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...

A laser treatment developed by engineers at <a href="https://www.purdue.edu/">Purdue University</a> can be used to wipe out infectious <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/bacteria-convert-methane-fuel/">bacteria</a> as soon as they make contact with metal surfaces. The treatment works by simply changing the texture of a metal surface to strengthen its antimicrobial properties. 

Pathogenic bacteria can live on surfaces for hours or even days. The new technique from Purdue will make it possible to protect frequently-touched surfaces, like metal door knobs, from lingering germs.

The technique has not yet been adapted for killing viruses such SARS-CoV-2, which are much smaller than bacteria.

The researchers investigated whether their technique was effective in safeguarding copper surfaces. The study revealed that copper surfaces which had been treated were capable of instantly eliminating superbugs such as MRSA.

"Copper has been used as an antimicrobial material for centuries. But it typically takes hours for native copper surfaces to kill off bacteria," explained study lead author Professor Rahim Rahimi. "We developed a one-step laser-texturing technique that effectively enhances the bacteria-killing properties of copper's surface."

Copper and other metals typically have a very smooth surface that is not ideal for killing bacteria on contact. Professor Rahimi's team used a laser to create nanoscale patterns on the metal's surface. This creates a rugged texture that increases surface area and improves the odds for bacteria to rupture as they hit the surface.

In past experiments, researchers have used various nanomaterial coatings to enhance the of metal surfaces. However, these coatings tend to ooze off and may be toxic to the environment.

"We've created a robust process that selectively generates micron and nanoscale patterns directly onto the targeted surface without altering the bulk of the copper material," said Professor Rahimi.  

Innovative materials and biomedical devices are developed in Professor Rahimi's lab. The team has found that the laser-texturing not only improves antimicrobial properties, but also makes a surface more hydrophilic. With orthopedic implants, for example, a hydrophilic surface improves how well the implant merges with the bone by helping bone cells attach more firmly. 

The Purdue team explained that since the laser technique is simple and can be scaled up, it can easily be integrated into existing methods for manufacturing medical devices.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.scijournal.org/impact-factor-of-advanced-materials-interfaces.shtml">Advanced Materials Interfaces</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Laser treatment gives metal surfaces the power to instantly kill bacteria

A laser treatment developed by engineers at Purdue University can...

Experts identify a molecular switch that controls plant photosynthesis. Experts at <a href="https://wsu.edu/">Washington State University</a> are providing incredible insight into the complex system of plant <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/researchers-boost-photosynthesis/">photosynthesis</a>. In a groundbreaking study, the researchers have identified a lipid that switches photosynthesis off when plants have harvested a sufficient amount of sunlight.

While it is known that plants capture light energy and transform it into chemical energy, the mechanisms underlying this process are not entirely clear. The WSU researchers created a tool to gain a better understanding of how lipids interact with proteins during photosynthesis in plants. They identified a lipid that controls the timing when a photosynthetic protein switches from harnessing light energy to blocking its flow. 

"There's a lot of potential danger with photosynthesis," said study lead author Professor Helmut Kirchhoff. "If plants take in light energy that isn't used properly for their metabolism, it can poison the plant and kill cells. The switch of light-harvesting proteins is essential to protect the system when there's too much light available."

Prior to this study, it was a mystery how plants avoided taking in toxic amounts of sunlight.

Lipids are molecules in cell membranes that interact with the proteins found in chloroplasts, where photosynthesis takes place. 

The researchers found that one specific type of lipid, a non-bilayer lipid, appears to initiate a transition made by the light-harvesting protein when the plant has received enough light and needs to dissipate some of the excess energy.

"We were suspicious that this non-bilayer lipid had a role in controlling the structure and function of membrane proteins," explained Professor Kirchhoff. "We knew it had to have a function to be there because it's the most abundant lipid in photosynthetic membranes. We just didn't know exactly what that role would be."

As Earth's climate continues to change and the human population explodes, it is critically important to find ways to grow more crops with fewer resources. According to Professor Kirchhoff, the findings of this study may ultimately lead to methods for optimizing plant photosynthesis in specific environments, so that excess energy does not have to be wasted.

"We're still very early on, but we're excited by what we've found in this paper, and we'll continue to use our new process to study other lipid-protein interactions to see what else we can learn."

The study is published in the <a href="http://m.jbc.org/">Journal of Biological Chemistry</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;

Experts identify a molecular switch that controls plant photosynthesis

Experts identify a molecular switch that controls plant photosynthesis. Experts...

Researchers at <a href="https://health.ucdavis.edu/welcome/index.html">UC Davis Health</a> have developed a simple technique to predict how preclinical drugs may affect <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/yoga-heart-attack/">heart</a> rhythm. The team created a computer model that can be used to screen drugs for unexpected cardiac side effects, particularly heart arrhythmia risk.

Heart rhythm problems, also known as arrhythmias, arise when the electrical impulses that coordinate the heartbeat are not working properly. This causes the heart to beat too fast, too slow, or irregularly. Arrhythmias can cause life-threatening effects such as lack of blood flow and subsequent damage to major organs.

Professor Colleen E. Clancy, lead author of the UC Davis study, is a renowned expert in using high-performance computing to understand electrical changes in the heart.

"One main reason for a drug being removed from the market is potentially life-threatening arrhythmias," said Professor Clancy. "Even drugs developed to treat arrhythmias have ended up actually causing them."

The problem, she explained, is that there is no easy way to preview how a drug will interact with hERG-encoded potassium channels essential to normal heart rhythm.

"So far there has been no surefire way to determine which drugs will be therapeutic and which will be harmful," said Professor Clancy. "What we have shown is that we can now make this determination starting from the chemical structure of a drug and then predicting its impact on the heart rhythm."

The computer model analyzes the chemical formula of a specific drug to evaluate how it will interact with hERG channels, cardiac cells, and heart tissue. The information can be compared to electrocardiogram (ECG) data from clinical trials for validation.

To test the reliability of their new model, the researchers focused on two drugs that are known to interact with hERG channels. When the computer data was compared with ECGs of patients who were taking the two drugs, the results showed that the predictions from the computer model were accurate. 

Professor Clancy expects that the model will provide an essential pre-market test of cardiac drug safety. The technique may ultimately be used to test drug safety for other organs as well, such as the liver and brain.

"Every new drug needs to go through a screening for cardiac toxicity, and this could be an important first step to suggesting harm or safety before moving on to more expensive and extensive testing," said Professor Clancy.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.ahajournals.org/journal/res">Circulation Research</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 model can screen preclinical drugs for heart safety

Researchers at UC Davis Health have developed a simple technique...

Experts at the <a href="https://www.bristol.ac.uk/">University of Bristol</a> are describing how <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/social-media-television-depression/">social media</a> can be used to track economic recovery after natural disasters, including as the COVID-19 pandemic. 

By charting social media data that coincided with three global natural disasters, the researchers were able to accurately estimate the downtime and recovery of small businesses across affected countries. 

Traditional methods for acquiring economic recovery estimates, such as interviews and surveys, can be very time-consuming and expensive. 

The new technique is centered around the assumption that businesses are more active on social media when they are open as opposed to when they are closed. The researchers theorized that it is possible to deduce whether a group of businesses is recovering based on the aggregate number of their social media posts over time.

To investigate, the team analyzed the public Facebook posts of local businesses in the time before, during, and after three natural disasters: the 2015 Gorkha earthquake in Nepal, the 2017 Chiapas earthquake in Mexico, and the 2017 hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico.

The researchers validated the analysis by comparing their economic recovery estimates to the results of field surveys, official reports, Facebook surveys, and other studies. 

"The challenge of nowcasting the effect of natural hazards such as earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, and pandemics on assets, people and society has never been more timely than ever for assessing the ability of countries to recover from extreme events," said study lead author Dr. Filippo Simini. 

"Often, small to medium-sized businesses slip through the net of the traditional monitoring process of recovery. We noticed in areas struck by natural hazard events that not all areas and populations react in the same way."

"We had the idea of supporting post-emergency deployment of resources after a natural hazard event using public Facebook posts of businesses to measure how a specific region is recovering after the event. It was amazing to find out that the approach was providing information on the recovery in 'real time'," explained study co-author Dr. Flavia De Luca. "We would like to test the method to measure the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic."

The study is published in the journal <a href="http://www.nature.com/ncomms/">Nature Communications</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;

Social media posts predict economic recovery after natural disasters

Experts at the University of Bristol are describing how social...

A special report from the <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/">Mayo Clinic</a> warns that health care providers and officials must be aware of the limitations of reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing and the potential for false negatives. 

The article emphasizes that clinical and public health decisions should not be heavily reliant on the results of <a href="http://www.earth.com/video/covid-19-vaccine-testing-is-underway/">COVID-19</a> tests. The experts suggest that RT-PCR testing is accurate in diagnosing infection, but not as reliable in ruling it out. 

Study co-author Dr. Priya Sampathkumar is an infectious diseases specialist at the Mayo Clinic.

"RT-PCR testing is most useful when it is positive. It is less useful in ruling out COVID-19. A negative test often does not mean the person does not have the disease, and test results need to be considered in the context of patient characteristics and exposure," explains Dr. Sampathkumar.

Previously, the <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/">National Institutes of Health</a> (NIH) conducted a <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32219885/">study</a> based on more than 600 patients who were hospitalized for COVID-19 in Wuhan during February. The experts discovered a "potentially high false negative rate of real-time RT-PCR testing for SARS-CoV-2." In some cases, RT-PCR results were variable for the same patients over the course of diagnosis and treatment. 

The Mayo Clinic warns that overreliance on COVID-19 test results can have a negative impact on efforts to control the pandemic. Dr. Sampathkumar says that health care officials should expect a "less visible second wave of infection from people with false-negative test results."

Even with an accuracy rate as high as 90 percent, the risk of false negatives will grow as more people are tested.

"In California, estimates say the rate of COVID-19 infection may exceed 50% by mid-May 2020. With a population of 40 million people, 2 million false-negative results would be expected in California with comprehensive testing. Even if only 1% of the population was tested, 20,000 false-negative results would be expected."

The Mayo Clinic recommends for public health officials to use evidence-based reasoning while dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. The experts say risk levels must be carefully assessed prior to testing, and negative test results should be viewed cautiously, especially for people in high-risk categories and in areas where COVID-19 infection is widespread.

"For truly low-risk individuals, negative test results may be sufficiently reassuring," explains study first author Dr. Colin West. "For higher-risk individuals, even those without symptoms, the risk of false-negative test results requires additional measures to protect against the spread of disease, such as extended self-isolation."

"We need to continue to refine protocols for asymptomatic patients and exposed health care workers," says Dr. Sampathkumar.

The report is published in <a href="https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/">Mayo Clinic Proceedings</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

False-negative COVID-19 tests may lead to a "second wave of infection"

A special report from the Mayo Clinic warns that health...

Experts have identified a fungal species that has the potential to control the <a href="http://www.earth.com/video/natto-the-slimy-soybean-snack/">soybean</a> cyst nematode (SCN), a pest that devastates soybean crops worldwide. The presence of the fungus Funneliformis mosseae was found to reduce the number of juvenile nematodes by more than half.

The SCN is a parasitic roundworm that attacks the roots of soybean plants and sucks out the nutrients. In the United States alone, these pests cause annual yield losses of more than $1 billion.

Glen Hartman is a researcher for the Department of Agriculture at the <a href="https://illinois.edu/">University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign</a>. 

"Soybean cyst nematodes survive in the soil as eggs in cysts," said Hartman. "The eggs hatch at the start of the growing season, and the juveniles penetrate root tissue and migrate into the plant's vascular system. The females find a feeding site and stay there for the rest of their lives. They take nutrients away from the soybean plant, which reduces plant productivity."

In previous studies, scientists have determined that fungi which form symbiotic relationships with plants can influence parasitic nematodes like SCN. According to Hartman, the effectiveness of using these "arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi" varies from study to study, so growers are reluctant to embrace the fungi as a method of control.

"In this study, we focused on five different species of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to see if they differed in their ability to protect soybeans against SCN," said study author and graduate student Michelle Pawlowski.

The researchers used greenhouse experiments to introduce young soybean plants to fungi and SCN. The study revealed that five different fungal species were successful in reducing the number of SCN cysts in the soybean roots. 

The most effective fungus was Funneliformis mosseae. Soybean plants introduced to F. mosseae were found to accumulate an average of 10 cysts per plant. By comparison, soybean plants that were not inoculated with fungi developed at least 75 cysts. Hartman explained that each cyst may contain hundreds of nematode eggs.

"We found that as early as seven days after inoculation, roots that were inoculated with F. mosseae were colonized with significantly fewer nematode juveniles," said Pawlowski.

"To see if this interaction and suppression might occur even earlier, we incubated SCN eggs in sterile water alone, with fungal spores or with exudates of the fungal spores. These exudates are microbes and molecules secreted by the spores."

According to Pawlowski, the research demonstrates that the fungal spores and their exudates undermine nematode egg hatching. "If we can find out what function or compound from the fungi is suppressing egg hatching, that could potentially be a useful nematicide."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://apsjournals.apsnet.org/journal/pdis">Plant Disease</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Fungal species can help control major soybean pest

Experts have identified a fungal species that has the potential...

In a perspective written for the <a href="https://www.nejm.org/">New England Journal of Medicine</a>, experts are calling for mind-body medicine to be fully integrated into patient treatment plans and medical research. Relaxation techniques such as <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/meditation-breathing-brain-health/">meditation</a> and yoga are not just good for general well-being, but can also buffer some of the dangerous health effects of stress.

According to study lead author Michelle Dossett of <a href="https://health.ucdavis.edu/medicalcenter/">UC Davis Health</a>, stress exacerbates anxiety and depression and plays a role in many conditions such as cardiovascular disease, autoimmune disorders, irritable bowel syndrome, and chronic pain. 

"By reducing the body's stress response, mind-body practices can be a powerful adjunct in medicine by helping to decrease patients' symptoms and improving their quality of life," explained Dossett.

She pointed out that mind-body practices can also reduce stress related to the COVID-19 epidemic.

Study senior author Dr. Herbert Benson is the founder of the Benson-Henry Institute (BHI) for Mind Body Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Benson was one of the first Western physicians to bring spirituality and healing into medicine, and is well-known for his work with the Relaxation Response. 

"The Relaxation Response is an inborn, anti-stress capacity that transcends the differences that separate mind from body, science from spirituality and one culture from another," Dr. Benson stated previously. 

At BHI, mind-body medicine is known as the third leg of a three-legged stool. The first leg is surgery, the second is treatment with pharmaceuticals, and the third is self-care. For the self-care approach, patients learn about health and fitness interventions such as exercise, nutrition, and mind-body medicine.

"Western medicine has produced revolutionary health benefits through advances in pharmacotherapies and procedures," wrote the researchers. "It now faces enormous challenges in battling stress-related noncommunicable diseases."

"Chronic pain, often perpetuated by psychosocial stress, has become an epidemic that our pharmaceutical arsenal is poorly equipped to handle and medical costs continue to soar. Mind-body therapies can be a helpful adjunct in managing chronic pain and other stress-related noncommunicable diseases by fostering resilience through self-care."

The research is published in the the <a href="https://www.nejm.org/">New England Journal of Medicine</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Mind-body medicine can greatly improve health 

In a perspective written for the New England Journal of...

People who base their self-worth on financial success often end up feeling <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/lonely-dogs-anxious-owners-can-help/">lonely</a> and detached, according to a new study. Those who invest too much time in work may inadvertently put a strain on their most important relationships and social connections.

The research team, including experts from the <a href="http://www.buffalo.edu/">University at Buffalo</a> and Harvard Business School, set out to investigate why people who place a lot of emphasis on financial success tend to feel isolated in everyday life. 

"Feeling that pressure to achieve financial goals means we're putting ourselves to work at the cost of spending time with loved ones, and it's that lack of time spent with people close to us that's associated with feeling lonely and disconnected," explained study lead author Deborah Ward.

"When people base their self-worth on financial success, they experience feelings of pressure and a lack of autonomy, which are associated with negative social outcomes," said study co-author Professor Lora Park.

The researchers emphasize that personal relationships play a significant role in positive mental health. Even when pursuing goals that are difficult and challenging, it is important to maintain strong social connections.

"Depression and anxiety are tied to isolation, and we're certainly seeing this now with the difficulties we have connecting with friends during the COVID-19 pandemic," said Ward. "These social connections are important. We need them as humans in order to feel secure, to feel mentally healthy and happy. But much of what's required to achieve success in the financial domain comes at the expense of spending time with family and friends."

The desire for wealth or financial success is not the biggest problem, according to Ward. Instead, the main issue is something that psychologists refer to as "financial contingency of self-worth." 

When a person's self-worth is defined by money, the individual feels worthless when they are struggling financially.

In a study that involved more than 2,500 participants, the researchers analyzed the potential link between financial contingency and self-worth. The team studied other key variables as well, such as social interaction and social disconnection. 

The participants kept a daily diary for two weeks, providing the researchers with insight into how they felt about money and how much time they spent socializing. 

"We saw consistent associations between valuing money in terms of who you are and experiencing negative social outcomes in previous work, so this led us to ask the question of why these associations are present," said Ward. 

"We see these findings as further evidence that people who base their self-worth on money are likely to feel pressured to achieve financial success, which is tied to the quality of their relationships with others."

"I hope this is part of what becomes a longer line of research looking at the mechanisms between valuing money and social-related variables. We don't have the final answer, but there is a lot of evidence that pressures are largely playing a role."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/home/psp">Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Too much emphasis on money can lead to social isolation 

People who base their self-worth on financial success often end...

<a href="https://www.mountsinai.org/">Mount Sinai</a> researchers are reporting that using switch maintenance <a href="http://www.earth.com/video/new-immunotherapy-strategy-may-improve-cancer-treatment/">immunotherapy</a> can significantly slow the progression of metastatic bladder cancer. This approach to treatment involves using immunotherapy treatment immediately after chemotherapy. 

A clinical trial was focused on more than 100 patients with urothelial carcinoma, the most common type of bladder cancer. After all of the patients were treated with the same type of chemotherapy, the experts tested an immunotherapy known as pembrolizumab in one group and used a placebo in a second group. 

Among patients in the test group, the pembrolizumab extended the time until the cancer progressed by approximately 60 percent compared with the control group.

Study lead author Dr. Matthew Galsky is the co-director of the Center of Excellence for Bladder Cancer at Mount Sinai.

"This trial, along with another recent study testing a similar approach, bolster the use of switch maintenance treatment, which will likely become a standard of care for metastatic urothelial cancer, a disease characterized by a paucity of advances in decades," said Dr. Galsky.

According to the American Cancer Society, more than 81,000 people in the United States will be diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2020.

Around half of all bladder cancers are detected while the cancer is still confined to the inner layer of the bladder wall. When bladder cancer has spread to other parts of the body, it is more difficult to treat.

Stage 4 bladder cancer is referred to as “metastatic” bladder cancer. At this stage, the cancer has spread from the bladder to the abdominal wall, pelvic wall, or to distant parts of the body.

While chemo is often combined with radiation to treat metastatic bladder cancer, the new research indicates that immunotherapy drugs like pembrolizumab may also be effective as an integrative treatment.

The Mount Sinai study is the first of its kind to show that switch maintenance immunotherapy slows the spread of urothelial cancer.

The research is published in the <a href="https://ascopubs.org/journal/jco">Journal of Clinical Oncology</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Switch maintenance therapy slows metastatic bladder cancer

Mount Sinai researchers are reporting that using switch maintenance immunotherapy...

Experts at <a href="https://www.unc.edu/">UNC Chapel Hill</a> are a step closer to harnessing unprecedented wireless data speeds by manipulating <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/electron-spin-measure-time/">electrons</a> to move in a single direction. The system will allow an electronic device to process ultra-high-speed wireless data while capturing energy to keep itself charged. 

The researchers shaped silicon on a microscopic scale to create funnels that are more than a million times smaller than typical electrical wires. The irregular shape of the funnel causes electrons to bounce in a single direction, carrying their electrical current with them. 

The funnel is essentially a ratchet, allowing continuous motion of the electrons in only one direction while preventing electron movement in the opposite direction. The system eliminates the need for interfaces that slow devices down and limit their speeds. 

"This work is exciting because it could enable a future where things like low-power smartwatches are wirelessly charged from the data they already receive without ever needing to leave a person's wrist," said study lead author James Custer Jr.

The electron ratchets create "geometric diodes" that may ultimately unlock the ability for devices to process digital data at ultrafast terahertz frequencies exceeding 100 gigabits per second.

"Electrical diodes are a basic component of electronics, and our results suggest there could be a completely different paradigm for the design of diodes that operate at very high frequencies," said study co-author Professor James Cahoon. "The results are possible because we grow the structures from the bottom up, using a synthetic process that yields geometrically precise, single-crystalline materials."

In previous work, Professor Cahoon led the development of a process called ENGRAVE (Encoded Nanowire Growth and Appearance through VLS and Etching), which is the technique that was used to create the electron ratchets. ENGRAVE grows single-crystal cylinders of silicon, called nanowires, using a vapor-liquid-solid process. 

"A lot of the work in this field has previously been done with expensive materials at cryogenic temperatures, but our work highlights that geometric diodes made with relatively cheap silicon can function at room temperature, which even surprised us at first," said Custer. "We hope our results spark a surge of interest in geometric diodes."

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;

Electron ratchets will allow ultrafast data speeds

Experts at UNC Chapel Hill are a step closer to...

In an unprecedented study, scientists have managed to measure the wind speed on a brown dwarf. The technique can be used to measure winds on other celestial objects like extrasolar <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/habitable-zone-planets-support-life/">planets</a>, according to the experts.

A brown dwarf is a substellar object that is not as large as a planet yet not as small as a star. The object is sometimes referred to as a "failed star." It is more massive than a planet, yet lacks the mass needed to activate the thermonuclear reactions that power stars.

Based on what is known about giant planets in Earth's solar system, scientists at the <a href="https://www.cv.nrao.edu/">National Radio Astronomy Observatory</a> realized that a combination of radio and infrared observations could be used to measure a brown dwarf's wind speed. "When we realized this, we were surprised that no one else had already done it," said study lead author Katelyn Allers of Bucknell University.

The team used radio observations from the National Science Foundation's Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) and infrared observations from the NASA Spitzer Space Telescope to study a dwarf called 2MASS J10475385+2124234. This particular space object is about the same size of Jupiter and is located about 34 light-years from Earth. 

"We noted that the rotation period of Jupiter as determined by radio observations is different from the rotation period determined by observations at visible and infrared wavelengths," said Allers. She explained that the difference is due to the fact that radio emission is caused by electrons interacting with the planet's magnetic field, while infrared emission comes from the top of the atmosphere. 

"Because we expect the same mechanisms to be at work in the brown dwarf, we decided to measure its rotation speeds with both radio and infrared telescopes," said Johanna Vos of the American Museum of Natural History.

Like Jupiter, the brown dwarf's atmosphere is rotating faster than its interior. The object's wind speed was found to be about 1,425 miles per hour, which is significantly faster than Jupiter's wind speed of 230 mph.

"This agrees with theory and simulations that predict higher wind speeds in brown dwarfs," said Allers. "We're excited that our method can now be used to help us better understand the atmospheric dynamics of brown dwarfs and extrasolar planets."

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;

Wind speed measured on a brown dwarf for the first time

In an unprecedented study, scientists have managed to measure the...

Red-billed oxpeckers protect black <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/northern-white-rhinos-genetics/">rhinos</a> by calling out an alarm signal when humans are nearby. A team of researchers tracked black rhinos in the wild, and found that those who were carrying oxpeckers were much better at sensing and dodging humans. 

Oxpeckers help to remove ticks and other parasites as they hitch a ride on a rhino's back. The new study suggests that the birds also help to compensate for the rhino's poor eyesight by calling out when a human is approaching.

The Swahili name for the red-billed oxpecker is Askari wa kifaru, which means "the rhino's guard." The research gives new meaning to this title, considering that the warning calls from oxpeckers can help protect black rhinos from poachers. 

"Although black rhinos have large, rapier-like horns and a thick hide, they are as blind as a bat. If the conditions are right, a hunter could walk within five meters of one, as long as they are downwind," said study co-author Roan Plotz of Victoria University.

The researchers tagged rhinos with  radio transmitters and found that they carried oxpeckers on their backs more than 50 percent of the time. Untagged black rhinos were not usually spotted with an oxpecker, which indicates that those who were carrying the birds were able to avoid human detection. 

"Using the differences we observed between oxpeckers on the tagged versus untagged rhinos, we estimated that between 40% and 50% of all possible black rhino encounters were thwarted by the presence of oxpeckers," said Plotz.

The field team conducted a "human approach" experiment, where one researcher would walk toward a rhino while another recorded the rhino's reaction. The researchers noted the number of oxpeckers carried, the rhinos' behavior, and the distance of the researchers when the rhinos became aware of them. 

"Our experiment found that rhinos without oxpeckers detected a human approaching only 23% of the time. Due to the bird's alarm call, those with oxpeckers detected the approaching human in 100% of our trials and at an average distance of 61 meters - nearly four times further than when rhinos were alone. In fact, the more oxpeckers the rhino carried, the greater the distance at which a human was detected," said Plotz. 

When the rhinos heard the bird's signal, they almost always positioned themselves to face downwind, which is their sensory blind spot. 

"Rhinos cannot smell predators from downwind, making it their most vulnerable position. This is particularly true from humans, who primarily hunt game from that direction," explained Plotz.

"Rhinos have been hunted by humans for tens of thousands of years, but the species was driven to the brink of extinction over the last 150 years. One hypothesis is that oxpeckers have evolved this cooperative relationship with rhinos relatively recently to protect their food source from human overkill."

Oxpecker populations are in a rapid state of decline and are locally extinct in some regions. Most black rhinos are living in habitats without oxpeckers.

The research, published by <a href="https://www.cell.com/">Cell Press</a>, suggests that reintroducing oxpeckers into rhino populations could help with conservation efforts. 

"While we do not know that reintroducing the birds would significantly reduce hunting impacts, we do know oxpeckers would help rhinos evade detection, which on its own is a great benefit," said Plotz.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/home">Current Biology</a>.

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By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Oxpeckers alert black rhinos to the presence of humans

Red-billed oxpeckers protect black rhinos by calling out an alarm...

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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

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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

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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

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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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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Wetlands are a major source of methane emissions

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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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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...