Jupiter’s iconic Great Red Spot has captivated observers for centuries. Now, astronomers at UC Berkeley have identified equally intriguing Earth-sized spots at Jupiter’s poles. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unpredictable-ovals-appear-at-jupiter-s-poles-nbsp">Unpredictable ovals appear at Jupiter's poles&nbsp;</h2>



Unlike the Great Red Spot, these polar ovals appear and vanish unpredictably and are only visible at ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths.What is causing the mysterious haze at Jupiter’s poles?&nbsp;



These dark UV ovals, embedded in the stratospheric haze at <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/jupiters-great-red-spot-may-not-be-as-old-as-we-expected/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jupiter</a>’s north and south poles, were observed just below the bright auroral zones - regions similar to Earth’s northern and southern lights.&nbsp;



Absorbing more UV light than the surrounding areas, the ovals stand out in images captured by NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope.&nbsp;



A recent systematic study of Hubble’s observations from 2015 to 2022 revealed that these southern UV-dark ovals (SUDO) appear 75% of the time at the south pole, while their northern counterparts (NUDO) were spotted only twice in 25 global maps of Jupiter’s north pole.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unraveling-the-mystery-at-jupiter-s-poles">Unraveling the mystery at Jupiter's poles</h2>



The discovery of these UV spots has led researchers to suspect that they are linked to Jupiter’s powerful <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/secrets-of-jupiters-magnetosphere-will-help-us-predict-space-weather/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">magnetic field</a>, which influences processes extending deep into the planet's atmosphere. These phenomena go far beyond the surface-level magnetic interactions responsible for auroras on Earth.



The findings, led by <a href="https://www.berkeley.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UC Berkeley</a> undergraduate researcher Troy Tsubota and senior astronomer Michael Wong, were recently published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41550-024-02419-0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Astronomy</a>.&nbsp;



Their analysis builds on observations that date back to the late 1990s when Hubble first detected dark UV ovals at both poles.&nbsp;



The north pole ovals were also observed by NASA’s Cassini spacecraft during its flyby of Jupiter in 2000, but these features received little attention until now.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-systematic-study-of-the-polar-spots-nbsp">Systematic study of the polar spots&nbsp;</h2>



Tsubota’s systematic analysis of Hubble data revealed eight distinct southern UV-dark ovals between 1994 and 2022. However, similar features at the north pole were far less common, appearing only twice in 25 maps.&nbsp;



Most of the Hubble images used for this research were part of the Outer Planet Atmospheres Legacy (OPAL) project, directed by Amy Simon at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.&nbsp;



OPAL captures yearly snapshots of the outer planets - Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune - to study their atmospheric dynamics and evolution. Tsubota’s innovative approach to analyzing OPAL data proved fruitful.&nbsp;



“In the first two months, we realized these OPAL images were like a gold mine,” said Tsubota. “I quickly constructed an analysis pipeline to process all the images and see what insights we could gain.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-causes-the-mysterious-ovals">What causes the mysterious ovals?</h2>



Collaborating with planetary atmospheric experts Tom Stallard of <a href="https://www.northumbria.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Northumbria University</a> and Xi Zhang of <a href="https://www.ucsc.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UC Santa Cruz</a>, the researchers developed a theory to explain these dense haze spots.&nbsp;



Stallard proposed that the ovals are the result of swirling vortex dynamics originating in Jupiter’s ionosphere.&nbsp;



The vortex may be driven by friction between Jupiter’s magnetic field lines and the sheet of ionized plasma surrounding the planet, which is influenced by volcanic activity on Jupiter’s moon Io.



The vortex spins most rapidly in the ionosphere, weakening as it descends into the atmosphere. At its deepest point, it stirs up the stratospheric haze, creating the dense, UV-dark ovals observed by Hubble.&nbsp;



“The haze in the dark ovals is 50 times thicker than the typical concentration, which suggests it likely forms due to swirling vortex dynamics rather than chemical reactions triggered by high-energy particles from the upper atmosphere,” said Zhang.&nbsp;



“Our observations showed that the timing and location of these energetic particles do not correlate with the appearance of the dark ovals.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-jupiter-s-complex-atmospheric-system">Jupiter’s complex atmospheric system</h2>



The research team estimates that these ovals take about a month to form and dissipate within a few weeks. This rapid lifecycle highlights the dynamic nature of Jupiter’s atmosphere and the complex interplay of forces that shape its features.



Wong emphasized that the UV ovals offer valuable insights into the connections between different atmospheric layers.&nbsp;



“Studying connections between different atmospheric layers is very important for all planets, whether it’s an exoplanet, Jupiter, or Earth,” Wong said.&nbsp;



“We see evidence for a process connecting everything in the entire Jupiter system, from the interior dynamo to the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hydrothermal-vents-could-support-life-on-jupiters-moons/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">satellites</a> and their plasma torii to the ionosphere to the stratospheric hazes. Finding these examples helps us to understand the planet as a whole.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-window-into-planetary-evolution">A window into planetary evolution</h2>



The discovery of these polar UV-dark ovals underscores the importance of long-term observational projects like OPAL.&nbsp;



By systematically analyzing decades of data, researchers can uncover subtle but significant atmospheric features that were previously overlooked.



The findings not only enhance our understanding of Jupiter but also contribute to broader studies of planetary evolution. Similar atmospheric dynamics may exist on other gas giants in our solar system or even on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/exoplanet-discovery-nasa-identifies-over-5500-distant-worlds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">exoplanets</a> beyond it.



As researchers continue to study these enigmatic spots, their work will shed light on the mechanisms that drive atmospheric phenomena across a variety of planets, offering a richer understanding of the complexities within our solar system and beyond.



Image Credit: Troy Tsubota and Michael Wong, UC Berkeley



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What is causing the mysterious haze at Jupiter’s poles?

Jupiter’s iconic Great Red Spot has captivated observers for centuries. Now, astronomers at UC Berkeley have identified equally intriguing Earth-sized spots at Jupiter’s poles.  Unpredictable ovals appear at Jupiter's poles&nbsp; Unlike the Great Red Spot, these polar ovals appear and vanish unpredictably and are only visible at ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths.What is causing the mysterious haze at Jupiter’s poles?&nbsp; These dark UV ovals, embedded in the stratospheric haze at Jupiter’s north and south poles, were observed just below the bright auroral zones - regions similar to Earth’s northern...

A team of experts led by the <a href="https://www.bath.ac.uk/">University of Bath</a> is describing a previously unknown lizard species, Pluridens serpentis, that was thriving during the the end of the Cretaceous period in Morocco. 

The giant mosasaur, which reached up to eight metres in length, was wiped out by the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/asteroid-impact-helped-flowering-plants-take-over-rainforests/">asteroid</a> impact that killed the dinosaurs 66 million years ago.

"It's a new species of a large predator which, with its eight meter length, comes to confirm the diversity of the faunas of the seas just before the Cretaceous crisis," said study co-author Dr Nour-Eddine Jalil.

"Pluridens serpentis highlights the importance of the paleontological heritage of Morocco to help illustrate the history of life."

Pluridens represents the third new mosasaur species to be described from the region in less than a year, bringing the total number up to 13. These massive marine reptiles were related to snakes and Komodo dragons. 

The fossils found in Morocco have revealed that mosasaurs were extremely diverse. Some had small teeth for preying on fish and squid, some had blunt teeth for crushing clams and crustaceans, and some had teeth that could rip apart marine animals, including other mosasaurs.

"The diversity in these fossils is just astonishing. Far from declining in diversity, the mosasaurs seem to be peaking just before they went extinct," said study lead author Dr. Nick Longrich.

"We're not seeing any evidence that this group was struggling before they went extinct - From an evolutionary standpoint, they were succeeding, they did everything right- but nothing can prepare you for an asteroid."

According to the researchers, Pluridens had long, slender jaws with over a hundred sharp teeth. The ancient lizard had small eyes, which indicates that it also had poor vision. 

However, the experts discovered that Pluridens had a snout with dozens of openings for nerves, possibly representing the ability to hunt by sensing water movements. These nerves may have been sensitive to tiny variations in water pressure, which is an adaptation found in sea snakes.

"Typically, when animals evolve small eyes, it's because they're relying more heavily on other senses," said Dr. Longrich.

"If it wasn't using the eyes, then it's very likely that it was using the tongue to hunt, like a snake. Many aquatic snakes and lizards - sea snakes, filesnakes, water monitors- flick their forked tongues underwater, using chemical cues to track their prey." 

"Mosasaurs would have resembled whales and dolphins, so it's tempting to assume they lived like them. But they're very different beasts - they're huge lizards - so they probably acted like them."

Along with its massive size, Pluridens had thick, heavily built jawbones. "It's possible that big males were fighting with these jaws," said Dr. Longrich. 

"In some beaked whales, the males have massive jaws they use to fight with, and male sperm whales can be highly aggressive. Some Pluridens jaws show healing injuries, which suggests some violent fights."

Dr. Nathalie Bardet is an expert on mosasaurs, particularly those from the Phosphates of Morocco at the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle of Paris.

"Working on this group of marine reptiles since more than 20 years, I never stop being surprised by the incredible diversity of these predators, who all lived there and shared the available space and food resources," said Dr. Bardet.

"These latest discoveries show perfectly that the list of species present here is far from being closed and that the future still holds great surprises and discoveries!"

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.journals.elsevier.com/cretaceous-research">Cretaceous Research</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Giant lizards were thriving during the age of dinosaurs

A team of experts led by the University of Bath...

Pink drinks can help you run faster and further compared to clear drinks, according to a new study led by the Center for Nutraceuticals in the <a href="https://www.westminster.ac.uk/">University of Westminster</a>. 

Individuals who rinsed their mouths with a pink artificially sweetened drink during <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mental-health-issues-can-block-motivation-for-exercise/">exercise</a> had significantly improved performance and experienced a "feel good" effect that made exercise seem easier.

Previous studies have shown that rinsing the mouth with carbohydrates can boost exercise performance by reducing the perceived intensity of the exercise.

The current study is the first to explore the influence of drink color on exercise performance. The researchers wanted to examine whether rinsing with a pink drink that had no carbohydrate stimulus could produce similar benefits through a placebo effect.

The color pink was chosen because it is associated with perceived sweetness, which increases expectations of sugar and carbohydrate intake.

Study participants were asked to run on a treadmill for 30 minutes at a self-selected speed. Throughout the exercise session, they rinsed their mouths with either a pink or clear artificially sweetened drink that was low in calories. The drinks were exactly the same except for food coloring.

The participants ran an average of 212 meters further with the pink drink, while their average speed increased by 4.4 percent. In addition, those who rinsed with the pink drinks found running more enjoyable.

Further research is needed to investigate whether the proposed placebo effect may activate the same reward areas of the brain as rinsing with carbohydrates.

"The influence of color on athletic performance has received interest previously, from its effect on a sportsperson's kit to its impact on testosterone and muscular power. Similarly, the role of color in gastronomy has received widespread interest, with research published on how visual cues or colour can affect subsequent flavor perception when eating and drinking," said study co-author Dr. Sanjoy Deb.

"The findings from our study combine the art of gastronomy with performance nutrition, as adding a pink colorant to an artificially sweetened solution not only enhanced the perception of sweetness, but also enhanced feelings of pleasure, self-selected running speed and distance covered during a run."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition">Frontiers in Nutrition</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Pink drinks enhance exercise performance

Pink drinks can help you run faster and further compared...

Therapy dogs can help stressed out <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/malaysian-schools-closed-pollution/">students</a> overcome pressure to perform better in college, according to a new study from <a href="https://wsu.edu/">Washington State University</a>. 

The researchers found that programs exclusively focused on petting therapy dogs improved thinking and planning skills among students more effectively than traditional stress-management programs.

The study revealed that stressed out college students exhibited cognitive skill improvements for up to six weeks after completion of a four-week-long program involving therapy dogs.

"It's a really powerful finding," said Professor Patricia Pendry. "Universities are doing a lot of great work trying to help students succeed academically, especially those who may be at risk due to a history of mental health issues or academic and learning issues." 

"This study shows that traditional stress management approaches aren't as effective for this population compared with programs that focus on providing opportunities to interact with therapy dogs."

The researchers measured executive functioning skills in 309 college students. These skills are needed for planning, organization, motivation, concentration, and memorization, which Professor Pendry describes as "all the big cognitive skills that are needed to succeed in college."

In a previous study, Professor Pendry and colleagues demonstrated that petting animals for just 10 minutes had physiological impacts that reduced stress among students. 

For the current study, students were randomly assigned to one of three academic stress management programs featuring varying combinations of human-animal interactions.

"The results were very strong," said Professor Pendry. "We saw that students who were most at risk ended up having most improvements in executive functioning in the human-animal interaction condition. These results remained when we followed up six weeks later."

For years, universities such as WSU have provided academic stress management programs and workshops, where students listen to an expert, watch slideshows, and take notes. The topics include getting more sleep, setting goals, or managing stress and anxiety.

"These are really important topics, and these workshops are helping typical students succeed by teaching them how to manage stress," explained Professor Pendry. 

"Interestingly though, our findings suggest that these types of educational workshops are less effective for students that are struggling. It seems that students may experience these programs as another lecture, which is exactly what causes the students to feel stressed."

According to the researchers, human-animal interaction programs help by letting struggling students relax as they talk and think about their stressors. By petting animals, students are more likely to relax and cope with these stressors rather than become overwhelmed. 

This enhances students' ability to think, set goals, get motivated, concentrate and remember what they are learning, said Professor Pendry.

"If you're stressed, you can't think or take up information; learning about stress is stressful!" 

"You can't learn math just by being chill. But when you are looking at the ability to study, engage, concentrate and take a test, then having the animal aspect is very powerful. Being calm is helpful for learning especially for those who struggle with stress and learning."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/home/ero">AERA Open</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Therapy dogs boost cognitive skills in college students

Therapy dogs can help stressed out students overcome pressure to perform...

Social isolation has a negative impact on physical functioning in older <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/adults-are-more-compassionate-when-children-are-nearby/">adults</a> that progresses over time, according to a new report published by <a href="https://www.elsevier.com/">Elsevier</a>. The study adds to a growing collection of research that links social isolation among older adults with poor health and premature mortality.

Study lead investigator Dr. Borja Del Pozo Cruz is an expert at the <a href="https://www.sdu.dk/en/om_sdu/institutter_centre/caha">Center for Active and Healthy Ageing</a> in the Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics at the University of Southern Denmark. 

"Physical functioning is understood to influence the health of individuals. And social isolation is prevalent among older adults," said Dr. Del Pozo Cruz. 

"However, the true extent of the relationship between social isolation and physical functioning was not fully understood. We needed to shed some more light on this relationship, as it plays an important role in individual aging."

Individuals who are socially isolated are more likely to develop mental health problems and have increased risk of premature death. In the United States, it is estimated that one in four older adults is isolated or severely isolated.

To investigate the connection between social isolation and physical functioning, the researchers used data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS).

The team analyzed observations from 12,427 NHATS participants to examine how individual changes in social isolation were associated with changes in objectively assessed physical functioning. 

The researchers found that the association between isolation and physical functioning shifts over old age and worsens the age-related decline in physical functioning. 

The results of the analysis showed that the older the individual, the greater the extent to which social isolation impacted their physical functioning and health.

"Physical functioning is a well-established marker of general health and it has been previously correlated with morbidity and mortality," noted Dr. Del Pozo Cruz. "We demonstrate in this study that social isolation has a profound impact on the physical functioning in older adults. Mandated social contact restrictions and lockdowns due to COVID-19, coupled with more severe consequences of contagion among older adults, have likely exacerbated this trend."

"Social isolation is one of the biggest challenges that societies face in the 21st century. We have to start thinking about this issue now to avoid more serious consequences down the track."

The study is published in the <a href="https://www.ajpmonline.org/">American Journal of Preventive Medicine</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Social isolation impacts physical functioning in older adults

Social isolation has a negative impact on physical functioning in...

In a new study, scientists have identified special transporters that horseradish flea beetles use to accumulate high amounts of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plant-diversity-will-decline-along-with-rainfall-in-dry-regions/">plant</a> toxins in their bodies to use for their own defense.

As they feed on and take up nutrients from their host plants, horseradish flea beetles also ingest mustard oil glucosides, which are the characteristic defense compounds of horseradish and other brassicaceous plants. The beetles use these compounds to turn themselves into a "mustard oil bomb" to deter predators.

A team of experts at the <a href="https://www.ice.mpg.de/">Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology</a> has discovered that the beetles are equipped with special transporters in the excretory system that prevent the excretion of mustard oil glucosides. 

Many types of insects that feed on toxic plants have the ability to acquire defense compounds through their diet.

"The horseradish flea beetle belongs to an economically important group of insects, because several Phyllotreta species are crop pests," said study first author Zhi-Ling Yang.

"This beetle, which can accumulate vast amounts of host plant glucosinolates, regulates the levels and composition of glucosinolates in the body at least partially by excretion. This suggested that Phyllotreta armoraciae possesses very efficient transport and storage mechanisms, which we wanted to uncover."

The team was led by Franziska Beran, head of the Sequestration and Detoxification in Insects Research Group at the Max Planck Institute. 

In a previous study, the researchers uncovered how horseradish flea beetles use glucosinolates from their host plant to defend against a predatory ladybug. For the current study, the experts set out to identify glucosinolate transporters within the beetles.

"The search for these transporters was literally like looking for a needle in a haystack," said Beran. "We found 1,401 putative membrane transporters in the gut and excretory system of this beetle. Narrowing down our search to transporters that are specific for the horseradish flea beetle helped us to identify a group of glucosinolate-specific transporters."

The glucosinolate transporters are located in the excretory system, or the Malpighian tubules. In insects, the function of the Malpighian tubules is similar to that of the kidneys in vertebrates. 

"We silenced the expression of several transporter genes that are localized in the Malpighian tubules and found that the beetles excreted more glucosinolates than a control group of beetles with normal gene expression. Because of the higher excretion rate, the levels of defense compounds in the beetle body went down," explained Yang. 

"Our study is the first to identify transporters in the Malpighian tubules that enable an insect to accumulate plant defense compounds."

According to the researchers, their study demonstrates that sequestration is a complex process - much more than just the uptake of plant metabolites into the animal's body. The insect must adapt its entire physiology to use plant defense compounds. 

"Sequestration is probably one of the most complex adaptations that herbivorous insects have evolved. It most certainly also contributes to the evolutionary success of insects that specialize in certain host plants, such as the horseradish flea beetle," said Beran.

Going forward, the team plans to explore other transporters involved in sequestration. The researchers also plan to investigate which natural enemies of the horseradish flea beetle the glucosinolates provide protection from. A better understanding of pests like the horseradish flea beetle could ultimately lead to improved strategies for their control.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/ncomms/">Nature Communications</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Horseradish flea beetles take up plant toxins for their own defense

In a new study, scientists have identified special transporters that...

A new study reveals that 8 out of 10 patients hospitalized for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/air-pollution-has-worsened-covid-19-outcomes/">COVID-19</a> develop neurological issues. Furthermore, COVID-19 patients with clinically diagnosed neurological symptoms are six times more likely to die in the hospital than those without neurological complications.

The researchers analyzed data from the Global Consortium Study of Neurologic Dysfunction in COVID-19 (GCS-NeuroCOVID), a large cohort study that includes 133 adult patient sites on every continent except Antarctica.

The goal of GCS-NeuroCOVID is to gather information about the incidence, severity, and outcomes of the neurological manifestations of COVID-19.

Study lead author Dr. Sherry Chou is the principal investigator of the consortium and an associate professor of Critical Care Medicine, Neurology, and Neurosurgery at the <a href="https://www.pitt.edu/">University of Pittsburgh</a> School of Medicine and UPMC. 

"Very early on in the pandemic, it became apparent that a good number of people who were sick enough to be hospitalized also develop neurological problems," said Dr. Chou.

"A year later, we are still fighting an unknown invisible enemy and, like in any battle, we need intel - we have to learn as much as we can about neurological impacts of COVID-19 in patients who are actively sick and in survivors."

In one group of 3,744 hospitalized COVID-19 patients, 82 percent had neurological symptoms. Nearly 4 out of 10 patients reported headaches, while 3 out of 10 lost their sense of smell or taste. 

The most common neurological syndrome that was clinically diagnosed was acute encephalopathy, which is characterized by mental confusion. 

"Acute encephalopathy is by far the most common symptom that we see in the clinic," said Dr. Chou. "Those patients may be in an altered sensory state or have impaired consciousness, or they don't feel like themselves and act confused, delirious or agitated."

Patients with a pre-existing neurological condition of any kind, such as chronic migraines, dementia or Alzheimer's disease, had more than double the risk of developing COVID-19-related neurological complications.

Furthermore, patients who experience any neurological symptoms related to COVID-19, even something as seemingly harmless as the loss of smell, have six times the risk of death. For individuals with neurological symptoms that recover, their long-term health outlook is still uncertain.

"Even if the pandemic is completely eradicated, we are still talking about millions of survivors who need our help," said Dr. Chou. "It is important to find out what symptoms and health problems those patients are facing, and there is still plenty of work for years to come."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/">JAMA Network Open</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Neurological problems affect 8 out of 10 COVID-19 patients

A new study reveals that 8 out of 10 patients...

Magnificent,Colours,In,The,Great,Barrier,Reef

New research has revealed that while we still have a chance to save coral reefs, time is quickly running out. The study from the <a href="https://www.coralcoe.org.au/">ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies</a> suggests that under an intermediate emissions scenario, the growth rate of some reefs may keep pace with sea level rise, but only for a short time.

According to Professor Morgan Pratchett, the results show that the growth of coral reefs will be stunted unless carbon dioxide emissions are drastically reduced.

"The threat posed by climate change to coral reefs is already very apparent based on recurrent episodes of mass coral bleaching," explained Professor Pratchett. "But changing environmental conditions will have other far-reaching consequences."

Professor Ryan Lowe said that modern coral reef structures reflect a balance between a wide range of organisms that build reefs, not just corals. This includes rock-hard coralline algae that bind reefs together.

"While the responses of individual reef organisms to climate change are increasingly clear, this study uniquely examines how the complex interactions between diverse communities of organisms responsible for maintaining present day coral reefs will likely change reef structures in the future," said Professor Lowe.

The researchers calculated how the rates of coral reef growth will respond to ocean acidification and warming under three different carbon dioxide emissions scenarios: low, medium and worst-case.

"All reefs around the world will be eroding by the end of the century under the intermediate scenario," said Dr. Scott Smithers. "This will obviously have serious implications for reefs, reef islands, as well as the people and other organisms depending upon coral reefs."

Rising ocean temperatures can cause mass coral bleaching and reduce the ability of calcifying corals to form their calcium carbonate skeletons.

The investigation was focused on net calcification, bioerosion, and sediment dissolution rates measured across 183 distinct reefs in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans.

The results show that even under a low emissions scenario, reefs will suffer severely reduced growth rates. 

"While 63% of reefs are projected to continue to accrete by 2100 under the low-impact pathway, 94% will be eroding by 2050 under the worse-case scenario," said Dr. Christopher Cornwall. "And no reef will continue to accrete at rates matching projected sea-level rise under the medium and high-impact scenarios by 2100."

"Our study shows changing environmental conditions challenge the growth of reef-building corals and other calcifying organisms, which are important in maintaining the structure of reef systems," said Professor Pratchett. "Saving coral reefs requires immediate and drastic reductions in global carbon emissions."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.pnas.org/">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Immediate and drastic action needed to save coral reefs

New research has revealed that while we still have a...

A new study has revealed the effects of alcohol consumption on social distancing. The researchers found that while strangers may initially keep their distance from each other when drinking together, they draw closer as they become intoxicated. 

Volunteers were asked to bring a friend who would also participate in the study. Overall, 212 young social drinkers were assigned to different experimental conditions that allowed the experts to test how social familiarity influences drinking behavior.

The research was led by Catharine Fairbairn, a professor of Psychology at the <a href="https://illinois.edu/">University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign</a>.

"In half of the cases, participants drank with a friend," said Professor Fairbairn. "In the other half, they drank with the friend of another participant - a stranger."

The pairs were assigned to consume either alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages, and the interactions were videotaped. The participants involved in the experimental condition were provided with enough alcohol to reach a blood alcohol level associated with intoxication. 

"We measured distance between the individuals via machine-learning methods that detect hands, arms, legs and head position for each person in the video," said study co-author Professor Nigel Bosch, who developed the method. 

"We used a bit of geometry to turn the pixel coordinates of people detected in the video into real-world distances based on objects of known size visible in the video."

According to Professor Fairbairn, friends tended to draw closer to one another whether or not they consumed alcohol.

"But participants interacting with a stranger only moved closer to that individual if they were intoxicated. The physical distance between these pairs decreased by about 1 centimeter per three-minute interval," explained Professor Fairbairn.

Individuals who drank non-alcoholic beverages with strangers did not move significantly closer to each other during the experiment.

"This study shows that over time, alcohol reduces physical distance between people who are not previously acquainted," said study lead author Laura Gurrieri. 

"This finding is particularly important in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic because it suggests that alcohol might facilitate virus transmission and impede the following of social distancing guidelines."

Professor Fairbairn noted that the ability of the participants to move closer to one another was somewhat constrained because they were seated across from each other at a table. Furthermore, the study was conducted in a quiet, spacious laboratory and not a bar.

"Folks would likely draw even closer to one another in a crowded bar with loud music when compared with our laboratory environment. That would have to be the subject of another study."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.pnas.org/">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Strangers move closer together as they become intoxicated

A new study has revealed the effects of alcohol consumption...

Pelicans have more <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/murrelets-rely-on-each-other-to-find-breeding-sites/">breeding</a> success when they are given the freedom to choose their social relationships, according to a new study from the <a href="https://www.exeter.ac.uk/">University of Exeter</a>. 

Based on a social network analysis, the researchers found that reproductive success was improved among pelicans with partnerships that formed naturally. 

The investigation was focused on the social behavior of a breeding flock of great white pelicans at Blackpool Zoo during two research periods.

The study revealed that the pelicans chose their specific social relationships. The experts also discovered a social structure across the flock in which "teenagers" spent more time with each other than with adult birds.

The researchers noted that while pelicans are commonly found in zoos, their captive breeding record is poor. This is because pelicans receive little research attention compared to other popular zoo-housed birds such as penguins.

"Despite their popularity with visitors and representation in many zoos globally, ex situ populations of pelicans may not be fully sustainable, with some flocks achieving only sporadic breeding success," explained the study authors.

"Even in well‐established flocks, poor breeding results caused by infertility, trampling of eggs and limited display of breeding activity can be noted."

At Blackpool Zoo, the research team collected data on the space use, social preferences, and behavior of great white pelicans during two nesting events in 2016 and 2017.

"Evaluating space use and behavior to ensure that pelicans have the choice to behave in a way that they wish is essential to good animal welfare," said study lead author Dr. Paul Rose.

"Social network analysis enables us to identify the strongest bonds and discover who is influential in the flock. Therefore we can work out which birds might initiate breeding and encourage this activity in others."

"This is important for flock management. If birds are to be moved between flocks, we should preserve these important bonds and the experience they provide."

"Alongside the good care the birds get from zoo staff, this experience of what to do and when to do it is likely why the flock we analyzed nested successfully on multiple occasions."

The experts also identified specific behavioral changes across the season that may signal when breeding is about to take place. For example, data showed that the flock was more vigilant before the pelicans started nesting, which indicates that vigilance is a precursor for courtship or nesting activity.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10982361">Zoo Biology</a>.

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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

Social bonds are key to breeding success among pelicans

Pelicans have more breeding success when they are given the...

<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tiger-sharks-can-take-a-direct-hit-from-a-major-hurricane/">Sharks</a> attract illegal fishing in protected areas, according to a new study from the <a href="https://www.exeter.ac.uk/">University of Exeter</a>. The researchers found that thousands of sharks have been illegally caught in a Marine Protected Area (MPA) around the Chagos Archipelago in the Indian Ocean, where fishing has been banned since 2010.

The vast protected area, also known as the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT), contains pristine reefs. While data suggests that more than 14,000 sharks were caught as a result of illegal fishing in the MPA from 2010 to 2020, local fishermen say the true number is "considerably higher."

"Enforcement of MPA rules in a large, remote area such as this is extremely difficult," said study lead author Claire Collins.

"Our findings highlight the threat of illegal fishing to sharks in the BIOT MPA, which is home to critically endangered species such as the oceanic whitetip and scalloped hammerhead."

"Fishers often target reef areas, where many of the sharks are juveniles, and taking sharks at this life stage could be especially damaging to species numbers."

Collins said it is important to note that, despite evidence of illegal fishing, the MPA still provides a vital refuge in the Indian Ocean, and shark numbers remain much higher than in most other places. At the same time, many shark species in this region are under intense pressure from fishing.

"Following the recent news that the Maldives was considering lifting its shark-fishing ban, the importance of large areas within the Indian Ocean where shark fishing is banned was brought to everyone's attention," said Collins. 

"This study emphasises the need to ensure that sharks within these important areas are fully protected."

The researchers conducted interviews with fishermen in two Sri Lankan communities that were previously associated with illegal fishing in the BIOT MPA.

The fishermen reported that vessels often fished in the MPA without being detected. According to the study authors, this provides clear evidence that total extraction was considerably higher than the estimate of 14,340 based on detected vessels.

"It is crucial to work with fishing communities to understand where, when and why people fish illegally - and how we can improve deterrence," said study co-author Tom B Letessier.

"For example, we found fishers had very different ideas of the fines they could face, and some felt there were very unlikely to be caught - so improving awareness of the sanctions, in addition to increasing the probability of being caught, could be beneficial."

Efforts are underway to improve enforcement in the MPA, including increased use of satellite tracking of vessels.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/marine-science">Frontiers in Marine Science</a>.

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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

Sharks attract illegal fishing in protected areas

Sharks attract illegal fishing in protected areas, according to a...

Vegetarians have significantly healthier levels of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/disease-that-kills-bald-eagles-linked-to-invasive-plant/">disease</a> biomarkers compared to meat-eaters, according to new research from the <a href="https://easo.org/">European Association for the Study of Obesity</a> (EASO). 

A team of experts at the University of Glasgow found that biomarker levels were healthier among vegetarians regardless of age, weight, smoking or alcohol intake.

The study provides solid evidence that dietary choices affect the levels of disease biomarkers, and that a vegetarian diet is associated with metabolic benefits.

Biomarkers are measurable indicators of good or bad health effects that play a role in promoting, or preventing, chronic conditions such as cardiovascular and age-related diseases.

"Biomarkers have been widely used to assess the effect of diets on health. However, evidence of the metabolic benefits associated with being vegetarian is inconclusive," wrote the researchers.

The goal of the study was to investigate the associations of vegetarians and meat-eaters with 19 health-related biomarkers in healthy adults.

The experts analyzed data from 177,723 individuals between the ages of 37 and 73 who participated in the UK Biobank study. The research was focused on people who reported no major changes in their diet over the last five years.

Based on blood and urine samples, the researchers examined the association with 19 disease biomarkers related to diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, liver, bone and joint health, and kidney function.

Compared to meat-eaters, vegetarians were found to have significantly lower levels of 13 biomarkers, including total cholesterol, bad cholesterol, a protein linked to cardiovascular disease, and a hormone that promotes the growth and proliferation of cancer cells.

On the other hand, vegetarians had lower levels of several beneficial biomarkers, including good cholesterol, vitamin D, and calcium.

"Our findings offer real food for thought,"  said Dr. Carlos Celis-Morales, who led the research. "As well as not eating red and processed meat which have been linked to heart diseases and some cancers, people who follow a vegetarian diet tend to consume more vegetables, fruits, and nuts which contain more nutrients, fiber, and other potentially beneficial compounds."

"These nutritional differences may help explain why vegetarians appear to have lower levels of disease biomarkers that can lead to cell damage and chronic disease."

When the researchers accounted for potentially influential factors including age, sex, education, ethnicity, obesity, smoking, and alcohol intake, the beneficial effects of a vegetarian diet persisted.

The research will be presented this week at the <a href="https://easo.org/">European Congress on Obesity</a>. 

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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

Vegetarians have healthier levels of disease biomarkers

Vegetarians have significantly healthier levels of disease biomarkers compared to...

When it comes to achieving net zero climate change targets, rewilding the ocean is just as important as reforestation, according to a new report from the <a href="https://www.mcsuk.org/">Marine Conservation Society</a> (MCS). 

In Britain, more carbon is stored along nearly 200,000 square miles of coastline than what is held in forests across the UK. The experts say that rewilding key marine ecosystems could safely stockpile millions of tons of carbon. 

"Carbon contained in marine and coastal ecosystems must be considered in the same way as our woodlands and peatbog - critical to the UK's carbon strategy," said Dr. Chris Tuckett, MCS director of programmes.

"We're calling on the UK Government and devolved administrations to act with urgency to invest in, co-develop and implement a four-nation blue carbon strategy."

Rewilding is an approach to conservation that focuses on restoring and repairing damaged ecosystems so that nature can recover. This strategy will help to mitigate the impacts of climate change on wildlife.

Up until now, rewilding efforts have been focused on terrestrial ecosystems. The MCS reports that the coastal waters of Britain store 205 million tons of carbon, which is 50 million tons more than what is stored within all of the UK's forests.

In collaboration with Rewilding Britain, the MCS is asking the government to establish nature recovery plans, including the development of shellfish reefs and the restoration of seagrass, saltmarsh, and oyster reefs. 

According to the report, the saltmarsh and seagrass habitats of the British Isles sequester an estimated 43,000 tons of carbon annually. This is between two and four times the rate of carbon sequestration by tropical forests.

The experts are calling for a plan to cut fisheries-related carbon emissions in half by 2030. In addition, they want 30 percent of UK waters to become Highly Protected Marine Areas, with strict regulations on the most damaging activities, such as bottom trawling or dredging.

The researchers found that, without preventive measures, the UK's sea shelf sediments could lose 13 million tons of stored carbon over the next decade.

"We're calling for the rewilding and protection of at least 30% of Britain's seas by 2030," said Rebecca Wrigley, chief executive of Rewilding Britain.

"Allowing a rich rainbow of underwater habitats and their sea life to recover offers huge opportunities for tackling the nature and climate crises, and for benefiting people's livelihoods."

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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

Rewilding the ocean will help mitigate impacts of climate change

When it comes to achieving net zero climate change targets,...

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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

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;



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



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

Kainji Lake in north central Nigeria

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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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

[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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research&nbsp;



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



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

How the immune system responds to injury

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

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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

2022 illustrated the consequences of a warming climate

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Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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Today's Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard</a> describes two exoplanets that are orbiting a star 218 light-years away. A team of researchers led by the University of Montreal has found evidence that these planets are "water worlds."



The experts used data from NASA’s Hubble and Spitzer Space Telescopes. They discovered that exoplanets Kepler-138 c and Kepler-138 could be composed largely of water.



"We previously thought that planets that were a bit larger than Earth were big balls of metal and rock, like scaled-up versions of Earth, and that's why we called them super-Earths," explained study co-author Björn Benneke.&nbsp;



"However, we have now shown that these two planets, Kepler-138 c and d, are quite different in nature and that a big fraction of their entire volume is likely composed of water. It is the best evidence yet for water worlds, a type of planet that was theorized by astronomers to exist for a long time."



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



Image Credit: NASA, ESA, and Leah Hustak (STScI)



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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