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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



-----



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



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



-----

Animal characters boost social and emotional skills in children

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

Researchers at the <a href="https://www.tum.de/en/">Technical University of Munich</a> have developed a new way to screen for <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-allergy-season-longer/">allergies</a> using a simple nasal smear. The technique relies on biochip technology to measure antibodies that play a role in specific allergic responses. 

Screening for environmental allergies usually involves a skin prick test that is used to determine which allergens cause a reaction. The test is very unpleasant for some patients, especially small children.

In Europe alone, 130 million people suffer from hay fever or allergic rhinitis, with symptoms like itchy, watery eyes and sneezing. 

The research team has demonstrated that a gentle nasal swab combined with biochip technology may ultimately prove to be the simplest method of screening for environmental allergies. 

Using a molecular diagnostics technology that was originally developed for analyzing blood, the researchers screened nasal secretions as well as blood samples for concentrations of immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies. These proteins trigger different allergic responses. 

The study was focused on individuals with and without sensitivity to the most common airborne allergens, including grass pollen, dust mites, and tree pollen. 

The study revealed that the blood and nasal smears detected identical allergic sensitization patterns for all of the airborne allergens investigated. 

A link between the detection of allergy antibodies in the blood and in nasal secretions has already been demonstrated in previous studies. The current research confirms this link, and shows that both methods can detect a wide range of aeroallergens.

Study lead author Claudia Traidl-Hoffmann is a professor of Environmental Medicine and the director of the Institute of Environmental Medicine at the Helmholtz Zentrum München.

"A big advantage of allergy diagnostics with a nasal smear is that it is a good option for small children as compared to blood samples or skin prick testing. For that age group, a hypo-sensitization therapy is important because allergic rhinitis can develop into allergic asthma," said Professor Traidl-Hoffmann. 

"We also believe that, with nasal smears, IgE antibodies specific to certain allergies can be detected that cannot be measured in a blood sample. We now need to do further studies to explore that hypothesis," added study co-author Dr. Stefanie Gilles.

The researxh is published in the journal <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/13989995">Allergy</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Experts can screen for allergies using nasal smears

Researchers at the Technical University of Munich have developed a...

Genetic variations may influence the severity of COVID-19. Individual susceptibility to <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/experts-fear-african-covid-19-infections-will-leap-into-the-millions/">COVID-19</a> infection may be influenced by genetic variations in the immune system, according to a new study published by the <a href="https://www.asm.org/">American Society for Microbiology</a>. The research suggests that these genetic differences not only make a person more vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, but also influence the severity of the infection. 

As of now, it is difficult to predict how the new coronavirus will affect each individual. Most people have a mild reaction, while others are hit hard with life-threatening respiratory symptoms.

The body is equipped with immune system genes called human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genes that play an important role in recognizing pathogens. However, the genetic makeup of the HLA system varies from person to person, influencing how well an individual's immune system responds to any given pathogen. 

Genetic variations in the HLA system may lead to poor recognition of SARS-CoV-2, increasing a person's susceptibility to the virus.

"In particular, understanding how variation in HLA  may affect the course of COVID-19 could help identify individuals at higher risk from the disease," explained the study authors.

The research suggests that individual HLA, haplotype, and full genotype variability influence the individual immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection. The experts noted that there were specific alleles linked to severe infection by the SARS coronavirus that appeared in 2003, and this may also be the case with SARS-CoV-2.

"This is the first study to report global distributions of HLA types and haplotypes with potential epidemiological ramifications in the setting of the current pandemic," wrote the researchers.

"HLA typing can be fast and inexpensive. Pairing HLA typing with COVID-19 testing where feasible could improve assessment of viral severity in the population. Following the development of a vaccine against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, individuals with high-risk HLA types could be prioritized for vaccination."

The study is published in the <a href="https://jvi.asm.org/">Journal of Virology</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Genetic variations may influence the severity of COVID-19

Genetic variations may influence the severity of COVID-19. Individual susceptibility...

The consequences of losing <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/marine-species-are-moving-away-from-the-equator/">marine</a> megafauna species will adversely affect entire ecosystems, according to a new study led by <a href="https://www.swansea.ac.uk/">Swansea University</a>. The researchers have found that marine megafauna extinctions will cause greater losses in functional diversity than what has been expected. 

Megafauna species provide critical marine ecosystem services. They consume large amounts of biomass, physically modify habitats, connect ocean ecosystems, and transport nutrients across habitats. 

The research team set out to determine the potential ecological repercussions associated with threatened <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/vanishing-giants-study-reveals-shocking-decline-of-large-mammals-in-africa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">megafauna</a> according to specific traits of each species. 

The study revealed that under the current trajectory, around one in five marine megafauna species will vanish in the next 100 years. The experts said this will lead to an overall loss of 11 percent of the extent of ecological functions. 

On the other hand, if all currently threatened megafauna species disappear, 48 percent of the extent of ecological functions will be lost as well.

“Our previous work showed that marine megafauna had suffered an unusually intense period of extinction as sea levels oscillated several million years ago. Our new work shows that, today, their unique and varied ecological roles are facing an even larger threat from human pressures,” said study lead author Dr. Catalina Pimiento.

The researchers began by compiling a species-level trait dataset for all known marine megafauna to understand the extent of ecological functions they perform in marine systems. Traits such as size, diet, and range are used to determine the specific ecological contribution of a species.

By simulating future extinction scenarios and quantifying the potential loss of functional diversity, the team developed a new index to inform conservation priorities, known as FUSE.

Some of the highest-scoring FUSE species include the green sea turtle, the dugong, the sea otter, and the giant clam. Targeting these species will help protect important functional diversity in marine habitats.

"If we lose species, we lose unique ecological functions," said study co-author Dr. John Griffin. "This is a warning that we need to act now to reduce growing human pressures on marine megafauna, including climate change, while nurturing population recoveries."

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

Marine megafauna extinctions will compromise critical ecosystem

The consequences of losing marine megafauna species will adversely affect...

For now, African countries have managed to dodge the worst of the COVID-19 <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/flu-resistant-chickens-pandemic/">pandemic</a>. The impact to the country is mainly concentrated in several North African countries, and the number of confirmed cases is just over 18,000.

However, concern is growing among public health authorities that the number of infections in Africa could explode into the millions in the coming weeks. 

In a report released Friday, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa warned that "between 300,000 and 3.3 million African people could lose their lives as a direct result of COVID-19, depending on the intervention measures taken to stop the spread."

Across the densest African cities, the layout and infrastructure of overcrowded neighborhoods will make it difficult to contain the spread of infection. The UNECA said the majority of residents in urban areas do not have reliable access to hand-washing facilities.

Michel Yao, head of emergency operations for <a href="https://www.afro.who.int/">WHO Africa</a>, warned that coronavirus cases in African countries could jump from thousands to 10 million within three to six months. However, Yao also emphasized that worst-case scenarios for the Ebola outbreak did not play out because people changed their behavior in time.

"This is still to be fine-tuned," said Yao. "It's difficult to make a long-term estimation because the context changes too much and also public health measures, when they are fully implemented, they can actually have an impact."

Major quarantine restrictions would slow the coronavirus, but could also crush the economy and drive millions of people to extreme poverty. 

Experts at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health are asking for a coordinated global effort during the pandemic. In a perspective piece written for the <a href="https://www.nejm.org/">New England Journal of Medicine</a>, the researchers urge countries around the world to "take concrete steps to assist Africa in staying ahead of the curve, even as they confront their own epidemics."

"When HIV spread like wildfire across the African continent, it took decades for the world to mobilize a response," wrote the researchers. "Epidemics know no borders, and success in controlling the epidemic in any one country will be limited if epidemics continue to rage elsewhere. Today, we have the chance to avoid a repeat of history. Africans are doing their part. Now is the time for us to do ours."

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Experts fear African COVID-19 infections will leap into the millions 

For now, African countries have managed to dodge the worst...

Researchers at the <a href="http://www.buffalo.edu/">University of Buffalo</a> are describing how non-traditional strategies can satisfy our need for <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/too-much-emphasis-on-money-can-lead-to-social-isolation/">social</a> connections. 

According to the study, binge-watching a television show, cooking comfort foods and other "guilty pleasures" are just as fulfilling as intimate relationships and quality time with family. 

Study co-author Professor Shira Gabriel is an expert in social psychology. She explained that the findings are particularly relevant today, as people are lacking direct social connections during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I don't think people realize that these non-traditional connections are as beneficial as we found in our research," said Professor Gabriel. "Don't feel guilty, because we found that these strategies are fine as long as they work for you."

Study co-author and UB graduate student Elaine Paravati added that all of the non-traditional social strategies examined in the analysis predicted positive outcomes.

"People can feel connected through all sorts of means. We found that more traditional strategies, like spending time with a friend in person, doesn't necessarily work better for people than non-traditional strategies, like listening to a favorite musician," said Paravati. "In fact, using a combination of both of these types of strategies predicted the best outcomes, so it might be especially helpful to have a variety of things you do in your life to help you feel connected to others."

For decades, Professor Gabriel has been studying the importance of non-traditional social strategies, such as reading fiction novels or settling in for hours of television drama. 

While traditional social strategies, like interpersonal relationships or group memberships, have been extensively studied, they have never been empirically compared with non-traditional social strategies. The new study provides the first evidence that activities such as watching television and listening to music can be just as useful as other traditional means of fulfillment.

The research was focused on the responses of 173 individuals to questions about their well-being and social connections. The data was used to calculate a measurement inspired by previous research, which the team calls the "social fuel tank."

"There's a basic need for social connections, just as we have a basic need for food," said Professor Gabriel. "The longer you go without those sorts of connections, the lower the fuel tank, and that's when people start to get anxious, nervous or depressed, because they lack needed resources."

"What's important is not how you're filling the social fuel tank, but that your social fuel tank is getting filled."

The participants reported using as many as 17 different strategies to fulfill their social needs, including both traditional and non-traditional social strategies.

"This is especially relevant now, with social distancing guidelines changing the ways people connect with others," said Paravati. "We can utilize these non-traditional strategies to help us feel connected, fulfilled, and find more meaning in our lives, even as we safely practice social distancing."

"We live in a society where people are questioned if they're not in a romantic relationship, if they decide not to have children, or they don't like attending parties," said Professor Gabriel. "There are implicit messages that these people are doing something wrong. That can be detrimental to them."

"The message we want to give to people, and that our data suggest, is that that's just not true."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/loi/psai20">Self and Identity</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Watching tv or reading a book can satisfy social needs

Researchers at the University of Buffalo are describing how non-traditional...

Experts at the <a href="http://www.mit.edu/">Massachusetts Institute of Technology</a> (MIT) have used a nanobionic approach to design sensors capable of monitoring <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/experts-identify-a-molecular-switch-that-controls-plant-photosynthesis/">plant</a> health in real time. The sensors will ultimately improve crop yields by providing valuable insight into how plants respond to various types of stress.

The sensors are designed to pick up on plant distress by intercepting the hydrogen peroxide signals that plants use to communicate. 

Once it is embedded in a plant's leaves, the nanosensor interprets the hydrogen peroxide signals to determine the specific source of plant stress, such as infection, injury, or heat damage. The data can be monitored remotely from a smartphone or computer. 

These real-time insights could make it easier than ever before to maximize crop yields.

"Plants have a very sophisticated form of internal communication, which we can now observe for the first time. That means that in real time, we can see a living plant's response, communicating the specific type of stress that it's experiencing," said study senior author Professor Michael Strano.

&nbsp;

The technology will have a range of beneficial applications, such as screening different plant species to evaluate their response to pathogens or their ability to resist damage from various stressors. The system may also be used to investigate whether plants are compatible with their growing environment.

"Plants that grow at high density are prone to shade avoidance, where they divert resources into growing taller, instead of putting energy into producing crops, lowering overall crop yield," explained Professor Strano. "Our sensor allows us to intercept that stress signal and to understand exactly the conditions and the mechanism that are happening upstream and downstream in the plant that gives rise to the shade avoidance, thus leading to fuller crops."

The new technology can be applied to any plant. The researchers have already demonstrated the accuracy of their system in comparing eight different plant species including spinach, strawberry plants, and arugula.

To integrate the sensors into plant leaves, the research team used a technique called lipid exchange envelope penetration (LEEP), a method that had been previously developed in Professor Strano's lab.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/nplants/">Nature Plants</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Sensors monitor the health of plants by interpreting distress signals 

Experts at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have used...

Air pollution drastically declines across Europe amid lockdowns. The <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> reports that air pollution is declining across Europe as strict <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/severe-covid-19-infections-may-be-caused-by-overactive-immune-cells/">COVID-19</a> quarantine measures continue. Some cities have seen levels of nitrogen oxide (NO2) reduced by as much as 54 percent compared to the same timeframe last year. 

Scientists at the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI) have been monitoring air pollution over Europe using data from the Copernicus Sentinel-5P satellite's Tropomi instrument.

New satellite images reveal that from March 13 to April 13, NO2 levels dropped by 45 percent in Madrid, Milan, and Rome compared to the same weeks in 2019. Paris has experienced the most dramatic difference in air pollution, with a 54-percent decline in NO2 levels.

Atmospheric levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) are primarily influenced by vehicle emissions and electricity generation. Nitrogen dioxide is associated with respiratory problems, such as inflammation of the airways, asthma attacks, and reduced lung function. 

NO2 concentrations also experience daily fluctuations due to weather conditions. This variability makes it difficult for experts to draw solid conclusions based on short-term measurements. The most reliable information requires data that can be compared over a substantial time period. 

"There are considerable variations of weather in every country from one day to the next, creating a large impact on the dispersion of nitrogen dioxide," explained Dr. Henk Eskes of KNMI. 

"Averaging data over longer periods of time allows us to see clearer changes in concentrations owing to human activity. For this reason, the maps show concentrations over a monthly period and are provided with an uncertainty of 15% which reflects weather variability not accounted for in the monthly averages used."

In Europe, cases of COVID-19 have doubled in the last ten days. At the same time, the infection rates in the hardest-hit countries have leveled off. 

The UK government just announced that quarantine measures will remain in place for at least three more weeks. Some other European countries like Germany are taking the first steps to ease their lockdowns.

Dr. Hans Kluge, World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Europe, is calling for solidarity as countries move to loosen restrictions. Dr. Kluge warns that Europe is now "in the eye of the storm."

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Air pollution drastically declines across Europe amid lockdowns

Air pollution drastically declines across Europe amid lockdowns. The European...

Researchers at <a href="https://www.ucl.ac.uk/">University College London</a> have identified a group of roundworms that are genetically predisposed to die before reaching old age. The worms seem to have adapted programmed death as a strategy to benefit the colony by reducing food demand.

The study provides the very first evidence of programmed death in an animal that has evolved for the sake of the community. 

"According to evolution theory, altruistic death to leave more food to your relatives normally can't evolve. This is because other individuals who live longer would consume resources left behind by altruistic comrades and outcompete them, in what's called a tragedy of the commons," said study lead author Professor David Gems.

"But it was recently discovered that wild C. elegans roundworms live in colonies of identical worms, which would prevent long-living worms with different genes from taking over."

The researchers explained that evolutionary theorists originally believed aging evolved to reduce the population and increase food availability for the young, but scientists have since argued that this cannot be true because natural selection favors longer-lived animals in most species.

On the other hand, some organisms have something that appears to be a "self-destruct program" that prevents them from exceeding a certain age. In the roundworm C. elegans, the manipulation of certain genes can drastically extend their lifespan.

For the UCL study, the researchers analyzed the C. elegans life cycle to gain further insight into the benefits of prearranged death. The experts developed a computer model to represent a roundworm colony growing with a limited food supply. 

Using the computer model, the team tested whether a shorter lifespan would increase the reproductive capacity of the colony. The study revealed that shorter lifespan, shorter reproductive span, and reduced adult feeding rate significantly increased the reproductive success of the colony.

"It's been known for years that programmed cell death benefits living organisms, but we're now realizing there is programmed organismal death as well, that can benefit animal colonies," said study first author Dr. Evgeniy Galimov.

"It appears possible that adaptive death could happen in some types of salmon, which spawn and die in huge numbers in the upper reaches of rivers. It's been shown that the rotting, dead salmon nourish the salmon fry. We call this form of adaptive death biomass sacrifice."

Other animals have genes similar to those of C. elegans that promote disease later in life, and a greater understanding of how these genes work could have major implications for studies of biological aging.

"Our findings are consistent with the old theory that aging is beneficial in one way, as they show how increasing food availability for your relatives by dying early can be a winning strategy, which we call consumer sacrifice," said Professor Gems.

"But adaptive death can only evolve under certain special conditions where populations of closely related individuals don't mix with non-relatives. So this is not predicted to apply to humans, but it seems to happen a lot in colonial microorganisms."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/14749726">Aging Cell</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Programmed death in worms benefits the colony

Researchers at University College London have identified a group of...

Paper towels are far more effective in eliminating viruses from hands than jet dryers, according to new research from the <a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/">University of Leeds</a>.

Hand drying is critical for minimizing the spread of dangerous microbes, including the virus that causes COVID-19. Viruses that are not removed from the hands during the drying process are easily transferred to surfaces, where they are picked up by others. 

"We believe that our results are relevant to the control of the novel coronavirus that is spreading at pace worldwide," wrote the study authors. "Paper towels should be the preferred way to dry hands after washing and so reduce the risk of virus contamination and spread."

To investigate the effectiveness of each hand drying method, the researchers analyzed the extent of virus transmission beyond a public restroom in a hospital.

The hands of the study participants were contaminated with a bacteria that is harmless to humans known as a bacteriophage. The individuals did not wash their hands after contamination, and dried them with either a jet air dryer or paper towels. 

The volunteers wore aprons so that body and clothing contamination could be measured. After drying their hands, the individuals ventured out into common areas of the hospital. Samples were collected from surfaces that made contact with a participant's hand or apron. 

The sites sampled included doors, stairs, handrails, lift buttons, chairs in public areas, phones, buttons on access intercoms to wards, stethoscope tubing, and armchairs.

The study showed that both hand drying methods reduced virus contamination. However, across 10 out of 11 surfaces, the researchers found substantially greater contamination after jet drying. 

The average surface contamination following contact with jet-dried hands was more than 10 times higher than contact with hands dried using paper towels. 

The aprons worn by participants contained five times more bacteria after jet drying, and the transfer of germs from the apron to an armchair was only detected after jet drying. This particular finding indicates that a person's clothing or body can become contaminated after using a hand dryer, and the germs can be transferred to other surfaces.

"There are clear differences, according to hand drying method, in the residual microbial contamination of the subject's hands and body," wrote the researchers. "Crucially, these differences in contamination translate into significantly greater levels of microbe contamination after jet air drying versus paper towel use from hands and body beyond the toilet/washroom." 

"As public toilets are used by patients, visitors and staff, the hand drying method chosen has the potential to increase or reduce pathogen transmission in hospital settings."

The research will be presented at the <a href="https://www.emedevents.com/c/medical-conferences-2020/30th-european-congress-of-clinical-microbiology-and-infectious-diseases-eccmid-2020">European Congress on Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Paper towels are more effective in removing viruses than jet dryers 

Paper towels are far more effective in eliminating viruses from...

Health experts advise against giving children drinks with added sugars and artificial flavors, yet these are the types of drinks that are predominantly sold. Researchers at <a href="http://nyu.edu">NYU School of Global Public Health</a> are recommending for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to modify labeling regulations to help consumers make healthier choices.

A large number of drinks on the market for children have labels that can easily be misinterpreted, making it difficult for parents to distinguish between nutritional fruit juices and sugary drinks. The FDA regulates drink labels, but a wide range of claims often appear on the packaging that do not accurately represent the drink's ingredients. 

"Given the many different drinks marketed to children that contain or appear to contain <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/arsenic-metals-fruit-juices/">juice</a>, it is important that caregivers are able to differentiate among products and identify healthier options," said study lead author Jennifer Pomeranz.

The team investigated the labels and ingredients of top-selling children's juice drinks, including brands with at least $10 million in annual sales. For comparison among brands, the experts  focused their study on fruit punch drinks.

Among 39 fruit punch drinks, the amount of fruit juice was found to vary dramatically. Seven drinks contained 100 percent juice, and eight drinks contained anywhere from 2 to 99 percent juice with added sugars or low-calorie sweeteners. Meanwhile, eight of the drinks contained less than two percent fruit juice, if any, and consisted mainly of flavoring and sugar.

The FDA requires products with 100 percent juice to provide information about added sweeteners on the label, but products with less than 100 percent juice are not required to do so. As a result, there are deceptive nutrition claims on many drink labels. 

For example, drinks containing stevia extract included claims such as "no artificial sweeteners" and "no sugar added." In addition, less than half of the drinks with images of fruit on the packaging actually included juice from the featured fruit.

"We identified numerous labeling practices that obscure the true nature of drinks trying to pass as juice, blurring the distinction between drinks that are acceptable for children and those containing added sugar or sweeteners," added Pomeranz. "Nonetheless, these practices align with current FDA regulations, which allow the naming and use of fruit images that reflect the drink's flavor, regardless of the product's ingredients."

"The FDA should make it easier for consumers to tell what products are healthy for children - without having to carefully inspect the nutrition panel and decipher each ingredient on the back of the package."

The study is published in the <a href="https://ajph.aphapublications.org/">American Journal of Public Health</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Nutrition claims on children's juice drinks are widely deceptive

Health experts advise against giving children drinks with added sugars...

Over the last couple of decades, <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-droughts-hotter/">drought</a> has plagued much of the western United States and northern Mexico. Scientists have predicted that climate change is pushing the region toward an unprecedented long-term drought.

The results of a new study indicate that a megadrought is already in progress, and the event could become as bad or worse than any known drought in history. 

Based on weather observations, 1,200 years of tree-ring data, and dozens of climate models, the analysis suggests that climate warming is a key contributor to the extreme drought conditions. 

The investigation is the most comprehensive of its kind, covering a region that spans from Oregon and Montana down through California and New Mexico into northern Mexico.

Study lead author Park Williams is a climatologist at <a href="https://www.earth.columbia.edu/">Columbia University's Earth Institute</a>.

"Earlier studies were largely model projections of the future," said Williams. "We're no longer looking at projections, but at where we are now. We now have enough observations of current drought and tree-ring records of past drought to say that we're on the same trajectory as the worst prehistoric droughts."

Modern observations only date back to around the beginning of the 20th century, but tree rings hold valuable scientific data for centuries.

The researchers used tree ring data from thousands of trees to analyze environmental factors such as soil moisture. They charted dozens of droughts across the region, beginning in 800 AD. 

The study pinpointed four events that stood out as being megadroughts during the late 800s, mid-1100s, the 1200s, and the late 1500s. 

The team compared the data from ancient megadroughts to soil moisture records from 2000 to 2018. They concluded that the drought in the Western U.S. is already exceeding the earliest three megadroughts in terms of severity.  

All of the ancient droughts lasted longer than 19 years, but they also started out with conditions similar to those that are now emerging. 

According to the researchers, the current drought is affecting wider areas more consistently than any of the early droughts, which can be attributed to global warming.

Overall, rising temperatures are responsible for about half the extreme conditions, while natural fluctuations are also playing a large role. 

Without the influence of manmade climate change, the ongoing drought would rank as the 11th worst in history, while now it is well on its way to ranking as the all-time worst.

"It doesn't matter if this is exactly the worst drought ever," said study co-author Benjamin Cook. "What matters is that it has been made much worse than it would have been because of climate change." 

Since temperatures are expected to continue rising, the drought will persist for a long time, even if it briefly fades. 

"Because the background is getting warmer, the dice are increasingly loaded toward longer and more severe droughts," said Williams. "We may get lucky, and natural variability will bring more precipitation for a while. But going forward, we'll need more and more good luck to break out of drought, and less and less bad luck to go back into drought." 

Williams said it is conceivable the region could stay arid for centuries. "That's not my prediction right now, but it's possible."

The drought has already produced devastating effects, ranging from worsening California wildlifes to shrinking water reservoirs in Colorado. Although 2019 was a relatively wet year, there are some indications that 2020 will be much less cooperative.

Angeline Pendergrass, a staff scientist at the U.S. National Center for Atmospheric Research, said that it is too early to say whether the region is on the cusp of a true megadrought, considering that natural weather fluctuations are also heavily involved. She added that "even though natural variability will always play a large role in drought, climate change makes it worse."

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;

Drought in Western U.S. may become the worst in history

Over the last couple of decades, drought has plagued much...

With an increasing global demand for agricultural products and <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/farmland-biodiversity-pest-control/">farmland</a>, a strategy is urgently needed to preserve land for natural ecosystems and wildlife habitats. 

According to a study from the <a href="https://iiasa.ac.at/">International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis</a> (IIASA), high-yield farming would require only about half the land that is currently used for growing crops.

The research is the first of its kind to provide insight into the amount of cropland needed to satisfy growing demands through the highly-efficient use of land.

Conservation biologists emphasize that there is a limit to how much farmland can be kept "wildlife friendly" without compromising crop yields. Most threatened species can only recover if land is available to restore their natural ecosystems. 

The <a href="https://eowilsonfoundation.org/half-earth-project/">Half Earth project</a>, created by the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation, aims to return half of the land and sea back to wildlife habitats. The new research shows that nearly half of the land dedicated to farming could be spared.

Study lead author Christian Folberth is a researcher in the IIASA Ecosystems Services and Management Program.

"The main questions we wanted to address were how much cropland could be spared if attainable crop yields were achieved globally and crops were grown where they are most productive. In addition, we wanted to determine what the implications would be for other factors related to the agricultural sector, including fertilizer and irrigation water requirements, greenhouse gas emissions, carbon sequestration potential, and wildlife habitat available for threatened species," explained Folberth.

According to the study findings, high nutrient inputs and the reallocation of crops on present cropland would make it possible to produce the same yields of major crops with only about 50 percent of the present cropland. Ideally, the remaining land could be used to restore natural landscapes and wildlife habitats. 

Overall, current land use was found to be somewhat inefficient, and this lack of productivity was strongly tied to management decisions.

The researchers also determined that with a reduced area of cultivated land, greenhouse gas emissions and irrigation water requirements will likely decrease. 

Project lead Michael Obersteiner is the former IIASA Ecosystems Services and Management Program Director. 

"The results of our study can help policymakers and the wider public to benchmark results of integrated land use scenarios. It also shows that cropland expansion is not inevitable and that there is significant potential for improving present land use efficiency," said Obersteiner. 

"If the right policies are implemented, measures such as improved production technologies can be just as effective as demand-side measures like dietary changes," says project lead and "However, in all cases such a process would need to be steered by policies to avoid unwanted outcomes."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/natsustain/">Nature Sustainability</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

High-yield farming could preserve wildlife habitats

With an increasing global demand for agricultural products and farmland,...

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



---



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



---



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



---



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



---



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;



---



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



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

Kainji Lake in north central Nigeria

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Amanda Nguyen/University of Illinois



---



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



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

Designing crops that can beat the heat

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



---



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



---



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



---



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



---



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



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

Remote sensing will revolutionize the way we monitor trees

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



---



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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

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



Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features the province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain. The image was captured by the Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission.



"Together with the provinces of Huesca and Teruel, Zaragoza formed the old kingdom of Aragon. Its capital, also called Zaragoza (not visible in this image) is home to around half of Aragon’s population," says ESA.



"The Ebro River can be seen winding its way through the province from west to east in this image. Between its source in the Cantabrian Mountains in the northwest and its delta on the Mediterranean coast, the Ebro River is fed by more than 200 tributaries as it flows 910 km across much of northern Spain."



Since rainfall is very scarce in this region, irrigation in the Ebro basin is critically important. In the valleys surrounding the Ebro River, many fields are used for growing crops such as corn, wheat, and barley.



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



---



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

[sendtonews key="oL4FnPTGCV-2384527-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



---



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



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

Wetlands are a major source of methane emissions

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



---



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



---



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research&nbsp;



---



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



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

How the immune system responds to injury

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: NASA Goddard



---



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



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

2022 illustrated the consequences of a warming climate

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

Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



---



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



---



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



---



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



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

Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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