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Have you ever wondered if crabs and lobsters felt pain or fear as they were being boiled alive before making it onto your dinner plate? 



Recent studies suggest that these creatures experience discomfort in ways we hadn't fully understood before.



Dr. Lynne Sneddon, a zoophysiologist at the <a href="https://www.gu.se/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Gothenburg</a>, believes it's time we reconsider how we treat these animals. 



"We need to find less painful ways to kill shellfish if we are to continue eating them. Because now we have scientific evidence that they both experience and react to pain," she says.



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



Crustaceans have been <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bright-coloration-in-crayfish-does-not-serve-an-evolutionary-purpose/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">roaming the Earth</a> for an impressive span of over 500 million years. 



They first appeared during the Cambrian period, a time known for the "<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/grand-canyon-fossils-reveal-secrets-of-the-cambrian-explosion/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cambrian Explosion</a>" when many major animal groups emerged. 



Early crustaceans already showcased the key features we recognize today, such as their hard <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/shellfish-consumed-by-humans-are-ironically-more-resistant-to-extinction/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">exoskeletons</a>, segmented bodies, and jointed limbs. 



This long evolutionary history has allowed them to diversify into <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/meet-melita-panda-the-black-and-white-crustacean-shrimp/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">thousands of species</a>, adapting to a wide range of environments from the deepest parts of the oceans to freshwater rivers and even some terrestrial areas.



Crustaceans, such as crabs and lobsters, are more than just seafood delicacies. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/do-crabs-and-lobsters-have-emotions-and-feelings/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">These fascinating creatures</a> boast a hard exoskeleton made of chitin, providing them with protection and support. 



With ten legs -- often featuring claws or pincers -- they navigate their environments with ease. 



Their bodies are segmented into the head, thorax, and abdomen, and they have specialized appendages for swimming, walking, or digging.



These <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-deep-sea-crustacean-species-discovered-in-the-bahamas/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">adaptable animals</a> can be found almost everywhere: from the deepest ocean trenches to freshwater rivers and even damp terrestrial spots. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-crabs-pain-and-perception">Crabs, pain, and perception</h2>



Until now, the idea that crustaceans feel pain was mostly based on observational studies. 



Researchers noticed that when crabs and lobsters were exposed to potentially harmful stimuli -- like electric shocks or acids -- they would touch the affected area or try to avoid the danger in subsequent encounters. 



This behavior led many to believe they might be experiencing pain.



But the team at the University of Gothenburg took it a step further. PhD student Eleftherios Kasiouras led a study where they measured the activity in a shore crab's brain using EEG-style recordings. 



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/crabs_feel-pain_electrodes_shore-crab_Eleftherios-Kasiouras_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/crabs_feel-pain_electrodes_shore-crab_Eleftherios-Kasiouras_1s.webp" alt="Electrodes measuring brain activity were attached to a shore crab, which was then subjected to mechanical and chemical stimuli. Credit: Eleftherios Kasiouras" class="wp-image-1951623"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Electrodes measuring brain activity were attached to a shore crab, which was then subjected to mechanical and chemical stimuli. Credit: Eleftherios Kasiouras</figcaption></figure>



"We could see that the crab has some kind of pain receptors in its soft tissues, because we recorded an increase in brain activity when we applied a potentially painful chemical, a form of vinegar, to the crab's soft tissues. The same happened when we applied external pressure to several of the crab's body parts," he explains.



These findings suggest that shore crabs have a pain signaling system that sends messages to their brains when they experience harmful stimuli. 



Interestingly, the pain response was shorter and more intense with physical stress, while chemical stress produced a longer-lasting effect.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-if-crabs-feel-pain-what-about-lobsters">If crabs feel pain, what about lobsters?</h2>



Given that many crustaceans share similar structures and nervous systems, these results could extend beyond shore crabs. 



"It is a given that all animals need some kind of pain system to cope by avoiding danger. I don't think we need to test all species of crustaceans, as they have a similar structure and therefore similar nervous systems," Kasiouras explains.



"We can assume that shrimps, crayfish, and lobsters can also send external signals about painful stimuli to their brain which will process this information."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-importance-of-crustaceans">Importance of crustaceans</h2>



Crustaceans play <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-did-billions-of-crabs-vanish-from-the-bering-sea/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">vital roles in their ecosystems</a>. Acting as both predators and prey, they help maintain the balance of marine and freshwater food webs.



For humans, they are a significant food source, contributing to economies worldwide. They're also valuable in scientific research, aiding studies on regeneration, development, and environmental health.



However, challenges like overfishing and habitat destruction <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/crabs-are-losing-their-sense-of-smell-and-vanishing-due-to-ocean-acidification/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">threaten their populations</a>. This raises concerns about sustainability and the need for better practices to ensure these creatures thrive for future generations.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reconsidering-how-we-handle-seafood">Reconsidering how we handle seafood</h2>



Currently, shellfish like prawns, lobsters, crabs, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-crayfish-atlas-offers-new-tools-for-conservation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">crayfish aren't covered</a> by animal welfare legislation in the European Union. 



This means practices that might cause them pain are still legally acceptable. But with new evidence pointing to their ability to feel pain, there's a growing call to change how we treat these animals.



Dr. Sneddon emphasizes the need for change: "We need more research to find less painful ways to kill shellfish." 



If we continue to consume these creatures, it's crucial to ensure we're not causing unnecessary suffering.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-this-is-awful-but-what-can-we-do">This is awful, but what can we do?</h2>



The first step is acknowledging that these animals might experience pain similarly to how we do. 



With that understanding, industries and regulators can work towards implementing more humane methods of handling and killing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/strawberry-claws-the-hermit-crab-that-sings-underwater/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">crustaceans</a>. 



This could involve developing new technologies or techniques that minimize pain or distress.



Consumers also play a role. By supporting businesses that prioritize humane practices and advocating for better regulations, we can encourage a shift towards more ethical treatment of these animals.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-crabs-pain-and-human-compassion">Crabs, pain, and human compassion</h2>



As we learn more about the creatures we share our planet with, it's essential to adapt our behaviors accordingly. 



Knowing that crabs, lobsters, and other crustaceans can feel pain changes the game on how we should treat them, especially when it comes to cooking and handling. 



It's not just about following laws or guidelines -- it's about being mindful and compassionate in our everyday choices, treating sentient creatures with respect. 



By supporting humane practices and staying informed, we can help ensure that all crustaceans are treated with the respect they've earned by inhabiting our planet for over 500 million years.



As we move forward, both industries and individuals have a part to play. After all, how we treat the smallest of creatures often reflects our values as a society.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/13/11/851" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Biology</a>.



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Disturbing study calls for immediate ban on boiling crabs and lobsters alive

Have you ever wondered if crabs and lobsters felt pain or fear as they were being boiled alive before making it onto your dinner plate? Recent studies suggest that these creatures experience discomfort in ways we hadn't fully understood before. Dr. Lynne Sneddon, a zoophysiologist at the University of Gothenburg, believes it's time we reconsider how we treat these animals. "We need to find less painful ways to kill shellfish if we are to continue eating them. Because now we have scientific evidence that they both experience...

The way a tomato responds to a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/simple-genetic-mutations-can-turn-fins-into-limbs/">mutation</a> is influenced by the plant's unique genetic variations, according to a new study from the <a href="https://www.cshl.edu/">Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory</a> (CSHL).

Just like humans, each individual tomato has a unique set of genetic variations that affect gene expression. Millions of small genetic variations make it difficult to predict the effects that specific mutations will have on different types of tomatoes.

For the investigation, Professor Zach Lippman and his team used CRISPR, a highly accurate gene-editing technique, on two tomato genes that control fruit size. The researchers generated over 60 tomato mutants by removing little pieces of DNA in areas near the genes that control their expression.

While individual mutations did not change the size of the tomatoes at all, others slightly increased the size. Meanwhile, a few synergistic combinations of mutations caused a dramatic, unpredicted increase in fruit size. 

"The real Holy Grail in all this for crop breeding is predictability. If I mutate this sequence, I'm going to get this effect. Because there is this sea of other variants that nature has accumulated nearby the mutation that you're engineering, as well as scattered throughout the genome, many of which could be influencing the specific mutation that you're creating," said Professor Lippman.

The range of interactions for any two mutations represents the results of a single mutation occurring in different genetic backgrounds. This is comparable to what is found in some human diseases, where certain pre-existing mutations provide protection from disease-causing mutations.

The researchers will continue investigating how individual and combined mutations affect certain crop traits. 

Professor Lippman hopes to study enough measurable interactions to make breeding more predictable and efficient. He noted that his research could lead to the creation of new tomato varieties and the improvement of existing ones.

The study is published in the journal Nature Plants.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Genetic variations control how tomatoes respond to mutations

The way a tomato responds to a mutation is influenced...

In a new study published by the <a href="https://www.britishecologicalsociety.org/">British Ecological Society</a>, experts report that foxgloves rapidly changed the length of their flowers after arriving in North and South America. The researchers believe the foxgloves evolved to accommodate their new pollinators, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/male-hummingbirds-beaks-fighting/">hummingbirds</a>. 

The common foxglove, Digitalis purpurea, is native to Europe where it is pollinated by bumblebees. The researchers have shown, for the first time, how flowering plants can respond to a new environment - and the presence of a new pollinator - with rapid physical changes.

The experts compared foxgloves in the UK with foxgloves that were independently introduced to Costa Rica and Colombia around 200 years ago. In the Americas, the flowers are pollinated by both bumblebees and hummingbirds.

The study revealed that the base of the cone structure of the flowers, the proximal corolla tube, was up to 26 percent larger among foxgloves in Colombia and Costa Rica.

The long proximal corolla tubes found on foxgloves hold the nectar. Due to the narrow shape of the tubes, the only types of pollinators that have access are those with long mouthparts such as long-tongued bumblebees.

"We found foxglove populations in Costa Rica and Colombia now have flowers with longer tubes at the base, when compared to native populations. There is also substantial natural selection on this floral characteristic in the naturalized populations," said study co-author Dr. Maria Clara Castellanos at the University of Sussex.

"Long corollas are a common feature in many hummingbird-pollinated plants, likely because this improves the precision of pollen transfer during the pollination interaction. It is also possible that long corolla tubes exclude other pollinators that are less effective."

The experts confirmed that hummingbirds are effective foxglove pollinators. "We counted pollen grains deposited in flowers and found that after a single visit they can bring in more pollen than a bumblebee." said Dr. Castellanos.

The research also confirms that introducing plants to new environments is a good way to study the evolution of floral structures. Scenarios like this will occur more often as humans influence the range of plants and pollinators, noted the study authors. 

"Our research shows how rapid evolutionary change in a new environment can be an important force behind the extraordinary diversity of flowers," said Dr. Castellanos.

The researchers said that while the changes observed in foxgloves are consistent with changes that hummingbirds have imposed on the native plants they pollinate, the study does not prove that the birds directly caused the rapid changes found in the flowers. The experts emphasized the importance of studying other plants in this context. 

"Plants around the world are experiencing changes in their pollinators and it is important to understand the evolutionary implications of this," said Dr. Castellanos.

The study is published in the <a href="https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/13652745">Journal of Ecology</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Foxgloves rapidly evolved in the presence of hummingbirds

In a new study published by the British Ecological Society,...

Crop and timber production are two of the biggest drivers of declining wildlife populations, and collectively contribute 40 percent of the overall extinction risk of mammals, birds, and amphibians.

Sustainable <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/study-identifies-genes-that-control-heat-response-in-crops/">crop</a> and timber production could greatly reduce terrestrial species extinctions, according to a new report from the <a href="https://www.iucn.org/">International Union for the Conservation of Nature</a> (IUCN).

For the investigation, the researchers used a new metric that allows businesses and governments to assess their potential contributions to global species extinction risk. The tool can be used to calculate regional or national targets. 

The work was led by the IUCN Species Survival Commission's Post-2020 Taskforce, a collaboration of scientists from 54 institutions in 21 countries around the world.

"For years, a major impediment to engaging companies, governments and others in biodiversity conservation has been the inability to measure the impact of their efforts," said IUCN Director General Dr. Bruno Oberle. 

"By quantifying their contributions, the new STAR metric can bring all these actors together around the common objective of preserving the diversity of life on Earth. We need concerted global action to safeguard the world's biodiversity, and with it our own safety and well-being."

The study authors applied the new Species Threat Abatement and Restoration (STAR) metric to all groups of terrestrial vertebrate species that are on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 

The experts found that removing threats from crop production would reduce global extinction risk among these groups by 24 percent. Eliminating threats caused by unsustainable logging would reduce extinction risk by an additional 16.percent.

STAR can also be used to calculate the benefits of restoration. According to the study, restoring the habitat of endangered species could reduce their global extinction risk by 56 percent.

"We are in the midst of a biodiversity crisis and resources are limited, but our study shows that extinction risk is concentrated in relatively small areas with greater numbers of highly threatened species," said study lead author Louise Mair of Newcastle University.

"The STAR methodology allows us to consistently measure where and how conservation and restoration could have the biggest impact."

"At the same time, our analysis shows that threats to species are omnipresent, and that action to stem the loss of life on Earth must happen in all countries without exception."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/natecolevol/">Nature Ecology &amp; Evolution</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Sustainable practices could greatly reduce species extinction risk

Crop and timber production are two of the biggest drivers...

Experts at the <a href="https://www.eva.mpg.de/">Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology</a> have determined that chest beating conveys information about the identity and body size of mountain <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/young-gorillas-without-mothers-get-extra-support-from-their-group/">gorillas</a>.

Chest beating is unique because it is not a vocalization, but a gesture that can be both seen and heard. According to the researchers, the beating sounds can be heard over one kilometer away.

The findings demonstrate how non-verbal behaviors may contribute to communication among mountain gorillas.

It has been widely assumed that gorillas beat their chests to attract females and intimidate rivals. To investigate, the researchers observed and recorded 25 adult male silverback gorillas in Volcanoes National Park that are regularly monitored by the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund.

The experts measured body size using a non-invasive technique based on photographs. The analysis revealed that larger males emitted chest beats with lower peak frequencies compared to smaller individuals. This means that chest beating conveys <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/collecting-dna-from-rivers-uncovers-biodiversity/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">information regarding body size</a>.

"The gorilla chest beat is one of those iconic sounds from the animal kingdom, so it is great that we have been able to show that body size is encoded in these spectacular displays," said study first author Edward Wright.

Previous research conducted by Wright's team showed that larger males were more socially dominant and more successful in terms of reproduction than smaller males. Body size is an important attribute among many animals because it tends to reflect strength and fighting ability. 

Rival males most likely use the chest drumming sounds to size up their competition. This would help them decide whether to initiate, escalate, or retreat in aggressive contests with them. Females are likely using the same information to identify potential mates.

The researchers were surprised to find a great deal of variation in both the number of chest beats as well as the duration. "This hints at the possibility that chest beats may have individual signatures, but further study is needed to test this," said Wright.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/srep/">Scientific Reports</a>.

---

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

Chest beating conveys important details about mountain gorillas

Experts at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology have...

A new study from the <a href="https://environment.yale.edu/">Yale School of the Environment</a> has revealed that marine ecosystems release more methane when they are altered by human activities. The researchers found that aquatic ecosystems are the source of half of global methane emissions.

In the atmosphere, methane is a powerful greenhouse gas that is capable of trapping much more heat than carbon dioxide. It is estimated that methane is responsible for 25 percent of all warming to date.   

The global contribution and importance of aquatic ecosystems as methane emitters has been underestimated, said study lead author Judith Rosentreter.

The experts reviewed methane fluxes from 15 major natural, man-made, and human-impacted aquatic ecosystems and wetlands. The analysis showed that the cumulative methane emissions from these aquatic ecosystems are potentially a larger source of methane than direct anthropogenic methane sources, such as farming and burning fossil fuels. 

According to the study, aquatic ecosystems and wetlands contribute at least half of the total methane emissions budget.

"An accurate accounting of the sources of methane from aquatic ecosystems, and if they are impacted by human activities, is important to understanding atmospheric methane concentrations,'' said study co-author Professor Peter Raymond.

One particular issue that stood out to the researchers is how humans have impacted methane emissions from aquatic sources. "Anything human-driven or human-impacted had much higher fluxes than more natural sites,'' said Rosentreter.

For example, coastal aquaculture farms have methane fluxes per area that are up to 430 times higher than non-converted coastal habitats, such as mangrove forests, salt marshes, or seagrasses.

The study authors noted that there are opportunities to reduce human-induced emissions with the right management techniques.

"The intense methane emissions from aquatic ecosystems offers opportunities for intervention providing potential quick wins in reducing greenhouse emissions, provided the much large role per molecule emitted of methane compared to carbon dioxide,'' said study co-author Professor Carlos M. Duarte.

A new understanding of the amount of methane emissions coming from aquatic ecosystems will help inform new monitoring strategies.

"Reducing methane emissions from aquatic systems will be an important part of stabilizing the Earth's temperature,'' said study co-author Bradley Eyre.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/ngeo/">Nature Geoscience</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Half of global methane emissions come from aquatic ecosystems

A new study from the Yale School of the Environment...

Ants respond to social isolation in similar ways as humans and other <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/some-ocean-mammals-are-recovering-others-are-not/">mammals</a>, according to a new study. The researchers found that ants who endured social isolation exhibited behavioral differences, such as letting themselves go.

The experts were particularly surprised to find that immune and stress genes became less active in the brains of the isolated ants. 

"This makes the immune system less efficient, a phenomenon that is also apparent in socially isolating humans - notably at present during the COVID-19 crisis," explainedp study co-author Professor Susanne Foitzik of <a href="https://www.uni-mainz.de/eng/">Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz</a> (JGU). 

Social mammals like humans experience stress as a result of isolation, which has a negative impact on well-being and physical health. 

"Isolated people become lonely, depressed, and anxious, develop addictions more easily, and suffer from a weakened immune system and impaired overall health," said study lead author Professor Inon Scharf.

The effects of social isolation have been widely investigated among mice and humans but little is known about how insects cope. This is surprising because insects such as ants like in highly evolved social systems.

For their entire lives, ants participate as members of the same colony and are dependent on the other group members. Worker ants give up their own reproductive potential and dedicate themselves to responsibilities like feeding the larvae, cleaning and defending the nest, and searching for food.

The current study was focused on the effects of social isolation among ants of the German species Temnothorax nylanderi. These ants live on the forest floor in cavities in acorns and sticks, with colonies of a few dozen workers. 

The researchers removed young workers from 14 colonies and kept them in isolation for varying lengths of time, ranging from one hour to a maximum of 28 days. 

The experts found that after isolation, the workers were less interested in their adult colony mates and spent less time grooming themselves. On the other hand, the amount of time they spent in brood contact increased.

"This reduction in hygienic behavior may make the ants more susceptible to parasites, but it is also a feature typical of social deprivation in other social organisms," explained Professor Susanne Foitzik.

The study revealed significant changes in the behaviors of the isolated insects, but the most striking findings that were found were changes in gene activity. Many genes related to immune system function and stress response became less active after social isolation.

"This finding is consistent with studies on other social animals that demonstrated a weakening of the immune system after isolation," said Professor Scharf.

"Our study shows that ants are as affected by isolation as social mammals are and suggests a general link between social well-being, stress tolerance, and immunocompetence in social animals," said Professor Foitzik.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/1365294x">Molecular Ecology</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 affects ants in similar ways as humans

Ants respond to social isolation in similar ways as humans...

Speedbumps are helping to protect one of Africa's rarest primates, according to a new study from the <a href="https://www.wcs.org/">Wildlife Conservation Society</a>. The researchers found that there has been a drastic reduction in the number of deaths of red colobus monkeys after four speedbumps were installed along a stretch of road that the animals frequently cross. 

Red colobuses are Old World monkeys that are native to the forests of Unguja, the main island of Zanzibar. The monkeys are classified by the IUCN as endangered. 

For the study, the researchers assessed mortality from vehicle collisions - an increasing threat to primates living in fragmented habitats.

Around half of the Zanzibar red colobus population can be found in Jozani-Chwaka Bay National Park. Historical data from the road crossing through the park showed that one colobus was killed every two to three weeks by traffic. After speedbumps were installed, this number was reduced to one every six weeks.

"After the road at Jozani was surfaced but before the speedbumps were installed, a colobus was reported to have been killed every two to three weeks, resulting in perhaps about 12-17 percent annual mortality, according to one estimate," said study lead author Harry Olgun.

"The recent data show that speedbumps have made a huge difference for the safety of the colobus. Adding more speedbumps would help reduce the risk further."

According to the researchers, despite the great progress, the current mortality rate is still a significant threat to the species.  

"Cars are not selective in the animals they kill," noted study senior author Dr. Alexander Georgiev. "This means that while natural predators may target the very young and old more often, cars are equally likely to kill reproductively active young adults, who would contribute the most to population growth. And this may be a problem," 

Study co-author Dr. Tim Davenport is the director of Species Conservation &amp; Science in Africa at WCS. He led the first countrywide census of the Zanzibar red colobus a few years ago.

"As tourism grows in Zanzibar and habitat continues to shrink, using science to quantify and solve conservation problems has never been so important," said Dr. Davenport. "Understanding the impact of vehicles on wildlife within a park, and implementing practical solutions is exactly what we as conservationists should be doing."

The study is published in <a href="https://www.oryxthejournal.org/">Oryx - The International Journal of Conservation</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Speedbumps help protect endangered red colobus monkeys

Speedbumps are helping to protect one of Africa's rarest primates,...

Abrupt changes in the climate system during the last <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-sea-level-rose-by-18-meters-after-the-last-ice-age/">ice age</a> behaved like dominoes, with one event initiating a succession of events, according to a new study from the <a href="https://www.ku.dk/english/">University of Copenhagen</a>.

Considering that the extent of sea ice in the Arctic played an important part in the dramatic climate shifts, it is concerning that this part of the climate system may trigger abrupt and widespread climate change again in the future.

To predict how climate change will unfold, it is critical to understand the events of the past. For decades, scientists have tried to identify the causes and effects of major changes that took place during the last ice age.

At that time, temperatures in Greenland repeatedly rose by 5 to 16 degrees Celsius in a matter of decades in what is referred to as Dansgaard-Oeschger events.

"Many studies have tried to answer this long-standing question: Which part of the climate system changed first when these approximately 30 abrupt climate changes, called Dansgaard-Oeschger events, began?" 

"Was it, for example, the ocean currents in the North Atlantic, the wind and rainfall patterns in the Northern Hemisphere, or the spread of sea ice in the Arctic that triggered climate change?" said study lead author Emilie Capron from the <a href="https://www.ku.dk/english/">University of Copenhagen</a>.

The new analysis reveals a surprising set of dynamics within the Dansgaard-Oeschger events. While the same physical processes behaved like a toppling set of dominoes, the order of the changes were not the same from one event to the other.

The study was focused on data from two Greenland ice cores. The researchers found that changes in different parts of the climate system, including ocean currents, sea ice extent, and wind patterns, were so closely intertwined that they likely triggered and reinforced each other. This would have caused the abrupt, reoccurring climate changes.

The results of the analysis were compared to climate model simulations of the last ice age developed by study co-author Guido Vettoretti. The model showed the same type of entangled behavior of sea ice, ocean currents, and wind and precipitation patterns.

The findings raise new concerns about ongoing rapid warming in the Arctic. The extent of sea ice cover in the North Atlantic was one of the climate dominoes that had the potential to disrupt the entire system during the ice age. Since the 1980s, the modern extent of sea ice has been in a state of decline.

"In any case, the results emphasize the importance of trying to limit climate change by, for example, cutting anthropogenic emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gases, both to reduce the predictable, gradual climate change and to reduce the risk of future abrupt climate change," said study co-author Professor Sune Olander Rasmussen. 

"If you do not want the dominoes to topple over, you are better off not to push the table they stand on too much."

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

Abrupt climate changes have a domino effect

Abrupt changes in the climate system during the last ice...

Toxic gases and particle <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/reducing-air-pollution-could-give-global-warming-a-boost/">pollution</a> associated with industrial and vehicle emissions are known to worsen viral respiratory infections. In a new study from the <a href="https://www.bidmc.org/">Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center</a>, researchers have confirmed a link between ambient air pollution and worse COVID-19 outcomes. 

More than 90 percent of the global population lives in areas where air pollution exceeds levels that are deemed as being safe by the World Health Organization.

The experts reviewed current research on the potential relationships among pollution, respiratory viruses, and health disparities. In a commentary published by the American Thoracic Society, the researchers discuss various ways that the pandemic has highlighted an urgent need to address the global issue of air pollution.

"A multitude of studies show that exposure to higher long-term ambient air pollution is associated with both increased risk of infection and death from COVID-19," said study co-author Dr. Stephen Andrew Mein. 

"Historically, air pollution has been linked with worse health outcomes, including higher mortality, due to other respiratory viruses like influenza. Now, new research on COVID-19 adds further evidence of the adverse effects of ambient air pollution and the urgent need to ad-dress the public health crisis of pollution."

In one particular study that was reviewed by Dr. Mein and colleagues, researchers at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that each small increase in exposure to long-term fine particle pollution (PM2.5) was associated with an eight percent increase in mortality during the pandemic. 

The results of another study suggest that air pollution has contributed 15 percent to COVID-19 mortality worldwide.

"The studies we reviewed evaluated whether long-term, ambient air pollution exposure that occurred years prior to the pandemic was associated with worse COVID-19 outcomes," said Dr. Mein.

The exact mechanisms of the link between long-term pollution and poor COVID-19 outcomes are not fully understood. One explanation could be that exposure to air pollution impairs the immune system over time, leading to increased susceptibility to viruses as well as more severe viral infections. 

The study authors noted that improved air quality during the pandemic may have reduced illness and mortality from non-communicable diseases, but further investigation is needed.

"Research evaluating associations between the dramatic reduction in ambient air pollution during global lock-downs and health care utilization for respiratory conditions would further confirm the impact of ambient air pollution on non-communicable diseases and the need to reduce air pollution to improve overall health," said study senior author Dr. Mary Rice.

"While the primary association between air pollution and COVID-19 outcomes has been generally consistent, there is still much research to be done." 

"In particular, there is a need for studies that adjust for individual-level risk factors, since cur-rent studies have been restricted to county or municipal-level exposure and outcome data. Research is also needed to evaluate whether air pollution contributes to the stark differences in COVID-19 outcomes among communities of color."

Inequalities in residential and occupational air pollution exposure may be one of the causes of the stark disparities of the COVID-19 pandemic along racial and ethnic lines. This is because ethnically diverse communities are more likely to live and work in areas closer to industrial pollution.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the widespread health consequences of ambient air pollution, including acute effects on respiratory immune defenses and chronic effects that lead to higher risk of chronic cardiopulmonary disease and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)," said Dr. Mein. 

"These chronic health effects likely explain the higher COVID-19 mortality among those exposed to more air pollution. The pandemic has also provided a glimpse into the health benefits of cleaner air." 

"COVID-19 is a wakeup call for the need to adopt stricter air quality standards and end our tolerance for pollution in disadvantaged neighborhoods. As part of our post-COVID-19 recovery, we must clean up the air to improve respiratory health and equality worldwide."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.atsjournals.org/journal/annalsats">Annals of the American Thoracic Society</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

Air pollution has worsened COVID-19 outcomes

Toxic gases and particle pollution associated with industrial and vehicle...

Work stress and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/high-ranking-male-baboons-age-faster/">social</a> strain put women at significantly greater risk of developing coronary heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States, according to a new study from <a href="https://drexel.edu/">Drexel University</a>. 

The research suggests that the stress of work demands, when compounded by social pressure, is associated with a 21 percent higher risk of coronary heart disease among women.

Specific high-stress life events were independently linked to greater heart disease risk, including the death of a spouse, divorce, social strain, and verbal or physical abuse.

The research was focused on data from 80,825 postmenopausal women who were included in the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study, which tracked participants from 1991 to 2015. The goal of the study was to find better methods of preventing cancer, heart disease, and osteoporosis in women. 

For the current study, the Drexel team evaluated the effects of stress from job strain, difficult life events, social strain, and the associations among these forms of stress as contributors to coronary heart disease.

During the study period, nearly five percent of the women developed coronary heart disease. The combination of work stress and social strain was found to induce the greatest risk.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted ongoing stresses for women in balancing paid work and social stressors. We know from other studies that work strain may play a role in developing CHD, but now we can better pinpoint the combined impact of stress at work and at home on these poor health outcomes," said study senior author Professor Yvonne Michael. 

"My hope is that these findings are a call for better methods of monitoring stress in the workplace and remind us of the dual-burden working women face as a result of their unpaid work as caregivers at home."

The study authors noted that future studies should look at the effects of shift work on coronary heart disease and explore the effects of job demands according to gender.

"Our findings are a critical reminder to women, and those who care about them, that the threat of stress to human health should not go ignored," said study lead author Dr. Conglong Wang. "This is particularly pertinent during the stressors caused by a pandemic."

The study is published in the <a href="https://www.ahajournals.org/journal/jaha">Journal of the American Heart Association</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

Work stress and social strain raise risk of heart disease in women

Work stress and social strain put women at significantly greater...

Scientists have obtained data from beneath the Thwaites Glacier, also known as the "Doomsday Glacier," for the very first time. The experts found that the glacier is exposed to a larger supply of warm <a href="https://www.earth.com/video/meltwater-is-accelerating-the-movement-of-greenland-ice/">water</a> than what was expected, which raises new concerns about its stability. 

The study was made possible with the help of the unmanned submersible vehicle Ran, which made its way underneath the Thwaites glacier front. The submarine was used to measure the strength, temperature, salinity, and oxygen content of the ocean currents under the glacier.

"This was Ran's first venture to polar regions and her exploration of the waters under the ice shelf was much more successful than we had dared to hope," said Professor Karen Heywood of the University of East Anglia. "We plan to build on these exciting findings with further missions under the ice next year."

According to study lead author Professor Anna Wåhlin of the <a href="https://www.gu.se/en">University of Gothenburg</a>, the biggest uncertainty in forecasts of global sea level rise is the future evolution of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet.

Currently, the ice sheet in West Antarctica contributes about ten percent of the overall rate of sea level rise. At the same time, this ice sheet holds the most potential for increasing the rate of sea level rise because of the rapid changes taking place in the Thwaites Glacier.

Due to its location and shape, Thwaites is particularly sensitive to warm and salty ocean currents. The glacier is challenging to study because it is usually blocked by thick sea ice and many icebergs. 

The researchers used the data from RAN to map the ocean currents underneath the floating part of the glacier. They discovered that there is a deep connection to the east through which water flows from Pine Island Bay - a connection that was previously thought to be blocked by an underwater ridge.

The experts also measured heat transport in one of the three channels that push warm water toward Thwaites from the north. 

"The channels for warm water to access and attack Thwaites weren't known to us before the research. Using sonars on the ship, nested with very high-resolution ocean mapping from Ran, we were able to find that there are distinct paths that water takes in and out of the ice shelf cavity, influenced by the geometry of the ocean floor," explained Dr. Alastair of the University of Southern Florida.

The team found variations in salinity, temperature, and oxygen content under the glacier which indicate that this is an area where different water masses meet and mix with each other.

The observations show warm water approaching from all sides on pinning points - critical locations where the ice is connected to the seabed and give stability to the ice shelf. 

"This work highlights that how and where warm water impacts Thwaites Glacier is influenced by the shape of the seafloor and the ice-shelf base as well as the properties of the water itself. The successful integration of new seafloor survey data and observations of water properties from the Ran missions shows the benefits of the multidisciplinary ethos within the International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration," said Dr. Rob Larter of the British Antarctic Survey.

"The good news is that we are now, for the first time, collecting data that is necessary to model the dynamics of Thwaite's glacier. This data will help us better calculate ice melting in the future. With the help of new technology, we can improve the models and reduce the great uncertainty that now prevails around global sea level variations." said Professor Wåhlin.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://advances.sciencemag.org/">Science Advances</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

"Doomsday Glacier" exposed to more warm water than expected

Scientists have obtained data from beneath the Thwaites Glacier, also...

In a comprehensive 12-month review of published literature on climate change, researchers have determined that mitigation efforts are crucially needed for the security of the global food supply. 

The study, which is published in one of the highest-ranking public health journals, calls for urgent action to secure nutrition and health around the world.

The experts warn that climate change will have a substantial impact on global food production and human health without collaborative efforts by consumers, food industries, public policy makers, and government bodies.

Study lead author Colin Binns, a distinguished professor in the Curtin School of Population Health at <a href="https://www.curtin.edu.au/">Curtin University</a>, explained that climate change has had a detrimental impact on health and food production for the past 50 years. He said that far more needs to be done to overcome its adverse effects.

"The combination of climate change and the quality of nutrition is the major public health challenge of this decade and, indeed, this century. Despite positive advances in world nutrition rates, we are still facing the ongoing threat of climate change to our global food supply, with Sub-Saharan Africa and part of Asia most at risk," said Professor Binns.

"For the time being, it will be possible to produce enough food to maintain adequate intakes, using improved farming practices and technology and more equity in distribution, but we estimate that by 2050 world food production will need to increase by 50 percent to overcome present shortages and meet the needs of the growing population."

"Our review recommends that by following necessary dietary guidelines and choosing foods that have low environmental impacts, such as fish, whole grain cereals, fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, berries, and olive oil, would improve health, help reduce greenhouse gases and meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which in turn would improve food production levels in the future."

Professor Binns noted that while climate change will have a significant effect on food supply, political commitment and substantial investment could go some way to reduce the effects and help provide the foods needed to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

"Some changes will need to be made to food production, nutrient content will need monitoring, and more equitable distribution will be required to meet the proposed dietary guidelines," explained Professor Binns.

"It will also be important to increase breastfeeding rates to improve infant and adult health, while helping to reduce greenhouse gases and benefit the environment."

"Ongoing research will be vital to assessing the long-term impacts of climate change on food supply and health in order to adequately prepare for the future."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.annualreviews.org/journal/publhealth">Annual Review of Public Health</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

Urgent climate action needed to secure global food supply

In a comprehensive 12-month review of published literature on climate...

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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

[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

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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

[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

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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

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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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research&nbsp;



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



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

How the immune system responds to injury

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

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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

2022 illustrated the consequences of a warming climate

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Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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