Do you recall those childhood days when you eagerly anticipated bedtime stories about Peter Rabbit, Toad or Ratty from The Wind in the Willows? Or the excitement that washed over you every time you opened a children's book teeming with playful, animated animals? 



Well, a new study is giving us a fresh perspective on the role of these furry, iconic characters.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-children-s-books-animal-characters">Children's books animal characters</h2>



The research has shed light on the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/toddlers-learn-faster-after-witnessing-impossible-events/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">potential influence</a> of non-human characters in children's books.



The researchers aimed to gauge how these animal characters affected children's theory of mind skills - crucial abilities which include deciphering social changes in the environment based on voice tone, word choice, or facial expressions.



They worked with over 100 children aged five to 10, each of whom were tested on their theory of mind skills after hearing stories featuring animal characters, as well as those highlighting human characters.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-human-vs-animal-characters-in-books">Human vs. animal characters in books</h2>



The study unveiled an interesting pattern. When exposed to stories centered around human characters, an age-related progression was observed. 



Older children were consistently outperforming their younger counterparts, with 3rd grade children surpassing the researchers' expectations in tests featuring human characters.



But the revelations didn't stop there. The tests that involved animal characters threw up another surprise. 



The younger participants were able to match the scores achieved by pupils in 3rd grade, who were two years their senior. That's quite a feat for our young champions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-insight-into-children-s-development">New insight into children's development</h2>



These findings, published in the Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, highlight the importance of both human and non-human characters in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/outdoor-classes-improve-childrens-mental-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">children's developmental stages</a>.



The research was led by Dr. Gray Atherton and Dr. Liam Cross from the University of Plymouth’s <a href="https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/schools/psychology" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">School of Psychology</a>.



"Animals play a huge part of children’s stories, whether that is in books and comics or through TV and film. We wanted to test if that is down to more than simply liking the characters, and whether there are actual benefits of children learning through by watching or reading about animals and if this changes over time," said Dr. Atherton.



"Our findings showed that both human and non-human characters are important in helping children interpret the world around them, and that they play differing roles at different stages in their development. Adapting activities and lessons in nurseries and the early school years to take that into account could be hugely effective in helping to support their development."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-for-educators-and-parents">Implications for educators and parents</h2>



The insights gained from this study have substantial implications for educators and parents aiming to support children's cognitive and social development.



By incorporating both human and animal characters into books, educators can craft a more balanced learning environment that caters to the diverse needs of children across age groups. 



Parents, too, can enrich their children's home learning experiences by selecting a variety of stories that include both human and animal protagonists. 



This approach not only makes reading sessions more engaging but also aids in developing empathy and understanding of complex social scenarios.



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



While this study provides valuable insights, it also opens avenues for further exploration. 



Future research could go deeper into the types of animal characteristics that are most effective in nurturing children's theory of mind. For instance, exploring whether anthropomorphized animals or more realistic portrayals have differing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/parents-who-use-humor-have-better-relationships-with-their-children/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">impacts</a>. 



Similarly, cross-cultural studies could investigate whether the affinity towards animal characters holds true in diverse cultural contexts. These inquiries could refine understanding and application in educational strategies, enhancing the efficacy of storytelling as a developmental tool.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-animal-characters-and-autism-treatment">Animal characters and autism treatment</h2>



In previous studies, Dr. Atherton and Dr. Cross examined the factors influencing the educational and social development of individuals with autism and learning difficulties.



The experts launched initiatives proving how board and online games can bolster confidence among people with autism. 



Borrowing insights from this research, the scholars now plan to dig deeper to explore if their findings could provide specific benefits to children with such conditions.



Dr. Cross envisions a significant impact of this study on individuals with autism or <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/kids-with-behavioral-issues-have-high-cortisol-levels-in-their-hair/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">other conditions</a> affecting their learning. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-new-way-of-looking-at-animal-characters">A new way of looking at animal characters</h2>



The researchers have observed how tasks involving animal characters can result in autistic individuals performing on par with non-autistic children. 



The plan is to replicate this study with autistic children in an effort to unveil more effective ways to support them at a critical stage in their development.



In a nutshell, this study has unraveled an entirely new dimension of how we view animals in children's books. 



Those delightful animal characters do more than simply entertain; they help shape our children's minds and understanding of the world around them in their formative years.



The study is published in the <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S002209652400256X?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of Experimental Child Psychology</a>. 



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



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



-----

Animal characters boost social and emotional skills in children

Do you recall those childhood days when you eagerly anticipated bedtime stories about Peter Rabbit, Toad or Ratty from The Wind in the Willows? Or the excitement that washed over you every time you opened a children's book teeming with playful, animated animals? Well, a new study is giving us a fresh perspective on the role of these furry, iconic characters. Children's books animal characters The research has shed light on the potential influence of non-human characters in children's books. The researchers aimed to gauge how these...

The sudden reduction of greenhouse gas emissions during <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/widespread-decline-in-quality-of-life-among-covid-19-survivors/">COVID-19</a> will not have a major influence on global warming, but the way that the world moves forward from the pandemic could make a huge difference. 

According to researchers at the <a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/">University of Leeds</a>, a climate-friendly economic recovery plan could help to limit the damaging effects of climate change.

The study authors warn that even with some lockdown measures staying in place to the end of 2021, global temperatures will only be about 0.01 degree Celsius lower than expected by 2030 without structural changes.

On the other hand, the researchers estimate that adopting new climate policies during economic recovery could prevent more than half of the global warming that is expected by 2050.

"Both sobering and hopeful, the flash crash in global emissions due to lockdown measures will have no measurable impact on global temperatures by 2030; but the decisions we make this year about how to recover from this crisis can put us on a solid track to meet the Paris Agreement," said study co-author Joeri Rogelj.

"Out of this tragedy comes an opportunity, but unless it is seized a more polluting next decade is not excluded."

The team calculated changes in ten types of greenhouse gases and air pollutants between February and June 2020 in 123 countries. Despite substantial improvement in air pollution during the pandemic, including reductions in CO2 emissions, the climate impact of COVID-19 lockdowns will not be significant in the long term.

The researchers also modeled various scenarios for post-lockdown recovery and identified a unique opportunity for a net-zero emissions future.

Study lead author Professor Piers Forster is the director of the Priestley International Centre for Climate at Leeds. 

"The choices made now could give us a strong chance of avoiding 0.3C of additional warming by mid-century, halving the expected warming under current policies. This could mean the difference between success and failure when it comes to avoiding dangerous climate change," said Professor Forster.

"The study also highlights the opportunities in lowering traffic pollution by encouraging low emissions vehicles, public transport and cycle lanes. The better air quality will immediately have important health effects - and it will immediately start cooling the climate."

Study co-author Harriet Forster said the research shows that the actual effect of lockdown on the climate is small. "The important thing to recognize is that we've been given a massive opportunity to boost the economy by investing in green industries - and this can make a huge difference to our future climate," said Forster.

"The lasting effect of COVID-19 on climate will not depend on what happens during the crisis, but what comes after," said study co-author Matthew Gidden.

"Stimulus focused on green recovery and low-carbon investment can provide the economic kick start needed while putting the world on track to meet climate pledges."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/nclimate">Nature Climate Change</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Pandemic recovery plans could change Earth's future climate

The sudden reduction of greenhouse gas emissions during COVID-19 will...

A team of renowned biologists is calling attention to the potential impacts of deep seabed mining. The experts have found troubling scientific misconceptions that fail to represent the destruction that could be caused by future operations to extract minerals from the <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/monitoring-seabed-earthquakes-detection/">seabed</a>.

The deep sea is home to the most remote habitats on the planet, and this region supports invaluable species and ecosystem services. The possibility of mining for copper, cobalt, zinc, manganese and other valuable metals on the seafloor has been gaining more attention in recent years. Deep seabed mining is not yet underway, but many companies are already prospecting.

"As a team of deep-sea ecologists, we became alarmed by the misconceptions present in the scientific literature that discuss the potential impacts of seabed mining," said study lead author Professor Craig Smith of the <a href="https://manoa.hawaii.edu/">University of Hawaii at Mānoa</a>.

"We found underestimates of mining footprints and a poor understanding of the sensitivity and biodiversity of deep-sea ecosystems, and their potential to recover from mining impacts. All the authors felt it was imperative to dispel misconceptions and highlight what is known and unknown about deep seabed mining impacts."

In a study published last month, Professor Smith and his colleagues detailed the impacts of mining on ecosystems in the water above extraction activities. The current paper emphasizes deep-seabed mining impacts on the seafloor, where habitats and communities would be permanently destroyed by mining.

"The bottom line is that many deep-sea ecosystems will be very sensitive to seafloor mining, are likely to be impacted over much larger scales than predicted by mining interests, and that local and regional biodiversity losses are likely, with the potential for species extinctions," said Professor Smith.

The scope of the consequences from deep seabed mining, however, will not be well understood until a full-scale mining operation is conducted. According to the study authors, the extent of the disturbance that would be caused by continuous mining for decades cannot be simulated or effectively studied at a smaller scale.

"All the simulations conducted so far do not come close to duplicating the spatial scale, intensity and duration of full-scale mining," said Professor Smith. 

"Further, the computer models use ecosystem sensitivities derived from shallow-water communities that experience orders of magnitude higher levels turbidity and sediment burial (mining-type perturbations) under natural conditions than the deep-sea communities targeted for mining."

The primary target for deep seabed mining operations is in the Pacific Ocean near Hawaii and Pacific Island nations. The nations may benefit economically from deep sea mining, but will also suffer the most from any negative environmental consequences. This creates a need to understand the trade-offs of deep sea mining.

"Polymetallic-nodule mining (as currently planned) may ultimately impact 500,000 square kilometers of deep seafloor in the Pacific, an area the size of Spain, yielding perhaps the largest environmental footprint of a single extractive activity by humans," said Professor Smith. "Addressing the misconceptions and knowledge gaps related to deep sea mining is the first step towards effective management of deep seabed mining."

The researchers plan to work closely with regulators and society to help manage deep seabed mining. They emphasize the need to proceed slowly with seabed mining until the potential effects are fully appreciated.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/trends/ecology-evolution/home">Trends in Ecology and Evolution</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Potential impacts of deep seabed mining are not yet understood

A team of renowned biologists is calling attention to the...

Climate system in Asia influences hurricanes in the Atlantic Scientists at the <a href="https://uiowa.edu/">University of Iowa</a> have identified a link between hurricanes in the <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/arctic-freshwater-will-disrupt-the-north-atlantic-climate-system/">Atlantic</a> Ocean and a climate system in East Asia. The study may provide new insight into how tropical cyclones develop that can strengthen into <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/hurricanes-are-getting-stronger-as-earth-gets-warmer/">hurricanes</a>.

The researchers explained that the East Asian Subtropical Jet Stream (EASJ), which originates in East Asia and moves west to east across the globe, contains an atmospheric phenomenon called a Rossby wave. This type of planetary wave occurs naturally in the atmosphere and the ocean as a result of Earth's rotation.

The experts determined that Rossby waves are carried by the EASJ to the North Atlantic when tropical cyclones are most likely to form. The planetary waves affect wind shear, the vertical movement of wind, which is a critical factor in the development of hurricanes.

"When the EASJ is stronger, it can enhance this pattern, which leads to stronger teleconnections and stronger wind shear in the North Atlantic," said study co-author and climate scientist Wei Zhang. "That can suppress Atlantic tropical cyclone formation."

The scientists observed nearly 40 years of tropical cyclones in the Atlantic Ocean during the peak formation season between August and November to search for a correlation with EASJ activity.

"What we found was there is a signal (Rossby waves) in terms of wind shear and that this signal is coming from the west, being Asia, over the Atlantic, via the East Asian Subtropical Jet Stream," said Zhang. "These jets act as a conduit for the signal originating in Asia, so it can propagate over the Atlantic."

The team analyzed the database from the National Hurricane Center between 1980 and 2018, as well as other datasets, to search for patterns of EASJ activity and the development of tropical cyclones in the Atlantic.

The researchers had previously found a connection between the EASJ and storms affecting the western United States. 

"We said, 'OK let's see whether this subtropical jet can influence other weather systems," said study co-author Gabriele Villarini. "We found a physical mechanism that can provide a basic understanding in the context of tropical cyclone formation. Then the question becomes, 'OK, now that you know that, what are you going to do with it?'"

"That's the part that is not there yet, in the sense of how predictable is the East Asian Subtropical Jet, and how far ahead can we predict it for an entire season, so that it can become a useful tool for predicting tropical cyclone formation in the North Atlantic."

The researchers will also investigate how the East Asian Subtropical Jet Stream may be affected by climate change, which could alter the frequency of hurricanes in the North Atlantic Ocean.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/19448007">Geophysical Research Letters</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Climate system in Asia influences hurricanes in the Atlantic

Climate system in Asia influences hurricanes in the Atlantic Scientists...

There is a universal framework for storytelling, and it is shaped by invisible <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/crosswords-brain-puzzles-brain-sharp/">words</a>, according to a new study from the <a href="https://www.utexas.edu/">University of Texas at Austin</a>. The researchers discovered that small, inconspicuous words like "a," "the," and "it" appear in a similar pattern across storylines, regardless of the length or format.

The team recorded the use of invisible words across thousands of fictional and nonfictional stories. The analysis exposed a universal blueprint for storytelling in which subtle words are methodically used at specific moments. 

Study co-author Jamie Pennebaker is a psychology researcher at UT Austin.

"We all have an intuitive sense of what defines a story. Until now, no one has been able to objectively see or measure a story's components," said Pennebaker.

The experts conducted a computer analysis of nearly 40,000 fictional narratives, including novels and screenplays. The researchers tracked the authors' use of pronouns like "he" and "she," as well as articles like "a" and "the." 

The team identified a consistent pattern, which includes the use of a lot of prepositions and articles in the beginning of a story to set the stage. 

As the plot progresses, authors incorporate more interactional language, such as auxiliary verbs, adverbs and pronouns. For example, "the house" becomes "her home."

When a story is progressing toward its climax, the researchers noted that more cognitive-processing words are used that reflect the thought processes a person uses to work through a conflict. These words propose actions like "think," "believe," or "understand." 

According to the researchers, this linguistic pattern in stories may reflect how humans optimally process information. 

Previous research has shown that young children can easily assign names to people and things. Ascribing action, however, was found to be more difficult.

Study lead author Ryan Boyd is an assistant professor of Behavioral Analytics at Lancaster University.

"If we want to connect with an audience, we have to appreciate what information they need, but don't yet have," said Professor Boyd. "At the most fundamental level, humans need a flood of 'logic language' at the beginning of a story to make sense of it, followed by a rising stream of 'action' information to convey the actual plot of the story."

The researchers compared their fictional story blueprint to more than 30,000 factual texts, such as New York Times articles and TED Talks. While many of the factual narratives shared similarities with the established story structure, each genre had its own unique arrangement that reflected the different relationships between the authors and their audiences.

"Take TED Talks, for example. They mostly show the same pattern, except at the end where the cognitive tension aspect of stories continues to climb with words like 'think' or 'because,'" said study co-author Kate Blackburn. 

"This makes perfect sense. The goal of the TED Talk is to inspire, and leave the audience questioning what they have just heard from the speaker. In this sense, we seem to be able to tap into the structure of other forms of storytelling, as if we can identify that story's fingerprint."

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

&nbsp;

Universal storytelling structure is shaped by invisible words

There is a universal framework for storytelling, and it is...

Massive hanging glacier could collapse in Northern Italy. Experts are warning that a large portion of the Planpincieux glacier could collapse on the Italian side of Mont Blanc. According to reports, 500,000 cubic meters of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/adelie-penguins-thrive-with-less-sea-ice/">ice</a> could come crashing down as the movement of the glacier has recently accelerated.

Tourists were evacuated Wednesday from the alpine resort town of Courmayeur in Northern Italy’s Valle d'Aosta. Valerio Segor is a glacier expert and the region's director of natural risk management. At a press conference on Friday, Segor emphasized the urgency of the evacuation.

"The measure could not be postponed following a survey of the glacier of Planpincieux that shows a section of 500,000 square meters of ice that could rapidly detach from the rock."

Segor said the next 72 hours will be critical for the fate of the Planpincieux Glacier, which is about the size of a football field. Massive hanging glacier could collapse in Northern Italy

The area has been monitored since 2012, but the potential for the glacier to collapse has heightened after temperatures rose in late July and early August. The heatwave accelerated the glacier's retreat, causing it to lose as much as 23 inches of ice per day. Massive hanging glacier could collapse in Northern Italy

Last year, the <a href="https://www.ipcc.ch/">Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change</a> (IPCC) warned that glaciers around the world, excluding Greenland and Antarctica, are losing 220 billion metric tons of ice a year and this rate continues to climb.

According to the IPCC report, if greenhouse gas emissions are not reduced, these glaciers will shrink by 36 percent this century. Smaller glaciers, like those in the Alps, will lose up to 80 percent of their ice in the same timeframe.

The latest news of the Planpincieux glacier comes just after the last fully intact ice shelf in the Canadian Arctic collapsed at the end of July. In just two days, the Milne Ice Shelf shrank by about 80 square kilometers, losing more than 40 percent of its area.

“Entire cities are that size. These are big pieces of ice,“ said Luke Copland, a glaciologist at the University of Ottawa. “This was the largest remaining intact ice shelf, and it’s disintegrated, basically.”

The Milne Ice Shelf is a fragment of the former Ellesmere Ice Shelf, located in the Qikiqtaaluk Region, Nunavut, Canada. Ellesmere also lost two ice caps this summer that were believed to be several centuries old.

Mark Serreze is the director of the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) in Boulder, Colorado. In 2017, the NSIDC team published a study predicting that the ice caps would disappear within five years. 

“We saw them going, like someone with terminal cancer. It was only a matter of time,” said Serreze. The loss was confirmed last month, when NASA satellite images of the region revealed a complete lack of snow and ice, said Serreze. He studied the ice caps as a graduate student on his first trip to the Arctic years ago. At that time, he said, the caps had seemed like immovable parts of the geography.

“When I was there in the 1980s I knew every square inch of those ice caps. You have the memories. It’s like your first girlfriend.”

According to Serreze, two additional ice caps on Ellesmere called Murray and Simmons are also diminishing and are likely to disappear within 10 years.

"If we reduce emissions sharply, the consequences for people and their livelihoods will still be challenging, but potentially more manageable for those who are most vulnerable," said Hoesung Lee, Chair of the IPCC. 

“The open sea, the Arctic, the Antarctic and the high mountains may seem far away to many people. But we depend on them and are influenced by them directly and indirectly in many ways – for weather and climate, for food and water, for energy, trade, transport, recreation and tourism, for health and well-being, for culture and identity.”

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Massive hanging glacier could collapse in Northern Italy

Massive hanging glacier could collapse in Northern Italy. Experts are...

A team of scientists led by <a href="https://www.fau.edu/">Florida Atlantic University</a> has found high levels of toxic <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/honey-trace-environmental-pollutants/">pollutants</a> in marine animals along the southeastern coast of the United States.

The researchers analyzed blubber and liver samples collected from 83 dolphins and whales that were stranded on the shores of North Carolina and Florida between 2012 and 2018. They tested for 17 different substances in the animals.

The study is the first to explore concentrations of several specific contaminants, including an herbicide called atrazine and a substance found in many consumer products called triclosan. 

Identifying toxins in aquatic mammals is a critical step in tracing chemical contaminants within the marine food web. This gives scientists the opportunity to study the health effects and consequences of various pollutants.

Study lead author Dr. Annie Page-Karjian is an assistant research professor and clinical veterinarian at FAU's Harbor Branch. 

The researchers analyzed blubber samples for five organic toxicants: atrazine, DEP, NPE, bisphenol-A, diethyl phthalates, and triclosan. 

They tested liver samples for: arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, thallium, cobalt, copper, manganese, iron, selenium, zinc, and Aroclor - a highly toxic industrial compound.

The study revealed that concentrations of the elements and toxins varied according to demographic factors including species, sex, age, and location.

For example, in adult female bottlenose dolphins, average arsenic concentrations were higher than in adult males, who were found to have higher levels of iron. In addition, adult dolphins had greater concentrations of lead, mercury, and selenium compared to juveniles.

Based on liver samples, bottlenose dolphins had significantly higher levels of lead, manganese, mercury, selenium, thallium, and zinc compared to pygmy sperm whales. The dolphins had lower concentrations of NPE, arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, and iron.

The location of the animals also influenced the contamination in their systems. Dolphins that washed up in Florida had significantly higher concentrations of lead, mercury, and selenium, and lower concentrations of iron than dolphins found in North Carolina.

Furthermore, pygmy sperm whales had higher arsenic concentrations than bottlenose dolphins. The experts said that one explanation for high arsenic concentrations in tissues of animals that strand in Florida may be effluent from natural phosphate mineral deposits in the area that contain high levels of arsenic. 

Single-use plastics, polluted runoff, and industrial chemicals in waterways all contribute to the toxins present in the marine environment.

"We must do our part to reduce the amount of toxicants that enter into our marine environment, which have important health and environmental implications not just for marine life but for humans," said Dr. Page-Karjian. "These chemicals work their way up through the food chain and get more concentrated the higher up they go. When dolphins and whales eat fish with concentrations of the chemicals, the toxic elements enter their bodies. Dolphins eat a variety of fish and shrimp in these marine environments and so do humans."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/marine-science">Frontiers in Marine Science</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

High levels of toxins found in stranded whales and dolphins 

A team of scientists led by Florida Atlantic University has...

The placebo effect may be more powerful than previously realized, according to a new study from <a href="https://msu.edu/">Michigan State University</a>. The researchers have demonstrated that <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/breakthrough-water-treatment-method-is-eco-friendly/">treatments</a> containing no active ingredients can reduce brain markers of emotional distress, even when people know they have been given a placebo.

The results of the study suggest that "non-deceptive placebos" can change how the brain reacts to emotional information.

"Recently, researchers have begun to examine whether the beneficial effects of placebos can be harnessed without deception by communicating to participants what placebos are, explaining the science behind how they work, and highlighting how placebos can still provide beneficial effects even if people know they are taking them," wrote the study authors. 

"This verbal suggestion approach leverages one of the primary psychological mechanisms through which placebos operate: a person’s expectation that their condition will improve after receiving a treatment."

Study lead author Darwin Guevarra is a postdoctoral fellow at MSU. 

"Just think: What if someone took a side-effect free sugar pill twice a day after going through a short convincing video on the power of placebos and experienced reduced stress as a result?" said Guevarra. "These results raise that possibility."

The study was designed to investigate how effective a non-deceptive placebo may be for reducing emotional brain activity.

"Placebos are all about 'mind over matter," said study co-author Professor Jason Moser. "Non-deceptive placebos were born so that you could possibly use them in routine practice. So rather than prescribing a host of medications to help a patient, you could give them a placebo, tell them it can help them and chances are - if they believe it can, then it will."

For the study, the researchers showed two separate groups of participants a series of emotional images. The non-deceptive placebo group members read about placebo effects and were asked to inhale a saline solution nasal spray. The individuals were told that the treatment was a placebo which contained no active ingredients but would help reduce their negative feelings if they believed it would. 

For comparison, members of the control group used the same saline solution, but were told that the spray improved the clarity of the physiological readings that were being recorded throughout the experiment.

The researchers found that the non-deceptive placebos substantially lowered levels emotional distress among the participants. In addition, non-deceptive placebos reduced electrical brain activity that represents how much distress someone feels in response to emotional events, and the reduction occurred within just a couple of seconds.

Study co-author Professor Ethan Kross said the findings provide initial support that non-deceptive placebos are not merely a product of response bias - telling the patient what they want to hear - but instead represent genuine psychobiological effects.

The research is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-17654-y">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

&nbsp;

Placebos work even when people know what they are taking

The placebo effect may be more powerful than previously realized,...

In a new study from the <a href="https://www.ubc.ca/">University of British Columbia</a>, experts describe how the impacts of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/climate-extremes-make-reef-fish-less-diverse-and-productive/">climate</a> change on tropical fisheries could create a ripple effect that would be felt in other parts of the world.

"Tropical fisheries substantially contribute to the well-being of societies in both the tropics and the extratropics, the latter through ‘telecoupling’ - linkages between distant human-natural systems," explained the researchers.

But tropical oceans, and the benefits they provide, are threatened by rising greenhouse gas emissions and global warming.

"Tropical oceans will be where many of the first anthropogenic signals in physical and biogeochemical variables will exceed natural variability, with resulting impacts on socio-ecological systems," wrote the study authors.

The effects of climate change will ultimately limit the sustainable development of both local economies and regions outside of the tropics.

Seafood is the most highly traded food commodity on the planet. Marine fisheries in tropical zones contribute more than 50 percent of the global fish catch, with an annual average of $96 billion.

Scientific evidence consistently shows that tropical marine habitats, fish stocks, and fisheries are most vulnerable to upcoming shifts that are linked with climate change. 

In the new study, however, the scientists emphasize that telecoupling could generate cascading impacts that are felt in natural systems and human communities worldwide.

Study lead author Vicky Lam is a research associate in UBC's Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries. 

"Telecoupling interactions between two or more linked areas over distance between tropical fisheries and elsewhere include distant-water fishing, the international seafood supply chain, transboundary fisheries resources and their governance would allow benefits derived from tropical fisheries to transfer to the people in the extratropical regions," said Lam.

"Although these linkages could enable the flow of benefits, including food, livelihoods and government revenue, from tropical fisheries to extratropical locations, their dependence on tropical fisheries also exposes them to the negative consequences of climate change in tropical regions." 

"The effects of climate change on tropical fisheries also affect the profitability and employment opportunities of fish-processing industries in extratropical regions."

Study co-author Professor Rashid Sumaila explained that Pacific Island countries and territories are expected to see a redistribution of skipjack and yellowfin tuna - their two most exported fish species - that could see decreased catches of between 10 and 40 percent by 2050 in many countries such as Palau and the Solomon Islands. Meanwhile, catches are expected to increase by 15 to 20 percent in Kiribati and the Cook Islands.

"This will have a tremendous effect on the economies of these small island developing states," said Professor Sumaila. "There are similar projections in African nations, where climate-related changes are expected to decrease the value of landed catch by approximately 20 per cent by 2050, as well as reduce fisheries-related jobs by 50 percent."

"We already see that there are close linkages between the tropical regions and the extra-tropical nations through trade and distant-water fishing," said study co-author William Cheung. 

"Solving climate change impacts in the tropics will benefit the whole world; this provides an additional argument for non-tropical countries to support climate mitigation and adaptation in tropical countries."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/natrevearthenviron">Nature Reviews Earth &amp; Environment</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Climate impacts on tropical fisheries may ripple across the globe

In a new study from the University of British Columbia,...

A new study has revealed that <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/large-brains-allow-humans-to-master-motor-skills/">humans</a> living today have DNA that was passed down from a mysterious, unknown ancestor. Using a new algorithm to analyze genomes, the experts found that early humans and related species crossbred multiple times.

The research, which is published by <a href="https://plos.org/">PLOS</a>, confirms previously reported cases of gene flow between ancient humans and their relatives, and also points to new instances of interbreeding.

The study was conducted by Melissa Hubisz and Amy Williams of Cornell University and Adam Siepel of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.

About 50,000 years ago, a group of humans migrated out of Africa and crossbred with Neanderthals in Eurasia. Recent genomic studies have shown that this was not the only time that our ancient human ancestors and their relatives shared DNA. 

Genetic research involving the Neanderthals and the Denisovans has shed new light on interbreeding events, as well as the movement of our oldest ancestors. 

For the current investigation, the researchers developed an algorithm for analyzing genomes to identify segments of DNA that came from other species. The algorithm can pinpoint gene flow even if it occurred thousands of years ago and involved an unknown source. 

The team used the algorithm to analyze genomes from two Neanderthals, a Denisovan, and two African humans. 

The analysis showed that three percent of the Neanderthal genome came from ancient humans, and the interbreeding occurred between 200,000 and 300,000 years ago. 

The experts also determined that one percent of the Denisovan genome came from an unknown and more distant relative, possibly Homo erectus. The team estimates that about 15 percent of these "super-archaic" regions may have been passed down to modern humans who are alive today.

The researchers explained that given the number of these events, genetic exchange was likely whenever two groups of our human ancestors overlapped in time and space. The new algorithm may prove to be useful for studying gene flow in other species where interbreeding occurred, such as in wolves and dogs.

"What I think is exciting about this work is that it demonstrates what you can learn about deep human history by jointly reconstructing the full evolutionary history of a collection of sequences from both modern humans and archaic hominins," said Siepel. 

"This new algorithm that Melissa has developed, ARGweaver-D, is able to reach back further in time than any other computational method I've seen. It seems to be especially powerful for detecting ancient introgression."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosgenetics/">PLOS Genetics</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Humans living today carry DNA from an unknown ancestor

A new study has revealed that humans living today have...

A new study from the <a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/">University of Leeds</a> is providing the first detailed insight into the problems faced by <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/covid-19-triggers-the-onset-of-diabetes-in-some-patients/">patients</a> as they recover from COVID-19. The researchers have identified a pattern of long-term symptoms reported by survivors after hospitalization.

Once at home, patients are commonly suffering from fatigue, breathlessness, problems with concentration and memory, and an overall decline in quality of life. Individuals who required intensive care are experiencing the most psychological distress, reporting symptoms that are characteristic of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The research was led by Dr. Manoj Sivan, an associate clinical professor at the University of Leeds and a consultant in Rehabilitation Medicine at Leeds General Infirmary.

"COVID-19 is a new illness and we have very little information on longer term problems in individuals after discharge from hospital," said Dr. Sivan. "The emerging evidence is that for some, the road to recovery may take months and it is vital specialist rehabilitation is on hand to support them. This research gives an important insight into patient needs, and that will help shape services in the community."

"This research follows our previous work of predicting COVID-19 patients' long-term needs based on previous coronavirus outbreaks of SARS in 2002 and MERS in 2012," said Dr. Stephen Halpin. "The health problems are similar but on a larger scale given the number of people affected."

For the study, a multidisciplinary team of specialists followed 100 people recovering from COVID-19 for up to eight weeks after being discharged from the hospital.

The COVID-19 survivors were divided into two groups: those who had become critically ill and needed intensive care and those who were treated on a ward without needing intensive care. The patients reported on their recovery and symptoms to the hospital's rehabilitation team.

Fatigue was the most widely reported symptom, affecting 72 percent of patients who had been in intensive care. Among these individuals, more than half experienced fatigue that was moderate to severe.

Many COVID-19 survivors also reported breathlessness and neuropsychological symptoms. The study revealed that just under half of the individuals who had been in intensive care had symptoms of PTSD.

"PTSD symptoms are a well-recognized component of post- intensive care unit syndrome caused by a variety of factors including fear of dying, invasive treatment, pain, delirium, inability to communicate, weakness, immobility, and sensory problems and sleep deprivation," wrote the researchers.

More than two-thirds of patients in the intensive care group and nearly half of individuals in the other group said their overall quality of life had deteriorated.

According to the researchers, the rehabilitation needs of patients who did not require hospital care need to be further analyzed and they will continue to investigate.

The study is published in the <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10969071">Journal of Medical Virology</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Widespread decline in quality of life among COVID-19 survivors

A new study from the University of Leeds is providing the...

A team of scientists led by the U.S. Department of Energy's <a href="https://www.anl.gov/">Argonne National Laboratory</a> has identified a new <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/machine-learning-pinpointed-a-catalyst-for-co2-conversion/">catalyst</a> that is capable of converting carbon dioxide (CO2) and water into ethanol with exceptional energy and cost efficiency.

In the United States, there is a high demand for ethanol in the production of gasoline, and also in the chemical, pharmaceutical, and cosmetics industries.

Study co-author Di-Jia Liu is a  senior chemist in Argonne's Chemical Sciences and Engineering division and a UChicago CASE scientist in the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering.

"The process resulting from our catalyst would contribute to the circular carbon economy, which entails the reuse of carbon dioxide," said Liu. "The process resulting from our catalyst would contribute to the circular carbon economy, which entails the reuse of carbon dioxide."

This new process would work by electrochemically converting the CO2 emitted from industrial processes, such as fossil fuel power plants, into liquid fuel.

"With this research, we've discovered a new catalytic mechanism for converting carbon dioxide and water into ethanol," said study co-author Professor Tao Xu of Northern Illinois University. 

"The mechanism should also provide a foundation for development of highly efficient electrocatalysts for carbon dioxide conversion to a vast array of value-added chemicals."

"We could couple the electrochemical process of CO2-to-ethanol conversion using our catalyst to the electric grid and take advantage of the low-cost electricity available from renewable sources like solar and wind during off-peak hours." 

According to the experts, the new process operates at a low temperature and pressure, which means it can be rapidly started and stopped.

Study co-author Tao Li is an assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Northern Illinois University and an assistant scientist in Argonne's X-ray Science division. 

"Thanks to the high photon flux of the X-ray beams at the APS, we have captured the structural changes of the catalyst during the electrochemical reaction,'' said Professor Li. 

The experiments showed a reversible transformation from atomically dispersed copper to clusters of three copper atoms each on application of a low voltage. The CO2-to-ethanol catalysis occurs on these tiny copper clusters - which will lead to improvements in the design.

"We have prepared several new catalysts using this approach and found that they are all highly efficient in converting CO2 to other hydrocarbons," said Liu. "We plan to continue this research in collaboration with industry to advance this promising technology."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/nenergy">Nature Energy</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Scientists are transforming CO2 into liquid fuel

A team of scientists led by the U.S. Department of...

In a new study from <a href="https://www.berkeley.edu/">UC Berkeley</a>, experts have found that outbreaks of West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/land-use-changes-increase-the-risk-of-diseases-like-covid-19/">diseases</a> could become more frequent in coastal areas of southern California as the climate gets warmer.

The West Nile virus has been a threat to the Los Angeles metropolitan area since it first appeared in this region in 2003. While birds can also carry the deadly virus, it is most commonly transmitted to humans through mosquito bites. 

For the current study, the team analyzed data on nearly two million mosquitoes that had been captured in Los Angeles and tested for West Nile between 2006 and 2016. The experts used machine learning to identify certain factors, such as climate conditions, that influenced mosquito infection throughout various neighborhoods.

The analysis revealed that West Nile infection among the captured mosquitoes was strongly tied to the average temperature in the neighborhood.

Study lead author Nicholas Skaff is a former postdoctoral scholar in Environmental Health Sciences at UC Berkeley's School of Public Health. 

"Our data revealed a sharp transition, where - as temperatures shift between 70 to around 73 degrees Fahrenheit - the likelihood of capturing infected mosquitoes in L.A. neighborhoods increases dramatically," said Skaff. "Above this range, conditions become consistently favorable for transmission, and below this range, conditions are consistently unfavorable."

The findings help explain why coastal communities in Los Angeles seem to be protected from the threat of West Nile outbreaks in some years, yet vulnerable in others.

According to study co-author Professor Justin Remais,  a greater number of West Nile cases can be expected along the southern California coast with significant warming expected over the coming decades.

"Coastal L.A. appears to be vulnerable to the expected warming of California's climate by mid-century, which will push coastal climates more consistently into the favorable zone," said Professor Remais. 

"Inland L.A. may not be as susceptible to these shifts, as the climate is already favorable. Yet, as climate warming progresses towards the century's end, it is possible that temperatures become too hot in these areas."

The researchers emphasize that one or even a few hot days do not appear to increase transmission risk. The outbreaks should be expected after sustained warm temperatures over the course of weeks, after West Nile has had the opportunity to become established.

"Our research suggests that, rather than focusing on daily weather reports, it's important to examine temperatures over the long haul," said Skaff. 

"If coastal Los Angeles experiences a month or two of warm temperatures during the summer or early fall, it's probably a good time to be extra careful to avoid mosquito bites. Inland parts of L.A. are almost always sufficiently hot during the summer, so other factors end up determining whether intense transmission occurs there."

While the study clearly indicates that temperature will play an important role in transmission of the virus, the researchers emphasize that many factors ultimately determine whether a West Nile outbreak will occur.

"You can think of the favorable temperature range we identified as a prerequisite - if other things don't go right for the vector or the virus, transmission may still not occur, even when temperatures are favorable," said Skaff.

"For example, if most of the susceptible birds in the region were infected during the previous year or two because a large outbreak occurred, herd immunity will be high, and the risk to people will be limited."

"Predicting the transmission of infectious diseases carried by animal hosts and vectors represents a complex puzzle, and machine learning can pick up patterns in vast epidemiological and ecological datasets that help us understand why certain people and neighborhoods are at the highest risk, as well as what the future holds," said Professor Remais.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/rspb/for-authors">Proceedings of the Royal Society B</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

West Nile outbreaks may become common in southern California

In a new study from UC Berkeley, experts have found...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="0ynNMYkMKa-2340414-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

[sendtonews key="0ynNMYkMKa-2340414-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="G9bUoxcjr4-2511624-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="3upvlAaHgO-2256633-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

[sendtonews key="3upvlAaHgO-2256633-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="LvS8v8bp9z-2564889-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="iuA5mpp3jv-1641775-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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



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

Kainji Lake in north central Nigeria

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="QGPzYnXEtN-1712599-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="X0f6OHYoI4-2310561-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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?

[sendtonews key="X0f6OHYoI4-2310561-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="JRaP49ISmm-2357509-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="e4ZG0Jawp3-2374785-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="EjmSP20gQK-2593093-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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



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

Remote sensing will revolutionize the way we monitor trees

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="qjvhBOBnY8-2426650-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

[sendtonews key="qjvhBOBnY8-2426650-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="oL4FnPTGCV-2384527-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="f8fukm28Vz-2491833-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="0879czfG3k-1785905-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="6HyfrAJTBI-1831843-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="0dEcERCq61-2283382-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="3UUsNkFOuS-2487333-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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



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

2022 illustrated the consequences of a warming climate

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

Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="QIoVYJqRBi-2434608-12187" type="single"]</div>



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)



---



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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="JbW4VsY53O-1632195-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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



---



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...