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Every April 22, Earth Day calls us to reflect on our planet’s well-being. But this year, there’s a different tone in the United States - one of Earth-focused success. Over the past twelve months, the country has taken meaningful steps toward environmental sustainability.



These weren’t just small shifts or symbolic gestures. They were measurable gains that affect ecosystems, the climate, and public health. As the world grapples with the dual pressures of climate change and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-wildlife-day-2025-a-global-call-to-protect-nature/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">biodiversity</a> loss, the U.S. now offers several stories of hope.



Whether through energy innovation, wildlife protection, or global atmospheric recovery, 2024 gave us many reasons to believe in action.



That belief matters. Because Earth Day isn’t just about celebration - it’s about <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earth-day-2024-the-tide-may-finally-be-turning/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">commitment</a> and action. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-solar-success-powers-a-cleaner-earth">Solar success powers a cleaner Earth</h2>



Clean energy continued to surge across the United States in 2024. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/solar-panels-are-1000-times-more-powerful-with-new-tech-breakthrough/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Solar energy</a> led the charge, expanding at a pace that had never been seen before.



By the end of the year, 37 gigawatts of solar power had been added to the national grid. That figure nearly doubled what was installed the year before. It signals a decisive move away from fossil fuels and toward energy systems that don’t damage the planet.



Government data backs this growth. The Energy Information Administration (<a href="https://www.eia.gov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EIA</a>) now expects solar to account for the majority of new electricity generation through 2026. 



Solar panels aren’t just being added to rooftops - they’re shaping the country’s energy future. And unlike fossil fuel plants, they do it quietly, without smoke or pollution.



This shift also reflects the public’s changing attitude. People want cleaner choices. Companies see renewable energy as practical, not just ethical. And local governments are learning that the sun offers not only power, but independence.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-investment-sparks-manufacturing-boom">Investment sparks manufacturing boom</h2>



Policy has played a huge role in this energy transition. The <a href="https://www.irs.gov/inflation-reduction-act-of-2022" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Inflation Reduction Act</a>, passed in 2022, triggered a wave of clean energy investment across the country. 



Since then, over $500 billion has been committed to clean energy-related projects. These include solar panel factories, battery plants, and infrastructure for electric vehicles.



So far, around $75 billion has already been spent. That money has helped launch at least 160 new clean energy manufacturing sites. These aren’t just job titles on paper. Together, the projects have created nearly 100,000 new positions, many in areas long dependent on fossil fuels.



The clean energy boom has moved beyond the coasts. States in the Midwest and South are building advanced manufacturing facilities. The result is a reworked energy economy that supports both climate goals and community livelihoods. 



Earth Day 2025 arrives in the middle of this shift. It reminds us that environmental gains and economic health can grow together.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-conservation-success-through-science">Conservation success through science</h2>



Earth's environmental success wasn’t limited to energy. In 2024, wildlife conservation took a leap forward through science and strategy. 



One standout story came from the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. There, a cloned black-footed ferret named Antonia gave birth to three healthy kits. This marked the first time a cloned animal of this species had reproduced successfully.



The black-footed ferret is one of North America’s most endangered mammals. For years, conservationists feared the species might vanish completely. 



Antonia’s kits now offer new genetic diversity and a path forward for recovery. The cloning effort, once experimental, has become a real solution for saving <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/animal-movement-predictions-matter-more-than-ever/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">species</a> with limited populations.



This kind of conservation success blends technology with patience. It involves scientists, wildlife experts, and public support. Together, they show that extinction is not inevitable - not if humans act with care and urgency.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-success-for-earth-s-ecosystems">Success for Earth’s ecosystems</h2>



Another major breakthrough came in California’s Klamath River. For the first time in more than a hundred years, Chinook salmon returned to spawn in the river’s upper reaches. Their return came after the removal of four dams that had long blocked access to spawning grounds.



The decision to remove the dams was not quick or easy. It followed years of advocacy by Native tribes, environmental groups, and local communities. 



The result now speaks for itself: salmon are swimming freely again. This means restored food chains, improved water quality, and cultural renewal for tribal communities.



The Klamath River case offers more than just a local win. It shows what happens when people prioritize river health over short-term economic gain. Dams once symbolized progress. 



Now, their removal can be a sign of renewal. The return of salmon in 2024 reminds us that ecosystems, when given the chance, can recover.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-global-success-in-healing-earth-s-ozone">Global success in healing Earth’s ozone</h2>



Above us, far from city lights and farmland, the Earth’s atmosphere continues its slow recovery. 



The Antarctic ozone hole in 2024 measured as the seventh smallest since tracking began in 1992. This shrinking hole is a clear signal that decades of global cooperation are paying off.



The ozone layer shields life from harmful ultraviolet rays. Its damage in the late 20th century sparked one of the first major global environmental agreements: the Montreal Protocol. Nations agreed to cut the use of ozone-depleting substances. Since then, many of those chemicals have been phased out.



Recovery has not been fast, but it has been steady. Scientists now project that the ozone layer will return to pre-1980 conditions by 2066. That timeline may feel long, but it’s grounded in progress. 



Each year of improvement brings better protection for humans, animals, and plants. And it proves that when nations act together, change is possible - even in the upper atmosphere.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-road-ahead-clear-goals">The road ahead: Clear goals</h2>



As Earth Day 2025 approaches, the United States has more than good intentions to show. It has results. Solar power is climbing, Manufacturing is shifting, Rivers are rebounding and rare animals are getting a second chance. These stories aren’t fiction - they happened in one year.



Yet the work isn’t done. Climate pressures continue, species remain at risk, and policy must stay aligned with science. But this past year shows that even in a vast, complex country, real environmental change can take root.



Earth Day exists to remind us of responsibility and environmental success. But this year, it also reminds us of possibility.



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Every April 22, Earth Day calls us to reflect on...

An exceptionally well-preserved ant fossil encased in 16-million-year-old Dominican amber is offering scientists surprising new insights into the evolutionary journey of a rare group known as dirt ants, or Basiceros.



The fossilized ant - a previously unknown species named Basiceros enana - is the first of its kind ever uncovered in the Caribbean. The discovery suggests that these elusive <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-many-ants-live-on-earth-at-any-point-in-time-total-number-is-astounding/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ants</a> once inhabited the islands before vanishing during the Miocene epoch, which spanned from roughly 23 to 5.3 million years ago.



“Dirt ants are rare finds in the wild. Finding one today is exciting given how well they stay hidden, but captured in amber, it's like finding a diamond,” said Gianpiero Fiorentino, the study’s lead author and a PhD candidate at the <a href="https://www.njit.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New Jersey Institute of Technology</a> (NJIT). “This fossil is singularly distinct from all its modern relatives and reshapes the evolutionary history of Basiceros.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-discovery-of-a-dirt-ant-species">Discovery of a dirt ant species</h2>



Previously, all known members of this ant genus were limited to neotropical rainforests stretching from Costa Rica down to Southern Brazil. Currently, nine living Basiceros species are documented. 



The discovery of B. enana, however, raises new questions about how these ants once dispersed and colonized parts of the Caribbean.



“Often lineages will have what appear to be fairly straightforward biogeographic histories. If you find a group of animals that only live in South America up to Costa Rica today, you really have no reason to expect that their early relatives lived in the Caribbean,” said Phil Barden, senior author of the study and associate professor of biology at NJIT.&nbsp;



“A fossil like this underscores how the distribution of living species can belie the complex evolutionary history of life on our planet.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracing-the-dirt-ant-s-ancestry">Tracing the dirt ant's ancestry </h2>



To analyze the ancient ant, the team employed cutting-edge imaging methods, including Micro-CT scanning at NJIT and the <a href="https://www.oist.jp/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University</a>. These techniques enabled them to reconstruct the fossil in 3D and examine intricate anatomical details otherwise invisible.



“The use of Micro-CT scanning really amplified this study, enabling us to capture features that were virtually impossible to see otherwise,” Fiorentino explained.



The researchers compared these structural features to all known living dirt ant species and used molecular dating methods to trace the species' ancestry. Because amber preserves creatures in three dimensions, the team was able to collect extensive information from the small specimen.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-significance-of-the-fossil">Significance of the fossil</h2>



The fossil ant, measuring just 5.13 millimeters in length, is significantly smaller than its modern descendants, which can grow to nearly 9 millimeters. As a result, B. enana now holds the distinction of being the smallest member of its genus ever recorded.



“Our results show that the embiggening of these ants was relatively rapid,” Fiorentino said. “They almost doubled in size in the span of 20 million years." 



"Previous hypotheses suggested that these ants were ancestrally large and shrank over time, so this flips that on its head and really illustrates how important fossils can be to understanding the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/discovery-evolution-not-random-gene-families-pangenome-influence-called-revolutionary/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">evolution</a> of a lineage.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ancient-camouflage-already-in-play">Ancient camouflage already in play</h2>



Yet despite its smaller size, B. enana already displayed some of the key adaptations that help modern dirt ants remain nearly invisible in their environment - a form of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-squid-power-their-amazing-camouflage-abilities/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">camouflage</a> known as crypsis. 



These include two layers of specialized hairs designed to trap dirt and debris: long brush-like setae that lift particles and shorter, tighter hairs that hold them close to the body’s surface.



“What this shows is that playing dead and hiding pays off,” Fiorentino said. “Uncovering a unique fossil like this helps us understand how long organisms may have been employing this strategy, though the presence of these characteristics does not necessarily guarantee they behaved in this way.”



The fossil also shares other recognizable features with today’s dirt ants, such as curved propodeal spines, a distinctive trapezoidal head, and sharp mandibles lined with a dozen triangular teeth - traits suggesting a predatory lifestyle.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-piece-of-a-larger-puzzle">A piece of a larger puzzle </h2>



Despite these survival advantages, Basiceros ants eventually disappeared from the Caribbean, likely due to dramatic environmental shifts during the Miocene. The team suggests that ancient land bridges might have allowed the ants to migrate from mainland South America to the islands.



“The presence of Basiceros in Dominican amber suggests ancient land bridges may have provided pathways for these ants to traverse from the mainland to the Caribbean,” Barden said. 



“This fossil is a piece of a larger puzzle that will help us understand why some groups of organisms undergo <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dinosaur-extinction-led-to-the-emergence-of-ant-agriculture/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">extinction</a> and others stick it out for millions of years.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-loss-of-ants-in-the-caribbean">Loss of ants in the Caribbean</h2>



Fiorentino noted that the dirt ants' extinction could have come down to a loss of available niches or interspecific competition. 



"These ants are predators, and an overall trend that we see from the Caribbean is a loss of predator ant diversity," said Fiorentino.



“Over a third of ant genera have gone extinct on the island of modern-day Dominican Republic since the formation of Dominican amber. Understanding what has driven this pattern of local extinction is crucial to mitigating modern human-driven extinction and protecting biodiversity."



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2024.2171" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the Royal Society B</a>.



Image Credit: Gianpiero Fiorentino (NJIT)



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Dirt ants were once masters of disguise in the Caribbean

An exceptionally well-preserved ant fossil encased in 16-million-year-old Dominican amber...

We speak to our dogs constantly - during walks, feeding, play, or even casual chatter. Most of us assume they respond only to tone or gestures, not the actual words, but new research challenges this belief.



A collaborative study from the Universities of <a href="https://www.lincoln.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lincoln</a>, <a href="https://www.sussex.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sussex</a>, and <a href="https://www.univ-st-etienne.fr/en/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jean Monnet</a> has revealed that dogs can detect meaningful words even in monotone human speech.



The researchers found that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/national-puppy-day-2025-where-happiness-meets-responsibility/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dogs</a> are not just responding to our cheerful pet voices. They actually “listen in,” parsing out significant phrases from otherwise irrelevant sentences.



This raises fascinating questions about language perception, attention, and the impact of thousands of years of domestication.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dogs-don-t-need-baby-talk-speech">Dogs don’t need baby talk speech</h2>



Humans often use an exaggerated, happy tone when addressing dogs. This is called dog-directed speech (DDS), and it's designed to grab their attention - just like baby talk for infants.



Until now, it was assumed that this exaggerated tone helped dogs identify important words. But are they just reacting to pitch, or do they understand actual language?



The researchers created an experiment to test if <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/are-dogs-replacing-children-how-modern-society-is-changing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dogs</a> could pick out meaningful content when speech lacked the familiar emotional tone. They used a stream of neutral sentences delivered in flat monotone and inserted familiar phrases like “[Dog’s name], come on then.” 



These phrases were spoken in either DDS or neutral reading prosody (NRP). The goal was to see if dogs could still identify these phrases without emotional clues.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dogs-are-really-good-listeners">Dogs are really good listeners </h2>



The findings were striking. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pet-dogs-severely-harm-wildlife-even-when-leashed/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dogs</a> consistently responded to commands spoken in monotone, ignoring the irrelevant surrounding words. In other words, they weren’t just reacting to tone they were actually parsing the speech for meaning.



"Dogs understand that we say their name to get their attention, and this is almost always paired with a happy 'baby talk' speech register because dogs prefer it," noted Dr. Holly Root-Gutteridge, one of the lead researchers.



"We wanted to see if dogs were only responding to this happy voice or if they could recognize their name, even when it was buried in a sentence and delivered in a flat voice."



"We found that dogs could absolutely find their name when presented in a monotone way and buried in stream of irrelevant speech - a prerequisite for comprehending language - and shows how good they are at listening to us."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dogs-can-focus-on-relevant-speech">Dogs can focus on relevant speech </h2>



This capacity relates to what scientists call the “cocktail party effect” - our ability to focus on a single voice amid background noise.



Humans can pick out meaningful speech in a noisy room. This study shows that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/lost-in-translation-how-we-misread-our-dogs-emotions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dogs</a> may have a similar skill. Despite irrelevant noise and monotone delivery, they managed to isolate commands meant for them.



The dogs also performed better when a brief pause preceded the command, suggesting they use subtle structural cues to detect speech boundaries. This resembles how human infants learn to segment words.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-emotional-tone-boosts-attention">Emotional tone boosts attention</h2>



To better understand how tone and content influence <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-dogs-say-goodbye-before-they-die-these-signs-will-tell-you-if-your-friend-is-leaving-soon/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dogs</a>, the researchers ran two experiments. First, they examined responses to DDS and NRP with and without meaningful content. Then, they tested if dogs reacted differently based on the speaker’s gender.



In the prosody experiment, dogs showed the most attention to DDS with meaningful phrases. But they also responded - though less often - to meaningful words in neutral tone. Surprisingly, they reacted to DDS-control phrases (with no meaning) as much as to NRP-meaningful phrases.



"So, this means that they're listening to us all the time and can pick out their name, but they will pay more attention if you give them both cues. So, 'Sheba, come on then' gets more attention from her if you sound eager to see her," noted Dr. Root-Gutteridge.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dogs-aren-t-just-responding-to-tone">Dogs aren't just responding to tone </h2>



In a follow-up experiment, the researchers explored whether dogs responded differently to male and female owners. While women tend to use more exaggerated DDS, the dogs didn’t show a clear preference. Both male and female speakers prompted similar responses.



"We show that dogs can recognize speech information relevant to them in the absence of the usual prosody we use when we address them," noted Professor David Reby, the project’s lead.



This suggests that the ability to perceive verbal content isn't just a reaction to tone or pitch. It may be tied to something deeper, like neural architecture adapted through domestication.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dogs-break-speech-down">Dogs break speech down</h2>



Dogs may be using a process similar to speech segmentation, long studied in humans. This is the ability to split a continuous flow of sound into distinct, meaningful units. 



Infants learn it early on, using pitch, pauses, and patterns. Dogs seem to possess a version of this ability too.



They respond to repeated phonemes and meaningful words embedded in flat speech. Some even outperformed one-year-old human infants in earlier name-recognition tests. This points to a strong capacity for statistical learning and familiar sound identification.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dogs-understand-speech-content">Dogs understand speech content</h2>



The researchers concluded that while DDS helps grab attention, dogs can still process flat speech. This means our furry friends might understand more than we think - especially when we say something they’ve heard often.



Dogs' attention was highest when meaningful content was paired with DDS. However, they still showed notable responses when only one of these cues was present. So, if you’re giving commands without the usual cheerful tone, your dog might still catch on.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-for-other-animals">Implications for other animals</h2>



This study has deep implications. It suggests that dogs aren't just tuned to our emotional expressions - they're truly listening for meaning. 



Future research might explore how well this applies to other species like cats or horses, or whether wild relatives like wolves show similar abilities.



The research team also hopes to study whether voice familiarity strengthens word recognition in dogs. Since human babies benefit from familiar voices, the same might be true for our pets.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-long-history-of-listening">A long history of listening</h2>



Dogs have evolved alongside humans for over 14,000 years. This deep bond likely shaped their ability to understand us. While we’ve long known they respond to tone, this study proves they’re paying closer attention than we assumed.



Their ability to sift through speech, identify relevant phrases, and respond - regardless of tone - marks a new chapter in human-animal communication.



And next time you think your dog isn’t paying attention because you didn’t use a cheerful voice - think again. They might be listening all along.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10071-025-01948-z" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Animal Cognition</a>.



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Dogs can understand words even in monotone speech

We speak to our dogs constantly - during walks, feeding,...

In the rugged landscapes of Canada’s Rocky Mountains, researchers have identified a previously unknown butterfly species hiding in plain sight.&nbsp;



Long mistaken for the Half-moon Hairstreak (Satyrium semiluna), the butterflies found in the Blakiston Fan region have now been named Satyrium curiosolus, or the Curiously Isolated Hairstreak.



This discovery reveals the species’ unique evolutionary path, suggesting it has remained cut off from its closest relatives for tens of thousands of years - potentially as long as 40,000 years - slowly evolving into a distinct population both genetically and ecologically.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-completely-isolated-butterfly-population">A completely isolated butterfly population</h2>



Zac MacDonald, co-first author of the study, is a postdoctoral researcher at <a href="https://www.ioes.ucla.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UCLA’s Institute of the Environment and Sustainability</a>. 



“Our whole-genome sequencing of S. curiosolus revealed strikingly <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/butterflys-rapid-expansion-led-to-lower-genetic-diversity/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">low genetic diversity</a> and exceptionally high levels of historical inbreeding compared to the geographically nearest S. semiluna populations in British Columbia and Montana, more than 400 km distant,” said MacDonald.



Despite its small size, the species appears to have persisted independently for millennia. “Like the Channel Island Fox, S. curiosolus may have purged some of its harmful recessive genetic variation through a long, gradual history of inbreeding, allowing it to persist as a small and completely isolated population today,” MacDonald added.



The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/butterfly-migration-habits-are-not-determined-by-their-dna/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">butterfly</a> is not only genetically distinct, but also occupies a unique prairie-grassland habitat, unlike its relatives, which typically reside in sagebrush steppe ecosystems. It has adapted to a different set of environmental conditions, relying exclusively on the silvery lupine (Lupinus argenteus) as its host plant - a species not used by S. semiluna populations in British Columbia.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-rare-mutualistic-partnership">A rare mutualistic partnership</h2>



In another unexpected twist, the study uncovered a mutualistic bond between S. curiosolus larvae and a specific ant species.&nbsp;



“Furthermore, we recently discovered that S. curiosolus larvae have mutualistic relationships with a particular species of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ants-perform-life-saving-amputation-surgeries-on-injured-nest-mates/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ant</a> (Lasius ponderosae), which has not been observed in other S. semiluna populations,” said co-author James Glasier, an ecologist at the <a href="https://www.calgaryzoo.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo</a>.



The caterpillars secrete a sugary substance known as honeydew, which the ants consume. In exchange, the ants protect the larvae from predators and parasites. 



Caterpillars even retreat into ant nests when disturbed or during extreme temperatures, while adult females strategically lay eggs near the entrances of ant colonies beneath silvery lupines.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-protecting-canada-s-isolated-butterfly">Protecting Canada's isolated butterfly</h2>



Formally recognizing S. curiosolus as a distinct species has critical implications for conservation. Its long isolation has led to very low genetic variability, which can make adaptation to environmental shifts more difficult.&nbsp;



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/red-foxes-montane-need-genetic-rescue-as-they-edge-near-extinction/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Genetic rescue</a> - introducing individuals from closely related populations to increase genetic diversity - is often proposed in such cases. But for S. curiosolus, this approach may not be feasible.



Due to the high degree of differentiation from S. semiluna, the risk of outbreeding depression - where introduced genes reduce fitness - is high. In fact, the species may not even be reproductively compatible with its closest relatives. 



Alternative conservation strategies, such as establishing new populations in safe habitats, may be necessary to preserve this butterfly’s future.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-genomic-tools-advance-biodiversity-studies">Genomic tools advance biodiversity studies</h2>



Co-first author Julian Dupuis, an assistant professor at the University of Kentucky, noted that the discovery of S. curiosolus is a powerful demonstration of how genomics is revolutionizing taxonomy and conservation.



“While traditional taxonomic methods often rely on morphology alone, our study underscores the importance of integrating genomic and ecological data to uncover hidden diversity," said Dupuis.



"With the rise of genomic tools, previously unrecognized species like S. curiosolus are being discovered, highlighting the need for conservation strategies that account for cryptic biodiversity.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tackling-complex-conservation-challenges">Tackling complex conservation challenges </h2>



This kind of research would not be possible without strong partnerships. Academic institutions, national parks, and conservation groups worked together to make the discovery possible.



“Our studies on S. curiosolus and S. semiluna highlight the importance of collaboration between academic scientists, nonprofit organizations, and conservation managers,” MacDonald said. “All of this work was made possible through partnerships between academic researchers, <a href="https://parks.canada.ca/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Parks Canada</a>, and the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo.”&nbsp;



“By combining expertise in genomics, field ecology, and conservation management, we were able to produce findings that not only reshape our understanding of biodiversity but also provide actionable insights for species protection.”&nbsp;



MacDonald noted that moving forward, these interdisciplinary collaborations will be critical for tackling complex conservation challenges and ensuring the long-term survival of species like S. curiosolus.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-significance-of-the-isolated-butterfly">Significance of the isolated butterfly </h2>



Now that the isolated butterfly Satyrium curiosolus has been officially recognized, the researchers emphasize that further study is needed. Investigating its evolutionary relationships, interactions with host plants and ant species, and responses to climate change will be essential. 



Long-term monitoring led by Parks Canada and the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo will help determine how the butterfly copes with ongoing environmental shifts.



“This is a wonderful example of how such monitoring can connect diverse approaches and impactful answers to a simple question like ‘that’s odd - why is it there?’” said senior author Felix Sperling, a professor at the <a href="https://www.ualberta.ca/en/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Alberta</a> and curator of the <a href="https://www.ualberta.ca/en/museums/museum-collections/eh-strickland-entomological-museum.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Strickland Museum of Entomology</a>.



For now, the Curiously Isolated Hairstreak serves as a reminder of how even the smallest, most overlooked creatures can play a vital role in our understanding of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/polar-light-sustains-biodiversity-over-millions-of-years/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">biodiversity</a> - and in shaping how we protect it for future generations.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://zookeys.pensoft.net/article/143893/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ZooKeys</a>.



Image Credit: MacDonald et al.



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‘Curiously isolated’ butterfly found in Canada's Rocky Mountains

In the rugged landscapes of Canada’s Rocky Mountains, researchers have...

In November 2018, a deadly wildfire devastated parts of Northern California. Lives were uprooted, communities were reshaped, and mental health challenges lingered long after the embers cooled. 



Many survivors faced not only physical loss but also struggles tied to anxiety and mood changes. Early discussions hinted that post-fire stress could alter ways people think and behave.



Dr. Jyoti Mishra from <a href="https://ucsd.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UC San Diego</a>, an associate professor at the School of Medicine and co-director of the University of California Climate Resilience Initiative, helped confirm that such major disasters may produce a kind of climate-related <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/intense-forest-fires-leave-scorched-earth-heating-the-planet-faster/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">trauma</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-disasters-damage-mental-health">Climate disasters damage mental health</h2>



Climate disasters can lead to long-lasting mental health consequences, which researchers sometimes call <a href="https://www.pbs.org/wnet/peril-and-promise/2022/02/when-climate-change-becomes-climate-trauma/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate trauma</a>. 



Large fires, intense storms, and prolonged droughts can overwhelm communities, both physically and psychologically.



Various studies have shown that these events can trigger <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/410326" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">post-traumatic stress disorder</a>, also known as PTSD. Worry and tension become constant companions, and routine decisions might feel more challenging.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fire-survivors-struggle-with-decisions">Fire survivors struggle with decisions</h2>



One newly published study examined how survivors of the 2018 Camp Fire approached choices that could pay off with bigger rewards over time. 



Participants performed a computer-based task that tracked how often they stuck to an option that offered higher gains in the long run. The team discovered that those who directly experienced the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/extreme-fire-risk-has-grown-exponentially-in-a-hotter-climate/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fire</a> were more likely to abandon the choice that yielded better long-term outcomes.



“It was clear that brains of study participants directly exposed to wildfires - as opposed to those not exposed - became significantly hyper-aroused when trying to make proper decision choices but they were still unable to execute the task well,” said Jason Nan, a UC San Diego bioengineering graduate student and study first author.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-influence-of-stress-on-the-brain">Influence of stress on the brain</h2>



Elevated vigilance may help individuals react swiftly to real threats. Yet continuous hyperarousal can derail the planning needed for long-range benefits. Heightened focus on short-term safety often leaves little energy for calm reasoning.



<a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1607171113" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Research</a> indicates that trauma-related responses can disrupt areas of the brain responsible for reward processing. People under extreme stress might switch away from strategies that require sustained effort and stick to choices with smaller, more frequent payoffs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fire-s-effect-on-focus-and-memory">Fire’s effect on focus and memory</h2>



In the study, specialists used <a href="https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/electroencephalogram-eeg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">electroencephalogram</a> recordings to watch the brain’s electrical signals during the decision task. The results showed that those who lived through the Camp Fire had unusual activity in the parietal region. That area often handles memory, attention, and rumination.



“Our previous research has shown that survivors of <a href="https://rems.ed.gov/docs/2021ToolBox/CA_Case_Study_1_Wildfire.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">California’s 2018 Camp Fire</a> experience prolonged symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression alongside hyper-distractibility,” said Dr. Mishra.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-early-mental-health-and-recovery-paths">Early mental health and recovery paths</h2>



Left unchecked, altered decision-making patterns might create more complications for those trying to rebuild their lives. 



Day-to-day tasks like budgeting or health management could become overwhelming. <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8083197/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mindfulness-based tools</a> have shown some promise for managing rumination by gently redirecting attention.



Community-based programs that support mental health soon after a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fast-wildfires-are-gaining-even-more-speed/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wildfire</a> can be a lifeline. They have the potential to reduce anxiety symptoms and encourage a proactive mind-set. These programs also help people regain the confidence to make choices that benefit their long-term well-being.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-linking-trauma-to-future-challenges">Linking trauma to future challenges</h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/extreme-weather-is-pushing-nature-toward-a-breaking-point/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wildfire</a> survivors who feel anxious may struggle with planning that hinges on delayed rewards. 



That might include saving money or setting aside time for personal growth. Over time, small setbacks can stack up when immediate needs overshadow bigger-picture goals.



Some participants in the study reported PTSD-like traits on screening tools such as the <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/410326">GAD-7</a>&nbsp; and <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1046/j.1525-1497.2001.016009606.x" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PHQ-9</a>. These measures assess anxiety and depression levels, respectively, and can identify those at risk for prolonged distress.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shifts-in-thinking-among-fire-survivors">Shifts in thinking among fire survivors</h2>



Efforts to monitor mood, memory, and decision styles across fire-prone areas could inform public health strategies. 



Screening for shifts in thinking might lead to early interventions. That might curb severe issues like substance misuse or difficulties with job performance.



Mental health experts also suggest that it is wise to train responders to watch for subtle cognitive changes among survivors. In future climate disasters, frontline volunteers and counselors may spot signs of immediate decision-making changes and direct those affected to additional support.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-human-side-of-climate-uncertainty">The human side of climate uncertainty</h2>



Local communities often come together when wildfires strike. That unity remains vital in the months or years following a large blaze. Temporary housing, donated supplies, and relocation assistance all play a part.



Emotional support is equally important. Friends, family, counselors, and neighbors can make a difference by listening without judgment. Even simple check-ins let survivors know they are not alone.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fire-survivors-can-regain-control">Fire survivors can regain control </h2>



In a world facing hotter summers and drier landscapes, the emotional toll of climate emergencies may only grow. 



Studies highlight a need for greater resilience not just in physical infrastructure but also in mental health resources. Many communities are already stepping up efforts to safeguard both body and mind.



Continuous research helps identify those at higher risk of cognitive strain. With that knowledge, specialists can tailor therapies that combine evidence-based treatments and practical coping skills.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-94672-0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Scientific Reports</a>.



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Climate trauma can rewire the brain, causing chronic fear and anxiety

In November 2018, a deadly wildfire devastated parts of Northern...

Mars has long held our curiosity. Rust-colored, carbon-rich, and barren, it whispers tales of a very different past. Its dry riverbeds, crater lakes, and mineral-rich soil suggest that water once flowed across its surface. But something changed.



The thick atmosphere that could have supported that water is now gone. Where did it go? How did a once-wet Mars turn into the arid world we see today?



The answers may lie beneath the planet’s dusty surface. Thanks to NASA’s <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/mission/msl-curiosity/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Curiosity rover</a>, scientists now have evidence of a previously hidden carbon sink. It comes in the form of siderite - an iron carbonate mineral.



And its discovery could explain what happened to the carbon dioxide-rich atmosphere of ancient <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mars-captured-in-true-color-like-youve-never-seen-the-red-planet-before/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mars</a>. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ancient-mars-had-carbon-dioxide-and-water">Ancient Mars had carbon dioxide and water</h2>



Mars, in its ancient days, likely had a dense atmosphere filled with carbon dioxide. 



This atmospheric pressure, combined with the greenhouse effect, would have made liquid water stable on the surface. That water interacted with volcanic rocks, setting off a chain of chemical reactions.



The expected result? The formation of carbonate minerals, which are stable compounds that trap carbon dioxide in stone.



Yet for decades, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nasa-collects-26th-rock-sample-on-mars-plans-to-bring-them-all-to-earth-for-study/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mars</a> missions failed to find enough carbonates to support this theory. This gap left a puzzle. If early Mars had so much carbon dioxide, why didn’t its rocks hold more evidence of this?



That’s what makes Curiosity’s new findings so important. It drilled deep into Mount Sharp, inside Gale Crater, and brought up powdered rock from ancient layers. 



Among these layers, scientists found siderite - an iron carbonate that has never before been seen in such abundance on Mars.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-surprising-and-important-breakthrough">"A surprising and important breakthrough"</h2>



“The discovery of abundant siderite in Gale Crater represents both a surprising and important breakthrough in our understanding of the geologic and atmospheric evolution of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/secrets-of-mars-atmosphere-may-improve-weather-predictions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mars</a>,” said Benjamin Tutolo, assistant professor at the <a href="https://www.ucalgary.ca" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Calgary</a>, and lead author of the Science paper.



Siderite is a particularly useful clue. It forms under water-limited conditions and suggests that ancient Mars experienced both water interaction and evaporation. Its presence points to a carbon cycle - carbon dioxide moved from the air, into the water, and then into rock.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Mars_Ubajara-site_Curiosity-rover_carbon-discovery_NASA_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Mars_Ubajara-site_Curiosity-rover_carbon-discovery_NASA_1s.webp" alt="NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover sees its tracks receding into the distance at a site nicknamed “Ubajara” on April 30, 2023. This site is where Curiosity made the discovery of siderite, a mineral that may help explain the fate of the planet’s thicker ancient atmosphere. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS" class="wp-image-1966478"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover sees its tracks receding into the distance at a site nicknamed “Ubajara” on April 30, 2023. This site is where Curiosity made the discovery of siderite, a mineral that may help explain the fate of the planet’s thicker ancient atmosphere. Click image to enlarge. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS</figcaption></figure>



Curiosity’s Chemistry and Mineralogy (CheMin) instrument helped confirm the identity of siderite. Meanwhile, the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) suite revealed its chemical signature. 



The drill samples - taken from sites named Tapo Caparo, Ubajara, and Sequoia - showed siderite concentrations of between 4.8% and 10.5% by weight.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mars-s-carbon-storage-hidden-in-plain-sight">Mars’s carbon storage hidden in plain sight</h2>



Until now, orbital data failed to detect such minerals. Near-infrared satellite imagery can be obscured by surface dust or overwhelmed by brighter mineral signals. 



Siderite’s location, which was buried beneath sulfate-rich deposits, may explain why previous missions missed it.



These sulfate-rich layers aren’t just located in Gale Crater. They exist across <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mars-curiosity-rover-finds-sulfur-crystals-martian-rock-hints-at-possible-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mars</a>. If they hide siderite in similar concentrations, then Mars may have stored a large portion of its atmospheric carbon dioxide underground.



Scientists estimate that these layers could hold between 2.6 and 36 millibars of CO₂. That’s as much, or more, than the planet’s current atmospheric CO₂ levels.



Such a reservoir could have once supported the warm, wet conditions needed for lakes and rivers to exist on the Red Planet. But what’s even more interesting is that not all of this stored carbon stayed locked in stone.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-some-carbon-escaped-back-into-the-martian-atmosphere">Some carbon escaped back into the Martian atmosphere</h2>



The drill samples don’t just contain siderite. They also hold various iron oxides - like hematite, goethite, and akageneite. 



These oxides form when siderite breaks down under more oxidizing conditions. This process releases the previously trapped carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere.



“Drilling through the layered Martian surface is like going through a history book,” said Thomas Bristow, research scientist at NASA <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/ames/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ames</a>. “Just a few centimeters down gives us a good idea of the minerals that formed at or close to the surface around 3.5 billion years ago.”



The story told by these layers is dynamic. Siderite formed during a time of evaporation and groundwater activity. Later, as the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wave-ripples-discovered-mars-surface-indicate-liquid-water-present-4-billion-years-ago/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">environment</a> changed - possibly due to acidic fluids or shifts in pH - some of that siderite decomposed.



This released carbon dioxide and formed new minerals, completing a carbon loop.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mars-had-an-incomplete-carbon-cycle">Mars had an incomplete carbon cycle </h2>



Earth’s carbon cycle is balanced. Volcanic emissions, plant life, ocean chemistry, and weathering all work together to move carbon through the atmosphere, oceans, and rocks. Mars’s cycle, by contrast, appears broken and incomplete.



The presence of siderite shows that Mars once captured atmospheric CO₂ in mineral form. The iron oxides found in the same rocks reveal that some of that carbon later returned to the atmosphere. But not all of it. Some siderite remained preserved.



This incomplete cycle suggests that ancient Mars experienced a partial climate rebound. After trapping carbon dioxide, the planet may have warmed again temporarily. Then, over time, it cooled as more atmosphere escaped into space or got permanently buried.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-global-clues-and-future-searches">Global clues and future searches</h2>



Sulfate-bearing layers like those in Gale Crater appear across the surface of Mars. If they also contain siderite, then this carbon sink might be global. But orbital instruments haven’t yet detected carbonate signatures in these areas.



The likely explanation is that these carbonates remain hidden under surface dust or mixed with other materials that mask their presence.



Future missions equipped with deeper drills or improved sensors could test this idea. If they confirm the widespread presence of siderite, we’ll have a clearer picture of Mars’s carbon history. We’ll also have a better understanding of how the planet lost its habitability.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-curiosity-reveals-a-deeper-martian-history">Curiosity reveals a deeper Martian history</h2>



Curiosity’s discovery doesn’t just explain a mystery. 



It paints a new picture of Mars - one where lakes once stood, minerals formed and reformed, and carbon danced between rock and sky. Each drill hole now tells a story that is millions of years old.



And with each story, we move closer to understanding whether Mars could once have supported life - and why it no longer does.



The study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/epdf/10.1126/science.ado9966" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science</a>.



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Curiosity finally found Mars' missing carbon: "Surprising and important breakthrough"

Mars has long held our curiosity. Rust-colored, carbon-rich, and barren,...

The noises of everyday life might be stirring more than just your eardrums. Recent findings suggest that certain vibrations affect living cells in unexpected ways. 



In an effort to see if cells truly respond to sound, researchers developed specialized setups that send mild pressure waves into cell cultures.



After extensive tests, Masahiro Kumeta from <a href="https://www.kyoto-u.ac.jp/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kyoto University</a> emerged as a leading voice in this field.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cells-detect-and-respond-to-sound">Cells detect and respond to sound</h2>



Cells typically rely on chemical signals and mechanical <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/some-people-are-born-to-enjoy-music-more-than-others/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cues</a> to regulate their growth. The notion that <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4659753/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">audible frequencies</a> might play a role in shaping cell functions has intrigued scientists for years.



“To investigate the effect of sound on cellular activities, we designed a system to bathe cultured cells in acoustic waves,” said Kumeta. 



The researchers noted that subtle compressions could alter how cells communicate and function.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-when-cells-sense-pressure">When cells sense pressure</h2>



One pivotal outcome was the identification of over 100 genes that seemed sensitive to specific sound conditions. 



Different frequencies and intensities triggered varied <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/music-has-the-power-to-change-the-mood-of-our-memories/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">responses</a>, hinting at a surprisingly sophisticated cellular awareness.



“Since sound is non-material, acoustic stimulation is a tool that is non-invasive, safe, and immediate, and will likely benefit medicine and healthcare,” said Kumeta. 



Observations <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11089525/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">suggested</a> that mechanical receptors on cell surfaces might be picking up sound-related pressure changes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sound-affects-fat-development">Sound affects fat development</h2>



The research also uncovered a link between vibrations and <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/adipocyte" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">adipocyte</a> development. Cells destined to become fat cells showed reduced differentiation when exposed to tailored sound signals.



This effect was partly explained by increased levels of <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/prostaglandin-e2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PGE2</a>, a molecule known to influence fat cell growth. The findings add weight to ongoing discussions about non-invasive ways to manage tissue health.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-everyday-noise-impacts-cell-health">Everyday noise impacts cell health</h2>



These discoveries raise questions about the relationship between environmental <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/live-music-connects-people-emotionally-and-physically/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">noise</a> and cellular health. Future investigations might shed light on whether day-to-day soundscapes carry hidden effects for humans.



Such possibilities could open new therapeutic avenues to address metabolic issues or support tissue regeneration. 



Learning more about how cells detect acoustic cues might guide clinicians toward safer treatment strategies.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sound-can-control-cell-activity">Sound can control cell activity</h2>



Researchers are keen to explore how mechanical waves can be tuned to different cell types. This tuning could help maintain specific cell behaviors without using invasive procedures.



Understanding these mechanisms might also improve regenerative medicine by providing a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/upright-walking-may-have-sparked-human-creativity-and-music/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tool</a> that supports healing tissues. 



Though the science is still expanding, the conversation around everyday sound’s potential influence on cellular well-being is gaining traction.



The idea that your cells respond to invisible shifts in pressure challenges traditional views of sensory biology. Investigations promise to reveal more about how we can harness acoustic signals in gentle yet meaningful ways.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-vibrations-shift-gene-activity">Vibrations shift gene activity</h2>



Mechanobiology extends to how tissues interpret various physical forces. <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/5763187/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Studies</a> suggest that subtle vibrations might shift gene expression in skeletal and smooth muscle.



Research into <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK234245/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">neurotoxins</a> and other complex biological processes also shows that cells often respond to unexpected sound cues in their environment. 



Low-intensity pulses can trigger molecular changes that were once thought impossible through conventional means.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-noise-pollution-may-harm-cells">Noise pollution may harm cells</h2>



Efforts are underway to design experiments that separate normal mechanical stress from sound-induced signals. If those tests confirm unique responses, the results could open new doors in cell therapy.



Scientists are also curious about whether long-term exposure to mild acoustic environments might steer cells toward different fates.



Communities around the globe deal with noise pollution daily, so these results could change how we think about public health. It raises the possibility certain sound frequencies might either help or hinder basic cellular functions.



Finding a balance between beneficial and disruptive sound levels could become an unexpected health frontier. Communities might one day explore acoustic monitoring alongside typical environmental checks.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s42003-025-07969-1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Communications Biology</a>.



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Our cells react to sounds we can't even hear

The noises of everyday life might be stirring more than...

Greenland’s ice-covered landscape looks like an immovable block on satellite maps. Yet the story locked beneath its center suggests a very different past, one that places future coastal cities in a tight spot. 



During the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/humans-were-likely-the-leading-cause-of-megafauna-extinctions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pleistocene</a> - the geologic chapter that began about 2.7 million years ago and ran through innumerable swings between cold and mild - the island’s ice waxed and waned in tune with global climate. 



New evidence hints that those swings were more dramatic than scientists once believed.



In 1993, drillers hauled a two‑mile‑deep ice core up from the island’s highest point and stowed the entire column in a Colorado freezer. 



The surprise awaited in the bottom three inches of sediment: perfectly preserved traces of a tundra ecosystem. 



That sliver of soil, shielded for ages by roughly 1.9 miles (3 km) of ice, now refocuses the conversation about future sea level and the stability of polar ice in a warming world.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tundra-hidden-beneath-greenland-s-ice">Tundra hidden beneath Greenland's ice</h2>



Once the drill broke through that 1.9‑mile roof of ice, the researchers retrieved those three inches of till. 



“These fossils are beautiful,” says Paul Bierman, a scientist at the <a href="https://www.uvm.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Vermont</a> who co‑led the new study with UVM graduate student Halley Mastro and nine other researchers.



“But, yes, we go from bad to worse,” Bierman added, referring to what this finding implies about the impact of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/indisputable-evidence-of-human-caused-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">human‑caused climate change</a> on melting of the Greenland ice sheet.



The till holds poppy, spike‑moss, woody willow tissue, fungal sclerotia, insect parts, and a band of soil capped by about 16 inches of erratic boulders. 



This is clear evidence that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/drones-reveal-hidden-details-about-greenlands-melting-ice/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">central Greenland</a> once lay ice‑free under a cold, dry sky where late‑lying snow lingered through early summer.



Because the material sits undisturbed, the team is confident it was not swept in from elsewhere as ice advanced.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-inside-a-deep-greenland-ice-core">Inside a deep Greenland ice core</h2>



“Once we made the discovery at Camp Century, we thought, ‘Hey, what's at the bottom of GISP2?’” Bierman recalled.



High‑energy isotope ratios show that the summit last saw open air within the past 1.1 million years, while argon trapped in overlying clear ice indicates at least 250,000 years of continuous cover since then. Basal ice at another drilling site about 19 miles away is roughly 1 million years old. 



A separate core from Camp Century <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/city-under-the-ice-secret-base-camp-found-in-greenland/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">near the coast</a> yielded plant remains no older than 416,000 years, underscoring the ice sheet’s flickering presence across the Pleistocene. 



These findings draw on material that had been stored at the National Science Foundation <a href="https://icecores.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ice Core Facility</a> in Lakewood, Colorado, for three decades.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fossils-divulge-a-warmer-greenland">Fossils divulge a warmer Greenland</h2>



Under the microscope, what had looked like no more than specks floating on the surface of the melted core sample was, in fact, a window into a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/greenland-transformation-ice-melt-plant-growth-vegetation-cascading-effects/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tundra landscape</a>. 



“It was amazing,” Mastro exclaimed. 



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/greenland_soil-sample_fossils_recently-melted-ice_credit-UVermont_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/greenland_soil-sample_fossils_recently-melted-ice_credit-UVermont_1s.webp" alt="Willow bud scale, arctic poppy seed, fungal bodies, and rock spikemoss megaspores found in the GISP2 soil sample viewed under a microscope at the University of Vermont. Credit: Halley Mastro/University of Vermont" class="wp-image-1966471"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Willow bud scale, arctic poppy seed, fungal bodies, and rock spikemoss megaspores found in the GISP2 soil sample viewed under a microscope at the University of Vermont. Click image to enlarge. Credit: Halley Mastro/University of Vermont</figcaption></figure>



Mastro and colleagues picked out spores of spike‑moss, the bud scale of a young willow, and the compound eye of an insect - life‑forms adapted to chilly air and long summer daylight.



“And then we found Arctic poppy - just one seed of it. That is a tiny flower that's really good at adapting to the cold. It lets us know that Greenland's ice melted and there was soil, because poppies don't grow on top of miles of ice,” Mastro continued.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sea-level-risks-for-global-coasts">Sea‑level risks for global coasts</h2>



Sea level today is rising more than an inch each decade. “And it's getting faster and faster,” said&nbsp;Bierman. The extra water comes from a warming ocean that expands as well as from melting glaciers worldwide.



Near‑complete melting of Greenland’s ice over the next centuries to a few millennia would lead to some 23 feet of sea‑level rise. 



“Look at Boston, New York, Miami, Mumbai, or any other coastal city around the world, and add 20‑plus feet of sea level. It goes underwater. Don't buy a beach house," Bierman advised.



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-much-did-sea-levels-rise-after-the-last-ice-age-alarming-new-clues-revealed/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sea level</a> is likely to be several feet higher by the end of this century, when today’s children are grandparents.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-greenland-s-fragile-ice-fortress">Greenland's fragile ice fortress</h2>



Richard Alley, a leading climate scientist at Penn State, reviewed the new research.



“This new study confirms, and expands upon earlier evidence, that significant sea‑level rise occurred at a time when the causes of warming were not especially extreme, providing a warning of the damage we might cause if we continue to warm the climate," Alley noted.



“We now have direct evidence that not only was the ice gone, but that plants and insects were living there,” Bierman concluded. “And that's unassailable. You don't have to rely on calculations or models.” 



The fossil soil at Greenland’s summit, locked beneath nearly two miles of ice, speaks plainly: polar ice sheets can retreat far and fast when the climate tips, and the coastlines of the future will trace that story in real time. 



Whether that warning is heeded remains a decision for policy makers and citizens alike.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2407465121#supplementary-materials" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.



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Greenland fossil discovery stuns and worries scientists: "Don't buy a beach house"

Greenland’s ice-covered landscape looks like an immovable block on satellite...

Researchers have long studied quantum entanglement to understand how photons appear to influence each other instantaneously.



This peculiar link first emerged when Albert Einstein pointed to what he called “spooky action at a distance,” suggesting that this peculiar behavior contradicted intuitive <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/google-claims-commercial-quantum-computing-is-just-five-years-away/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">views</a> of cause and effect.



The conversation around these phenomena has evolved through the decades. 



Ph.D. student <a href="https://phys.technion.ac.il/en/component/adm/person/1189" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Amit Kam</a> and <a href="https://scholar.google.co.il/citations?user=Jf5cMM8AAAAJ&amp;hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dr. Shai Tsesses</a> from <a href="https://www.technion.ac.il/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Technion</a> are now adding a twist to this story by exploring surprising effects in photons that occupy incredibly tight spaces.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-quantum-entanglement">Understanding quantum entanglement</h2>



Quantum entanglement is a strange but very real phenomenon where two particles become linked in such a way that their states depend on each other, even when separated by huge distances. 



Imagine you take a pair of gloves, put one in a box, and send it to the other side of the universe. The moment you open the box and see a left glove, you instantly know the other box has the right one. 



With entangled particles, it’s like that, but much weirder. The twist is, unlike gloves that had a clear identity from the start, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/quantum-entanglement-speed-is-measured-first-time-too-fast-for-humans-minds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">entangled particles</a> don’t “decide” their state until someone measures them. And once one does, the other reacts instantly, no matter how far away it is.



Einstein was never fully onboard with quantum entanglement because it seems to break the rule that nothing can travel faster than light. 



But time and again, experiments have shown it’s real. No hidden signals. No delay. Just instant correlation. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-origins-of-entanglement">The origins of entanglement</h2>



Einstein’s <a href="https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/qt-epr/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">collaboration</a> with Boris Podolsky and Nathan Rosen produced a classic puzzle that challenged existing ideas. 



Their EPR paper helped spark deeper inquiries into how one <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/microsoft-announces-giant-leap-in-quantum-computing-majorana-1/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">particle</a> can instantly affect another across vast distances, a phenomenon that puzzled even seasoned physicists.



Years later, the idea reached practical horizons with <a href="https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.70.1895" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">quantum teleportation</a>, which was conceptualized by Charles Bennett, Gilles Brassard, and Asher Peres. 



This opened the door to quantum communication protocols that rely on bizarre correlations only possible in the quantum world.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tiny-photon-spaces-are-revealing">Tiny photon spaces are revealing</h2>



The push to miniaturize devices is not just about saving space. Scaling down light-based components can strengthen the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/baffling-quantum-entanglement-statistics-puzzle-finally-solved-advanced-technologies/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">interaction</a> between photons and nearby materials, which may lead to applications that larger-scale systems cannot achieve.



Photons in <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acsanm.3c04950" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">nanoscale</a> environments showcase new combinations of properties. Instead of seeing separate spin and orbital components, scientists are dealing with <a href="https://faculty.washington.edu/seattle/physics541/12text.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">total angular momentum</a>, which merges these features into one quantity.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-strange-photon-actions-in-small-spaces">Strange photon actions in small spaces</h2>



Most people imagine light beams spreading out freely, but these experiments <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/quantum-dance-entangled-photons-wave-functions-captured-real-time/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">confine photons</a> into structures tinier than a thousandth the thickness of a human hair.



That restriction forces angular components of light to overlap in unexpected ways, altering how each photon can carry information.



These observations may hold promise for new kinds of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/radical-theory-unites-gravity-spacetime-and-the-quantum-realm/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">quantum</a> devices. 



Researchers propose that total angular momentum entanglement might enable more compact hardware for quantum computing or communication links than previously thought possible.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-different-kind-of-quantum-entanglement">Different kind of quantum entanglement</h2>



Several forms of entanglement in photons involve separate characteristics such as direction, frequency, or polarization. In contrast, total angular momentum combines many properties into a single description.



Evidence for this new structure only surfaced when <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-08761-1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">researchers</a> tested how photon pairs behave once they pass through carefully designed nanoscale channels. 



The outcomes hinted at correlations that do not resemble conventional entanglement structures in larger settings.



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



Those studying photon-based technologies aim to construct more efficient equipment that harnesses quantum <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/quantum-phase-superradiant-phase-transition-srpt-observed-in-lab/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">effects</a> for faster computations or stealthy message exchanges. 



Smaller components can pack more operations onto a single chip, much like the ongoing trend in electronics.



While some quantum methods focus on established particle attributes, this work suggests that total angular momentum could be an untapped resource. 



The miniature systems explored by Technion scientists might offer fresh ways to encode and process data without taking up a lot of space.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-photon-control-and-next-steps">Photon control and next steps</h2>



Entangled photons, even in conventional systems, are notoriously sensitive to environmental disturbances. 



Confining light in tiny spaces can amplify those effects, so the engineering behind these setups must address potential losses or interference.



Researchers also want to confirm whether total angular momentum entanglement behaves reliably in real-world conditions. 



Investigations into materials and device architectures are underway, guided by the new data from these nanoscale experiments.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-this-links-back-to-einstein">How this links back to Einstein</h2>



Einstein’s skepticism about instant influence did not stop the scientific community from uncovering new frontiers in quantum theory. 



The <a href="https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/physics/2022/summary/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2022 Nobel Prize in Physics</a> recognized key contributions that shaped how we measure and interpret entanglement.



Today, the focus has turned toward next-generation experiments that push these correlations into ever-smaller spaces. 



By compressing photons into structures below their typical wavelength, scientists hope to uncover possibilities beyond familiar optical behaviors.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-happens-next">What happens next?</h2>



Each step in quantum research sparks questions about how nature encodes information. 



The notion of merging spin and orbit into a single total angular momentum points to a shift in the thinking about light, especially when devices must stay small.



Further studies may translate these findings into commercial products. 



Many experts foresee a path where photons replace electrons in computing tasks, leading to faster speeds and less heat dissipation. This new entanglement feature could become an essential piece of that puzzle.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-08761-1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a>.



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New type of quantum entanglement will transform real-world technology

Researchers have long studied quantum entanglement to understand how photons appear...

For centuries, the universe has offered humanity glimpses of unimaginable galaxies and structures. Some shine brightly, others hide behind veils of gas and dust.



The Southern Pinwheel Galaxy, or Messier 83 (M83), seemed like one of the latter. Its vibrant spiral arms and starburst activity have dazzled astronomers. Yet, deep in its luminous center, something powerful remained unseen - until now.



Recent observations from the James Webb Space Telescope (<a href="https://science.nasa.gov/mission/webb/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">JWST</a>) may have uncovered long-sought evidence of a supermassive <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/evidence-of-massive-early-universe-black-hole-stuns-astronomers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">black hole</a> at the galaxy's core.



This finding, driven by the telescope’s Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI), marks a major shift in our understanding of M83 and other galaxies that were once thought to be starburst-only systems. The results open a new chapter in extragalactic astronomy.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-black-hole-hiding-in-a-starburst-galaxy">Black hole hiding in a starburst galaxy</h2>



M83 lies just 4.6 million parsecs away - relatively close on the cosmic scale. Its classification as a barred spiral galaxy with intense star-forming activity placed it under frequent scrutiny.



Yet, despite decades of detailed study, researchers failed to detect signs of a central <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/monster-in-the-shadows-giant-black-hole-emerges-from-cosmic-dust/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">active galactic nucleus</a> (AGN), which is typically expected in galaxies of its size and structure.



Older optical and near-infrared observations suggested a complex nuclear region. Past efforts even revealed multiple candidate centers - each differing slightly in location and properties.



Still, none of these zones produced evidence strong enough to confirm AGN activity. If the galaxy held a supermassive black hole, it had to be dormant, hidden, or incredibly faint.



Astronomers suspected that thick dust may obscure faint AGN signals, especially in the galaxy’s nuclear starburst zone. Webb’s mid-infrared sensitivity changed that. With MIRI, researchers now see what previous instruments could not.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-neon-signals-point-to-mystery">Neon signals point to mystery</h2>



The new study, led by Svea Hernandez, reported clear detections of highly ionized [Ne v] (14.3 μm) and [Ne vi] (7.7 μm) emission in the nucleus of M83.



These lines require photon energies of 97 and 126 electron volts, respectively, which are far higher than typical stellar processes can generate.



“Our discovery of highly ionized neon <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/thousands-of-active-black-holes-discovered-where-it-was-believed-they-couldnt-exist/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">emission</a> in the nucleus of M83 was unexpected,” said Hernandez. “These signatures require large amounts of energy to be produced - more than what normal stars can generate. This strongly suggests the presence of an AGN that has been elusive until now.”



The emission appeared in distinct regions, including a point-like structure about 140 parsecs south of the optical nucleus, named P3. The structure measures less than 18 parsecs across and shows low obscuration, contrasting with the highly dust-shrouded core. This difference adds weight to the AGN scenario.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gas-flows-hinted-at-a-black-hole">Gas flows hinted at a black hole</h2>



Velocity maps from JWST show [Ne v] distributed in a clumpy, north-to-south alignment, with different regions exhibiting distinct kinematic signatures. 



P3’s [Ne vi] emission, for instance, shows a velocity of +80 km/s, slightly offset from the local [Ne v] velocity. Other zones closer to the nucleus display negative velocity offsets, hinting at motion that may trace outflow or turbulence.



The researchers compared the profiles of various ionized lines, from low to high energy. At P3, the high-ionization lines like [Ne v] and [Ne vi] are narrower than the lower-ionization lines.



This suggests that the gas producing these emissions may originate from a different physical process, possibly linked to AGN activity or compact shock-driven regions.



“Before Webb, we simply did not have the tools to detect such faint and highly ionised gas signatures in M83’s nucleus,” Svea added. “Now, with its incredible mid-infrared sensitivity, we are finally able to explore these hidden depths of the galaxy and uncover what was once invisible.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-are-radiative-shocks-the-culprit">Are radiative shocks the culprit?</h2>



To explain the origin of these extreme neon lines, the researchers tested several scenarios. Fast radiative shocks were one possibility.



These shocks occur when turbulent gas, such as that from a supernova or stellar wind, moves at supersonic speeds and compresses surrounding material. The resulting heat can produce high-energy radiation.



Shock models did reproduce the observed line ratios - but only under extreme assumptions. Specifically, the preshock density had to be a mere 0.01 cm⁻³, which is much lower than what is typically found in star-forming galaxies.



The observed postshock densities were also much higher, exceeding 1000 cm⁻³. This discrepancy challenges the idea that shocks alone could explain the data.



Energetic shocks are also known to destroy PAH molecules. Interestingly, P3 - the only region with [Ne vi] - shows the weakest PAH features in its spectrum. This matches the shock hypothesis, yet the unusual density mismatch casts doubt on this explanation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-black-hole-models-explain-galaxy-emissions">Black hole models explain galaxy emissions</h2>



The researchers then tested tailored photoionization models built around a low-luminosity AGN.



The models used a two-zone structure: one zone optically thin to ionizing radiation to generate high-energy lines like [Ne v], and another zone optically thick to generate lower-ionisation lines. This method reproduced the observed line strengths and ratios well.



The models assumed hydrogen column densities and metallicities consistent with M83’s central environment. They also used realistic ionisation parameters and densities. The best-fitting model places P3’s emission well within AGN-dominated zones on classic diagnostic plots.



“Webb is revolutionizing our understanding of galaxies,” said study co-author Linda Smith. “For years, astronomers have searched for a black hole in M83 without success. Now, we finally have a compelling clue that suggests one may be present.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ruling-out-other-extreme-sources">Ruling out other extreme sources</h2>



Could other compact objects be responsible? High-mass X-ray binaries (HMXBs) can produce hard radiation, though usually at lower levels. 



Past X-ray surveys of M83 revealed several sources, including a bright object coinciding with the optical nucleus. But P3, where [Ne vi] was detected, shows no corresponding X-ray source.



Starburst activity alone cannot easily explain these ionized lines either. Models based on massive stars, including Wolf–Rayet populations, typically fail to reproduce the observed [Ne v] and [Ne vi] strengths. These limitations, combined with the success of the AGN models, make the AGN scenario more likely.



“This discovery showcases how Webb is making unexpected breakthroughs,” noted Smith. “Astronomers thought they had ruled out an AGN in M83, but now we have fresh evidence that challenges past assumptions and opens new avenues for exploration.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-m83-may-not-be-so-pure-after-all">M83 may not be so pure after all</h2>



For decades, M83 stood as a textbook example of a starburst galaxy. Optical data showed little hint of a central <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/black-holes-turn-into-white-holes-and-blast-out-matter-and-time-runs-backwards/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">black hole</a>, but the discovery of high-ionization neon lines shifts this picture. Mid-infrared diagnostics, less hindered by dust, reveal what optical instruments missed.



Line ratio plots now place M83’s nuclear regions alongside hybrid AGN-starburst systems. In particular, P3 falls between the domains of purely star-forming galaxies and low-luminosity AGNs. This blend suggests that more such “pure” galaxies may indeed harbor faint AGNs.



The study urges astronomers to rethink what defines a starburst galaxy. With JWST, similar hidden cores may soon be uncovered in other nearby systems.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-confirming-the-galaxy-s-black-hole">Confirming the galaxy’s black hole</h2>



The Webb team has laid the groundwork, but the mystery isn't solved yet. Future observations with ALMA and the Very Large Telescope will help test whether the neon emission truly comes from an AGN or another exotic source. These studies will probe gas motion, composition, and geometry more precisely.



Simulations with more complex geometries may also provide better answers. For now, M83’s hidden giant remains a strong candidate - but not a confirmed one.



Still, this work shows the power of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/exoplanet-k2-18b-strongest-evidence-yet-of-extraterrestrial-life-discovered-webb/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Webb</a>. Where previous telescopes saw only dust and star formation in some galaxies, JWST has potentially opened a new window into spotting black holes and other hidden structures.



The study is published in <a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-4357/adba5d" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Astrophysical Journal</a>. 



Image Credit: ESA



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Black hole found hiding in a 'pure' starburst galaxy

For centuries, the universe has offered humanity glimpses of unimaginable...

River deltas hold a record of climate history. On Earth, coastlines mark where land and sea constantly interact. Here, rivers meet oceans. Materials from land gather in deltas. These areas store vital clues about tectonics, climate, and planetary evolution.



Scientists apply that same logic to Titan, Saturn’s <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/titan-may-harbor-life-but-it-will-be-difficult-to-find/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">largest moon</a>. Titan has active rivers and vast seas, but its coastlines don’t behave like those on Earth.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-titan-has-rivers-with-no-deltas">Titan has rivers with no deltas</h2>



Titan is the only body in the solar system, besides Earth, known to have stable liquid on its <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cosmic-disturbance-the-mystery-of-titans-shifting-orbit/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">surface</a>. 



Titan has clouds, rain, rivers, lakes, and seas. But the liquid is not water. It is replaced by methane and ethane, which remain liquid under Titan’s frigid atmospheric conditions. These features make it a rare and valuable analog to Earth.



If coastlines on Earth can store records of climate and tectonic change, then Titan’s might hold the same promise - offering a chance to study an alien hydrological system that’s still active today.



Yet there’s a mystery at Titan’s shores. Even though Titan has broad rivers and large lakes, river deltas appear to be almost entirely missing. This caught the attention of Sam Birch, an assistant professor at <a href="https://www.brown.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brown University</a>.



“It’s kind of disappointing as a geomorphologist because deltas should preserve so much of Titan’s history,” Birch said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-are-deltas-just-hidden-from-view">Are deltas just hidden from view?</h2>



Back in 2006, NASA’s <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/mission/cassini/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cassini</a> spacecraft gave scientists their first clear view of Titan’s <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/saturns-moon-titan-has-shorelines-shaped-by-waves/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">surface</a>. Its Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) pierced Titan’s thick, hazy atmosphere and revealed flowing channels and dark, flat seas. 



But even at the mouths of Titan’s largest rivers, Cassini’s radar showed no clear signs of deltas. Scientists wondered - were these deltas hidden or missing altogether?



To answer that question, Birch and his team created a model. They simulated what Earth’s coastlines would look like through Titan’s radar conditions. In their model, Earth’s water was swapped for methane, mimicking Titan’s fluids, which absorb and reflect radar differently. 



The idea was simple: if Earth’s large deltas remain visible in these synthetic SAR images, then Cassini should have seen Titan’s deltas - if they existed.



“We basically made synthetic SAR images of Earth that assume properties of Titan’s liquid instead of Earth’s,” Birch explained.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cassini-should-detect-titan-s-deltas">Cassini should detect Titan's deltas</h2>



The model worked. Earth’s major coastal features - like the Mississippi River delta and barrier islands along the Gulf Coast - remained visible in the altered radar images.



This proved that Cassini should have been capable of detecting large deltas on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dragonfly-space-mission-saturn-moon-titan-gets-greenlight/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Titan</a>. With this in mind, the researchers returned to Titan’s SAR data and re-examined its coastlines.



“If there are deltas the size of the one at the mouth of the Mississippi River, we should be able to see it,” Birch said.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/titan_cassini-radar_earth-deltas_credit-Brown-University_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/titan_cassini-radar_earth-deltas_credit-Brown-University_1s.webp" alt="Earth, as seen by Cassini's radar. In order to understand what landforms on Titan could be seen by Cassini's radar, researchers looked at well-known Earth landforms through Cassini's perspective. The bottom image is how the U.S. Gulf Coast would have looked to Cassini. Credit: Birch Lab / Brown University" class="wp-image-1966464"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Earth, as seen by Cassini's radar. In order to understand what landforms on Titan could be seen by Cassini's radar, researchers looked at well-known Earth landforms through Cassini's perspective. The bottom image is how the U.S. Gulf Coast would have looked to Cassini. Click image to enlarge. Credit: Birch Lab / Brown University</figcaption></figure>



But after carefully reviewing the data, they found that deltas were indeed rare. Aside from two likely deltas near the south pole, most large rivers on Titan showed no signs of delta formation. 



Only about 1.3% of the moon’s coastal rivers ended in deltas. By comparison, nearly every major river on Earth forms a delta at its mouth.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shifting-seas-may-erase-titan-s-river-deltas">Shifting seas may erase Titan's river deltas</h2>



On Earth, coastlines are dynamic boundaries. Materials eroded from mountains travel down rivers and settle into sedimentary structures. 



These interactions produce a range of landforms that help scientists trace environmental evolution. Coastal areas are also shaped by tides, storms, and long-term sea-level changes. 



Titan, with its unique climate system, is no exception. It too hosts coastlines where energy and materials interact - just with different ingredients and under different rules.



But Titan’s liquids are transparent to microwave radiation. This means Cassini’s radar can’t always distinguish where the coastline ends and where the sea floor begins. 



While that poses challenges, the team’s modeling showed that large features are still detectable - provided there is enough contrast between land and submerged surfaces.



The findings confirmed what many had suspected: Titan truly lacks deltas, and it’s not because of poor visibility. Something else is preventing these sediment-rich features from forming or surviving.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hidden-clues-beneath-titan-s-seas">Hidden clues beneath Titan’s seas</h2>



The new radar analysis also uncovered something unexpected. On Titan’s sea floors, the team found submerged river channels and deep pits of unknown origin.



These features suggest that sea levels may rise and fall frequently, eroding or dispersing any deltas before they have time to build up. 



The researchers also suspect that winds and underwater flows might redistribute sediment, flattening coastlines before deltas can grow.



These discoveries hint at a much more dynamic Titan than previously assumed. Active coastal processes - shaped by tides, climate shifts, and even currents beneath the seas - may constantly reshape the landscape.



“It’s a playground for studying processes we thought we understood,” said Birch.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-dynamic-alien-coastline">A dynamic alien coastline</h2>



The absence of deltas and presence of submerged features offer a new window into Titan’s climate and geological behavior. Birch and his colleagues have proposed several preliminary hypotheses.



Sea-level cycling, strong coastal winds, and sub-aqueous flows could all contribute to the vanishing deltas. But more data is needed to understand these interactions fully.



“This is really not what we expected,” Birch said. “But Titan does this to us a lot. I think that’s what makes it such an engaging place to study.”



The study also reinforces the value of improving future instruments. A better imaging system could reveal Titan’s river networks and coasts in greater detail, uncovering hidden patterns and explaining current mysteries.



Such improvements wouldn’t just benefit research on Titan. They could also refine how scientists observe Earth’s own changing coasts in the face of sea-level rise and erosion.



The study is published in the <a href="https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2024JE008737" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of Geophysical Research Planets</a>. 



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Why does Saturn's moon, Titan, have rivers but not deltas? Scientists have an idea

River deltas hold a record of climate history. On Earth,...

For most of Earth’s first three billion years, oceans brimmed with single‑celled microbes that shuffled along at a slow biochemical pace -- life, but not complex. 



It lacked ample phosphorus, the nutrient every cell needs for DNA assembly, membrane stability, and ATP energy swaps. Rivers dripped only trace amounts of phosphorus into seawater, holding biology to pint‑size proportions and throttling evolutionary experiments in body size.



Evidence for that long famine sits in ancient mudstones, which contain scant phosphate minerals compared with younger rocks. 



Productivity lagged; oxygen production stayed low; food chains hid in microscopic layers. When phosphorus finally surged, life gained the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/key-ingredients-building-blocks-of-life-found-in-asteroid-bennu-dust-sample/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">building blocks</a> to try larger, more complex designs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-volcanic-chaos-and-complex-life">Volcanic chaos and complex life</h2>



About 2.1 billion years ago, the Congo and São Francisco continental blocks slammed together. 



Their collision squeezed faults, stirred magma, and unleashed underwater volcanoes across a shallow inland sea now preserved as the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franceville_basin" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Francevillian sub‑basin</a> in Gabon. 



Eruptions pumped phosphorus‑rich fluids straight into the water and walled the basin off from the wider ocean.



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/light-pollution-fuels-toxic-algae-and-alters-carbon-cycling-in-lakes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cyanobacteria</a> thrived in this enclosed lagoon, releasing oxygen and burying carbon as fast as nutrients arrived. 



The chemical bloom raised local energy budgets many times over, creating conditions that favored bigger bodies and cooperative cell assemblies rather than lone bacterial drifters.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fossil-discovery-challenges-timeline">Fossil discovery challenges timeline</h2>



Black shales from the basin hold disc‑shaped, ribbon‑shaped, and leaf‑shaped impressions up to six inches long - giants for their day. 



Their regular outlines and clustering hint at biological growth rather than odd mineral concretions. They appear in the same sedimentary layers that show the phosphorus spike, linking anatomy to chemistry.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/earth_complex-life_began-much-earlier_lobate-macrofossils_credit-UPoitiers_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/earth_complex-life_began-much-earlier_lobate-macrofossils_credit-UPoitiers_1s.webp" alt="The team’s research provides strong validation for the biological affinity of the lobate macrofossils whose validity has been widely debated in the scientific community. Credit: Professor Abderrazzak El Albani of the University of Poitiers, France" class="wp-image-1966454"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The team’s research provides strong validation for the biological affinity of the lobate macrofossils whose validity has been widely debated in the scientific community. Click image to enlarge. Credit: Professor Abderrazzak El Albani of the University of Poitiers, France</figcaption></figure>



If these forms truly represent multicellular life, they push the arrival of complex organisms back by roughly 1.5 billion years. 



That jump rewrites the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/timeline-of-life-ice-ages-gave-evolution-a-kick-start/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">evolutionary timeline</a>, showing that animals were not the first to test large size; earlier prototypes surfaced when nutrients and oxygen briefly aligned.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chemistry-meets-biology">Chemistry meets biology</h2>



The new work, led by <a href="https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cardiff University</a> geobiologist Dr. Ernest Chi Fru, pairs detailed rock chemistry with fossil mapping. 



“The availability of phosphorus in the environment is thought to be a key component in the evolution of life on Earth, especially in the transition from simple single‑celled organisms to complex organisms like animals and plants," Dr. Chi Fru explained.



“We already know that increases in marine phosphorus and seawater oxygen concentrations are linked to an episode of biological evolution around 635 million years ago. Our study adds another, much earlier episode into the record, 2.1 billion years ago.”



Digging into the basin’s history, Dr. Chi Fru explained that the volcanic activity following the collision of continental blocks likely isolated the basin from the global ocean, creating a nutrient-rich inland sea. 



This stable environment supported abundant <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earth-was-once-a-green-marble-before-its-oceans-turned-blue/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cyanobacterial photosynthesis</a>, which in turn oxygenated the water and generated enough energy to support larger, more complex life forms like those seen in the fossils from the period.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-the-complex-life-experiment-stalled">Why the complex life experiment stalled</h2>



Outside the Francevillian lagoon, oceans still lacked phosphorus and carried little oxygen. Larger creatures would have struggled in those harsh surroundings. 



The basin’s shoreline barrier turned the ecosystem into a biological bubble; when volcanic vents cooled and nutrient flow faded, conditions reverted and the macro‑organisms vanished.



Their failure to spread shows that evolution tests possibilities whenever resources allow, but those trials can fizzle if the wider planet remains hostile. 



Complexity needs both innovation and the freedom to roam - something the early <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/timeline-of-lifes-evolution-extended-by-nearly-1-5-billion-years/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proterozoic world</a> could not yet provide.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-two-steps-to-modern-animals">Two steps to modern animals</h2>



Researchers see a “two‑step” path. The Francevillian pulse marks step one, following the first known rise in atmospheric oxygen. 



Step two arrived nearly <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/luca-last-universal-common-ancestor-progenitor-all-life-on-earth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">1.5 billion years later</a>, when another oxygen surge met a more sustained supply of nutrients during the Ediacaran period. 



That tandem lifted complex life beyond isolated pockets, setting the stage for the Cambrian explosion and the diverse animals that populate Earth now.



The record hints that ample phosphorus may be as critical as oxygen for forging ecosystems full of active, energy‑demanding organisms. Without both factors in play, biology tends to stay microscopic.



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



Astrobiologists comb <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/building-blocks-of-life-found-on-the-dwarf-planet-ceres/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">exoplanet atmospheres</a> for oxygen because it signals possible photosynthesis. The Francevillian story suggests they should also weigh a planet’s phosphorus cycle. 



A world awash in oxygen but starved of phosphate could linger in a microbial phase for eons. Conversely, tectonic quirks that sprinkle oceans with phosphate might jump‑start evolutionary leaps.



Phosphorus, then, is more than fertilizer for terrestrial crops. It is a potential cosmic throttle on complexity, deciding whether life remains small or reaches for new biological heights.



-----



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0301926824001669?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Precambrian Research</a>.



Image Credit: Professor Abderrazzak El Albani of the University of Poitiers, France



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Is this a fossil? If so, complex life on Earth emerged 1.5 billion years earlier

For most of Earth’s first three billion years, oceans brimmed...

A shapeless liquid form is something we usually take for granted. We expect fluids to spread and assume the shape of the container in which they are held. But nature sometimes defies our intuition.



In a recent study, a curious liquid refused to remain <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/water-appears-to-have-a-secret-liquid-phase/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">chaotic</a> after being shaken and instead settled into a smooth, outlined shape reminiscent of a piece of classic pottery.



This strange finding was uncovered by a team that includes graduate student <a href="https://www.umass.edu/polymer-science/about/directory/anthony-raykh" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Anthony Raykh</a> at the <a href="https://www.umass.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Massachusetts Amherst</a>. The group had been experimenting with oil and water when they noticed a shape they had never seen before.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-shape-recovering-liquids">Understanding shape-recovering liquids</h2>



Some substances pull themselves together in neat ways. Others spread out in a disorderly manner.



For centuries, <a href="https://www.physics.ox.ac.uk/system/files/file_attachments/basic_thermo.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">thermodynamics</a> has helped predict these behaviors by setting rules about energy and equilibrium. 



Typically, adding particles to an oil-water mixture encourages the two <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/drones-reveal-hidden-details-about-greenlands-melting-ice/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">liquids</a> to combine more readily and form new structures.



This phenomenon is known as <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/emulsification" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">emulsification</a>, and it is vital in the production of foods, cosmetics, and many other commercial products. The usual theory says that those particles should lessen the tension between oil and water.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-magnetism-matters">Why magnetism matters</h2>



Raykh decided to use magnetized nickel particles in his mixture. He shook things up, and something uncanny happened.



“... in a complete surprise, the mixture formed this beautiful, pristine urn-shape,” said Raykh. He tried shaking harder, but the fluid returned to the same outline.



Lab tests hinted that strong magnetic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wave-ripples-discovered-mars-surface-indicate-liquid-water-present-4-billion-years-ago/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">interactions</a> were the reason. These metallic bits were powerful enough to throw a wrench into the fluid's normal behavior.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-magnetic-forces-and-liquid-shape">Magnetic forces and liquid shape</h2>



Scientists often rely on known <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earths-inner-core-proven-to-be-rapidly-changing-and-now-rotating-backwards/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">interactions</a> to guide their experiments. Imposing magnetic forces adds another layer of complexity.



“When you look very closely at the individual nanoparticles of magnetized nickel that form the boundary between the water and oil, you can get extremely detailed information on how different forms assemble,” said <a href="https://www.umass.edu/natural-sciences/about/directory/david-hoagland" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">David Hoagland</a>, professor of polymer science and engineering at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. 



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/liquid_shape-recovering_breaks-laws-thermodynamics_Credit-UMassAmherst_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/liquid_shape-recovering_breaks-laws-thermodynamics_Credit-UMassAmherst_1s.webp" alt="Raykh and his colleagues discovered that strongly magnetized particles can bend the laws of thermodynamics. Credit: Anthony Raykh/UMass Amherst" class="wp-image-1964865"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Raykh and his colleagues discovered that strongly magnetized particles can bend the laws of thermodynamics. Click image to enlarge. Credit: Anthony Raykh/UMass Amherst</figcaption></figure>



No one expected this intense attraction to stiffen the boundary so much that the liquids would create a neat form.



Researchers found that these <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0143720818304157" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dipolar pulls</a> can drive up the tension between oil and water. This stands in contrast to what most textbooks tell us should happen.



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



A single exception to well-known rules might inspire more questions on these types of liquid forms. The next challenge is figuring out the deeper mechanisms behind these robust fluid contours.



“Imagine your favorite Italian salad dressing. It’s made up of oil, water, and spices, and before you pour it onto your salad, you shake it up so that all the ingredients mix,” said <a href="https://www.umass.edu/polymer-science/about/directory/thomas-russell" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Thomas Russell</a>, Silvio O. Conte distinguished professor of polymer science and engineering at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.



He compared his everyday culinary example to the surprising phenomenon in the lab.



The urn-like outline is stable enough to tease scientists with new ideas. Explorations of these forces could lead to fresh theories about soft materials and how they behave under powerful <a href="https://www.wiley.com/en-us/Introduction+to+Magnetic+Materials%2C+2nd+Edition-p-9780471477419" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">magnetic</a> influences.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-it-means-for-the-laws-of-physics">What it means for the laws of physics</h2>



This discovery doesn’t mean thermodynamics is broken. But it does suggest that, under specific conditions, there may be edge cases where the traditional models don’t fully apply. 



Scientists call these scenarios “exceptions” rather than violations, and they help sharpen our understanding of how physical laws behave under extreme or unusual circumstances.



It’s a reminder that physical laws are models of reality, not reality itself. They hold true across vast numbers of conditions - but surprises like this urn-shaped liquid reveal that even well-tested theories can be stretched in new and useful ways.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-liquid-shape-and-future-applications">Liquid shape and future applications</h2>



This experiment opens the door to unexpected applications in fields that involve finely tuned liquids. 



Medical formulations might someday use this kind of shape control to ensure more precise delivery of components.



Researchers are now looking into how strongly magnetized particles might alter other standard chemical processes.



Scientists remain cautious about declaring any new technology from this peculiar mixture. Even so, this discovery proves that our understanding of fluid behavior can still be surprised by odd twists.



-----



Click here to <a href="https://youtu.be/H02E7YTTFGQ" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">watch a video of this phenomenon...</a>



The study is published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41567-025-02865-1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Physics</a>.



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'Shape-recovering liquid' accidentally created by student breaks the laws of thermodynamics

A shapeless liquid form is something we usually take for...

Bite-sized chunks of fiber-grown chicken are gaining attention these days. They offer a texture similar to the meat of everyday grocery store chicken.



Shoji Takeuchi from <a href="https://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The University of Tokyo</a> is at the center of this work. He and his collaborators have brought forward a process involving the use of semipermeable hollow fibers that act like tiny delivery channels for nutrients and oxygen to reach developing cells.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-fibers-grow-chicken-muscle-in-the-lab">How fibers grow chicken muscle in the lab</h2>



Researchers are mimicking the steady flow of nutrients and oxygen to cells by using these narrow fibers, which are similar to those used in <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8236/2/4/50" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dialysis machines</a>. This setup helps the cells stay active as they grow into chicken muscle.



They place the cells in a collagen-based mixture that sits around the fibers. Once the culture starts, the cells grow together and develop a structure that feels and appears like small pieces of real <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/antibiotic-residue-in-meat-what-experts-discovered/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">chicken</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fibers-improve-chicken-texture-and-flavor">Fibers improve chicken texture and flavor</h2>



Texture is linked to how tightly these cells pack and bind. 



Scientists rely on <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016777992500085X" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">myosin heavy chain markers</a> to spot proper muscle formation. With better distribution of nutrients, the muscle fibers show stronger alignment, making the final product denser.



Taste is about more than spices or seasonings. Investigations show that <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4935284/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">free amino acids</a> influence flavor. The new system seems to produce a higher fraction of these flavor molecules, so the bite is more appealing.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lab-grown-fiber-chicken-solves-old-problems">Lab-grown fiber chicken solves old problems</h2>



The method stands out because regular diffusion alone can’t keep large tissues alive. 



Traditional <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s43016-020-0112-z" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">approaches</a> struggle once the tissue goes beyond about half an inch (1.3 centimeters) thick, and cells in the middle often lose oxygen. This new system fixes that by pumping nutrients and oxygen along the tiny channels into the developing tissue.



The approach aims to be efficient. It makes structured <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/quantum-phase-superradiant-phase-transition-srpt-observed-in-lab/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">meats</a> that are thicker, juicier, and have the resilience you expect from a store-bought cut. It also tries to reduce waste by limiting the need for multiple small batches that might fall short on consistency.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-automation-could-scale-fiber-grown-chicken">Automation could scale fiber-grown chicken</h2>



Large-scale <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/meat-protein-boosts-survival-but-plants-boost-longevity/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">production</a> depends on reliable hardware and robotic assistance. 



Researchers have created automated ways to line up the fibers, so they can pack a lot of them in a small space. This leads to consistent distribution of cells, and it cuts back on wasted time.



More improvements are possible. Edible fibers might simplify the final steps, so there’s no need to remove them. There are also conversations about lowering costs by moving away from animal-based growth media, but that will take more research.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-this-tech-could-grow-more-than-chicken">This tech could grow more than chicken</h2>



The process may have applications beyond fiber-grown chicken.



Some believe it could pave the way for other <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/many-people-are-willing-to-switch-to-plant-based-food-to-save-the-climate/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">meats</a>, tissues for regenerative medicine, and even muscle-based soft robotics. Cells are adaptable, so the possibilities stretch into several branches of biological engineering.



Even so, tasks like oxygen delivery in bigger cuts of meat remain a puzzle. Some scientists point to synthetic blood or special carrier molecules for better oxygen transport. Others feel the entire pipeline might benefit from advanced monitoring tools that track vital cell conditions in real time.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-this-may-reduce-harm-to-animals">This may reduce harm to animals</h2>



Curiosity about <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s43016-022-00658-w" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">immortalized fibroblast cells</a> keeps growing because they skip the need to harvest cells from live animals. This might ease ethical concerns linked to routine animal tissue collection. It also reduces the time needed to scale, since these cells can keep dividing in large numbers.



“This system enables cell distribution, alignment, contractility, and improved food-related properties,” said Shoji Takeuchi. 



He sees a future where this method can help meet the demand for large amounts of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/people-will-switch-to-plant-based-meat-if-it-is-cheaper-than-real-meat/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">chicken</a> muscle without the same environmental footprint as traditional livestock.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lab-grown-fiber-chicken-may-change-how-meat-is-made">Lab-grown fiber chicken may change how meat is made</h2>



As the concept becomes more refined, public perception and policy will play a big role. People want to know if it’s safe, tasty, and made in a cost-effective way. 



While there’s a way to go before it’s commonplace on dinner plates, the progress hints at changing times in how chicken and other meats can be produced.



Fiber-grown chicken isn’t just a nod to environmental or ethical <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plant-based-meat-less-protein-lacks-certain-nutrients/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">goals</a>. It’s also about exploring newer technologies in tissue growth. 



The arrival of high-density fiber networks is a sign that these efforts may step beyond small samples and head toward a broader range of culinary experiences.



The study is published in <a href="https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S016777992500085X" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trends in Biotechnology</a>.



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Lab-grown chicken just got a flavor and texture boost

Bite-sized chunks of fiber-grown chicken are gaining attention these days....

Man,Pointing,North,In,A,Spiral,Star,Trail

A new analysis suggests that the universe could be spinning at a speed so gentle it has escaped our notice. This proposal may offer a way to explain why researchers get conflicting numbers when measuring how quickly space has been expanding.



One of the scientists exploring the rotation theory is István Szapudi, a researcher at the University of Hawaiʻi <a href="https://www.ifa.hawaii.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Institute for Astronomy</a>. In a recent study, Szapudi analyzed subtle changes in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/zhulong-torch-dragon-the-oldest-known-spiral-galaxy-in-the-universe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cosmic</a> expansion that might be tied to an extremely slow turn of all known matter.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-century-old-puzzle-about-cosmic-expansion">Century-old puzzle about cosmic expansion</h2>



Most astronomers accept the current models that say the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hidden-galaxies-discovery-would-upend-current-understanding-of-universe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">universe</a> expands evenly in all directions, with no sign of rotation. 



They have known about cosmic expansion for nearly a century, but there has been a lingering discrepancy called the <a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-4357/ab2f73" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hubble tension</a>.



This puzzle stems from comparing two ways of measuring the expansion rate of the universe. One method relies on supernovae in faraway galaxies to track distances, while the other depends on the <a href="https://www.aanda.org/articles/aa/abs/2020/09/aa33910-18/aa33910-18.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cosmic microwave background</a>, which is the afterglow from the universe’s earliest days.



In theory, both methods should give the same overall growth speed. However, they do not always match, and experts have been trying to explain this discrepancy for years.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-expansion-rate-of-a-spinning-universe">Expansion rate of a spinning universe </h2>



A new approach suggests that a tiny spin of the universe throughout <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-capture-baby-pictures-of-the-very-early-universe-cosmic-microwave-background/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">space</a> might reconcile those conflicting numbers. If the entire cosmos had even a small swirl, it could influence how distances stretch over time.



“Much to our surprise, we found that our model with rotation resolves the paradox without contradicting current astronomical measurements,” noted Szapudi.



Scientists who favor this rotating model believe the rate of spin is much too slow to detect with current methods. 



One possible estimate is that the universe completes one full turn every 500 billion years, so it would be nearly impossible to see from our vantage point.



“Therefore, perhaps, everything really does turn,” said Szapudi. They say this slight swirl could finally close the gap between our local measurements and what is observed when we look back almost 13 billion years in time.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-universe-spin-may-fit-known-physics">Universe spin may fit known physics </h2>



No known laws of physics would prohibit such a phenomenon. Planets, stars, galaxies, and even black holes all rotate, so the idea of everything sharing a unified spin is not far-fetched in cosmic terms.



If a slow turning is factored into the equations of cosmic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/astronomers-found-something-strange-at-core-of-milky-way-galaxy-webb-meerkat/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">expansion</a>, it could account for the mismatched data about how fast space has been stretching. 



The findings fit within current understanding, as the rate of this twist would remain far below anything that might distort familiar observations.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-testing-cosmic-spin-with-new-models">Testing cosmic spin with new models</h2>



The next steps involve transforming these early calculations into a detailed computer model. Researchers will also look for subtle signatures in the large-scale structure of the universe that might hint at a gradual rotation.



If future observations confirm any sign of this <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dark-matter-if-it-exists-has-a-strictly-limited-lifetime-new-study-says/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cosmic</a> turn, it would clear up one of astronomy’s biggest disagreements. 



Confirmation of a spinning universe might also open up a new way of thinking about how time and matter behave on the largest possible scales.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-does-all-of-this-mean">What does all of this mean?</h2>



Going forward, experts are eager to determine whether a slowly spinning universe theory would provide better agreement between local and distant measurements of expansion.



Some feel it could refine how we study everything from galaxy formation to <a href="https://ned.ipac.caltech.edu/level5/ESSAYS/Fairall/fairall.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the layout of superclusters</a>.



Others are cautious because many proposed <a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2041-8213/ac5c5b" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">solutions</a> to the Hubble tension have come and gone. Regardless, this swirling scenario stands out as a creative effort that does not break existing theories.



Space often surprises us with discoveries that stretch our imagination. A rotating universe may add another layer of wonder to how we see our cosmic neighborhood.



It is not often that an everyday motion like spinning could clarify a problem that has puzzled researchers for years. That element of surprise keeps scientists excited about searching the skies for new answers.



The study was published in the journal <a href="https://academic.oup.com/mnras/article/538/4/3038/8090496?login=false" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society</a>.



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Cosmic twist: The entire universe might be spinning

A new analysis suggests that the universe could be spinning...

Welcome visitors into your home with this striking and easy-to-grow Chocolate Amaryllis. Featured in a handcrafted bamboo grow box with a recycled decorative ribbon. Read more Overview This grow-at-home Chocolate Amaryllis has large trumpet-shaped flowers in a deep red-to-mahogany color. It grows in a handcrafted bamboo pot. Complete kit includes everything you need to grow your own amaryllis flower. Kit Includes: Amaryllis bulb (Amaryllis hippeastrum) Handcrafted bamboo grow box Lid with all-natural finish inverts to become a drainage saucer Decorative ribbon made from recycled plastic bottles Organic growing medium Coconut husks for drainage Growing instructions The pot is 10 inches in diameter and 5.25 inches high. Made in the USA.

Chocolate Amaryllis Bamboo Grow Box

Welcome visitors into your home with this striking and easy-to-grow...

Made from reclaimed coconut shells, each coconut bowl is unique with its own organic shape. Hand picked and ready for both warm, and hot foods. Read more Overview Each coconut bowl is unique with its own organic irregular shape adding to its charm and appeal. Coconut bowls are perfect for serving everything from breakfast cereal to salads to ice cream. People go coconuts over these bowls! Made from hand-picked coconut shells, each bowl is cleaned, polished and finished with a durable food-safe lacquer. Features & Benefits: Bowl made from reclaimed coconut shell Natural lacquer provides durable waterproof finish Suitable for hot and cold foods Hand wash in warm soapy water and wipe dry Not recommended for dishwasher or prolonged soaking Not recommended for microwave use Coconut Palm is native to Southeast Asia and South America, and thrives in sandy soils, abundant sunlight and rainfall. Coconuts are harvested for their meat and liquid. Through a reclamation program Bambu hand picks the shells, normally a waste by-product, to create a collection of beautiful, scratch-resistant, food-friendly bowls.

Coconut Bowl

Made from reclaimed coconut shells, each coconut bowl is unique...

Inspired by colorful cosmos flowers, these socks are knit in the USA with recycled cotton and mismatched with care. Available in three sizes. Read more Overview Like a cone of berry flavored sherbet on a hot day, these socks are sure to bring a smile to the wearer. Colors in the Cosmos socks: purple, lime green, red, orange, and turquoise. Whether you wear them all day at work, when relaxing at home or to keep your feet warm at night, these socks will brighten any day. Features & Benefits: Socks knit with recycled cotton yarn Mismatched with care Great gift for women and men of all ages Keeps your feet comfortable and warm year round Machine washable and dryable Made in the USA from recycled materials Size Options: Small: Women's 6 - 8, Men's 5 - 7 Medium: Women's 8 - 10, Men's 7 - 9 Large: Women's 10 - 12, Men's 9 - 11 Socks fit true to size. Small, medium and large corresponds to shoe sizes above. If you are on the cusp between sizes and wondering which size to order, these socks will shrink a little but they also stretch. So if you like your socks to fit snug then opt for the smaller size, and if you don't like socks to fit snug then go for the larger size. You can machine wash and dry these socks. Cosmos socks are knit with pre-shrunk, colorfast cotton yarns. The colors will not run or fade. Eco friendly Cosmos socks are knit from recycled materials. The recycled cotton yarn is created by recovering the scraps left over from the production of cotton t-shirts. All the little cotton scraps are gathered, ground up and spun into yarn. Using recycled cotton reduces the amount of cotton waste sent to landfills. Using recycled cotton yarn also reduces the amount of water, land use, pesticides and herbicides used to grow new cotton fibers as well as eliminates the need for harmful chemicals to dye virgin cotton yarn. This recycled yarn is certified by Oeko-Tex to be free of harmful toxins. Locally made Sock design, knitting and finishing final touches are all completed at small family-owned businesses in Vermont, North Carolina, and Oregon.

Cosmos Recycled Cotton Socks

Inspired by colorful cosmos flowers, these socks are knit in...

Grow your own culinary herb garden! This kit includes everything you need to grow your own organic basil, oregano and parsley, so you can add fresh, flavorful herbs to your favorite recipes. Read more Overview Grow fresh herbs right in your kitchen! A perfect growing gift for your favorite chef. Grow Box Includes: Organic culinary herb trio: basil, oregano & parsley Organic growing medium Coconut husks for drainage Handcrafted bamboo grow box (10" x 5.25") Waterproof lid doubles as a saucer for the pot Decorative bow made from recycled plastic bottles Growing instructions Made in the USA

Culinary Herb Bamboo Grow Box

Grow your own culinary herb garden! This kit includes everything...

Grow culinary herbs right on your windowsill! A complete kit to grow a superb blend of organic culinary herbs year-round indoors or out. Read more Overview Grow fresh organic herbs right in your kitchen or on your patio! Kit includes everything you need to grow basil, chives and oregano in an attractive steel grow box. Grow Box Includes: Organic culinary herb seeds: basil, chives and oregano Organic growing medium Recycled US steel window grow box Growing directions Size: 18" long x 4.25" high Weight: 6 pounds Made in the USA

Culinary Herbs Window Grow Box

Grow culinary herbs right on your windowsill! A complete kit...

Cuppow turns a canning jar into an instant travel mug! Available in two sizes to fit regular mouth and wide mouth jars. Made in the USA from 100% recycled materials. Read more Overview Canning jars naturally make great beverage containers. Jars are easy to clean, cheap, durable, heat-resistant and leak-proof. Cuppow fits over the mouth of a canning jar and adapts it into a travel mug. Features & Benefits: Turns a canning jar into a travel mug! Comes in two sizes for regular mouth and wide mouth jars Perfect for hot and cold beverages Food safe, BPA-free recycled plastic Made in the USA What size jar do you have? Regular Mouth = 2 A 1/2 inch diameter Wide Mouth = 3 inch diameter How To Use: Choose your canning jar. Unscrew the jar lid. Replace seal with Cuppow. Screw lid back onto jar and your Cuppow is ready to go! Cuppow is easy to clean and dishwasher-friendly.

Cuppow Canning Jar Drinking Lid

Cuppow turns a canning jar into an instant travel mug!...

Cuppow turns a canning jar into an instant travel mug! Perfect for gifts, this complete set includes the original Cuppow canning jar drinking lid, jar coozie and US-made mason jar. Read more Overview Canning jars naturally make great beverage containers. Jars are easy to clean, cheap, durable, heat-resistant and leak-proof. Cuppow fits over the mouth of a canning jar and adapts it into a travel mug. Perfect for everything from coffee to cocktails. Mason jar coozie is 100% made in the USA from recycled plastic bottles. It is durable and insulates hot or cold beverages. Features textured screen-printed pattern on the inside for a non-slip grip, and a loop for easy carrying. Features & Benefits: Original Cuppow jar drinking lid made from BPA-free recycled plastic Insulating coozie made from recycled plastic bottles Non-leaching durable 16oz heat tempered soda lime mason jar Easy to clean and dishwasher-safe Lifetime manufacturer's warranty Made in the USA

Cuppow Glass Travel Mug

Cultivate your own bonsai tree forest with this kit and enjoy it for years to come. Read more Overview The Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) is an ancient tree related to the coastal redwoods of California. Dawn redwoods were once thought to be extinct and known only as fossils until the 1940s when one was discovered growing in a rice field in a remote region of central China. It was named the "discovery tree" and symbolizes the surprises still to be found in nature. What makes the Dawn redwood truly special is that it is a deciduous coniferous tree. In the autumn, the light green foliage turns bronze and ultimately drops off, like leaves, as a normal part of growth, bringing the changing seasons to your desk or kitchen window. Dawn Redwood makes a fast growing landscape tree or will bonsai very well due to the speed with which it grows. Growing bonsai from seed gives complete control over the styling of the tree and allows for the enjoyment of each stage of the tree's growth. Kit Includes: Dawn redwood tree and moss seed Seedling training pots Organic growing medium Bonsai scissors River stone Directions Recycled US steel bonsai box Bonsai box measures 9.5 inches square and 3.25 inches high. Made in the USA. Photo above shows the Dawn Redwood Bonsai after 3 years.

Dawn Redwood Bonsai Forest

Cultivate your own bonsai tree forest with this kit and...