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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Animal characters boost social and emotional skills in children

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

The roughness of tectonic plates may predict earthquake magnitude. Researchers at <a href="https://www.mcgill.ca/">McGill University</a> have established a link between the ruggedness of tectonic plates and the frequency and magnitude of earthquakes. The study confirms the idea that tectonic plates with rough patches are more resistant to slipping and less likely to trigger a major <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/ocean-tides-earthquakes/">earthquake</a>.

The team examined tectonic plates that have varying degrees of roughness, which could help explain why some earthquakes are stronger than others.

"We already knew that the roughness of a fault was an important factor, but we did not know how rough faults in the subsurface truly are, nor how variable the roughness is for a single fault," said study first author Professor James Kirkpatrick.

Earthquakes arise when rocks beneath the Earth's surface break along geological fault lines and slide past each other. The characteristics of an individual fault, such as the smoothness or roughness of is surface, can influence the magnitude of an earthquake. 

However, it is difficult to assess specific fault properties because the systems are located so far beneath the ground.

To investigate the characteristics of fault lines, the Mcgill team used high-resolution seismic reflection data to map and measure the roughness of a plate boundary fault located off the coast of Costa Rica.

The researchers found that some parts of the fault have a rougher surface than others. Previous earthquakes in this particular region have been only moderate. Professor Kirkpatrick believes the history of lower-magnitude events is tied to the rough patches identified along the fault.

"These rough patches are stronger and more resistant to earthquake slip," said Professor Kirkpatrick. "The historical record of earthquakes is relatively short, so we can't say with certainty that larger ones have not occurred. Future seismic events in the area, which will be recorded with modern equipment, should help us determine if they show the same limited magnitude."

Next, the researchers will apply their findings to other subduction zones, where existing data can help them validate their conclusions. 

"This connection between the fault roughness and earthquake magnitude might one day help us understand the size and style of earthquakes most likely to occur at a given fault."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/ngeo/">Nature Geosciences</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 roughness of tectonic plates may predict earthquake magnitude

The roughness of tectonic plates may predict earthquake magnitude. Researchers...

When it comes to protecting Earth's oceans, looking into the successes and failures of past generations can provide valuable lessons, as well as urgent warnings. 

Researchers at the <a href="https://www.exeter.ac.uk/">University of Exeter</a> analyzed the long-term trends of fisheries, and found that few of the most successful ocean management strategies are being used today. 

The investigation was focused on 20 historical examples of fisheries and aquaculture dating back as far as the 12th century. 

The experts identified consistent patterns that resulted in "blue growth," the development of sustainable ocean economies that benefit entire communities. 

At the same time, the study revealed "common recipes for failure" that could serve as valuable lessons for resource managers today. 

"Our aim was to see if we could learn from past successes and failures," said Dr. Ruth Thurstan."We often assume our problems are new, but a look at the past shows societies have faced similar issues before - though many of our challenges today are on a bigger scale."

Dr. Thurstan explained that some past societies failed at blue growth, while others succeeded in balancing economic growth, social equity, and sustainability for various lengths of time.

"In basic terms, success came when societies managed to achieve fair - rather than unlimited or open - access to resources, and when they were responsive to change," said Dr. Thurstan. 

"Basing decisions on evidence, getting all parties involved and planning for the long-term were also key. Failure occurred when short-term gains were prioritised over long-term sustainability."

The study was conducted by an international team of historians, environmental scientists, and marine ecologists. The experts analyzed ocean management strategies in countries such as Ireland, Italy, Japan, and the United States over the last 800 years. 

In Japan, the team found that blue growth was achieved from the 1600s forward. Access to seaweed resources that benefited the majority rather than a minority of people, use of traditional knowledge systems, and enhanced seaweed cultivation techniques helped achieve a balance between market demand and ecological sustainability.

On the eastern coast of the United States, oyster reefs collapsed after two centuries of over-exploitation and worsening water quality. While oyster production remains far lower than historical levels, many communities are working to restore coastal reefs. 

"Worryingly, the recipes for success that we discovered are rarely included in even the most advanced blue growth agendas today," said Dr. Bryony Caswell."The seas are destined to play an ever-more vital role in food security. If we don't take this chance to learn from history, we may be condemning ourselves to repeating past mistakes."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/14672979">Fish and Fisheries</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Past failures in ocean management are valuable lessons today

When it comes to protecting Earth's oceans, looking into the...

A new study from <a href="https://www.mcgill.ca/">McGill University</a> has revealed that aortic stenosis does not evolve the same way in men and women. 

The researchers were surprised to find variability in the mineral deposits that accumulate within the <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/computer-model-can-screen-preclinical-drugs-for-heart-safety/">aortic valves</a> among patients who suffered from stenosis.

When the aortic valves are narrowed, the blood flow becomes restricted, which can cause a heart attack or stroke. Aortic valve stenosis often develops silently over time, with symptoms only arising after the condition has already become severe.

The McGill team utilized the Canadian Light Source (CLS), a national research facility located at the University of Saskatchewan, to examine damaged heart valves from patients who received transplants.

"What we showed, which was a surprise to us, is that the type of minerals in the heart valves is different between the sexes," said study lead author Professor Marta Cerruti. "We unexpectedly found that the minerals are different in composition and shape, and that they grow slower in women."

Using the Soft X-Ray Mischaracterization Beamline at the CLS, the researchers analyzed the mineral composition. They identified a type of mineral deposit was found almost exclusively in samples from female patients.

According to Professor Cerruti, the findings demonstrate the importance of thinking about diversity in the context of research, a concept that has historically been a blind spot for the scientific community. For example, it was once a standard practice to conduct experiments using only male mice.

"Our study is the perfect illustration that by only looking at a specific population, you will skew your data. Having a more diverse data set improves your science,"

Professor Cerruti said the research also highlights a need for different diagnostic and therapeutic approaches when treating aortic stenosis in men or women.

The research team will return to the CLS to gain a better understanding of the precise composition of the mineral deposits they found in women.

"Understanding what the minerals are could definitely help to develop a cure," said Professor Cerruti. "It's possible that there could be easier ways to target these minerals and dissolve them for women."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.journals.elsevier.com/acta-biomaterialia">Acta Biomaterialia</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Men and women develop aortic stenosis in different ways

A new study from McGill University has revealed that aortic...

Computer models predict suicide risk through health records. Suicide risk may soon be assessed by simply using medical records. A research team led by <a href="http://www.childrenshospital.org/">Boston Children's Hospital</a> has developed computer models that can screen electronic health records to identify patterns associated with <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/rising-suicide-rates-rural-counties/">suicide</a>. 

From 2000 to 2016, the rate of fatal suicides rose by 30 percent, and there were more than a million nonfatal suicide attempts in the year 2016 alone.

Suicide has now become the second most common cause of death among young people in the United States.  

The computer models, which were developed using machine learning, can potentially alert health care professionals when a patient has been flagged. 

One of the most significant findings is that the models are capable of recognizing suicide warning signs up to two years in advance of any suicide attempt.

"Computers cannot replace care teams in identifying mental health issues. But we feel that computers, if well designed, could identify high-risk patients who may currently be falling through the cracks, unnoticed by the health system," explained said study co-senior author Dr. Ben Reis. 

"We envision a system that could tell the doctor, 'of all your patients, these three fall into a high-risk category. Take a few extra minutes to speak with them.'"

The investigation was focused on electronic health record data from more than 3.7 million patients ages 10 to 90 across five U.S. health care systems. Overall, the records contained a total of 39,162 suicide attempts. 

The computer models were able to detect 38 percent of the at-risk patients with 90-percent accuracy. Incredibly, the cases were flagged in the health care records an average of 2.1 years before an actual suicide attempt.

The strongest predictors included drug poisoning, drug dependence, acute alcohol intoxication, and several mental health conditions. The researchers noted that other predictors were unexpected, such as rhabdomyolysis and HIV medications.

"There wasn't one single predictor," said Dr. Reis. "It is more of a gestalt or balance of evidence, a general signal that builds up over time."

With funding from the National Institute of Mental Health, the team will now refine their computer models by incorporating more data, such as doctor's clinical notes.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen">JAMA Network Open</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Computer models predict suicide risk through health records

Computer models predict suicide risk through health records. Suicide risk...

Researchers at the <a href="https://www.ntnu.edu/">Norwegian University of Science and Technology</a> (NTNU) are providing new insight into what helps people achieve success. The experts pinpointed a combination of factors that drive achievement, such as <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/self-compassion-physical-mental-benefits/">passion</a> and determination, and found that the recipe for success varies between men and women. 

The study was focused on three specific qualities that contribute to accomplishment: passion, grit, and a positive mindset. The researchers discovered that men mostly rely on their passion to achieve success, while women are largely driven by staying positive. 

"We found big differences between the sexes in some areas," said study author Professor Hermundur Sigmundsson.

The results showed that the same degree of grit was needed for achievement in both sexes, but men had a significantly greater need for passion.

Among women, all three factors - passion, optimism, and grit - are strongly intertwined, with a positive outlook being an essential component of success.

Optimism is not a significant driver of success in men, who are motivated by a powerful interaction between passion and grit.

"Men have to burn more for something to succeed at it. They need to be more passionate about what they undertake," explained Professor Sigmundsson.

The finding that boys need passion to fuel their determination could prove useful for educators who are involved in shaping programs. 

If boys do not feel enthusiastic about a subject, their grit may simply not kick in. This could explain why girls generally perform better in school, according to the study authors. 

Even though optimism is not as interconnected as passion and grit among men, a positive outlook is still needed for goal setting. 

"But even though a positive mindset is a good starting point, it isn't enough. You also need focused training, passion, grit, and support from others - like mentors, teachers and coaches," said Professor Sigmundsson.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.journals.elsevier.com/new-ideas-in-psychology">New Ideas in Psychology</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Men rely on passion and grit to achieve success

Researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)...

A team of experts led by <a href="https://www.ncsu.edu/">NC State University</a> has developed a new <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/catalyst-coal-carbon-capture/">catalyst</a> that will drastically improve the process of ethylene production, making it much more environmentally friendly. Ethylene is an organic compound that is widely used in manufacturing processes. 

Utilizing the engineered substance to convert ethane into ethylene could radically reduce production costs. In addition, the new method would eliminate up to 87 percent of the carbon dioxide emissions associated with the conversion process.

"Our lab previously proposed a technique for converting ethane into ethylene, and this new redox catalyst makes that technique more energy efficient and less expensive while reducing greenhouse gas emissions," said study lead author Yunfei Gao. "Ethylene is an important feedstock for the plastics industry, among other uses, so this work could have a significant economic and environmental impact."

Study co-author Professor Fanxing Li explained that ethane is a byproduct of shale gas production, and the improved efficiency of the new catalyst will make it feasible for energy to be extracted in remote locations.

"It is estimated that more than 200 million barrels of ethane are rejected each year in the lower 48 states due to the difficulty of transporting it from remote locations," said Li. "With our catalyst and conversion technique, we think it would be cost effective to convert that ethane into ethylene. The ethylene could then be converted into liquid fuel, which is much easier to transport.

"The problem with current conversion techniques is that you can't scale them down to a size that makes sense for remote energy extraction sites - but our system would work well in those locations."

According to the researchers, the redox catalyst is a molten carbonate promoted mixed metal oxide, and the conversion process takes place at between 650 and 700 degrees Celsius with integrated ethane conversion and air separation. Existing conversion techniques for ethylene production require temperatures of at least 800 degrees Celsius.

"We estimate that the new redox catalyst and technique cut energy requirements by 60-87%," said Li. "Our technique would require an initial investment in the installation of new, modular chemical reactors, but the jump in efficiency and ability to convert stranded ethane would be significant."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://advances.sciencemag.org/">Science Advances</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

New catalyst will drastically improve ethylene production

A team of experts led by NC State University has...

Widespread measures taken to stop the spread of the <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/new-species-of-leaf-nosed-bats-are-related-to-covid-19-hosts/">COVID</a>-19 pandemic have substantially reduced air pollution in Europe, China, and the United States. According to a report from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a>, new satellite images have revealed dramatic air quality improvements over India as well.

Cities across India have seen air pollution levels fall by as much as 50 percent following the enforcement of strict COVID-19 quarantine measures. On March 25, the Indian government shut down businesses and restricted the activity of more than 1.3 billion people. 

Maps produced with data from the Copernicus Sentinel-5P satellite show that from March 25 to April 20, there is a remarkable drop in nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations over major urban areas. Compared to the same time last year, Mumbai and Delhi were found to have 40 to 50 percent less NO2 pollution. 

"Thanks to the Tropomi instrument on the Copernicus Sentinel-5P satellite, we are able to observe such high reductions in concentrations in Europe, China, and now India because of the national quarantine measures put in place," said Sentinel-5P Mission Manager Claus Zehner.

“What is interesting in these new maps are the high values of nitrogen dioxide concentrations over northeast India. Our analysis shows that these clusters are directly linked with the locations of the ongoing coal-based power plants. The largest power station in India, the Vindhyachal Super Thermal Power Station, shows a reduction of only around 15% compared to the same time last year.”

Nitrogen oxide pollution is associated with severe respiratory problems, such as inflammation of the airways, asthma attacks, and reduced lung function. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about seven million premature deaths are caused by air pollution every year.

Data from the <a href="https://waqi.info/">World Air Quality Report</a> shows that Indian cities make up six of the ten most-polluted urban areas on the planet, and New Delhi has the worst air quality anywhere in the world.  

Atmospheric levels of nitrogen dioxide are primarily influenced by vehicle exhaust and power generation, but NO2 concentrations also experience daily fluctuations due to weather conditions. 

"Weather variability is an important factor to consider when making assessments such as these, which is why our team has averaged the data over a longer period of time. In this case, we can clearly see the decreased concentrations are due to human activity," explained Claus.

India has reported more than 23,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases and nearly 700 deaths. India's nationwide quarantine was initially planned to last 21 days, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently announced that the restrictions will be extended until May 3. 

Despite the major benefits for air quality, the lockdown is taking a severe toll on India's poor and low income communities. 

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

India's air quality improves as COVID lockdown continues

Widespread measures taken to stop the spread of the COVID-19...

Researchers at <a href="https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/">Lancaster University</a> are reporting that decades of knowledge about how to protect marine reserves is now becoming obsolete in the face of <a href="http://www.earth.com/video/climate-change-alter-wildflowers/">climate change</a>. 

Despite years of conservation efforts to protect tropical coral reefs and other important marine areas, rising temperatures are rapidly creating new threats that experts do not yet know how to mitigate. 

"Climate change is so fundamentally changing the structure and composition of coral reef ecosystems, that the way the ecosystem functions and responds to common management and conservation approaches needs to be carefully re-evaluated," explained study lead author Professor Nick Graham. "The rules we have come to rely on, no longer apply."

Across many of the world's coral reefs, climate change is driving a sharp decline in the diversity of species. An unprecedented frequency of coral bleaching events continues to reduce the availability of food and shelter for reef fish. 

Marine protected areas are established to preserve coral reefs and other ocean ecosystems, along with the fundamental services they provide. For decades, scientists have worked to shield marine reserves from major threats such as habitat destruction and overfishing.

In the Lancaster study, however, experts have determined that tropical coral reefs are now extremely vulnerable to climate change, regardless of the measures that are currently implemented to shelter them. 

The investigation was focused on tropical coral reefs and marine reserves located across the Indian Ocean in the island nation of Seychelles. 

In 1998, a bleaching event destroyed around 90 percent of the corals across Seychelles. The researchers analyzed data from 21 reefs to evaluate how the ecosystems changed over the two decades following the widespread bleaching.

"Our long-term records of Seychelles' coral reefs show that before the bleaching event marine reserves contained high coral cover, a very biodiverse range of fish, and high biomass of carnivorous and herbivorous fish," said Professor Graham.

"Following the bleaching event, the role of the marine reserves changed substantially. They no longer supported higher coral cover compared to adjacent fished areas, and their role in enhancing biodiversity decreased. Plant-loving fish, such as rabbitfish and parrotfish, dominated fish communities. This was the case for reefs where corals were recovering, as well as reefs transformed and dominated by seaweed."

The team documented a large reduction in the numbers of carnivorous predators, such as grouper and snapper species. This indicates that bleaching events are diminishing the ability of marine reserves to support the animals at the top of the food chain due to the disappearance of smaller fish.

"Despite these climate-driven transformations, marine protected areas still have a role to play in ocean conservation," said study co-author Dr. Shaun Wilson. "It is encouraging that marine reserves continue to protect some species, especially when these species are critical for local fisheries," 

In an effort to protect biodiversity, the best strategy may be to target new marine reserves around damaged coral reefs to increase the odds that these ecosystems can recover.

According to the researchers, marine reserves still have an important role to play in protecting fish biomass. However, urgent action is needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to improve land management practices, such as preventing nutrient runoff.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/ncomms/">Nature Communications</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Strategies for marine reserves are overruled by climate change

Researchers at Lancaster University are reporting that decades of knowledge...

A common soil fungus has the potential to protect <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/rising-ozone-levels-corn/">corn</a> from pests while helping the plants grow and develop. Researchers at <a href="https://www.psu.edu/">Penn State</a> found that promoting the soil fungus could be a beneficial strategy to help corn growers manage pests without the need for pesticides. 

In greenhouse and lab trials, the research team injected corn seeds with M. robertsii spores. The experts evaluated fungal colonization of leaves and roots, chlorophyll content, plant height and above-ground biomass, and the relative growth rate of the black cutworm.

"We saw that colonization of corn plants by the fungus M. robertsii promoted plant growth and boosted the expression of selected genes involved in plant defense in corn," said study lead author Professor Mary Barbercheck. "The heightened defense response suppressed the growth rate of black cutworm larvae."

Professor Barbercheck and her collaborators have been "casually following" the common soil fungus M. robertsii since 2003, when they began conducting organic plant studies. She was aware that M. robertsii was deadly to caterpillars and other insects, but became more interested in its potential when it was demonstrated that the fungus was absorbed by plant roots.

"I wondered if there is a lot of this fungus out there, how it is surviving in the field and what it is doing, so I expanded my work to focus more on it. I happen to work in organic systems, and so that's where we've been studying it. But that doesn't mean that it is not beneficial in conventional crop systems, too."

The soil fungus was found to be present in 91 percent of the corn plants that developed from inoculated seeds, and was mostly detected in the plant roots instead of the leaves. 

Compared to control plants, colonized plants grew taller and had greater above-ground biomass. In addition, the relative growth rate of the black cutworm was lower on the leaves of fungus-infused plants.

Professor Barbercheck said the findings demonstrate that corn growers, specifically organic corn growers, can benefit from promoting the soil fungus across their corn fields. 

"Because this fungus appears to promote plant growth, to help control pests, and to alter the plant defense response to suppress at least some pest growth, we need to adjust our management practices to support it,"

"Next, we have to learn how much of the fungus is in plants and what the natural infection level is. And if we make a seed treatment out of it, how effective would it be?"

According to Professor Barbercheck, there is a shortage of organically produced feed grains in the United States. She said this may be due to hesitation among farmers to transition to organic fields because they don't know how to manage pests without insecticides or weeds without herbicides. 

"We need to see what natural processes we can manage to make that transition less risky to help make organic farming more widespread. On a commercial level, there are opportunities for growers to take advantage of organic markets because there is a big demand that we currently are not meeting with domestic supplies."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.journals.elsevier.com/biological-control">Biological Control</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Common soil fungus protects corn crops from pests and boosts growth

A common soil fungus has the potential to protect corn...

Dietary supplements with vitamin C, vitamin D, zinc, and immune-boosting micronutrients offer a low-cost strategy for building resistance to <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/severe-covid-19-infections-may-be-caused-by-overactive-immune-cells/">COVID-19</a> and other acute respiratory diseases. 

According to research led by <a href="https://oregonstate.edu/">Oregon State University</a>, dietary supplements should be taken regularly to boost the immune system, and can often be safely consumed in amounts that exceed the recommended doses.

Professor Adrian Gombart of OSU's Linus Pauling Institute and his collaborators say that public health officials are failing to provide clear guidance on taking dietary supplements to help resist COVID-19 and other infections. 

"Around the world, acute respiratory tract infections kill more than 2.5 million people every year," said Professor Gombart. "Meanwhile, there's a wealth of data that shows the role that good nutrition plays in supporting the immune system. As a society we need to be doing a better job of getting that message across along with the other important, more common messages."

Professor Gombart explained that specific vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids play key roles in supporting the body's immune system. Omega-3 fatty acid, vitamin C, vitamin D, zinc, and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are exceptionally effective in strengthing immune function.

"The roles that vitamins C and D play in immunity are particularly well known. Vitamin C has roles in several aspects of immunity, including the growth and function of immune cells and antibody production. Vitamin D receptors on immune cells also affect their function. This means that vitamin D profoundly influences your response to infections," said Professor Gombart.

"The problem is that people simply aren't eating enough of these nutrients. This could destroy your resistance to infections. Consequently, we will see an increase in disease and all of the extra burdens that go along with that increase."

The experts recommend a daily multivitamin combined with at least 200 milligrams of vitamin C and 2,000 international units of vitamin D.

"A number of standard public health practices have been developed to help limit the spread and impact of respiratory viruses: regular hand washing, avoiding those showing symptoms of infection, and covering coughs," said Professor Gombart. "And for certain viruses like influenza, there are annual vaccination campaigns."

While vaccines can be very effective, they are also not foolproof. Professor Gombart emphasized that current public health practices like social distancing and hand-washing are important, but they are also in need of complementary strategies. 

"The present situation with COVID-19 and the number of people dying from other respiratory infections make it clear that we are not doing enough. We strongly encourage public health officials to include nutritional strategies in their arsenal."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/journal/nutrients">Nutrients</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;

Dietary supplements can help you fight off COVID-19

Dietary supplements with vitamin C, vitamin D, zinc, and immune-boosting...

Your kids can tell when you're trying to conceal <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/night-stress-response/">stress</a>, and holding back feelings of frustration can cause more harm than good. In a new study from <a href="https://wustl.edu/">Washington University</a>, researchers found that a parent's suppressed emotions are often transferred to children. 

Stress and frustration are typical emotions that arise in a family setting. These feelings may be particularly prevalent now, as parents and children are spending more time at home during the COVID-19 pandemic.

While analyzing family interactions, experts have discovered that many children exhibit a physiological response when their parents attempt to conceal stress. 

"We show that the response happens under the skin," said study co-author Professor Sara Waters. "It shows what happens when we tell kids that we're fine when we're not. It comes from a good place; we don't want to stress them out. But we may be doing the exact opposite."

The study was focused on 107 parents and their children, who were between the ages of 7 and 11. Both parents and children were initially asked to list the top five topics that commonly caused conflict between them. 

Separated from the children, the parents were asked to perform a stressful activity like public speaking to activate the physiological stress response system.

Once the parent had reached the point of feeling stressed out, the children were brought back into the room. The parent-child pairs were asked to discuss the topic of conflict that ranked highest on both of their lists. 

Half of the parents were asked to suppress their emotions during the conversations, which were all captured on video. All of the study participants were wearing sensors for physiological stress detection.

When a group of third party participants viewed and scored the taped conversations, the results indicated that both parents and children were less warm and engaged with each other when emotions were suppressed.

"That makes sense for a parent distracted by trying to keep their stress hidden, but the kids very quickly changed their behavior to match the parent," explained Professor Waters. "So if you're stressed and just say, 'Oh, I'm fine', that only makes you less available to your child. We found that the kids picked up on that and reciprocated, which becomes a self-fulfilling dynamic."

When the mothers concealed feelings of stress, the children exhibited more signs of stress, both physiologically and externally. This was not the case among children whose mothers communicated about their frustrations. 

Furthermore, measurable feelings of stress were not transferred to the children from any of the fathers.

"We found that moms and dads were different," said Professor Waters. "We were looking for a physiological response, but there wasn't one in either the control or the experimental condition where dads transmitted stress to their kids."

"We think that fathers not transmitting their suppressed stress may be because, often, fathers tend to suppress their emotions around their children more than mothers do."

"The kids have experience with their dad saying things are fine even when they're not. But it was more abnormal for kids to see their mom suppressing their emotions and they reacted to that."

According to Professor Waters, previous research shows that it is more comforting for kids to have their feelings honored than to just be told that everything is going to be fine.

"For instance, if a child tells their parents it sucks not to see their friends anymore, don't immediately try to fix that problem."

"Just sit with them and give them a chance to regulate those emotions on their own. Try not to show that you're frustrated with them, or solve their problem. And try to do the same for yourself, give yourself permission to be frustrated and emotional."

Professor Waters emphasized that she does not want the outcome of this study to cause parents more stress.

"We don't want this to be another thing that parents stress out about when raising their kids. It's not that you are screwing up - but honor your feelings and your child's feelings. Be brave enough to look at it. Kids will work their way through it; they're good at it. Giving yourself permission to feel opens up your mind to more and better problem solving. It's a good thing."

The study is published in the <a href="https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/fam/">Journal of Family Psychology</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;

Kids know when their parents hide stress, and it stresses them out

Your kids can tell when you're trying to conceal stress,...

A new study is contradicting the idea that <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/marine-megafauna-extinctions-will-compromise-critical-ecosystem-services/">marine</a> life has increasingly diversified over the last 200 million years. The long-term analysis of marine evolution shows that ocean biodiversity levels have remained largely consistent for at least 540 million years. 

The magnitude of global ocean biodiversity has become a subject of debate in recent years. A research team led by experts in the School of Geography, Earth, and Environmental Sciences at the <a href="https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/index.aspx">University of Birmingham</a> set out to investigate using fossil evidence collected over the past two centuries available in the Paleobiology Database. 

Based on this data, the research team was able to examine regional-scale patterns of ocean diversity dating back to the Cambrian Explosion, when major groups of animals started to appear in the fossil record.

"Studies of marine animal diversity over the last five-hundred-odd million years have historically focused on estimating how 'global' diversity changed through time. The problem is that the fossil record is not really global, because both the amount and the parts of the world that are actually preserved in the fossil record changes so much through geological time. This means that so-called global diversity curves are misleading," explained study lead author Dr. Roger Close.

"To get around this problem, we studied diversity at regional spatial scales. This meant that we could focus on places and times that are well-known in the fossil record. By comparing geographic regions that were similar in size, we could show how marine animal diversity varied across both time and space."

The team also estimated the influence of environmental factors, such as coral reef systems. By looking at diversity patterns on a localized level, the researchers were able to recognize significant variations across the globe within specific time intervals.

"We think of reefs today as being hotspots of diversity, responsible for housing a disproportionate amount of animal species. So in areas where there are a higher proportion of reefs, diversity will inevitably be higher," said Dr. Close.

"Importantly, though we don't find any evidence that diversity increased in a continuous, sustained way through long intervals of geological time. This is a major departure from previous studies of global diversity. These studies concluded that marine animal biodiversity had increased steadily over the last 200 million years, culminating in modern levels that were greater than any point in Earth's history. In contrast, our work suggests that modern levels of biodiversity - at least at the regional scales we studied - are not exceptional."

On the other hand, the researchers did pinpoint evidence of one substantial increase in marine diversity at the end of the Cretaceous period, when the dinosaurs became extinct.

"Not long after this devastating mass extinction, we see a distinct shift towards greater regional diversity. This probably had something to do with ecological reorganization after many species were wiped out. In particular, we see a rebound to much higher diversity among gastropods - a huge group of invertebrates that we would recognise as snails and slugs. This suggests that such a widespread species loss cleared space for other groups to explode - and gastropods were able to take advantage of this," said Dr. Close.

"When you look at these individual animal groups, you can see fluctuations in diversity that are often substantial. But taken together, these patterns sum to one of constrained diversity. Some groups might benefit from the misfortune of others, but the overall levels of diversity that we see have remained fairly stable for hundreds of millions of years."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencemag.org/">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;

Ocean biodiversity has remained stable for over 500 million years

A new study is contradicting the idea that marine life...

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;



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



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

Kainji Lake in north central Nigeria

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Amanda Nguyen/University of Illinois



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



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

Designing crops that can beat the heat

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

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Remote sensing will revolutionize the way we monitor trees

[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



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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



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Wetlands are a major source of methane emissions

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

[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

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research&nbsp;



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



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

How the immune system responds to injury

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

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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

2022 illustrated the consequences of a warming climate

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Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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