A team of scientists has recreated the face of an ancient human ancestor that might offer a fresh glimpse of our distant past. This reconstructed visage of "Dragon Man" is linked to a group of early humans called the Denisovans, who roamed parts of Asia for thousands of years. 



Researchers believe these individuals may have handed down bits of genetic material that shaped the course of modern human evolution by helping our ancestors to adjust to different landscapes and climates.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dragon-man-and-the-denisovans">Dragon Man and the Denisovans</h2>



<a href="https://gurche.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">John Gurche</a>, working with National Geographic, is the paleoartist behind this striking portrait. Denisovans are known mainly from a sparse record of fossils and DNA first extracted in 2010 from a <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-018-0455-x" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">finger bone</a> in Siberia.



Scientists say these ancient humans lived between <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/115000-year-old-human-footprints-found-alathar-lake-arabian-peninsula/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">200,000 and 25,000 years ago</a>, crossed paths with Homo sapiens, and left us with genetic traces seen today in populations across Southeast Asia and Oceania. 



Neanderthals and these early humans are our closest extinct relatives, and they likely contributed to our ability to move into and adapt to new areas of the globe.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-the-harbin-skull-matters">Why the Harbin skull matters</h2>



A laborer in northeastern China uncovered a remarkably complete fossil many years ago, which became known as the <a href="https://www.science.org/content/article/stunning-dragon-man-skull-may-be-elusive-denisovan-or-new-species-human" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Harbin skull</a>. 



Some experts suspect it could have belonged to a Denisovan because it bears certain resemblances to a 160,000-year-old <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/01/science/denisovans-tibet-jawbone-dna.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">jawbone</a> that was discovered on the Tibetan Plateau.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/dragon-man_Denisovan_Harbin-skull-photo_credit-CAS_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/dragon-man_Denisovan_Harbin-skull-photo_credit-CAS_1s.webp" alt="The Harbin Skull is the cranium of a Denisovan nicknamed Dragon Man. Credit: CAS" class="wp-image-1957356"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Harbin Skull is the cranium of a Denisovan nicknamed Dragon Man. Credit: CAS</figcaption></figure>



That jawbone, found in <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2019/05/denisovan-jawbone-roof-world/588442/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Xiahe Cave</a>, could not be used to extract DNA evidence, but researchers used a method called paleoproteomics to determine its lineage.



Because the Harbin fossil dates back roughly 150,000 years and was located in the same broad region where Denisovans once roamed, many scientists think it may be the most complete example of these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/first-tools-ever-made-on-earth-hominins-3-million-years-ago-cradle-of-humankind/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">elusive people</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-clues-from-denisovan-s-face">Clues from Denisovan's face</h2>



Gurche built his <a href="https://youtu.be/eatqu7hWw5g?si=1Nav7LXrwy-Z98qU" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">model</a> by starting with a plastic replica of the Harbin skull, which he studied to gauge features like overall jaw breadth and prominent brow.&nbsp;



His aim was “To get as close as I could to looking into the eyes of these extinct species,” he told <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/other-human-species-evolution" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Geographic</a>. He estimated eye size by referencing the ratio of eyeball diameter to eye socket size that African apes and modern humans share, then used markings on the fossil to place chewing muscles in the right spots.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dragon-man-s-head-and-nose-shape">Dragon Man's head and nose shape</h2>



Studying the bone structure gave Gurche clues about the nose’s width and protrusion. 



Scientists often rely on similar methods for ancient reconstructions, since cartilage does not survive in fossils. 



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/dragon-man_Denisovan_human-ancestor_illustration_credit-Chuang-Zhao_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/dragon-man_Denisovan_human-ancestor_illustration_credit-Chuang-Zhao_1s.webp" alt="Illustration of a Denisovan named Dragon Man in his natural habitat. His large head could be an adaptation to the harsh environment in which he likely lived. Chuang Zhao" class="wp-image-1957360"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Illustration of a Denisovan named Dragon Man in his natural habitat. His large head could be an adaptation to the harsh environment in which he likely lived. Chuang Zhao</figcaption></figure>



Their logic stems from comparing multiple <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/worlds-oldest-wooden-structure-completely-rewrites-early-human-history/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hominin species</a> and applying standard patterns of human and ape anatomy. 



By layering muscle over the replicated skull, Gurche produced a model with a wide mouth, a robust brow, and a braincase in the ballpark of a modern human’s - traits that underscore both our shared lineage and the intriguing diversity of this lost group.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-evidence-of-travel-and-interbreeding">Evidence of travel and interbreeding</h2>



Denisovans likely ventured far, with fossils and DNA traces turning up from Siberia to Southeast Asia. 



Some experts point to strong signs that they interbred with Homo sapiens, possibly boosting our ancestors’ ability to cope with unfamiliar altitudes and diseases.



The story goes that our forebears met these other <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stone-tool-flint-discovery-challenges-theory-of-human-cultural-evolution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">humans</a>, passed along genes that improved survival, and then forged onward to inhabit new territories. 



However, we still do not know why Denisovans themselves vanished, or how they managed to cover such large distances in eras when travel was slow and difficult.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-next-steps-for-dragon-man-and-denisovans">Next steps for Dragon Man and Denisovans</h2>



Experts say that solving the mystery of how these people journeyed across thousands of miles - and figuring out why they vanished - requires more fossils. 



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/dragon-man_Denisovan_Harbin-skull-recreation_portrait_credit-Chuang-Zhao_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/dragon-man_Denisovan_Harbin-skull-recreation_portrait_credit-Chuang-Zhao_1s.webp" alt="Recreating the face of 'Dragon Man,' an ancient human cousin named Denisovans. Credit: Chuang Zhao/CAS" class="wp-image-1957358"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Recreating the face of 'Dragon Man,' an ancient human cousin named Denisovans. Credit: Chuang Zhao/CAS</figcaption></figure>



Compared to Neanderthals, Denisovan remains are exceptionally scarce, which is why the Harbin skull’s possible Denisovan link has excited many anthropologists. 



Any additional finds, such as teeth or skull fragments, can help refine our picture of these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/homo-juluensis-new-human-species-vanished-just-fifty-thousand-years-ago/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ancient relatives</a> and fill in details about their environment, social behavior, and diet.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-glimpse-into-the-past">A glimpse into the past</h2>



In February 2025, National Geographic featured Gurche’s Denisovan model, marking a milestone in our understanding of who these people were. Some see this lifelike creation as a vital leap for anyone curious about human origins.&nbsp;



The crossbreeding evidence, the scattered remains, and now this reconstructed face provide a chance to reflect on how many human groups once shared our planet. 



The Denisovans’ disappearance still mystifies scientists, but every new bit of data reveals more about their place in our lineage.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-dragon-man-and-denisovans">Understanding Dragon Man and Denisovans</h2>



While we might never get every answer about the Denisovans, the puzzle pieces we do have hint at a world filled with varied human populations. 



Each group may have contributed to the genetic tapestry that makes our species what it is today. 



The Harbin skull’s similarities to that jawbone in Xiahe Cave underscore how a single fossil find can reshape our thinking on early humans. 



As more studies zero in on these and other artifacts, a fuller narrative of the Denisovans’ story may surface - one that reminds us of our interwoven past.



A version of this story will appear in the February 2025 issue of <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/other-human-species-evolution" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Geographic magazine</a>.



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Recreating the face of 'Dragon Man,' an ancient human cousin

A team of scientists has recreated the face of an ancient human ancestor that might offer a fresh glimpse of our distant past. This reconstructed visage of "Dragon Man" is linked to a group of early humans called the Denisovans, who roamed parts of Asia for thousands of years.  Researchers believe these individuals may have handed down bits of genetic material that shaped the course of modern human evolution by helping our ancestors to adjust to different landscapes and climates. Dragon Man and the Denisovans John Gurche,...

In the deepest, most pristine areas of the Amazon Forest, birds are isolated from almost any direct contact with humans. Yet, data collected over 40 years in this,&nbsp; the largest <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/african-rainforests-are-surprisingly-resilient-to-heat-and-drought/">rainforest</a> in the world, shows that even here, birds are being impacted by the effects of global warming.



The study, conducted by scientists from the <a href="https://www.lsu.edu/">Louisiana State University</a>, found that the number of sensitive resident birds has declined throughout the Amazon rainforest&nbsp;during the past four decades. In addition, the body sizes and wing lengths of birds have changed. According to the researchers, these physical changes are associated with increasingly hot and dry conditions in the dry season, between June and November each year.



“Even in the middle of this pristine Amazon rainforest, we are seeing the global effects of climate change caused by people, including us,” said study lead author Vitek Jirinec, associate ecologist at the Integral Ecology Research Center and lead author of this study.&nbsp;



More than 15,000 individual birds were captured, measured, weighed, marked with a leg band and released, over the 40-year study period. Analysis of the data set reveals that, in nearly all of the 77 different species recorded, body size has decreased since the 1980s.&nbsp;



On average, birds have lost about two percent of their body weight every decade. For an average bird species that weighed about 30 grams in the 1980s, the population now averages about 27.6 grams.&nbsp;



“These birds don’t vary that much in size. They are fairly fine-tuned, so when everyone in the population is a couple of grams smaller, it’s significant,” said study co-author Philip Stouffer, who is the Lee F. Mason Professor in the LSU School of Renewable Natural Resources.



The birds were collected over a large range of the rainforest, and therefore the changes recorded are not related to any specific locality. This indicates that the phenomena of lighter bodies and longer wings are most likely happening in all regions of the rainforest.



“This is undoubtedly happening all over and probably not just with birds,” said Professor Stouffer. “If you look out your window, and consider what you’re seeing out there, the conditions are not what they were 40 years ago and it’s very likely plants and animals are responding to those changes as well. We have this idea that the things we see are fixed in time, but if these birds aren’t fixed in time, that may not be true.”



The 77 different species recorded represent inhabitants at all forest levels, from the cool, dark forest floor to the warmer, sunlit midstory.&nbsp;The results showed that the species living in the higher sections of the forest midstory had the most dramatic changes in body weight and wing length. These are the birds most exposed to the hotter and drier environmental conditions. They also tend to do more flying as they travel from tree to tree.



The researchers hypothesize that these Amazonian bird species have adapted to hotter, drier conditions by reducing the energy required to fly around and find food. A lighter body with longer wings will result in reduced wing loading and this will make flight more efficient. If a bird has a higher wing loading, it needs to flap its wings faster to stay aloft, which requires more energy and produces more metabolic heat. Reducing body weight and increasing wing length leads to more efficient resource use while also keeping cooler in a warming climate.



LSU alumnus Ryan Burner (Ph.D. ’19) conducted much of the analysis that revealed the variation among the groups of birds over the years. Burner, who is now a research wildlife biologist at the U.S. Geological Survey Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, is the second author on this study.



As the rainforest environment becomes increasingly hotter and drier, the capacity of these Amazonian birds to deal with the conditions will be tested further. The limit of changes in body weight and wing length is not currently known, but at some stage this strategy may fail to deliver the necessary adaptation to changing climate. The same situation no doubt also exists in a lot of other places and for other species that are experiencing the pressures of environmental extremes.



“There may be other researchers in other places who have relevant data from the 1970s and 1980s that could be compared to modern data, because the bird banding protocol we used is pretty standard. So, if you measure mass and wing, maybe there will be more datasets that will emerge and we’ll be able to get more of an idea of the variation across space and how it might be changing in different systems,” said Professor Stouffer.



The results of the study are published today in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/journal/sciadv">Science Advances</a>.



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

Amazonian birds are changing shape in response to global warming

In the deepest, most pristine areas of the Amazon Forest,...

New research led by <a href="https://duke.edu/">Duke University</a> in collaboration with the <a href="https://www.unc.edu/">University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill</a> (UNC) has found a cross-reacting antibody that significantly limits the severity of infection from various coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-1 and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dogs-and-cats-test-positive-for-alpha-variant-of-sars-cov-2/">SARS-CoV-2</a>.



“This antibody has the potential to be a therapeutic for the current epidemic,” said study co-author&nbsp;Barton Haynes, director of <a href="https://dhvi.duke.edu/">Duke Human Vaccine Institute</a>. “It could also be available for future outbreaks, if or when other coronaviruses jump from their natural animal hosts to humans.”&nbsp;



Haynes and his colleague identified and isolated the antibody by analyzing blood samples from a patient infected with SARS-CoV-1, the virus that caused the SARS outbreak in 2003, and from a current COVID-19 patient.



From the total of 1,700 identified antibodies, the researchers found 50 antibodies that could bind to both SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-Cov-2. Further investigations discovered that one of these antibodies was especially potent, being able to bind to a large variety of animal coronaviruses in addition to those affecting humans.



“This antibody binds to the coronavirus at a location that is conserved across numerous mutations and variations. As a result, it can neutralize a wide range of coronaviruses,” Haynes explained.



After they identified and isolated this antibody, Haynes and his colleagues from UNC tested it in mice in order to find out whether it could block infections or minimize them once they occurred. As expected, the antibody protected mice from getting infected if given before they were exposed to coronaviruses, and reduced the severity of symptoms when given after infections. Its range of protection extended to current SARS-CoV-2 variants, including the highly infectious <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/delta-variants-could-further-prolong-the-covid-pandemic/">Delta</a>.



“The findings provide a template for the rational design of universal vaccine strategies that are variant-proof and provide broad protection from known and emerging coronaviruses,” said study co-author Ralph Baric, a professor of epidemiology at UNC.



“The therapeutic activity even after mice were infected suggests that this could be a treatment deployed in the current pandemic, but also stockpiled to prevent the spread of a future outbreak or epidemic with a SARS-related virus,” added study co-lead author David Martinez, a postdoctoral fellow at UNC.



“This antibody could be harnessed to prevent maybe SARS-CoV-3 or SARS-CoV-4,” he concluded.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scitranslmed.abj7125">Science Translational Medicine</a>.



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

Newly discovered antibody may prevent future coronavirus pandemic

New research led by Duke University in collaboration with the...

A new study published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/srep/">Nature Scientific Reports</a> has found the earliest evidence of herd living among <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/social-behavior-helped-early-dinosaurs-thrive/">dinosaurs</a> through the discovery of fossilized remains of sauropodomorphs, a species of large, long-necked herbivores living in the Mesozoic Era.



“Sauropodomorph dinosaurs dominated the herbivorous niches during the first 40 million years of dinosaur history (Late Triassic–Early Jurassic), yet palaeobiological factors that influenced their evolutionary success are not fully understood,” the study authors wrote. “For instance, knowledge of their behavior is limited, although herding in sauropodomorphs has been well documented in derived sauropods from the Late Jurassic and Cretaceous.”



A research team led by paleontologist Diego Pol from the <a href="https://mef.org.ar/home/">Museum of Paleontology Egidio Feruglio</a> discovered the fossilized skeletal remains of 80 individuals and over 100 eggs of the early sauropodomorph Mussaurus patagonicus in the Laguna Colorada Formation in Patagonia, Argentina.



By analyzing the size and type of bone tissue of the skeletal remains, the scientists identified a cluster of 11 juveniles of less than a year of age, nine specimens aged between a year old and adult, and two adults that were found closely together. These findings suggest that the presence of age-specific clusters of individuals in the same location could indicate that these dinosaurs lived in herds and primarily associated with others of their own age.



Since the rocks surrounding the remains appeared to be approximately 193 million years old, this is the earliest evidence of complex social behavior in dinosaurs, predating previous records by at least 40 million years.



According to the researchers, the evolution of complex social behavior among sauropodomorphs might have coincided with increases in body size that occurred between 227 and 208 million years ago. In order to meet the increased energy demands associated with larger body sizes, these dinosaurs might have needed to coordinate their behaviors by forming herds, and thus manage to forage over longer distances.



“The presence of sociality in different sauropodomorph lineages suggests a possible Triassic origin of this behavior, which may have influenced their early success as large terrestrial herbivores,” the authors concluded.



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

Dinosaurs engaged in herd living much earlier than expected

A new study published in the journal Nature Scientific Reports...

A new study published in the journal <a href="https://www.journals.elsevier.com/science-of-the-total-environment">Science of the Total Environment</a> found that people in the UK are consuming more plant-based replacement foods such as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-meat-paradox-people-care-about-animals-but-still-eat-meat/">vegan</a> milk and vegetarian sausages.



The researchers analyzed data from the National Diet and Nutrition Survey, with an emphasis on more than 15,000 individuals aged 1.5 years and over. The results showed that the number of people eating plant-based alternative foods nearly doubled from 2008 to 2019, jumping from 6.7 to 13.1 percent.



The research indicates that the largest increases were from young people in generation Y (11-23yro) and Millennials (24-39yro). Women were also 46 percent more likely to consume plant-based replacement foods.&nbsp;



“A global transformation towards sustainable food systems is crucial for delivering on climate change mitigation targets worldwide," said study co-author Dr. Pauline Scheelbeek of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM).



"In high- and middle-income settings, plant-based meat and dairy alternatives are increasingly being explored and developed as a strategy to reduce consumption of animal-sourced foods. However, the extent to which these foods play a role in dietary change remains largely understudied. This study helps fill that gap.”



As of now, food consumption worldwide is largely unsustainable. Food production accounts for about 21 to 37 percent of the world’s greenhouse gas production and 70 percent of freshwater consumption. To meet critical climate goals, dietary change is necessary.&nbsp;



The research suggests that for diets high in meat consumption, substituting plant-based alternatives can be beneficial to the environment. The UK Climate Change Commission (UKCCC) recommends a decrease in meat and dairy products of 20 percent by the year 2030 and a 35.perceny reduction by 2050.&nbsp;



“The willingness to reduce meat intake among populations in many European countries has increased rapidly over the past decade. Unfortunately, this does not always result into actual dietary change," said Dr. Scheelbeek.



"The plant-based alternative foods could be a stepping stone for people that are willing to reduce meat consumption, but find it hard to fit this into their daily lives. This study shows that more and more people are applying this pathway to achieve their goals on more plant-based diets.”&nbsp;



Many reasons still exist why some people resist cutting down on meat consumption. Pleasure in eating meat, belief in the importance of meat in the diet and social facilitation are all factors. Thankfully, these seem to be surmountable barriers for those trying to eat more sustainably.&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:zachfitzner@yahoo.com">Zach Fitzner</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Plant-based food consumption doubled in the last decade

A new study published in the journal Science of the...

Agricultural,Land,Beside,The,Yangtze,River,(chang,Jiang,River),In

New research using high resolution mapping technology looks at the global impact of wastewater on coastal <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/coastal-ecosystems-are-disrupted-by-small-temperature-changes/">ecosystems</a>. The study, carried out by scientists at the <a href="https://www.ucsb.edu/">University of California Santa Barbara</a> (UCSB), was just published in the journal <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/">PLOS ONE</a>.&nbsp;



Human sewage can spread disease from bacteria as well as introduce detrimentally large amounts of nitrogen to coastal environments. These impacts affect local wildlife, fishing and other human enterprises. So far, most research into coastal pollution has focused on agricultural run off while relatively little research has looked into wastewater pollution.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



To look more closely at the impact of sewage, researcher Cascade Tuholske led a team to estimate and map the nitrogen pathways to the ocean from 135,000 watersheds worldwide. The assessment combined high resolution data on human populations with computer modeling to estimate how wastewater plumes enter the sea and how these plumes overlap with different ecosystems.&nbsp;



The researchers estimate that 6.2 tetragrams of wastewater from sewage enters the ocean in coastal areas per year. This is approximately 40 percent of the wastewater entering these same areas from agriculture.&nbsp;



The watersheds releasing the greatest amount of sewage were found in Asia, where the highest human population densities are. The Chang Jiang (Yangtze) alone contributes about 11 percent of the global total.&nbsp;



Hotspots of nitrogen exposure to coral reefs were also identified in Haiti, China, Kenya, India and Yemen. Hotspots of exposure to seagrass habitats were also identified in Ghana, Kuwait, India, Nigeria and China. The Chang Jiang and Brahmaputra Rivers contributed the most pathogens.&nbsp;



Further research is needed to gain a better understanding of this problem, but this research is a starting point for mitigating the issue on a global scale.&nbsp;



"The sheer scale of how much wastewater is impacting coastal ecosystems worldwide is staggering," said the study authors. "But because we map wastewater inputs to the ocean across more than 130,000 watersheds, our results identify target priority areas to help marine conservation groups and public health officials to work together and reduce the impacts of wastewater on coastal waters across the planet."&nbsp;&nbsp;



---By <a href="mailto:zachfitzner@yahoo.com">Zach Fitzner</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Staggering amount of wastewater impacts coastal ecosystems

New research using high resolution mapping technology looks at the...

Healthy,Food,Clean,Eating,Selection:,Fruit,,Vegetable,,Seeds,,Superfood,,Cereals,

As people age, inflammatory processes within their organisms increase, damaging their cells. According to new research led by the <a href="https://www.aan.com/">American Academy of Neurology</a>, people who had an anti-inflammatory <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nutrient-profiling-system-ranks-healthy-foods/">diet</a>, including more fruits, vegetables, beans, tea, and coffee, had a lower risk of developing dementia later in life.&nbsp;



“There may be some potent nutritional tools in your home to help fight the inflammation that could contribute to brain aging,” said study lead author Nikolaos Scarmeas, an associate professor of Neurology at the <a href="https://en.uoa.gr/">National and Kapodistrian University of Athens</a> in Greece, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology.&nbsp;



“Diet is a lifestyle factor you can modify, and it might play a role in combating inflammation, one of the biological pathways contributing to risk for dementia and cognitive impairment later in life.”



The researchers investigated 1,059 people in Greece with an average age of 73, who did not have dementia at the beginning of the study. The participants had to answer a food frequency questionnaire that sought information about the main food groups that respondents consumed in the previous month. Each participant’s diet was given a dietary inflammatory score ranging from -8.87 (indicating a less inflammatory diet) to 7.98 (more inflammatory).



The scientists divided the participants into three groups: people with low inflammatory scores (-1.76 and lower), medium scores (up to 0.21), and high scores (over 0.21). Those in the first category consumed a weekly average of 20 servings of fruit, 19 of vegetables, four of beans or other legumes, and 11 of tea or coffee. Those in the last group had nine servings of fruit, 10 of vegetables, two of legumes, and nine of coffee or tea per week.



Researchers followed up the participants for three years. During this period, 62 (6 percent) developed dementia, having an average score inflammatory score of -0.06. By contrast, those who remained healthy had a lower average score (-0.70). These findings show that each one-point increase in inflammatory score was correlated with a 21 percent increase in the risk of developing dementia.



“Our results are getting us closer to characterizing and measuring the inflammatory potential of people’s diets. That in turn could help inform more tailored and precise dietary recommendations and other strategies to maintain cognitive health,” concluded Professor Scarmeas.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://n.neurology.org/content/early/2021/11/10/WNL.0000000000012973">Neurology</a>.



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

Anti-inflammatory foods lower the risk of dementia

As people age, inflammatory processes within their organisms increase, damaging...

A research team from the <a href="https://www.newcastle.edu.au/">University of Newcastle</a> and the <a href="https://www.samuseum.sa.gov.au/">South Australian Museum</a> has recently identified a new frog species in the Wollumbin National Park from northern New South Wales, Australia. This <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/quickly-evolving-species-face-greater-threat-of-extinction/">species</a>, named Assa wollumbin sp.nov., is the second type of “hip-pocket” or “pouched” frog in the world.&nbsp;



These frogs are very peculiar, due to the fact that they have a highly derived and unusual reproductive mode, involving a unique form of male parental care. Male frogs hatch the eggs for six days until the tadpoles are born. Next, the males carry the tadpoles in small pouches located on their legs until the young frogs develop their own legs.



"The hip-pocket frog is not only unique for its amazing breeding biology among Australian frogs, but it is also unique among frogs of the world, since there are only four of the 4,000 species worldwide that have male parental care where the male carries its developing tadpoles,"&nbsp;explained University of Newcastle’s Dr. Michael Mahony, one of the biologists who described this new species.



"This incredible discovery shows just how much we don't know about the world around us, with this tiny 16mm frog found on just one isolated mountain in the Wollumbin National Park," added Australian Minister for Environment Matt Kean. &nbsp;



Due to its specific habitat needs and restricted distribution, this species will likely meet the criteria for joining the list of critically endangered species.&nbsp;



"The small population size makes this frog more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, which is why the New South Wales Government moved quickly to protect its habitat within days of being formally described,” said Mr. Kean.



"A conservation action plan will be developed to ensure the survival of this fascinating frog species, which has been living undiscovered high in the cool forest."



The research is published in the scientific journal <a href="https://mapress.com/zt/article/view/zootaxa.5057.4.1">Zootaxa</a>.



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

Male frogs carry tadpoles in their legs

A research team from the University of Newcastle and the...

The name "rockfish" is applied to a wide variety of different groups of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/seagrass-loss-leads-to-changes-in-fish-populations/">fish</a> that typically live amongst rocks on the ocean floor. Rockfish from one particular genus (Sebastes) have recently been studied by scientists from <a href="https://www.berkeley.edu/">UC Berkley</a>, to investigate the genetic basis of their unusual longevity.



Tissue samples from 88 of the 137 species of rockfish in this genus, all known to inhabit coastal waters around the Pacific Ocean, were used to obtain DNA for analysis.&nbsp;



The Sebastes group of fishes has undergone a very rapid evolutionary radiation in the past 10 million years, and has adapted to a wide range of different conditions and habitats. As a consequence, their phenotypes (i.e., their observable characteristics) differ widely in terms of their sizes, lifestyles, ecological niches, and longevity.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Some species, such as the colorful calico rockfish (Sebastes dallii), live for little more than a decade. The most long-lived of the genus&nbsp;Sebastes – the rougheye rockfish (Sebastes aleutianus), which occurs from Japan to the Aleutian Islands – can survive in cold, deep coastal waters for more than 200 years. Some of the most long-lived vertebrate species on Earth are found in this genus.&nbsp;



The researchers sequenced the complete genomes of the 88 rockfish species using a state-of-the-art technique known as Pacbio, or SMRT, sequencing. In particular, they were looking for DNA variations that were more common in fish with longer lives.&nbsp;



The results show that a variety of genes are associated with a longer lifespan; they found a total of 137 longevity-associated gene variations. Although the researchers were aware that factors such as body size and habitat depth influence lifespan, they also identified several new genes that are involved with the process of ageing.&nbsp;



Approximately 60 percent of variation in longevity was explained by variations in body size and the depth at which the species occur. Vertebrates with larger bodies usually live for longer (think of an elephant and a mouse, for example) and the fish that habitually live in deep, cold waters have a lower metabolic rate which is also associated with living for longer.&nbsp;



"We can explain 60% of the variation in lifespan just by looking at the size at maturity and the depth at which a fish lives," said senior author Professor <a href="https://www.sudmantlab.org/">Peter Sudmant</a>.&nbsp;"So, you can predict lifespan with pretty high accuracy just from these factors. This allowed us to identify the genes that allow them to do those things."



The remainder of the longevity-associated variation was explained mostly by differences in three types of genes: an enrichment in the number of genes for repairing DNA; variations in many genes that regulate insulin, which has long been known to influence lifespan; and an enrichment in genes that modulate the immune system. More DNA repair genes could help protect against cancer, while more immune genes could help ward off infections, as well as cancer.



"Six different members of the insulin signaling pathway are under selection in these fish," said Professor Sudmant. "If you look at the textbooks, there are about nine or 10 core members of the pathway, so the majority of them are under selection in rockfish." Professor Sudamant explained that some rockfish species extended their lifespan simply by adapting to live in deeper, colder waters and increasing their size, but the longest-lived species boosted their lifespans even further by tweaking their DNA repair, insulin signaling and immune-modulation genes.



The scientists were also able to identify some consequences of a long lifespan in these rockfish. Species that live longer tend to have smaller populations (again, think of elephants and mice) and may survive today in small numbers that rely on very old, but very fertile, females to breed and restock the population.&nbsp;



"In these rockfish, we can actually watch this evolution happening over this 10-million-year time period, and we observe that when some species evolve a short lifespan, their population sizes expand, and when they evolve a long lifespan, their population sizes contract," said Professor Sudmant. "We can see a signature of that in their genomes, in the genetic variation that exists in these species. So, there is a consequence to adapting to long and short life."



A fascinating finding from the study is that long-lived species have an excess of certain kinds of DNA mutations – specifically, the conversion of the nucleotide pair CG (cytosine-guanine) to TG (thymine-guanine) – that are known to accumulate in tumors with aging. Because it is the oldest females that produce most of the offspring in these long-lived species, these unusual genetic alterations are passed along to the rest of the long-lived population.



"In this study, we identified both the genetic causes and consequences of adaptation to extreme lifespan," said Professor Sudmant. "It's very exciting to be able to look at a group of species and see how their phenotype has been shaped through time and the genetic changes that drive that phenotype, and simultaneously, how that phenotype then feeds back and influences the genetic diversity of that population."



The study may also help scientists understand human lifespan better. Sudmant and his colleagues found that longer-lived species had more immune modulating genes –&nbsp; in particular, a group called butyrophilins – than shorter-lived species. The immune system is involved in regulating inflammation, and increased inflammation has been implicated in human aging. This implies that the findings of this study identify genes that could be used therapeutically to slow age-related damage in the body. "There is an opportunity here to look in nature and see how natural adaptations have shaped lifespan and to think about how those same sorts of genes are acting in our own bodies," explained Professor Sudamant.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/">Science</a>.



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

Pacific rockfish give clues about the genetic basis of longevity

The name "rockfish" is applied to a wide variety of...

Bumblebees are major pollinators for many human food crops and without them, our diets would greatly suffer. Unfortunately, it looks as if human-induced climate change is hurting the diets of the bumblebees themselves.&nbsp;



Bacteria and yeast are impacted by temperature. At just the right temperature, nectar contains a good balance of yeast and bacteria for bees. When the temperature rises too high, this balance is upset, endangering bee health and hurting our food crops.&nbsp;



A small amount of microbes is a good thing for the bees but when temperatures rise, the metabolism of the microbes increases as well. With faster metabolisms, the microbes consume more of the sugars - one of the things the bees are after. In a new study from UC Riverside, researchers investigated how these microbial changes affect bumblebees.&nbsp;



“Micro changes in floral nectar may alter the way bees forage and look for food, affecting their health and in turn, potentially affecting human health, by reducing the availability of fresh foods," said study lead author Kaleigh Russell.



"We could see shifts in the locations of bee communities, since they leave when they can’t find the food they like or need,” Russell said. “We might also see a decline in overall pollinator populations.”



To look at the bees' preference for nectar, Russell cooked up different nectar recipes in her lab. Some of the nectar was sterilized and so contained no living microbes. Other nectar contained live microbes.&nbsp;



Both of the nectars were grown at different temperatures. The lower temperature was 80.6 F, which is the springtime high for Riverside in 2017. The higher temperature was 89.6 F, representing the predicted temperature for the end of the century.&nbsp;



The research showed that the bees clearly preferred nectars with some microbes, even if it meant a little less sugar. The bees also seemed to dislike the nectar grown at higher temperatures with too many microbes and less sugar as well as the nectar with no microbes at all.&nbsp;



The researchers are not yet sure why this preference exists, but what is obvious is that rising temperatures are likely to have a negative effect on bees.&nbsp;



“We could see shifts in the locations of bee communities, since they leave when they can’t find the food they like or need. We might also see a decline in overall pollinator populations.”



The best thing people can do for bees, Russel said, is to plant gardens of native flowers not treated with pesticides.&nbsp;



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.springer.com/journal/248">Microbial Ecology</a>.



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By <a href="mailto:zachfitzner@yahoo.com">Zach Fitzner</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Rising temperatures are harming bumblebee diet

Bumblebees are major pollinators for many human food crops and...

When a volcano erupts, clouds of ash may spew into the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/permafrost-melting-may-release-nuclear-waste-into-the-atmosphere/">atmosphere</a> and block the effects of the sunlight for more than a year. Volcano eruptions can also release millions of tons of sulfur dioxide into the upper atmosphere, forming vast sulfuric acid clouds that reflect sunlight and lower Earth's average surface temperature. These environmental extremes can affect the growth of plants, as well as the survival of animals and humans alike.



In a new study by scientists at <a href="https://newbrunswick.rutgers.edu/">Rutgers University-New Brunswick</a>, the fall of ruling dynasties in China has been associated with past major eruptions in volcanoes. In order to investigate this relationship, the scientists reconstructed 156 explosive volcanic eruptions between 1 A.D. and 1915 by identifying layers with elevated sufate levels in ice cores from Greenland and the Antarctic. The researchers also analyzed historical documents relating to 68 Chinese dynasties that ruled between 850 and 1911, and the warfare that took place during each dynasty’s rule.&nbsp;&nbsp;



"We confirmed for the first time that collapses of dynasties in China over the last 2,000 years are more likely in the years after volcanic eruptions," said study co-author Professor <a href="http://people.envsci.rutgers.edu/robock/">Alan Robock</a>. "But the relationship is complex because if there is ongoing warfare and conflict, dynasties are more susceptible to collapse. The impact of a cooled climate on crops can also make conflict more likely, further increasing the probability of collapse."



The researchers found that major volcanic eruptions could lead to "a double jeopardy of marked coldness and dryness during the agricultural growing season." This would have led to crop failures and famines, which could have been made worse by associated livestock deaths, accelerated land degradation and more crop damage from agricultural pests that could survive during the milder winters.



Smaller volcanic eruptions may also have caused dynasties to collapse, particularly when political and socioeconomic stress was already high. Larger eruptions may have led to collapses without substantial pre-existing stress. Other factors that could have been involved in the collapse of dynasties include poor leadership, administrative corruption and demographic pressures.



The scientists emphasize the need to prepare for future eruptions, especially in regions with economically vulnerable populations (perhaps comparable to the Ming and Tang dynasties in China) or that have a history of resource mismanagement, as in Syria before the 2011 uprising that may have been partly triggered by drought.



Although volcanic eruptions have been smaller during the 20th and 21st centuries than they were during the time of imperial China, they can still cause significant disruption to ecosystems and populations. Moderate eruptions may have contributed to the Sahelian drought of the 1970s to 1990s, which led to about 250,000 deaths and resulted in 10 million refugees in this economically marginalized region.&nbsp;



Future major eruptions, combined with climate change, are likely to have profound effects on agriculture and food security in some of the Earth's most populous and marginalized regions, the study says.



The research is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/commsenv/">Communications Earth &amp; Environment</a>.



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

Volcanic eruptions linked to collapse of Chinese dynasties

When a volcano erupts, clouds of ash may spew into...

New research led by a team of astronomers from the <a href="https://www.arizona.edu/">University of Arizona</a> has found that the near-Earth asteroid named Kamo’oalewa, a quasi-satellite that orbits the Sun but remains relatively close to Earth, could be a fragment of our moon.



With a diameter between 150 and 190 feet, this asteroid is roughly the side of a Ferris wheel and gets as close as about nine million miles from Earth. It has been discovered by the PanSTARRS telescope in Hawaii in 2016 and got its name from a Hawaiian creation chant, alluding to a child travelling on its own.&nbsp;



Due to its orbit, Kamo’oalewa can only be seen from Earth for a few weeks each April. Moreover, since it is about four million times fainter than the faintest star the human eye can see in a dark sky, this asteroid can only be observed with the help of very powerful telescopes.



By using the Large Binocular Telescope on Mount Graham in southern Arizona, researchers found that the asteroid’s spectrum or pattern of reflected light matched lunar rocks from NASA’s Apollo space missions. If this is the case, Kamo’oalewa would be the first known asteroid with lunar origins.



"I looked through every near-Earth asteroid spectrum we had access to, and nothing matched," said study lead author Benjamin Sharkey, an astronomer from the University of Arizon. “This spring, we got much needed follow-up observations and went, 'Wow it is real.' It's easier to explain with the moon than other ideas.”



Another clue that the asteroid might be a part of the moon is its peculiar orbit, which is not typical of near-Earth asteroids and is more similar to the Earth’s orbit.&nbsp;



"It is very unlikely that a garden-variety near-Earth asteroid would spontaneously move into a quasi-satellite orbit like&nbsp;Kamo`oalewa's," said study co-author Renu Malhotra, a professor of Planetary Sciences at the University of Arizona. "It will not remain in this particular orbit for very long, only about 300 years in the future, and we estimate that it arrived in this orbit about 500 years ago."



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s43247-021-00303-7">Nature Communications: Earth &amp; Environment</a>.



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

Near-Earth asteroid may actually be a miniature moon

New research led by a team of astronomers from the...

A new study published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/srep/">Scientific Reports</a> has examined how whale watching boats with louder engines impact short finned pilot <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/large-whales-make-a-major-contribution-to-ocean-health/">whales</a>. Previous research suggests that boats can change whale behavior. The impact of boat noise on toothed whales remains uncertain, however, and there are no regulations on the noise levels of whale watching boats.&nbsp;



"Commercial whale-watching is a growing, multi-billion-dollar tourism industry globally," wrote the study authors. "In 2009, 13 million people participated in whale-watching tours across 119 countries and overseas territories, spending more than USD $2.1 billion."



"The growth of whale-watching globally brings a subsequent rise in the number and/or size of vessels used to watch cetaceans (whales, dolphins, porpoises). Whale-watching has been viewed as a non-invasive activity, and an economic alternative to whaling."&nbsp;



"Whale-watch vessels, however, spend large amounts of time within close proximities of cetaceans, and consequently, can have adverse fitness consequences on targeted individuals or populations."



Patricia Arranz led the research project, which utilized drones to watch mother-calf pairs of short finned pilot whales off the coast of Spain. Thirteen of these pairs were observed without the presence of a boat and twenty three pairs were observed in the presence of boats with either loud petrol (gasoline) engines or quiet electric engines.&nbsp;



The boats slowly passed the whales at a distance of approximately 60 meters, complying with the laws of the Canary Islands.&nbsp;



The scientists discovered that whales who were not approached by a boat with a louder petrol motor spent more time resting and nursing than those near louder engines. The mother whales approached by the loud engines spent an average of 29 percent less time resting and, even more disturbingly, 81 percent less time nursing their calves.&nbsp;



With the quieter electric engines, there was no significant change in whale behavior when approached. This suggests that quieter motors can be beneficial to ethical whale watching.&nbsp;



The researchers point out that the less time the whale calves spend nursing and resting, the more energy they consume. This reduces the likelihood calves will survive to adulthood.&nbsp;



The research shows that even when current guidelines are met, whales can be disrupted from their normal behavior. The scientists suggest that their findings call for a change in the whale-watching guidelines, and that engine noises should be reduced for the long-term survival of the whales.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:zachfitzner@yahoo.com">Zach Fitzner</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Loud tourist boats endanger the long-term survival of whales

A new study published in the journal Scientific Reports has...

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;



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



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

Kainji Lake in north central Nigeria

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Amanda Nguyen/University of Illinois



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



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

Designing crops that can beat the heat

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

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Remote sensing will revolutionize the way we monitor trees

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

[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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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

Wetlands are a major source of methane emissions

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research&nbsp;



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



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

How the immune system responds to injury

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

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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

2022 illustrated the consequences of a warming climate

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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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