Spaghetti, a word that evokes thoughts of delicious Italian cuisine and hearty meals, has taken on an entirely new meaning in the realm of science.



Imagine strands so impossibly thin they are 200 times slimmer than a human hair -- not destined for marinara sauce but poised to revolutionize fields as diverse as medicine and advanced materials science.



Recently, a team of scientists from University College London (<a href="https://www.ucl.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UCL</a>) has crafted the world’s thinnest strands of material, daintily dubbed "spaghetti" in an attempt to blend the familiar with the extraordinary.



Beatrice Britton, the study's lead author, carried out the work as part of her master’s degree in chemistry at UCL.



“To make spaghetti, you push a mixture of water and flour through metal holes. In our study, we did the same except we pulled our flour mixture through with an electrical charge. It’s literally spaghetti but much smaller,” explained co-author Dr. Adam Clancy from the UCL Department of Chemistry.



However, this remarkable creation isn’t for your dinner plate. Its potential lies in novel applications for wound healing, tissue <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/secrets-of-killifish-regeneration-may-help-us-heal-humans/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">regeneration</a>, and drug delivery, thereby setting a new benchmark in nanotechnology.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-healing-power-of-spaghetti-nanopasta">Healing power of "spaghetti" nanopasta</h2>



The secret lies in its base material - starch. This <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/eating-refined-carbs-can-make-you-less-attractive/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">carbohydrate</a>, accumulated in abundance by green plants, provides us with fascinating prospects for creating nanofibers.



The microscopic mats of nanofibers are permeable enough to permit the passage of water and moisture, while acting as a protective barrier against harmful <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bacteria-form-memories-and-pass-them-on-to-future-generations/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bacteria</a>. 



“Nanofibers, such as those made of starch, show potential for use in wound dressings as they are very porous,” said Professor Gareth Williams from UCL School of Pharmacy. 



“In addition, nanofibers are being explored for use as a scaffold to regrow tissue, as they mimic the extra-cellular matrix – a network of proteins and other molecules that cells build to support themselves.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-making-spaghetti-nanopasta">Making spaghetti nanopasta</h2>



Nanofibers made from starch offer remarkable potential for applications in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/increasing-plant-extinction-threatens-the-future-of-medicine-and-human-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">medicine</a> and industry. 



However, traditional methods for producing these materials rely on extracting and purifying starch from plant cells - a process that demands significant energy and water and raises environmental concerns.



The UCL team has devised an innovative alternative: creating nanofibers directly from starch-rich flour, a widely available and sustainable resource.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/spaghetti_worlds-thinnest_nanopasta_single-strand_credit-UCL_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/spaghetti_worlds-thinnest_nanopasta_single-strand_credit-UCL_1s.webp" alt="Each individual strand is too narrow to be clearly captured by any form of visible light camera or microscope, so the team used a scanning electron microscope, scanning the mat with a focused beam of electrons and creating an image based on the pattern of electrons that are deflected or knocked-off. Credit: Beatrice Britton / Adam Clancy" class="wp-image-1951309"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Each individual strand is too narrow to be clearly captured by any form of visible light camera or microscope, so the team used a scanning electron microscope, scanning the mat with a focused beam of electrons and creating an image based on the pattern of electrons that are deflected or knocked-off. Credit: Beatrice Britton / Adam Clancy</figcaption></figure>



Bypassing the need for intensive purification, this approach not only reduces resource consumption but also leverages a common food ingredient in an unexpected and transformative way.



This method represents a shift towards greener nanotechnology, aligning material science innovation with environmental responsibility.



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



The researchers are optimistic about the future of these ultra-thin nanofibers, especially when they are made using starch-rich flour as a starting material.



“Starch is a promising material to use as it is abundant and renewable -- it is the second largest source of biomass on Earth, behind cellulose -- and it is biodegradable, meaning it can be broken down in the body,” said Dr. Clancy.



However, the process of creating nanofibers from flour is not without challenges. Impurities such as proteins and cellulose increase the mixture’s viscosity, making fiber formation more difficult.



The study highlights how using formic acid instead of water effectively breaks down the giant starch helices, allowing the creation of nanofibers. 



The researchers also carefully controlled the mixture’s temperature during preparation to achieve the right consistency. 



This novel approach not only simplifies the process but also opens the door to sustainable and scalable production methods.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-does-any-of-this-matter">Why does any of this matter?</h2>



While the team has made significant progress, much work remains to fully explore the potential of this "healing spaghetti." 



“We’ve shown that a simpler way to make nanofibers using flour is possible. The next step would be to investigate the properties of this product. We would want to know, for instance, how quickly it disintegrates, how it interacts with cells, and if you could produce it at scale,” explained Dr. Clancy.



The versatility of these nanofibers opens the door to applications beyond medicine, potentially transforming areas such as environmental engineering and biodegradable materials.



Despite the promise of starch-based nanofibers in medicine and industry, their culinary applications remain out of reach. 



“I don’t think it’s useful as pasta, sadly, as it would overcook in less than a second, before you could take it out of the pan,” Professor Williams stated humorously.



The researchers plan to continue refining the electrospinning process and exploring the properties of their nanofibers to determine their viability for practical applications. 



For now, the world's thinnest "spaghetti" stands as a remarkable example of the creativity and ingenuity of modern <a href="https://www.earth.com/video/astronauts-are-studying-materials-science-in-space/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">materials science</a>.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2024/na/d4na00601a">Nanoscale Advances</a>.



Image Credit: Beatrice Britton / Adam Clancy



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World’s thinnest spaghetti 'nanopasta' could heal wounds and regrow tissues

Spaghetti, a word that evokes thoughts of delicious Italian cuisine and hearty meals, has taken on an entirely new meaning in the realm of science. Imagine strands so impossibly thin they are 200 times slimmer than a human hair -- not destined for marinara sauce but poised to revolutionize fields as diverse as medicine and advanced materials science. Recently, a team of scientists from University College London (UCL) has crafted the world’s thinnest strands of material, daintily dubbed "spaghetti" in an attempt to blend the familiar with...

Physical <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/reduced-activity-negatively-impact-health/">activity</a> prevents nearly four million deaths every year, according to new research led by the <a href="https://www.cam.ac.uk/">University of Cambridge</a>. The researchers believe there is too much focus on the negative health consequences of physical inactivity, when more emphasis should be placed on the benefits of being physically active.

Dr. Paul Kelly is an expert in the Physical Activity for Health Research Center at the University of Edinburgh. 

"Research into lifestyle factors such as lack of physical activity, poor diet, drinking alcohol, and smoking, tends to focus on the harms these do to health," said Dr. Kelly. "This helps create a narrative to try and prevent and reduce these behaviors."

"We also believe there is value in trying to understand the benefits that 'healthy behaviors' confer in order to argue for maintaining and increasing them. Can we look instead at population activity levels and estimate the health benefits of all this activity to society?"

Led by Dr. Tessa Strain from the MRC Epidemiology Unit at Cambridge, the research team used a number known as the Prevented Fraction for the Population to estimate the number of deaths that are prevented through physical activity.

The experts analyzed published data from 168 countries to determine what percentage of each population meets the World Health Organization weekly guideline of at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, or 75 minutes of high-intensity activity.

The results were highly variable among the different countries, ranging from 33 percent in Kuwait to 94 percent in Mozambique. By combining this data with estimates of the relative risk of premature death due to physical inactivity, the experts were able to calculate the proportion of premature deaths prevented by exercise. 

Worldwide, physical activity was found to lower the annual number of premature deaths by 15 percent, which is the equivalent of 3.9 million lives.

Despite variation in physical activity levels across different countries, the positive contribution of physical activity was surprisingly consistent across the globe. 

The effects were the most profound in low income countries, where 18 percent of premature deaths were averted compared to 14 percent in high income countries. 

In the United States alone, 140,200 early deaths are prevented each year.

"We're used to looking at the downsides of not getting enough activity - whether that's sports or a gym or just a brisk walk at lunchtime - but by focusing on the number of lives saved, we can tell a good news story of what is already being achieved," said Dr Strain. 

"It tells us how much good is being done and helps us say 'look how much benefit physical activity is already providing - let's make things even better by increasing physical activity levels further.'"

"Although there's a risk of complacency - people asking why we need to invest more when it's already providing benefit - we hope our findings will encourage governments and local authorities to protect and maintain services in challenging economic climates."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/issue/current">Lancet Global Health</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Physical activity prevents millions of premature deaths every year

Physical activity prevents nearly four million deaths every year, according...

Siamese fighting <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/blenny-fish-made-a-dramatic-transition-from-water-to-land/">fish</a>, more commonly known as betta fish, are infamous for their highly aggressive behavior. In a new study published by <a href="https://plos.org/">PLOS</a>, experts have discovered that the movements of betta fish become synchronized when they fight.

According to the researchers, each fighting pair exhibits a unique behavioral pattern that is driven by the influence the fish have on each other. 

Upon further analysis, the researchers found that it is not only the behavior of bettas that begins to sync up during a battle, but also the gene expression in their brain cells. 

Betta fish use aggressive tactics such as bites, strikes, and mouth-locking when facing an opponent. Bettas usually stop fighting after they have had the chance to assess each other's skills, which helps them avoid getting seriously injured. 

In the new study, researchers observed that two male opponents were modifying their actions to match the aggressive behavior of the other. 

When the researchers analyzed the bettas' brain activity, they discovered that fighting fish were activating or deactivating the same genes in their brain cells. 

The fighting pair showed similar changes in the expression of genes related to ion transport, synaptic function, learning, and memory, and the coordinated brain activity was unique to each pair.

The team noted that longer fights led to stronger synchronization, indicating that the degree of synchronization is driven by the aggressive interactions. 

Previous studies have documented similar synchronized behaviors in other animals during mating and foraging, and the experts theorize that these behaviors may also lead to synchronized changes in brain activity. 

The findings suggest that even when betta fish are fighting, their brains are actually cooperating and collaborating with each other. Study co-author Norihiro Okada plans to investigate brain activity during interactions between male and female fish. 

"This study presents the possibility that similar behaviors in pairs of animals under similar conditions may trigger synchronizing waves of transcription between the individuals, providing a hint to support the idea that fighting behaviors contain cooperative aspects at the molecular level," wrote the researchers. 

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosgenetics/">PLOS Genetics</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

&nbsp;

Fighting fish synchronize their behavior and brain activity

Siamese fighting fish, more commonly known as betta fish, are...

In a new study from the <a href="https://www.bas.ac.uk/">British Antarctic Survey</a>, scientists report that the Weddell Sea has lost one-third of its summer ice cover in the last five years. Summer sea ice has declined by one million square kilometers, an area twice the size of Spain, in the Weddell Sea along the coast of Antarctica. 

Many animals such as penguins and seals depend on the sea ice that surrounds Antarctica for finding food and breeding. 

The researchers analyzed satellite records and weather data from over the last four decades to investigate the dramatic decline of summer ice in the Weddell Sea. The experts found that much of the ice was lost as a result of severe storms in the Antarctic summer of 2016 and 2017. 

The summer sea ice was also influenced by the re-emergence of a polynya - an area of open water in the middle of the contiguous pack ice - which had not appeared since the mid-1970s.

"Antarctic sea ice continues to surprise us. In contrast to the Arctic, sea ice around the Antarctic had been increasing in extent since the 1970s, but then rapidly decreased to record low levels, with the greatest decline in the Weddell Sea," said study lead author Professor John Turner.

"In summer, this area now has a third less sea ice, which will have implications for ocean circulation and the marine wildlife of the region that depend on it for their survival."

The size of Antarctica doubles in the wintertime when the surrounding ocean freezes. By late September, sea ice extent reaches over 18 million square kilometers. Most Antarctic sea ice melts in the spring and summer, but the Weddell Sea retains a large amount of ice.

According to the study, a series of intense storms developed in the Weddell Sea in December of 2016 that drew warm air toward the Antarctic and melted a substantial amount of sea ice. The resulting lack of ice cover exposed this region of the Southern Ocean to more sunlight, leading to unusually warm water temperatures that have persisted ever since.

The combination of strong winds and warmer ocean temperatures created the polynya, and this large area of open water has also contributed to the decline in summer sea ice.

If the dramatic changes in ice cover continue in the Weddell Sea, there will be major consequences throughout the Antarctic food chain. Many species, including algae, krill, seabirds, seals, and whales, are highly adapted to the presence of sea ice. Changes in ice cover will affect nutrients and reduce the essential habitat needed by vast numbers of animals for breeding and feeding.

"The dramatic decline in sea ice observed in the Weddell Sea is likely to have significant impacts on the way the entire marine ecosystem functions," said study co-author Professor Eugene Murphy. "Understanding these wider consequences is of paramount importance, especially if the decline in ice extent continues."

The sea ice in Antarctica is highly variable from year to year, so the scientists are not yet sure if ice in the Weddell Sea may recover, or whether this is a signal of the long-term decline of sea ice.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/19448007">Geophysical Research Letters</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

&nbsp;

Severe storms triggered a decline in Antarctic sea ice 

In a new study from the British Antarctic Survey, scientists...

A new study from the <a href="https://www.exeter.ac.uk/">University of Exeter</a> reports that half of the global population is exposed to increasing air <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/plastic-pollution-is-increasingly-invading-antarctica/">pollution</a>. Despite decades of efforts to improve air quality, pollution is only getting worse. 

"While long-term policies to reduce air pollution have been shown to be effective in many regions, notably in Europe and the United States, there are still regions that have dangerously high levels of air pollution, some as much as five times greater than World Health Organization guidelines, and in some countries air pollution is still increasing," said study lead author Professor Gavin Shaddick.

According to the <a href="https://www.who.int/">World Health Organization</a>, outdoor air pollution is responsible for around 4.2 million premature deaths every year, and older populations have the highest death rates.

A growing collection of evidence shows that exposure to poor air quality is also detrimental to psychological well-being and cognitive function.

Industrial growth, agriculture, coal-fired power plants, vehicle emissions, and deforestation are all major sources of fine particulate matter pollution.

Low- and middle-income countries experience the highest burden, and the largest concentrations of pollutants are in central and southeastern Asia.

The WHO reports that 97 percent of cities in low- and middle- income countries do not meet air quality guidelines, but that percentage drops to 49 percent in high-income countries.

The research team analyzed air quality trends from 2010 and 2016 alongside short-term and long-term efforts to reduce air pollution.

"Although precise quantification of the outcomes of specific policies is difficult, coupling the evidence for effective interventions with global, regional and local trends in air pollution can provide essential information for the evidence base that is key in informing and monitoring future policies," said Professor Shaddick.

The research suggests that poor air quality is posing an even greater threat to public health in many areas. Rising levels of pollution elevate the risk of stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, and chronic and acute respiratory diseases, including asthma.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/npjclimatsci">Climate and Atmospheric Science</a>.

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By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Increasing air pollution affects half of the global population

A new study from the University of Exeter reports that...

A new study from the <a href="https://www.unsw.edu.au/">University of New South Wales</a> (UNSW) has investigated the ability of blenny fish to make a successful transition onto land. The researchers report that a liberal diet and versatile lifestyle empowered blenny fish to convert, but they had to make major changes to adapt to terrestrial life.

Study lead author Professor Terry Ord is an evolutionary ecologist at UNSW.

"Some species of blennies never emerge from water and others stay on land full-time as adults - so they present a unique opportunity to study fish evolution in action and explore the transition from water to the land in a living animal," said Professor Ord.

"In this study, we found that having a flexible diet has likely allowed blennies to make a successful leap onto land - but once out of the water, these remarkable land fish have faced restrictions on the type of food available to them."

"These restrictions have triggered major evolutionary changes in their morphology, specifically dramatic changes in their teeth, as they have been forced to become specialist scrappers of the rocks to forage on algae and detritus."

According to the researchers, analyzing blenny fish before and after they moved onto land could shed new light on how this type of transition is possible.

"There is ample evidence that transitions from one environment into another are responsible for the evolution of many of the species we see today, as well as the diversity in morphology and behavior we see across different species," said Professor Ord. "But little is known about the mechanisms behind what drives those transitions in the first place."

By combining a set of evolutionary statistical models with their data, the experts were able to identify the sequence of events that likely allowed blennies to leave water and colonize land. The team was also able to gain a better understanding of how blenny fish responded to their new habitat.

"The implications of our findings are that having a broad diet or being behaviorally flexible can help you move into a new habitat. But once there, this flexibility becomes eroded by natural selection. This presumably means those highly specialized species are less likely to be able to make further transitions, or cope with abrupt environment changes in their existing habitat," explained Professor Ord.

"Our findings suggest that being a jack-of-all trade - for example, being flexible in the types of foods you can eat and being flexible in leaving water for very brief periods of time - can open the door to making what would seem to be a really dramatic change in habitat."

"The flipside of our study suggests that some species that are already uniquely specialized to their existing environment are probably less able to make further transitions in habitat, or might not cope well if abrupt changes occur to their environment, for example as a consequence of the current climate crisis."

The scientists noted that their research has limitations and said that further research is needed.

"This study is essentially observation, or what we call a correlational study. The data is suggestive that diet and behavioural flexibility is important for making major transitions in habitat, and that once those transitions have occurred, that flexibility is eroded by adaptation," said Professor Ord.

"But ideally we would want to perform some type of experimental investigation to try to establish causality - that it is flexibility in diet and behavior specifically and not something else that allows such transitions to occur." 

"It's possible that diet or behavioral flexibility are not responsible, and that some other currently unknown factor is. What this experimental study might be is hard to imagine at this stage, but we're working on it."

The study is published in the in the British Ecological Society journal <a href="https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/13652435">Functional Ecology</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Blenny fish made a dramatic transition from water to land

A new study from the University of New South Wales...

Researchers at <a href="https://www.northwestern.edu/">Northwestern University</a> are investigating why <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/animals-have-a-generic-memory-of-their-ancestral-environments/">animals</a> on land have evolved to become so much smarter than animals in the ocean. Their latest study suggests that complex landscapes forced animals to plan ahead rather than just behaving in a habitual manner. 

"We speculated that moving onto land poured jet fuel on the evolution of the brain as it may have advantaged the hardest cognitive operation there is: Envisioning the future," said study lead author Professor MacIver. "It could explain why we can go out for seafood, but seafood can't go out for us."

According to the experts, the ability to plan greatly increased survival rates, so evolution selected for brain circuitry that allowed animals to consider different futures.

"All animals - on land or in water - had the same amount of time to evolve, so why do land animals have most of the smarts?" said Professor Malcolm MacIver. "Our work shows that it's not just about what's in the head but also about what's in the environment."

"And, no, dolphins and whales do not fall into the category of less intelligent sea creatures. Both are land mammals that recently (evolutionarily speaking) returned to water."

Life on land has many obstacles compared to life in the water. Animals can plan ahead and take cover from predators, and predators can find places to hide for sneak attacks. 

However, the researchers report that planning did not give terrestrial creatures the upper hand in every landscape. Based on computer simulations, the experts identified the perfect blend of barriers - not too few and not too many - where planning ahead was the most advantageous. In simple landscapes, like an open field or a dense jungle, planning offered little or no advantage.

"In those simple open or highly packed environments, there is no benefit to planning," explained Professor MacIver. "In the open aquatic environments, you just need to run in the opposite direction and hope for the best. While in the highly packed environments, there are only a few paths to take, and you are not able to strategize because you can't see far. In these environments, we found that planning does not improve your chances of survival."

The research is the latest in a series of studies conducted by Professor MacIver that explore how land animals evolved the ability to plan.

In previous work, Professor MacIver's team showed that when animals moved onto land 385 million years ago, they gained the ability to see about a hundred times farther than they could in water. 

Supercomputer models revealed that while seeing farther is beneficial to planning, it was not enough on its own. The combination of long-range vision and complex terrain, like patchy savanna landscapes, was necessary for animals to master the art of planning ahead for survival. 

"Interestingly, when we split off from life in the trees with chimpanzees nearly seven million years ago and quickly quadrupled in brain size, paleoecology studies point to our having invaded patchy landscapes, similar to those our study highlights, as giving the biggest payoff for strategic thinking," said Professor MacIver.

The study is published <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

&nbsp;

The ability to plan ahead evolved in complex landscapes

Researchers at Northwestern University are investigating why animals on land...

<a href="http://www.earth.com/news/global-warming-is-changing-where-migratory-birds-breed/">Birds</a> alter the way they communicate in new habitats in order to exploit the acoustic properties of their surroundings. Thicker vegetation, the size of tree branches, or even the wind can influence the vocalizations of birds.

In a recent study published by <a href="https://global.oup.com/">Oxford University Press</a>, experts have found that wildfires also alter the way birds communicate. The researchers discovered that fires cause birds in nearby forests to sing new songs.

Hermit warblers have a collection of complex songs they use to defend their territory, but they have a fixed song to attract mates. The birds usually rely on a single dominant song across the same geographic area.

In the United States, the summer range of the hermit warblers is limited to the Pacific Coast states of California, Oregon, and Washington.

Hermit warblers are particularly sensitive to fire and other disturbances. But while the birds are negatively impacted after wildfires in the short-term, they show positive changes in response to larger shifts in the forest structure over the long-term.

The researchers recorded the dominant songs of 1,588 males across 101 study sites between 2009 and 2014. The songs were analyzed and classified into 35 dialects. 

To investigate the factors that influence bird song diversity, the team modeled the effects of recent fire history at the local scale, the amount of breeding habitat on a regional scale, and the distance between territories.

The study revealed that local bird song diversity increased in correspondence with the extent of local fires and the amount of regional habitat. 

The analysis of data from ten study areas revisited in 2019 confirmed the influence of wildfires on bird songs. The researchers noted that song structure had changed since the initial visits five to ten years earlier. They also found that song diversity had substantially increased at locations that had endured wildfires between the two visits. 

"Our surveys suggest that song dialects arose in sub-populations specialized to different forest types," said study lead author Brett Furnas. 

"Over the longer term, fire caused some birds to flee and created a vacuum for other birds to fill. The net result is that some areas now have birds singing more than one dialect resulting in a complex diversity of songs throughout California."

The research is published in <a href="https://academic.oup.com/auk">The Auk: Ornithological 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;

Birds sing different songs after wildfires

Birds alter the way they communicate in new habitats in...

A new study has revealed that increasing <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/mangrove-trees-will-vanish-by-2050-without-reduced-emissions/">tree</a> canopy in urban areas could prevent between 271 and 400 premature deaths per year. A team of experts led by Michelle Kondo of the <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/">USDA Forest Service</a> investigated the city-wide health impacts of tree cover in Philadelphia.

The study shows that increased tree canopy or green space can reduce premature deaths among urban populations. According to the researchers, the effects will be the most profound in areas with lower socioeconomic status, where existing tree cover tends to be the lowest.

"In recent weeks, as residents of many cities experienced quarantine conditions, we experienced a heightened need for public green space," said Kondo. 

"While the COVID-19 pandemic has meant that we need to pay attention to our proximity to other people and take precautions to limit our contact, time outside in parks and forests has been critical to maintaining our mental and physical health."

The study was focused on Greenworks Philadelphia, an initiative designed to increase tree canopy to 30 percent across the city by 2025. The experts wanted to know how this project would potentially impact human mortality.

The analysis is one of the first to use a tool developed by public health researchers in Spain and Switzerland, the Greenspace-Health Impact Assessment, to evaluate the health benefits of exposure to greenspaces.

The team estimated the annual number of preventable deaths associated with projected changes in tree cover in Philadelphia between 2014 and 2025.

The researchers calculated that increasing urban tree canopy to 30 percent in all Philadelphia neighborhoods could prevent 400 deaths annually. 

The researchers also found that a lesser extent of tree canopy expansion would still produce enormous health benefits. Increasing tree cover by just five percent was linked to an annual reduction of 302 premature deaths, and a 10-percent increase was linked to a reduction of 376 deaths

Kondo said the findings support the idea that urban greening efforts are worthwhile, even at modest levels.

"Bringing all of Philadelphia, and particularly its poorer neighborhoods, up to the 30% goal of tree canopy cover is not without challenge," wrote the study authors. "Nevertheless, policies are warranted that value urban greening efforts as health-promoting and cost-saving measures."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/planetary-health">The Lancet Planetary Health</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Urban tree canopy can prevent hundreds of premature deaths

A new study has revealed that increasing tree canopy in...

Plastic <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/plastic-pollution-is-increasingly-invading-antarctica/">pollution</a> is a global crisis that has been well-documented, and one of the biggest concerns is how long plastics persist in the environment. However, a new study suggests that we do not know nearly enough about the lifetime of plastics to sufficiently address the issue. 

Collin Ward is a marine chemist at the <a href="https://www.whoi.edu/">Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution</a> (WHOI) and a member of the Microplastics Catalyst Program, a long-term research program on plastics in the ocean. He explained that getting a true read on how long it takes for plastic to break down in the environment is tricky business.

"Plastics are everywhere, but one of the most pressing questions is how long plastics last in the environment," said Ward. "The environmental and human health risks associated with something that lasts one year in the environment, versus the same thing that lasts 500 years, are completely different."

It is critical to understand more about the lifetime of plastics to support better consumer choices, to help experts assess associated health risks, and to inform legislators and new policies.

Ward collaborated with WHOI marine chemist Chris Reddy to analyze nearly 60 relevant documents from a variety of sources, including governmental agencies, non-profits, textbooks, and social media sites. The experts found that there was little consistency in the lifetime estimates of the most common plastic products, like plastic bags.

"The estimates being reported to the general public and legislators vary widely," said Ward. "In some cases, they vary from one year to hundreds of years to forever."

There were also some lifetime estimates that seemed to be too similar. Of particular interest, Ward noted, were the estimates for how long fishing line lasts in the ocean. He said that 37 different documents reported that fishing line has a lifetime of 600 years.

"Every single one said 600 years, it was incredible. I'm being a little tongue-in-cheek here, but we're all more likely to win the lottery than 37 independent science studies arriving at the same answer of 600 years for fishing line to degrade in the environment."

Furthermore, Ward could not find evidence that a single estimate was backed by a scientific study. Instead, the research was either funded or conducted by the agencies that published the documents. 

"The reality is that what the public and legislators know about the environmental persistence of plastic goods is often not based on solid science, despite the need for reliable information to form the foundation for a great many decisions, large and small," wrote the study authors.

Last year, Ward and his team conducted a study which showed that polystyrene, which is widely used in a variety of products, may degrade in decades when exposed to sunlight. Prior to the study, it was believed that polystyrene persisted for thousands of years. 

The researchers used mass spectometry to investigate how environmental factors such as sunlight affect the chemical breakdown of the polystyrene, which is the first type of plastic found in the coastal ocean by WHOI scientists nearly fifty years ago.

According to Reddy, one of the biggest misconceptions surrounding the fate of plastics in the environment is that they simply break down into smaller bits that hang around forever.

"This is the narrative we see all the time in the press and social media, and it's not a complete picture," said Reddy. "But through our own research and collaborating with others, we've determined that in addition to plastics breaking down into smaller fragments, they also degrade partially into different chemicals, and they break down completely into CO2." 

The chemical form of plastic would be overlooked in ocean surveys searching for missing plastics.

Chelsea Rochman, a biologist at the University of Toronto, noted that understanding the various forms of plastic degradation will be key to solving one of the enduring mysteries of plastic pollution: more than 99 percent of the plastic that should be detected in the ocean is missing.

"Researchers are beginning to talk about the global plastic cycle. A key part of this will be understanding the persistence of plastics in nature. We know they break down into smaller and smaller pieces, but truly understanding mechanisms and transformation products are key parts of the puzzle," said says Rochman.

The WHOI analysis highlights the need for public information to be supported by scientific evidence.

"The question of environmental persistence of plastics is not going to be easy to answer," said Ward. "But by bringing transparency to this environmental issue, we will help improve the quality of information available to all stakeholders - consumers, scientists, and legislators - to make informed, sustainable decisions."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.pnas.org/">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

The lifetime of plastic is misrepresented and not well understood

Plastic pollution is a global crisis that has been well-documented,...

A flushing toilet releases clouds of virus-containing particles, according to a new study published by the <a href="https://www.aip.org/">American Institute of Physics</a>. The researchers used a computer model to show that toilet flushing creates large clouds of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/volcanic-aerosols-cool-climate/">aerosol</a> droplets that linger in the air long enough to be inhaled.

This presents a new potential pathway for COVID-19 transmission in public restrooms, as recent studies have detected traces of SARS-CoV-2 in the feces and urine of patients.

Toilet flushing creates a great deal of turbulence, and there is evidence to suggest that the force is strong enough to release bacteria and viruses. The public remains largely unaware of this infection pathway because it has not been thoroughly investigated.

In the new study, precise computer models were used to simulate water and air flows in a flushing toilet. 

The researchers used a standard set of fluid dynamic formulas, known as the Navier-Stokes equations, to examine flushing in two types of toilets - one with a single inlet for flushing water, and another with two inlets to create a rotating flow.

The team also used a discrete phase model to replicate the movement of tiny droplets as they are ejected from the toilet bowl into the air. According to the researchers, the results of the simulations were striking.

When a toilet is flushed, water pours into the toilet bowl from one side and strikes the opposite side, creating a vortex. The study revealed that these vortices whirl up above the toilet bowl as high as three feet, suspending virus-containing droplets in the air. The droplets are so tiny that they can float for more than a minute, which is how long they could be inhaled, before settling onto surrounding surfaces. 

"One can foresee that the velocity will be even higher when a toilet is used frequently, such as in the case of a family toilet during a busy time or a public toilet serving a densely populated area," said study co-author Ji-Xiang Wang of Yangzhou University.

A simple solution to help prevent the spread of viruses in restrooms is to close the lid before flushing. However, in many countries such as the United States, toilets often do not have lids in public restrooms. The researchers recommend a new toilet design that would include a lid that closes automatically before flushing.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://aip.scitation.org/journal/phf">Physics of Fluids</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Flushing toilets eject virus-containing droplets

A flushing toilet releases clouds of virus-containing particles, according to...

Arctic permafrost contains one billion metric tons of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/rivers-transport-burned-carbon-to-the-ocean-for-storage/">carbon</a>, some of which is emitted into the atmosphere as a result of microbial activity. By the end of this century, experts estimate that between 5 and 15 percent of the organic carbon stored in permafrost will be released as carbon dioxide, elevating global warming by an additional 0.3 to 0.4 degrees Celsius.

However, a new study indicates that this estimate is too low because it fails to account for another natural process that releases CO2. 

Researchers at the <a href="https://umich.edu/">University of Michigan</a> have shown that after thawing permafrost enters lakes and rivers, organic carbon can be oxidized by sunlight in a process known as photomineralization.

The team demonstrated that organic carbon from thawing permafrost is highly susceptible to photomineralization by ultraviolet and visible light, and has the potential to convert 14 percent of the organic carbon stored in permafrost into carbon dioxide. 

Study lead author Rose Cory is an aquatic geochemist and a professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences.

"Only recently have global climate models included greenhouse gases from thawing permafrost soils. But none of them contain this feedback pathway," said Professor Cory.

"To get a number on how much carbon could be released from permafrost soils through oxidation, we have to understand what are the processes and what is the timescale: maybe this carbon is just so resistant to oxidation that, even if thawed out, it would just flow into the Arctic ocean and be buried in another freezer."

It is challenging to measure the potential effects of photomineralization because the process is influenced by specific wavelengths of light. In order to measure each wavelength's effect on soil organic carbon, study co-author Collin Ward built a new instrument that uses LED lights to mimic different wavelengths of the sun.

"This new LED-based method makes it far easier and cheaper to figure out how light-driven reactions vary for different wavelengths of the sun," said Ward. "After I built the instrument I immediately called Rose and told her that I wanted to first use it on permafrost samples."

The researchers used soil samples collected from six Arctic locations and subjected the organic carbon to LED light. After the light exposure, the team used a mass spectrometer to measure the age and amount of carbon dioxide obtained from the soil carbon.

The analysis revealed that the amount of carbon dioxide released was not only affected by the wavelength of sunlight, but also by the amount of iron in the sample. Iron acted as a catalyst, increasing the reactivity of the soil.

"What we have long suspected is that iron catalyzes this sunlight-driven process, and that's exactly what our results show," said Professor Cory. "As the total amount of iron increases, the amount of carbon dioxide increases."

The team set out to show that the oxidation of organic carbon was not just taking place in permafrost that thaws annually, which would release much smaller amounts of CO2, but was also occurring in ancient permafrost. Carbon dating revealed that the soil samples were between 4,000 and 6,300 years old, confirming that old  permafrost carbon can be converted to CO2.

"Not only do we have the first wavelength specific measurement of this sunlight-driven reaction but we have verification that it's old carbon that is oxidized to carbon dioxide," said Professor Cory. 

"We can put to rest any doubt that sunlight will oxidize old carbon and we show what is controlling this process - it's the iron that catalyzes the sunlight oxidation of ancient (or old) carbon."

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;

Co2 emissions from permafrost have been underestimated

Arctic permafrost contains one billion metric tons of carbon, some...

Researchers at the <a href="https://www.bristol.ac.uk/">University of Bristol</a> have confirmed a strong correlation between prolonged loneliness and smoking. According to the study, <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/loneliness-genes-feelings-isolation/">loneliness</a> causes some people to start smoking and makes it harder for smokers to quit. 

Deborah Arnott is the chief executive of Action of Smoking &amp; Health (ASH). She said the research highlights the need for smokers suffering from loneliness to be given support - not only to improve their health and well-being, but also to help reduce their loneliness.

"If lonely people are more likely to start smoking and find it harder to quit, they are more likely to suffer the harm caused by smoking," said Arnott.

"Smoking is the leading cause of preventable premature death, with thirty times as many people who die suffering serious smoking-related illnesses such as cancer, heart and respiratory disease." 

While previous research has established a link between smoking and loneliness, it has remained unclear whether smoking is the cause or the effect of loneliness. 

For the current study, the experts tried a new approach. They used a research method known as Mendelian randomization, involving genetic and survey data from hundreds of thousands of people. The study revealed that loneliness leads to the increased likelihood of smoking behavior.

"This method has never been applied to this question before and so the results are novel, but also tentative," said study co-author Dr. Robyn Wootton. "We found evidence to suggest that loneliness leads to increased smoking, with people more likely to start smoking, to smoke more cigarettes, and to be less likely to quit."

The study produced evidence that prolonged feelings of loneliness increase the chances of starting smoking and the number of cigarettes smoked. At the same time, feeling lonely decreases the likelihood of successfully quitting. 

The findings reflect the same trends that were recently identified through surveys by YouGov's COVID-19 tracker. The polls revealed that 2.2 million people across the UK are smoking more now compared to before lockdown. 

In addition, the results of both studies suggest that starting smoking increases an individual's feelings of loneliness.

"Our finding that smoking may also lead to more loneliness is tentative, but it is in line with other recent studies that identified smoking as a risk factor for poor mental health," said study senior author Dr. Jorien Treur.

"A potential mechanism for this relationship is that nicotine from cigarette smoke interferes with neurotransmitters such as dopamine in the brain."

The team also investigated a potential connection between loneliness and alcohol use, and found no significant link.

"While the method that we used in this study has important advantages, it is also early days for this type of study. We therefore suggest further research is conducted when more is known about the genetics of alcohol dependence and loneliness," said Dr. Treur

The Office of National Statistics (ONS) reports that during the first month of lockdown, 7.4 million people said their well-being was affected by feelings of loneliness. Individuals who felt lonely were more likely to struggle to find things to help them cope, and were less likely to feel they had a support group.

"Suddenly, the whole of the UK has become more socially isolated than ever before, and for many people this will likely increase their loneliness," said Dr. Wootton. "We were really interested to find that loneliness decreases the likelihood of stopping smoking and we think this is a really important consideration for those trying to stop smoking during the pandemic."

"We are still yet to see the full effects of the coronavirus pandemic on alcohol and cigarette use in the UK. Whilst our study does not look at the effects of loneliness and social isolation as the result of the pandemic, it can shed some light on the consequences of loneliness in general."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.addictionjournal.org/">Addiction</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Loneliness makes it easier to start smoking and harder to quit

Researchers at the University of Bristol have confirmed a strong...

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;



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



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

Kainji Lake in north central Nigeria

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Amanda Nguyen/University of Illinois



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



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

Designing crops that can beat the heat

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

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Remote sensing will revolutionize the way we monitor trees

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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

Wetlands are a major source of methane emissions

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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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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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...