight with its impressive potential to combat weight gain and regulate blood sugar levels.



The credit goes to Professor Dongmin Liu and his research team from the Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise at <a href="https://www.vt.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Virginia Tech</a>. Their ongoing investigation is centered around identifying bioactive compounds in natural products that could contribute to managing diabetes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-does-elenolic-acid-work">How does elenolic acid work?</h2>



In the microscopic universe of our bodies, the gut plays host to L-cells. They release two pivotal metabolic hormones, GLP-1 and PYY, during meals. These hormones are our body's natural soldiers, fighting off overeating and striving to keep our blood sugar levels in check.



Enter elenolic acid. The researchers discovered that this compound, found in mature olives and extra virgin olive oil, nudges these hormones into action in the gut. The process involved converting oleuropein, a precursor of elenolic acid, into the compound, which is cheaper than direct extraction from olives.



“Overall, the study showed that elenolic acid from olives has promising effects on hormone release and metabolic health, particularly in obese and diabetic conditions,” said Liu.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-elenolic-acid-for-obesity">Elenolic acid for obesity</h2>



In obese diabetic mice, the team administered oral elenolic acid, and the results were astounding. Within a week, these mice shed significant weight and displayed improved glucose regulation as compared to the control group of obese mice that were not given elenolic acid. 



Over a span of four to five weeks, the mice experienced a 10.7% reduction in obesity. Their blood sugar levels and insulin sensitivity put them on par with those of healthy lean mice.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-beyond-weight-and-blood-sugar">Beyond weight and blood sugar</h2>



Professor Liu and his team discovered that elenolic acid had additional tricks up its sleeve. It slashed food intake, promoting further weight loss. 



On the flip side, it gave a boost to circulating PYY and GLP-1 levels, while nipping in the bud the overexpression of agouti-related peptide, known to increase eating and weight gain.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-olive-fountain-of-health">Olive fountain of health</h2>



It's worth noting that the concentration of elenolic acid in olive oil or olives is quite low. So, the impressive benefits from the study might not be achieved just by munching on olives or drizzling olive oil on your salad. 



While the study shines a light on the potential health perks of elenolic acid, don't count on olive products alone to replicate those results. Additional sources or supplements might be necessary to achieve similar effects.



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



“Lifestyle modifications and public health measures have had limited impact on the rising prevalence of obesity, one of the top risk factors for type 2 diabetes,” said Liu.



“Available obesity drugs are ineffective in weight loss maintenance, expensive and/or carry potential long-term safety risks. Our goal was to develop safer, cheaper and more convenient multi-targeting agents that can prevent the occurrence of metabolic disorders and type 2 diabetes.”



The Virginia Tech team now embarks on the next phase of their investigation: understanding how this compound creates metabolic benefits, unraveling its journey through the body, its absorption, distribution, and excretion. 



This crucial exploration will lay the groundwork for future clinical trials, offering vital insights into the safety of using elenolic acid.



Who knows? The answer to offsetting obesity and diabetes could lie in an olive grove, where the humble olive may hold the key to better health. This promising area of study is gaining attention from scientists and health experts alike. 



We'll have our eyes peeled on the fascinating evolution of this research, eagerly anticipating discoveries and potential new treatments.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-preventive-health">Preventive health</h2>



Incorporating elenolic acid into your diet or supplements could be a game-changer for preventive health. While traditional medicine has long valued the power of certain foods, modern <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/obesity-is-linked-to-32-cancer-types-that-could-drive-40-of-cases/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">medicine</a> often emphasizes treatment over prevention.



But, with compounds like elenolic acid showing real promise, we could be entering a new era of nutritional science. 



Imagine food-based interventions becoming the norm for preventing conditions like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/severe-childhood-obesity-can-cut-life-expectancy-in-half/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">obesity</a> and diabetes. This shift could reduce our dependence on medications and ease the burden on healthcare systems worldwide. 



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Olives may be a powerful weapon in the fight against obesity

In a world grappling with rising obesity rates and 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

[sendtonews key="0ynNMYkMKa-2340414-12187" 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.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

[sendtonews key="3upvlAaHgO-2256633-12187" 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.acs.org/">American Chemical Society</a> describes a new self-powered nanosensor that can instantly detect mercury contamination with the tap of a finger.&nbsp;



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;



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



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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



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Designing crops that can beat the heat

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

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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How does salt makes things taste better?

[sendtonews key="X0f6OHYoI4-2310561-12187" 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 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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Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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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



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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

[sendtonews key="qjvhBOBnY8-2426650-12187" 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 the province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain. The image was captured by the Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission.



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

[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



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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



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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



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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



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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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2022 illustrated the consequences of a warming climate

[sendtonews key="3UUsNkFOuS-2487333-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from NASA...

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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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



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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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Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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