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...

Ancient crocodiles weighed 1,000 pounds and walked on two legs. Ancient <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/human-footprints-oldest-england/">footprints</a> found in South Korea belong to massive crocodiles that walked on their hind legs, according to a new study published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/srep/">Scientific Reports</a>. 

The tracks were initially thought to have been made by giant pterosaurs, but researchers were shocked to discover the footprints belonged to a crocodile species that walked on two legs like dinosaurs.

"At one site, the footprints were initially thought to be made by a giant bipedal pterosaur walking on the mudflat, we now understand that these were bipedal crocodile prints," said Dr. Anthony Romilio of the University of Queensland.

"The footprints measure around 24 centimeters, suggesting the track-makers had legs about the same height as human adult legs. These were long animals that we estimate were over three meters in length.

"And while footprints were everywhere on the site, there were no handprints."

In previous work, a team of paleontologists led by Professor Kyung Soo Kim of Chinju National University found multiple sets of large, well-preserved footprints during excavation at the Sacheon Jahye-ri site in South Korea. 

A recent analysis of the tracks, which date back 110 to 120 million years, revealed that they were made by a new species of crocodylomorph.

"Typical crocodiles walk in a squat stance and create trackways that are wide," said Professor Kim. "Oddly, our trackways are very narrow looking - more like a crocodile balancing on a tight-rope."

"When combined with the lack of any tail-drag marks, it became clear that these creatures were moving bipedally."

"They were moving in the same way as many dinosaurs, but the footprints were not made by dinosaurs."

Professor Kim explained that dinosaurs and their bird descendants walk on their toes.

"Fossil crocodile tracks are quite rare in Asia, so finding an abundance of nearly one hundred footprints was extraordinary," said Dr. Romilio.

"As an animal walks, the hind feet have the potential of stepping into the impression made by the hand and 'over-printing' it, but we find no evidence of this at these Korean sites."

"It isn't due to poor preservation either, because these fossils are spectacular, they even have the fine details of the toe-pads and scales on their soles preserved."

The newly described crocodile, known as Batrachopus grandis, weighed nearly 1,000 pounds, had razor-sharp teeth and measured approximately 13.1 feet. According to the experts, the massive crocodile likely fed on anything available, including dinosaurs. 

The findings suggest that tracks found at earlier sites, originally believed to have been made by giant pterosaurs, may instead belong to crocodylomorphs. 

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/srep/">Scientific Reports</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Ancient crocodiles weighed 1,000 pounds and walked on two legs

Ancient crocodiles weighed 1,000 pounds and walked on two legs....

A new study from <a href="https://www.kcl.ac.uk/">Kings College London</a> reports that <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/neurological-symptoms-may-be-the-first-sign-of-covid-19-infection/">COVID-19</a> can actually trigger the onset of diabetes in healthy patients and cause unusual complications in patients with pre-existing diabetes.

A team of experts involved in an international research initiative, the CoviDiab Registry project, has now established a Global Registry to document all new cases of COVID-19 patients with diabetes.

The goal of the Registry is to analyze the manifestations of diabetes in patients with COVID-19, and to identify the best strategies for treatment and monitoring, even after the pandemic.

Stephanie Amiel is a professor of Diabetes Research at King's and a co-investigator of the CoviDiab Registry project. 

"The registry focuses on routinely collected clinical data that will help us examine insulin secretory capacity, insulin resistance and autoimmune antibody status to understand how COVID-19 related diabetes develops, its natural history and best management," said Professor Amiel. "Studying COVID-19-related diabetes may uncover novel mechanisms of disease."

As many as 30 percent of patients who have died from COVID-19 had diabetes. The latest research has produced evidence of a bi-directional relationship between the two conditions. While diabetes increases the risk of developing a severe and life-threatening infection, COVID-19 is linked to new-onset cases and unusual metabolic complications of pre-existing diabetes.

Francesco Rubino is a professor of Metabolic Surgery at King's and co-lead investigator of the CoviDiab Registry project.

"Diabetes is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases and we are now realizing the consequences of the inevitable clash between two pandemics," said Professor Rubino. 

"Given the short period of human contact with this new coronavirus, the exact mechanism by which the virus influences glucose metabolism is still unclear and we don't know whether the acute manifestation of diabetes in these patients represent classic type 1, type 2 or possibly a new form of diabetes."

The findings of previous studies suggest that ACE-2, the protein that is exploited by SARS-Cov-2 to gain initial entry into human cells, may also provide a gateway for the virus to disrupt the production or activity of insulin.

The ACE2 protein is not only present in the lungs, but also in organs and tissues that are involved in glucose metabolism such as the pancreas, small intestine, fat tissue, liver, and kidneys. Experts theorize that by entering these tissues, the virus may cause multiple and complex dysfunctions of glucose metabolism. 

Paul Zimmet is a professor of Diabetes at Monash University and co-lead investigator in the CoviDiab Registry project. 

"We don't yet know the magnitude of the new onset diabetes in COVID-19 and if it will persist or resolve after the infection; and if so, whether or not or COVID-19 increases risk of future diabetes," said Professor Zimmet. "By establishing this Global Registry, we are calling on the international medical community to rapidly share relevant clinical observations that can help answer these questions".

The study is published in the <a href="https://www.nejm.org/">New England Journal of Medicine</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;

COVID-19 triggers the onset of diabetes in some patients

A new study from Kings College London reports that COVID-19...

Experts at the <a href="https://umich.edu/">University of Michigan</a> are one step closer to developing ways to boost the body's natural <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/irregular-sleep-patterns-metabolic-disorders/">metabolic</a> response. The researchers have identified a signaling pathway that triggers fat burning in thermogenic fat cells.

In recent years, scientists have been exploring ways to activate thermogenic fat cells, or beige fat, due to their ability to burn fat. Targeting these cells could help treat obesity and other metabolic disorders, but activating beige fat in humans presents challenges. 

A process called adrenergic signaling uses the hormone catecholamine to instruct beige fat cells to start burning energy. However, adrenergic signaling also regulates other important biological functions, such as blood pressure and heartbeat, so controlling this process in humans has the potential for dangerous side effects. 

In the new study, researchers have discovered a pathway that can regulate beige fat thermogenesis independently of adrenergic signaling. The pathway utilizes a receptor protein called Cholinergic Receptor Nicotinic Alpha 2 Subunit (CHRNA2).

Study senior author Jun Wu is an assistant professor at the University of Michigan Life Sciences Institute (LSI).

"This pathway opens a whole new direction for approaching metabolic disorders," said Professor Wu. "Of course, this cholinergic pathway also is involved in other important functions, so there is still much work to do to really figure out how this might work in humans. But we are encouraged by these initial findings."

To investigate, the team blocked the CHRNA2 pathway in the beige fat of mice, and then fed them a high-fat diet. Without the CHRNA2 receptor proteins, the mice gained more weight and were less able to activate thermogenesis and burn fat.

According to Professor Wu, the findings are particularly exciting in light of the recent discovery of a new type of beige fat - glycolytic beige fat - that is not regulated by catecholamine. The LSI study indicates that glycolytic beige fat can be activated through the CHRNA2 pathway.

"Many patients with metabolic disorders have catecholamine resistance, meaning their cells do not detect or respond to catecholamine," said Professor Wu. "So even if it could be done safely, activating that adrenergic pathway would not be an effective treatment option for such patients. This new pathway, with this new subtype of beige fat, could be the beginning of a whole new chapter for approaching this challenge."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/developmental-cell/home">Developmental Cell</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;

Scientists discover a new target to activate fat burning cells

Experts at the University of Michigan are one step closer...

Trinidadian guppies face their <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/deep-ocean-predators-thrived/">predators</a> with the skills of a matador, manipulating the movement of their attackers to execute the perfect escape. An international research team led by the <a href="https://www.exeter.ac.uk/">University of Exeter</a> discovered this strategy after observing guppies interacting with pike cichlids.

The guppies approach cichlids and get their attention by conspicuously turning the irises of their eyes black. This causes the fish to lunge at the guppies' heads instead of their bodies. The tiny fish respond by suddenly whipping their heads out of the way so the cichlids miss their target. 

"We noticed that guppies would approach a cichlid at an angle, quickly darkening their eyes to jet-black, and then waiting to see if it would attack," said study lead author Dr. Robert Heathcote.

"Cichlids are ambush predators, lying in wait like a coiled spring before launching themselves at their prey.The guppies actually use their eyes to get the predator's attention, causing them to lunge at a guppy's head rather than its body."

"Whilst it seems completely counterintuitive to make a predator attack your head, this strategy works incredibly well because guppies wait until the predator commits to its attack before pivoting out of the way."

"The speed of the whole interaction is extraordinary - at around three hundredths of a second - so was only observable using a high-speed camera."

Many animals use conspicuous colors for communication, attracting mates, or warding off predators. The divertive strategy used by guppies was unknown prior to this study, but the researchers speculate that it is used by other species as well.

"We don't know for sure, but it seems highly likely that other animals also use a 'matador' strategy like the one we have identified in guppies," said Professor Darren Croft.

"Eyes are one of the most easily recognized structures in the natural world and many species go to great lengths to conceal and camouflage their eyes to avoid unwanted attention from predators.

"Some species, however, have noticeable or prominent eyes and, for the most part, it has remained a mystery as to why this would be. Our latest research gives new insight into why 'conspicuous' and colorful eyes have evolved."

The experts were surprised to find that larger guppies were better at escaping cichlids compared to smaller ones.

"As animals become larger, they generally become less agile. If larger prey don't have weapons or other ways of defending themselves, this can result in them being easier for predators to catch," said Dr. Heathcote.

"By turning their eyes black, larger guppies actually reverse this phenomenon. Bigger guppies with black eyes are better at diverting and escaping predator attacks."

"Since bigger animals produce more or larger offspring, it would be really exciting to find out if the animals that use these kinds of strategies have evolved to become larger."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/home">Current Biology</a>.

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By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Guppies use black eyes and quick reflexes to escape predators

Trinidadian guppies face their predators with the skills of a...

In a new study, climate scientists at the <a href="https://www.tyndall.ac.uk/">Tyndall Centre</a> have determined that the shipping sector cannot wait for new energy-efficient ships to come along to address the issue of harmful <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/mangrove-trees-will-vanish-by-2050-without-reduced-emissions/">emissions</a>.

Ships must urgently reduce their carbon footprint to support the global targets established by the Paris Agreement. Plans to cut back on shipping emissions have been mainly focused on the development of new, low-carbon ships.

However, the new study shows that CO2 emissions from existing ships will dominate the sector's safe carbon budget, and will likely even exceed this budget before new ships are factored in. 

According to the research, policies designed to reduce shipping pollution must focus on updating and decarbonizing existing ships, rather than relying on more efficient ships to make progress. 

The researchers established multiple ways that existing ships can cut their lifetime emissions, such as traveling at slower speeds, adding new renewable technologies such as Flettner rotors, using grid electricity while in port, and adopting other energy saving measures.

"This research highlights the key role existing ships play in tackling the climate crisis," said study co-author James Mason. "We must push for quick action for these ships, whether through speed reductions or other innovative solutions such as wind propulsion."

The scientists found that if changes are implemented quickly, the shipping sector could still make its fair contribution to the Paris climate agreement. Otherwise, other sectors will have to compensate by cutting even more emissions on a shorter timescale. 

"The shipping industry continues to play a hugely important role in international trade and especially for our island nation, but this research highlights that the International Maritime Organisation's current targets need to be substantially tightened to align with Paris goals," said Professor Alice Larkin of the <a href="https://www.manchester.ac.uk/">University of Manchester</a>.

The study was focused on data from 11,000 ships included in the European Union's new emissions monitoring scheme (EU MRV).

"Shipping is generally a greener way to transport freight than roads or planes, but its impact is still very large," said study co-author Simon Bullock. "This research shows there is hope - shipping's overall emissions could be dramatically reduced, if policy-makers act to cut the emissions from the existing fleet".

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://bmcenergy.biomedcentral.com/">BMC 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;

Ships must urgently cut CO2 emissions to meet global climate goals

In a new study, climate scientists at the Tyndall Centre...

After reviewing published studies on the neurological symptoms of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/clean-energy-should-be-prioritized-during-covid-19-recovery/">COVID-19</a> patients, researchers at <a href="https://www.northwestern.edu/">Northwestern University</a> have determined that the disease threatens the entire nervous system. The experts report that the first sign of COVID-19 infection may be neurological symptoms, which can appear before fever or respiratory symptoms. 

The study revealed that about half of hospitalized COVID-19 patients have neurological symptoms, including dizziness, headache, mental confusion, difficulty concentrating, lack of smell and taste, seizures, strokes, weakness, and muscle pain.

Study lead author Dr. Igor Koralnik is a professor of Neurology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

"It's important for the general public and physicians to be aware of this, because a SARS-COV-2 infection may present with neurologic symptoms initially, before any fever, cough or respiratory problems occur," said Dr. Koralnik.

In a review published today in the journal <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/15318249">Annals of Neurology</a>, the researchers describe the different neurological conditions that may arise in COVID-19 patients and how to diagnose these conditions. "This understanding is key to direct appropriate clinical management and treatment," said Dr. Koralnik.

According to the findings, COVID-19 has the potential to impact the entire nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord, nerves and muscles.

Dr. Koralnik explained that there are many different ways COVID-19 can cause neurological dysfunction. For example, the virus may directly infect the brain and meninges, or the body's immune response may cause inflammation that can damage the brain and nerves.

In addition, since COVID-19 can affect multiple organs, the brain may suffer from lack of oxygenation or from blood clotting, which increases the risk of stroke.

The study authors have now formed a Neuro-COVID research team that is currently investigating neurological symptoms among all COVID-19 patients that have been hospitalized at Northwestern Medicine. The experts want to determine the frequency and type of neurological complications, as well as their response to treatment.

Dr. Koralnik will follow up with some patients in his new outpatient Neuro-COVID clinic to analyze the long-term health outcomes of neurologic COVID-19 complications. These studies will form the foundation for diagnosing, managing, and treating the neurological manifestations of COVID-19, said Dr. Koralnik.

The research is published in the journal <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/15318249">Annals of Neurology</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Neurological symptoms may be the first sign of COVID-19 infection

After reviewing published studies on the neurological symptoms of COVID-19...

In a new study published by <a href="https://www.aaas.org/">AAAS</a>, researchers have determined that the benefits of sea otter recovery along the North <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/pacific-salmon-water-temperatures/">Pacific</a> coast are far greater than the losses to commercial fisheries. 

The experts report that the annual gains from sea otters outweigh the losses to local crab, urchin, and shellfish fisheries by up to 46 million Canadian dollars.

In an article spotlighting the research, James Estes and Lilian Carswell wrote that the analysis has produced a "method for looking beyond depredation in assessing the costs and benefits of living with predators."

By the early 1900s, sea otters nearly vanished on the Pacific Coast as a result of decades of excessive hunting to support the fur trade. As the number of sea otters dwindled, populations of their preferred prey - such as clams, mussels, and crabs - began to thrive.

Sea otters were reintroduced in the 1970's, and they quickly spread and transformed the eastern North Pacific coast. While Pacific kelp forests have greatly benefited from the rapid expansion of sea otters, commercial fisheries and local fishermen have suffered major catch losses.

Conflicts that arise when key predators are reintroduced present a challenge for those working in natural resource management. Even though such conflicts are common, they have rarely been evaluated, and there is no universally accepted method of cost-benefit analysis.

Experts led by Professor Edward Gregr of the University of British Columbia have now developed a modeling framework to evaluate the economic costs and benefits associated with sea otter recovery off Vancouver Island.

According to the study, the overall monetary value of healthier kelp forests, carbon storage, and tourism supported by otters will greatly exceed the losses to commercial fisheries. 

“Our work offers a glimpse into a future where otter populations have recovered to an estimated 5,000 animals, and have fully reoccupied their historic range,” Professor Gregr told <a href="https://science.ubc.ca/news/recovery-sea-otter-populations-yields-more-benefits-costs">UBC Science</a>. “We found that coastal ecosystems with otters present are almost 40 percent more productive. In the long run, that equates to higher fish catches worth $9 million, carbon storage worth $2 million and tourism opportunities worth $42 million per year.”

The study authors noted that the costs and benefits of sea otter recovery will be distributed unequally among economic sectors and local communities, especially for Indigenous Peoples, who are experiencing the losses more acutely. 

However, the researchers emphasized that quantifying the impacts of such ecological transformations will help mitigate conflicts, promote public acceptance of ecosystem change, and identify alternate opportunities for local communities. 

In their related editorial, Estes and Carswell wrote that the research "should spark a new era of ecological-economic research that can be used by natural resource policymakers and managers to make and defend more rational, equitable, and far-sighted decisions affecting predators."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencemag.org/">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;

Benefits of sea otters in the North Pacific greatly outweigh costs

In a new study published by AAAS, researchers have determined...

Every year, more than 1,000 tons of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/massive-concentrations-of-microplastics-found-on-the-seafloor/">plastic</a> rains down on protected areas in the western United States, according to a new study from <a href="https://www.usu.edu/">Utah State University</a>. The research was focused on samples of microplastics and other particles collected in 11 national parks and wilderness areas. 

A team led by Professor Janice Brahney analyzed the composition of the particles to identify the sources of atmospheric plastic and to track its movement and fallout. 

"We were shocked at the estimated deposition rates and kept trying to figure out where our calculations went wrong," said Professor Brahney. "We then confirmed through 32 different particle scans that roughly 4% of the atmospheric particles analyzed from these remote locations were synthetic polymers."

Global production of plastic reached 348 million metric tons in 2017, and this amount continues to grow. Due to the resilience of plastic, it persists in the environment and breaks down into microplastics that accumulate in wastewater, rivers, and oceans. The new study shows that microplastics also accumulate in the atmosphere. 

"Several studies have attempted to quantify the global plastic cycle but were unaware of the atmospheric limb," said Professor Brahney. "Our data show the plastic cycle is reminiscent of the global water cycle, having atmospheric, oceanic, and terrestrial lifetimes."

The researchers investigated the source and life history of wet and dry microplastic deposition. The team found that cities and population centers were the initial sources of plastics that were deposited by rain. These microplastics were also redistributed by secondary sources, such as soil and surface waters. 

On the other hand, dry microplastic deposits transported by wind were associated with large-scale atmospheric patterns and showed indications they had been carried over long distances. 

Most of the plastics deposited in both wet and dry samples were microfibers sourced from clothing and industrial materials. In addition, 30 percent of the particles were brightly colored acrylic microbeads that likely originated in industrial paints and coatings. 

"This result, combined with the size distribution of identified plastics, and the relationship to global-scale climate patterns, suggest that plastic emission sources have extended well beyond our population centers and, through their longevity, spiral through the Earth system," wrote the study authors. 

Over 14 months, the team collected wet particle samples weekly and dry samples monthly across 11 sites. Ultimately, the experts estimated that more than 1,000 tons of microplastics are dumped on protected lands in the western U.S. each year. This is equivalent to more than 123 million plastic water bottles. 

The researchers noted that some particles were excluded from the study because they did not meet the criteria for visual counting under magnification, which suggests that plastic deposition rates are even higher than what was calculated.

The presence of microplastics in the atmosphere has unknown health consequences, but the microplastics analyzed in the study were small enough to accumulate in lung tissue if ingested. The atmospheric plastic also has the potential to adversely impact ecosystems in the protected areas.

"This ubiquity of microplastics in the atmosphere and the subsequent deposition to remote terrestrial and aquatic environments raise widespread ecological and societal concerns," said Professor Brahney. "Identifying the key mechanisms of plastic emission to the atmosphere is a first step in developing global-scale solutions."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencemag.org/">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;

Microplastics are raining down on protected areas in the western U.S.

Every year, more than 1,000 tons of plastic rains down...

Late-night <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/resveratrol-treating-depression/">eating</a> has been linked to a wide range of adverse effects, including indigestion, inadequate sleep, memory problems, and even more serious issues like diabetes and heart disease. 

New research from the <a href="https://www.endocrine.org/">Endocrine Society</a> confirms that eating late contributes to excessive weight and high blood sugar, and some people are more susceptible than others. 

More than two billion adults are overweight or obese, which greatly raises the risk of developing health complications. The current analysis indicates that consuming calories later in the day promotes obesity.

Dr. Jonathan C. Jun is an expert in pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

"This study sheds new light on how eating a late dinner worsens glucose tolerance and reduces the amount of fat burned. The effect of late eating varies greatly between people and depends on their usual bedtime," said Dr. Jun.

"This shows that some people might be more vulnerable to late eating than others. If the metabolic effects we observed with a single meal keep occurring chronically, then late eating could lead to consequences such as diabetes or obesity."

The researchers examined how healthy volunteers metabolized dinner that was eaten at 6 p.m or 10 p.m., with a bedtime of 11 p.m.

The study revealed that, even among individuals that ate the exact same meal, the later dinner time was associated with higher blood sugar levels and lower levels of burned fat.

"On average, the peak glucose level after late dinner was about 18 percent higher, and the amount of fat burned overnight decreased by about 10 percent compared to eating an earlier dinner," said study first author Dr. Chenjuan Gu. 

"The effects we have seen in healthy volunteers might be more pronounced in people with obesity or diabetes, who already have a compromised metabolism."

The study is one the most detailed of its kind to investigate the effects of late-night eating. The volunteers wore activity trackers, gave blood samples, and participated in sleep studies and body fat scans.

According to Dr. Jun, more research is needed to see if these effects continue over time, and if they are caused more by behavior - such as sleeping soon after a meal - or by the body's circadian rhythms.

The study is published in <a href="https://academic.oup.com/jcem">The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology &amp; Metabolism</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

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Eating late contributes to obesity and diabetes

Late-night eating has been linked to a wide range of...

A new study published by <a href="https://www.elsevier.com/">Elsevier</a> has confirmed that volunteer work improves the mental and physical health of older adults. The researchers found that adults over 50 who volunteer for about two hours a week are less inclined to developing physical limitations and have a lower risk of death.

A growing collection of research has linked volunteering to many psychological benefits as well, including increased self-confidence and a stronger sense of purpose.

The current study shows that older adults involved in charity work are more physically active and have an improved sense of well-being compared to those who do not volunteer.

However, to develop public health interventions focused on volunteering, more research is needed to confirm the consistency of specific positive outcomes.

In the new study, experts have made progress in clarifying the health benefits of volunteer work by evaluating 34 physical and mental health outcomes. This provided the researchers with an opportunity to compare the likelihood and extent of various effects.

The team also identified some outcomes that were not influenced by volunteering. For example, the study did not link charity work to improvements in chronic conditions such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease, arthritis, obesity, or chronic pain.

Study lead author Dr. Eric S. Kim is an expert in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences and Lee Kum Sheung Center for Health and Happiness at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

"Humans are social creatures by nature. Perhaps this is why our minds and bodies are rewarded when we give to others," said Dr. Kim.

"Our results show that volunteerism among older adults doesn't just strengthen communities, but enriches our own lives by strengthening our bonds to others, helping us feel a sense of purpose and well-being, and protecting us from feelings of loneliness, depression, and hopelessness." 

"Regular altruistic activity reduces our risk of death even though our study didn't show any direct impact on a wide array of chronic conditions."

The investigation was focused on data from nearly 13,000 participants randomly selected from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). The individuals were tracked for over four years.

According to the researchers, further research is needed to understand the protective health benefits of volunteering. The experts recommend the adoption of policies that encourage more volunteerism. 

The older adult population possesses a vast array of skills and experiences that can be used to improve society. Through volunteering, older adults also promote a trend of healthier aging. 

The study authors noted that the research was conducted prior to the global COVID-19 pandemic, which makes social activity risky and unadvisable for the foreseeable future.

However, according to Dr. Kim, this may be a particular moment in history when society needs your service the most. 

"If you are able to do so while abiding by health guidelines, you not only can help to heal and repair the world, but you can help yourself as well." 

"When the COVID-19 crisis finally subsides, we have a chance to create policies and civic structures that enable more giving in society. Some cities were already pioneering this idea before the pandemic and quarantine, and I hope we have the willingness and resolve to do so in a post-COVID-19 society as well."

The study is published in the <a href="https://www.ajpmonline.org/">American Journal of Preventive Medicine</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

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Volunteering lowers risk of death, improves well-being in older adults

A new study published by Elsevier has confirmed that volunteer...

Researchers at the <a href="https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/">University of Nottingham</a> have found that some <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/ai-track-chimpanzees/">chimpanzees</a> have a bone in their heart called an os cordis. The discovery of the tiny bones, which measure only a few millimeters in length, may ultimately help experts manage the heart health and conservation of endangered chimpanzees. 

There are not many species of animals that have an os cordis, and the presence of the bone is sometimes indicative of heart problems.

The heart bone is larger in many bovines, such as cattle, ox, and buffalo, and butchers often have to remove it. There are some groups of sheep, dogs, and camels that have an os cordis as well. 

When the heart bone is not present in most individuals within a species, it is usually associated with heart disease. 

Cardiovascular disease is a very common problem among wild chimpanzees. A better understanding of their hearts may present brand new opportunities to protect chimpanzees.

According to the analysis, which was carried out at the University of Nottingham School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, the os cordis was more likely to be present in chimps with idiopathic myocardial fibrosis - a type of heart disease found in both chimps and humans. 

Myocardial fibrosis is the most common type of heart disease in chimpanzees and has been linked to the occurrence of cardiac arrhythmias and sudden death.

"The discovery of a new bone in a new species is a rare event, especially in chimps which have such similar anatomy to people. It raises the question as to whether some people could have an os cordis too,' said study lead author Dr.  Catrin Rutland.

In order to scan the chimpanzees' hearts with most detail possible, the team used several techniques including an advanced imaging method called micro-computed tomography. 

The study revealed that cartilage was present in addition to bone, which provides insight into how the bone growth started. The scientists also found that the heart bone in both male and female chimps of different ages.

The underlying reasons for the development of the os cordis are not yet clear, but the bone is thought to perform specific mechanical functions. Experts theorize that the bone may support the essential heart valves or even alter the electrical system which controls the heart.

"Looking for ways to help chimps with heart disease is essential," said Dr. Sophie Moittié. "Understanding what is happening to their hearts helps us manage their health."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/srep/">Scientific Reports</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

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Scientists have discovered a rare heart bone in some chimpanzees

Researchers at the University of Nottingham have found that some...

In a new study led by <a href="https://www.en.uni-muenchen.de/">Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet Munich</a> (LMU), experts have determined that a spring heatwave contributed to the severity of the summer 2018 <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/latest-climate-models-show-more-intense-droughts-ahead/">drought</a> in Europe. Unusually warm spring temperatures accelerated the timing and rate of plant growth, which depleted soil moisture. 

The 2018 drought hit northern and central Europe particularly hard, triggering wildfires and causing devastating crop losses. The researchers found that the summer drought was intensified by the spring heatwave that preceded it.     

According to the study authors, the drought impacts varied on a regional scale depending on the dominant type of vegetation. 

"Little is known about whether and how preceding weather parameters influence the response of ecosystems to extreme conditions during the summer," said study co-lead author Ana Bastos. "To answer this question, we used the year 2018 in Europe as a case-study and carried out climate simulations incorporating 11 different vegetation models."

The study showed that warmer springtime conditions led to more vigorous vegetation growth, which increased rates of carbon dioxide uptake. However, the impact on annual productivity and the overall carbon balance was found to be highly variable across different regions. 

"When plants resume growth earlier in the year, they use more water," said Bastos. "In Central Europe, rapid plant growth in the spring significantly reduced the water content of the soil. By the summer, the level of soil moisture was already insufficient to maintain the biomass that had accumulated, making ecosystems more vulnerable to the effects of the drought." 

In Central Europe, hot spring temperatures had a negative impact on the productivity of ecosystems and net uptake of carbon dioxide later in the year. 

In Scandinavia, however, the early plant growth compensated for the drought-induced losses later in the summer. Ecosystem productivity and the annual carbon balance were either unaffected by the spring heatwave or slightly improved. 

The study authors linked the variations in regional outcomes to specific differences in vegetation. Arable land and pastures dominate the landscape in central Europe, while forests cover much of Scandinavia. 

"Trees use water somewhat more economically," said Bastos. "If they grow faster in the spring, they also consume more water than they otherwise would. But they can control water loss from transpiration by adjusting the opening of stomatal pores in their leaves." 

In addition, trees have deeper roots that allow them to tap into water at greater depths. This explains how the boreal forests of Northern Europe maintained near-normal levels of carbon fixation during the intense drought.

Overall, the research shows that the spring heatwave of 2018 worsened the vulnerability of ecosystems to summer drought in central Europe, but mitigated the drought impacts in Scandinavia. The findings suggest that monitoring growth rates of vegetation in spring could serve as an early indicator of upcoming summer droughts. 

The team has identified alternative land management strategies that may help mitigate the effects of future droughts.

"In the long term, owing to climate change, spring vegetation will regularly grow at faster rates, consuming more water and increasing the risk of summer droughts," said study co-lead author Julia Pongratz. 

"It might be possible to make ecosystems more resilient by altering the plant cover - for example, by planting stands of trees in the immediate vicinity of cropland." 

"But more extreme water shortages in summer will themselves alter the nature of ecosystems, if threshold levels of mortality and fire incidence are more frequently exceeded. So it is not at all clear whether Europe's ecosystems will continue to serve as carbon dioxide sinks in the future."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://advances.sciencemag.org/">Science Advances</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

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Spring heatwave intensified the 2018 European drought

In a new study led by Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet Munich (LMU), experts...

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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



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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



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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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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



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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



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Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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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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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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research&nbsp;



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



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

How the immune system responds to injury

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

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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

2022 illustrated the consequences of a warming climate

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Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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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

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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...