<p>Today's Image of the Day from NASA features the spiral galaxy NGC 2566, which is located 76 million light-years away in the constellation Puppis. The striking image was captured by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope.</p>



<p>“A prominent bar of stars stretches across the center of this galaxy, and spiral arms emerge from each end of the bar. Because NGC 2566 appears tilted from our perspective, its disk takes on an almond shape, giving the galaxy the appearance of a cosmic eye,” said <a href="https://phys.org/news/2024-12-hubble-spies-spiral-galaxy-ngc.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA</a>.</p>



<p>“As NGC 2566 appears to gaze at us, astronomers gaze right back, using Hubble to survey the galaxy's star clusters and star-forming regions.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-complex-appearance-of-ngc-2566">Complex appearance of NGC 2566</h2>



<p>NGC 2566 lies at a considerable distance from Earth, making it a challenging object for amateur astronomers to observe in detail without powerful telescopes.&nbsp;</p>



<p>It can be seen in the Southern Hemisphere sky and is better observed from locations with minimal <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-light-pollution-influences-interest-in-astronomy/">light pollution</a>.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The galaxy's arms are populated with young, bright stars, regions of active star formation, and interstellar gas and dust - giving it a dynamic and complex appearance.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-measuring-the-ages-of-stars">Measuring the ages of stars</h2>



<p>According to NASA, data from Hubble is especially valuable for studying stars that are just a few million years old. “These stars are bright at the ultraviolet and visible wavelengths to which Hubble is sensitive.”</p>



<p>“Using these data, researchers can measure the ages of NGC 2566's stars, which helps piece together the timeline of the galaxy's star formation and the exchange of gas between star-forming clouds and the stars themselves.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-star-formation-in-galaxies">Star formation in galaxies</h2>



<p>Star formation in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/shapes-of-one-million-galaxies-hint-at-the-universes-origins/">galaxies</a> is a fascinating and complex process that unfolds over millions of years. It begins in vast clouds of gas and dust, known as molecular clouds, which are often found in the spiral arms of galaxies or in regions of irregular or starburst galaxies.&nbsp;</p>



<p>These clouds provide the raw material for star formation, consisting primarily of hydrogen and helium, with trace amounts of heavier elements.</p>



<p>As the molecular clouds collapse under their own gravity, regions within them begin to condense and fragment, forming dense clumps. Within these clumps, protostars emerge. Their formation is driven by the gravitational pull drawing in surrounding gas.&nbsp;</p>



<p>During this process, the gas heats up due to increasing pressure, eventually igniting nuclear fusion in the core, signaling the birth of a new star.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rates-of-star-formation">Rates of star formation</h2>



<p>The rate of star formation varies across galaxies is influenced by numerous factors. In spiral galaxies like the Milky Way, star formation is most active in the spiral arms, where density waves compress gas and dust, triggering the collapse of molecular clouds.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Elliptical galaxies, which often have little cold gas and dust, typically exhibit low rates of star formation or none at all.</p>



<p>On the other hand, starburst galaxies experience episodes of exceptionally high star formation, often triggered by <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/webb-captures-a-galaxy-collision-with-a-radiant-smile/">galactic collisions</a> or interactions.</p>



<p>These events can funnel large amounts of gas into central regions, leading to intense star-forming activity. However, such bursts are usually short-lived on cosmic timescales, exhausting the available gas quickly.</p>



<p>The environment within a galaxy also plays a significant role. Stellar winds and supernova explosions from existing stars can both inhibit and promote star formation. They may disperse gas, preventing further collapse, or compress nearby clouds, triggering new star formation.&nbsp;</p>



<p>As galaxies evolve over time, the availability of gas diminishes, leading to a gradual decline in star formation activity.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-puppis-constellation-nbsp">The Puppis constellation&nbsp;</h2>



<p>The Puppis constellation in the southern sky represents the stern of a ship. It was once part of a larger constellation known as Argo Navis, which depicted the mythical ship of Jason and the Argonauts.&nbsp;</p>



<p>However, Argo Navis was later divided into three separate constellations: Puppis, Carina (the keel), and Vela (the sails). Puppis is the largest of these three and contains many notable celestial objects.</p>



<p>This constellation is home to several bright stars, including Naos (Zeta Puppis), a hot, massive star that emits intense ultraviolet radiation. Puppis also hosts a wide variety of deep-sky objects, such as open <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stunning-star-clusters-captured-in-the-extreme-outskirts-of-the-milky-way/">star clusters</a> and nebulae.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Among these, Messier 46 and Messier 47 stand out. Both are beautiful star clusters that are visible through binoculars or small telescopes. The region is dense with stars because it lies along the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/milky-way-collision-may-change-everything-we-know-about-our-galaxy/">Milky Way</a>, making it a prime area for stargazing and astrophotography.<br></p>



<p>Image Credit: NASA</p>



<p>-----</p>



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



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



<p>-----</p>

Eye in the sky: A galaxy that appears to be gazing back

Today's Image of the Day from NASA features the spiral...

<p>Today’s Image of the Day from the European Space Agency features IRAS 04302, a young star wrapped in a massive planet-forming disc about 525 light-years away in the Taurus star-forming region.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The young star sits deep in a dark cloud, hidden behind a veil of dusty gas. The material around it is raw fuel for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/planet-formation-new-insights-mechanics-physics/">planet formation</a>.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The birth of planets is not something we can watch unfold in real time. It takes millions of years for the ingredients of a solar system to come together.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Still, astronomers can get snapshots of these processes by turning powerful telescopes toward stellar nurseries. This <a href="https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images">image</a> from the James Webb Space Telescope offers an intimate look at one of the most striking planet-forming discs ever seen.</p>



<p>What Webb reveals is not just beautiful - it's also a clue to how our own Solar System may have looked some 4.5 billion years ago.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-protostar-wrapped-in-dust">A protostar wrapped in dust</h2>



<p>At the heart of the IRAS 04302 system lies a protostar - a star still in the process of gathering mass. Around it is a giant <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/planet-forming-disks-surrounding-stars-often-last-much-longer-than-expected/">protoplanetary disc</a> that Webb has measured at about 65 billion miles across, several times wider than the Solar System we know.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This is the environment where planets might be taking shape, as dust grains collide, stick together, and gradually grow into larger bodies.</p>



<p>From Webb’s vantage point, the disc is tilted edge-on. That angle creates a dark band across the image, blocking light from the star itself.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The shadow is not empty space. It is packed with dust and gas, the very material that could eventually give rise to planets. Scientists can use this perspective to study the vertical structure of the disc, including how efficiently dust settles toward its midplane - a process essential for building worlds.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-butterfly-star">The Butterfly Star</h2>



<p>The striking appearance of IRAS 04302 has earned it a nickname: the Butterfly Star. The dense streak of dust bisects the view, while two glowing wings stretch above and below.&nbsp;</p>



<p>These wings are reflection <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/six-rogue-worlds-discovered-inside-a-young-star-forming-nebula/">nebulas</a>, lit up by starlight bouncing off surrounding clouds. They provide a softer glow that contrasts with the sharp dark lane running through the middle.</p>



<p>Seen from a different angle, protoplanetary discs often reveal features such as rings, gaps, or spirals. These patterns may point to baby planets carving out paths, or to other processes like gravitational instabilities.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The edge-on view here does not highlight those structures, but instead gives a rare look at the thickness of the disc itself.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stellar-system-in-transition-nbsp">Stellar system in transition&nbsp;</h2>



<p>To capture this image, astronomers combined data from Webb’s Near-Infrared Camera and Mid-Infrared Instrument with optical observations from the Hubble Space Telescope. Each tool adds its own piece of the puzzle.&nbsp;</p>



<p><a href="https://science.nasa.gov/mission/webb/">Webb</a> is especially sensitive to the distribution of fine dust grains and the scattering of infrared light over great distances. Hubble picks out sharp details in the dust lane and reveals clumps and streaks that hint at jets and outflows still erupting from the star.</p>



<p>Together, these telescopes show a stellar system in transition. The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/gas-streamers-may-help-high-mass-stars-grow-despite-strong-radiation/">protostar</a> is still feeding on its surroundings, but it is also shaping them with energy and motion. That push and pull is part of how young stars mature and carve out the conditions for planets to emerge.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-first-steps-of-planet-formation">The first steps of planet formation</h2>



<p>IRAS 04302 is one of four discs studied as part of Webb’s General Observer program #2562. The program focuses on discs oriented edge-on, since those views allow scientists to measure how dust grains evolve over time.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Dust growth is believed to be a crucial early step toward making planets. By watching how particles settle into dense midplanes, researchers can begin to reconstruct the timeline of planetary birth.</p>



<p>The Taurus region is a well-known nursery where dozens of young stars are found. Observing IRAS 04302 in such detail adds to our understanding of how stars and planets are connected.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Every glimpse like this one helps astronomers piece together the story of how ordinary gas and dust can turn into complex systems of worlds.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-looking-back-to-our-own-beginnings">Looking back to our own beginnings</h2>



<p>Although IRAS 04302 is hundreds of light-years away, it offers a mirror to our past. The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-our-sun-is-unusually-calm-and-what-that-means-for-earth/">Sun</a> once sat inside its own cloud of dust, pulling in material while planets assembled around it.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Seeing another star at a similar stage helps remind us that solar systems are not accidents. They are natural outcomes of star formation, happening again and again across the galaxy.</p>



<p>The Butterfly Star is still in its infancy, and any planets taking shape there are far from complete. Yet in its shadowed disc and glowing wings, we catch a glimpse of the processes that once shaped Earth.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Image Credit: ESA/Webb, NASA &amp; CSA, M. Villenave et al.</p>



<p>-----</p>



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



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



<p>-----</p>

Butterfly Star shows off its planet-forming disc

Today’s Image of the Day from the European Space Agency...

<p><br>Today's Image of the Day from NASA Earth Observatory features the devastating floods that swept across Pakistan during the summer of 2025.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/154781/monsoon-rains-flood-pakistan" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">image</a>, captured by the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) aboard NOAA’s polar-orbiting satellite, tells a stark story. Depicted in false color to highlight the presence of water, it reveals broad areas of Pakistan’s landscape drowned beneath muddy expanses. </p>



<p><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-rivers-split-a-century-old-mystery-has-finally-been-solved/">Rivers</a> are indistinguishable from the surrounding countryside, demonstrating just how much territory has been lost to the flood.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-deluge-that-overwhelmed-the-land">A deluge that overwhelmed the land</h2>



<p>What began as a particularly strong monsoon season in late June has turned into one of the worst <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/extreme-floods-what-turns-a-rainstorm-into-a-catastrophe/">flood</a> events in living memory, with the eastern Punjab province seeing its most severe inundation in history.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Millions of people have been affected, with entire villages swallowed by rivers and farmland drowned under relentless rainfall.</p>



<p>By mid-August, torrential rains pounded the northern mountains, setting off destructive flash floods and landslides. Water surged downstream with little relief for communities in its path.&nbsp;</p>



<p>By the close of the month, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-atmosphere-has-a-memory-that-affects-the-timing-of-monsoons/">monsoon</a> rain totals across the country measured 21 percent higher than normal, and in Punjab the increase reached 36 percent.&nbsp;</p>



<p>These figures translated into staggering human consequences, with nearly four million people affected in eastern Punjab alone and close to two million forced to evacuate. About 4,000 villages were inundated as rivers overtopped their banks.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-human-toll-of-pakistan-s-floods-nbsp">The human toll of Pakistan’s floods&nbsp;</h2>



<p>In Lahore, Pakistan’s second-largest city, the flooded Ravi River spilled into housing developments and submerged major roads.&nbsp;</p>



<p>To the south along the Chenab, the rising waters engulfed nearby villages and forced authorities to move more than 25,000 people - roughly half the population - from Jalalpur Pirwala by September 8.&nbsp;</p>



<p>In Sindh province, low-lying districts braced for similar outcomes. Evacuations were carried out in anticipation of floodwaters advancing along the Indus River.</p>



<p>The flood’s reach has gone far beyond homes and streets. According to reports, an estimated 75 percent of Pakistan’s farmland has suffered damage. Fields of rice, sugarcane, and cotton - the backbone of agricultural livelihoods - now lie underwater.&nbsp;</p>



<p>These losses will ripple across food security, household income, and the national economy for months, and possibly even years. Farmers who were already struggling with rising input costs now face the prospect of losing entire harvests.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-monsoon-floods-in-pakistan-nbsp">Monsoon floods in Pakistan&nbsp;</h2>



<p>The numbers highlight how overwhelming this disaster has become. Evacuations on such a scale stretch emergency services to their limits.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Relief agencies have called the flooding in Punjab the worst in the region’s history, a sobering reminder of how vulnerable the densely populated plains are when the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-atmosphere-has-a-memory-that-affects-the-timing-of-monsoons/">monsoon</a> intensifies.</p>



<p>The unfolding tragedy recalls the catastrophic monsoon of 2022, when Sindh province bore the brunt of widespread inundation.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Flat, low-lying terrain makes this region particularly susceptible to prolonged flooding, with waters lingering for weeks.&nbsp;</p>



<p>In 2025, once again, Sindh has been hit hard. The difference now is the sheer magnitude of rainfall concentrated over a short span of time, overwhelming embankments and drainage systems.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-recovery-resilience-and-responsibility">Recovery, resilience, and responsibility</h2>



<p>As <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/once-in-a-thousand-years-extreme-storms-are-becoming-much-more-frequent/">floodwaters</a> begin to recede in many regions, Pakistan enters a phase where recovery is urgent but complicated. Rebuilding homes, restoring roads, and clearing debris will take months.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Restoring basic services - clean water, electricity, healthcare - is critical. Farmers must assess ruined fields, decide whether to replant, and find seeds and supplies. Many will need financial help to get back on their feet.</p>



<p>Global climate scientists warn that this kind of extreme monsoon behavior is becoming more likely as the atmosphere warms. Infrastructure built for past rainfall patterns may no longer suffice.&nbsp;</p>



<p>In areas like Punjab and Sindh, better flood defenses, improved drainage systems, and early warning networks will be essential to reduce future devastation.</p>



<p>The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/flood-fatalities-experts-reveal-the-hidden-health-impacts/">human cost</a> of this disaster is not over. Displaced families will need long-term support, including food and shelter. Mental health impacts from loss and upheaval may persist.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The scale of this disaster calls for more than short-term relief. It requires long-term solutions. Governments, aid organizations, and local communities share the responsibility to rebuild in ways that not only replace what was destroyed but also create stronger, safer, and more sustainable systems for the future.</p>



<p>Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;</p>



<p>-----</p>



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



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



<p>-----</p>

Pakistan’s monsoon floods leave millions displaced

Today's Image of the Day from NASA Earth Observatory features...

<p>Today's Image of the Day from the European Space Agency features the Butterfly Nebula, located about 3,400 light-years away in the constellation Scorpius.&nbsp;</p>



<p>It’s what astronomers call a planetary nebula - the brief phase when a dying star sheds its outer layers into space.</p>



<p>Despite the name, planetary nebulae have nothing to do with planets. Early astronomers thought these glowing shells looked round, like distant <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/six-rogue-worlds-discovered-inside-a-young-star-forming-nebula/">worlds</a> seen through primitive telescopes.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The name stuck, even though many nebulae are anything but round. The Butterfly Nebula, with its outstretched “wings” of gas and dust, is a perfect example.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-butterfly-with-a-hidden-heart">Butterfly with a hidden heart</h2>



<p>At the center of this spectacular cloud lies the remnant of a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sun-like-stars-release-massive-superflares-every-100-years/">Sun-like star</a>. It has burned through its fuel and shed most of its mass, leaving behind a blazing hot core.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The star energizes the nebula, making it glow across the spectrum. Yet until recently, the star itself remained hidden.</p>



<p>A dark band of dust and gas cuts through the nebula like the “body” of the butterfly. This band is actually a torus, a doughnut-shaped structure that blocks visible light.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The torus shapes the nebula by forcing gas outward in two opposite directions, creating the iconic bipolar wings. It also conceals the central star from optical view.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-webb-telescope-brings-clarity">Webb telescope brings clarity</h2>



<p>The <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/mission/webb/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">James Webb Space Telescope</a> has now pierced the dust with its Mid-Infrared Instrument, offering the sharpest view yet of the nebula’s core. </p>



<p>By working in “integral field unit mode,” Webb captured <a href="https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Webb/Webb_investigates_complex_heart_of_a_cosmic_butterfly" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">images</a> and spectra at multiple wavelengths simultaneously. The result is a detailed portrait of how the nebula looks in different slices of light.</p>



<p>The team also added data from the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array in Chile, which revealed colder gas and dust.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Together, these instruments exposed a structure of extraordinary complexity, with nearly 200 spectral lines tracing atoms and molecules woven into layered shells.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-central-star-revealed">The central star revealed</h2>



<p>The Webb observations finally pinned down the location of the nebula’s hidden <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/massive-stars-shape-planetary-systems-like-ours-with-ultraviolet-radiation/">star</a>. Its surrounding dust cloud glows brightly in mid-infrared light, betraying its position for the first time.&nbsp;</p>



<p>With a scorching temperature of 220,000 Kelvin - around 400,000 degrees Fahrenheit - this is one of the hottest known central stars in a planetary nebula.</p>



<p>That heat drives the nebula’s glow, but its power doesn’t escape evenly. The dense torus channels the outflow, creating the striking wings that stretch across space.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Webb data show that the torus contains crystalline silicates such as quartz, along with irregular grains about a millionth of a meter across. For cosmic dust, that’s relatively large, suggesting the particles have been accumulating for a long time.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-jets-layers-and-chemical-signatures">Jets, layers, and chemical signatures</h2>



<p>Outside the torus, the nebula displays a multilayered design. Atoms that need the most energy to ionize cluster near the center. Those requiring less energy appear farther out.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Among the highlights are iron and nickel, which mark out two jets blasting away from the star in opposite directions. These fast-moving streams help sculpt the overall shape of the nebula.</p>



<p>The team also found evidence of carbon-based molecules known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs.&nbsp;</p>



<p>On Earth, PAHs are common in soot from fires, exhaust fumes, and even burnt toast. In the Butterfly Nebula, they appear to form when bursts of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tracing-solar-wind-directly-to-its-source-for-the-first-time/">stellar wind</a> collide with the surrounding gas.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This could be the first time PAHs have been spotted forming in an oxygen-rich planetary nebula, offering a rare window into the chemistry of dying stars.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fleeting-beauty-of-the-butterfly-nebula">Fleeting beauty of the Butterfly Nebula</h2>



<p>The entire spectacle will not last long by cosmic standards. The planetary nebula stage endures only about 20,000 years - a brief flicker compared to a star’s lifetime of billions of years.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The Butterfly Nebula is a reminder of how short-lived and yet astonishingly beautiful the final chapters of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/massive-star-redefines-our-understanding-of-stellar-evolution/">stellar evolution</a> can be.</p>



<p>The results of this study are <a href="https://academic.oup.com/mnras/article/542/2/1287/8241385" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">published</a> in the <em>Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society</em>. </p>



<p>The research shows that even well-studied objects like the Butterfly Nebula can surprise us when viewed with fresh eyes.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Webb’s infrared vision has revealed not only the hidden star at the heart of the butterfly, but also the intricate chemistry that surrounds it - from crystalline dust to unexpected organic molecules.</p>



<p>Image Credit: ESA/Webb, NASA &amp; CSA, J. Kastner, M. Zamani (ESA/Webb)</p>



<p>-----</p>



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



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



<p>-----</p>

Secrets of the Butterfly Nebula uncovered by Webb

Today's Image of the Day from the European Space Agency...

<p>Today's Image of the Day from the European Space Agency features a stunning reflection nebula known as GN 04.32.8 in the constellation Taurus.</p>



<p>Reflection nebulae are cosmic clouds of fine dust that become visible not by producing their own light, but by reflecting the light of nearby stars.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Unlike emission <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/six-rogue-worlds-discovered-inside-a-young-star-forming-nebula/">nebulae</a>, which glow due to ionized gases radiating light, reflection nebulae shine more subtly.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The light from nearby stars strikes the dust particles within the cloud and scatters in many directions - especially shorter, bluer wavelengths. This scattering effect, similar to the way Earth’s sky appears blue, often gives reflection nebulae their characteristic bluish hue.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-taurus-molecular-cloud">The Taurus Molecular Cloud</h2>



<p>“GN 04.32.8 is a small part of the stellar nursery known as the Taurus Molecular Cloud. At only roughly 480 light-years from Earth in the constellation Taurus, it's one of the best locations for studying newly forming stars,” noted <a href="https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images">ESA</a>.</p>



<p>The Taurus Molecular Cloud is one of the closest and most extensively studied regions for low-mass star formation.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Unlike larger star-forming regions like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/orion-nebula-destroys-an-oceans-worth-of-water-every-month/">Orion</a> that produce many high-mass stars, the Taurus Molecular Cloud is dominated by the formation of Sun-like and smaller stars, making it a prime analog for understanding the conditions that led to the birth of our own solar system.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-energetic-stars-in-the-constellation-taurus-nbsp">Energetic stars in the constellation Taurus&nbsp;</h2>



<p>“This reflection nebula is illuminated by the system of three bright stars in the center of this image, mainly the variable star V1025 Tauri in the very center," ESA noted. </p>



<p>“One of those stars overlaps with part of the nebula: this is another variable star that is named HP Tauri, but is classified as a T Tauri star, for its similarity to yet <em>another</em> variable star elsewhere in the Taurus Molecular Complex.”&nbsp;</p>



<p>T Tauri stars are young, energetic stars in the earliest stages of stellar evolution, just beginning their journey toward becoming stable main sequence stars like our <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/discovery-sun-like-stars-with-secret-companions/">Sun</a>.&nbsp;</p>



<p>These stars are highly variable, often exhibiting strong stellar winds and flares as they settle into equilibrium. </p>



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



<p>In this case, the trio of T Tauri stars - named HP Tau, HP Tau G2, and HP Tau G3 - are believed to be gravitationally bound, forming a dynamic triple star system.</p>



<p>“Eagle-eyed viewers might notice the small, squashed, orange spot, just left of center below the clouds of the nebula, that’s crossed by a dark line. This is a newly-formed protostar, hidden in a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/planet-forming-disks-surrounding-stars-often-last-much-longer-than-expected/">protoplanetary disc</a> that obstructs some of its light,” explained ESA.</p>



<p>“Because the disc is edge-on to us, it’s an ideal candidate for study. Astronomers are using Hubble here to examine it closely, seeking to learn about the kinds of exoplanets that might be formed in discs like it.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-light-of-hot-young-stars">The light of hot, young stars</h2>



<p>Reflection nebulae are usually found in regions where new <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/10-billion-white-dwarf-stars-in-milky-way-galaxy-might-have-habitable-planets/">stars</a> are forming, often near or within dense molecular clouds.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Some reflection nebulae can span light-years across and serve as markers of stellar nurseries - places where future generations of stars are taking shape.</p>



<p>Reflection nebulae offer astronomers a valuable glimpse into the structure and composition of the interstellar medium and help trace the life cycles of stars from birth to maturity.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-examples-of-reflection-nebulae-nbsp">Examples of reflection nebulae&nbsp;</h2>



<p>One well-known example is the reflection nebula surrounding the Pleiades star cluster, also called the Seven Sisters.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The Iris Nebula, located in the constellation Cepheus about 1,300 light-years from Earth, is a striking reflection nebula illuminated by the young star SAO 19158.</p>



<p>This nebula is a popular target for astrophotographers due to its vivid colors and intricate structure.</p>



<p>Found about 1,600 light-years away, M78 is the brightest reflection nebula in the Orion constellation and one of the easiest to observe with amateur telescopes. It’s illuminated by two young stars, HD 38563A and HD 38563B.&nbsp;</p>



<p>M78 is part of a larger complex of gas and dust that includes many other star-forming regions within the Orion Molecular Cloud.</p>



<p>Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;</p>



<p>-----</p>



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



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



<p>-----</p>

Radiant young stars illuminate the constellation Taurus 

<p>Today's <strong>Image of the Day</strong> from the European Space Agency features a dazzling view of the globular cluster NGC 1786, which was captured by the Hubble Space Telescope.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Unlike open <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/trio-of-star-clusters-may-be-the-same-system-at-different-ages/">clusters</a>, which are younger and more loosely arranged, globular clusters are tightly concentrated and typically located in a galaxy’s halo.</p>



<p>The globular cluster NGC 1786 is located in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) - a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way about 160,000 light-years from Earth.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“NGC 1786 itself is in the constellation Dorado. It was discovered in the year 1835 by John Herschel,” noted <a href="https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images">ESA</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-observing-globular-clusters-nbsp">Observing globular clusters&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Globular clusters are densely packed, spherical groups of stars that orbit the cores of galaxies like satellites.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Each cluster can contain tens of thousands to millions of stars, all bound tightly together by gravity. These stars are generally very old - often over 10 billion years - making globular clusters some of the oldest known structures in the universe.</p>



<p>The image of NGC 1786 is part of a broader observing program aimed at comparing old globular clusters in nearby dwarf galaxies with those found in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/milky-way-galaxy-may-be-inside-a-giant-void-in-the-universe-explains-hubble-tension/">Milky Way</a>.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“Our galaxy contains over 150 of these old, spherical collections of tightly-bound stars, which have been studied in depth - especially with Hubble Space Telescope images like this one, which show them in previously-unattainable detail,” said ESA.</p>



<p>“Being very stable and long-lived, they act as galactic time capsules, preserving stars from the earliest stages of a galaxy’s formation.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stars-in-globular-clusters">Stars in globular clusters</h2>



<p>For many years, astronomers believed that the stars in globular clusters all formed at roughly the same time. However, studies of Milky Way clusters have revealed multiple <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/zhulong-spiral-galaxy-like-milky-way-discovered-at-edge-of-universe-should-not-exist/">stellar populations</a> of different ages.&nbsp;</p>



<p>To better understand how globular clusters form - and how they can be used to trace galactic evolution - researchers are now investigating whether clusters like NGC 1786 in external galaxies also show signs of multiple stellar generations.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This research sheds light on the origins and development of the Large Magellanic Cloud. It also helps scientists study the formation history of the Milky Way itself.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-large-magellanic-cloud-nbsp">Large Magellanic Cloud&nbsp;</h2>



<p>The Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) is one of the most prominent and intriguing galaxies in our cosmic neighborhood. It is the largest satellite galaxy of the Milky Way and is visible to the naked eye from the Southern Hemisphere.&nbsp;</p>



<p>A <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dozens-of-ghost-galaxies-may-be-orbiting-the-milky-way/">satellite galaxy</a> is a smaller galaxy that orbits a larger one due to gravitational attraction. Just as the Moon orbits the Earth, satellite galaxies are bound to larger galaxies and can slowly orbit them over billions of years. </p>



<p>These satellites can range in size from relatively massive dwarf galaxies to tiny, faint collections of stars.</p>



<p>Though classified as a dwarf galaxy, the Large Magellanic Cloud spans roughly 14,000 light-years across and contains billions of stars, nebulae, and star clusters.&nbsp;</p>



<p>One of its most famous features is the Tarantula Nebula - the most active star-forming region in the entire Local Group of galaxies. This stellar nursery is so intense that it's forming some of the most massive stars ever observed.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dynamic-interaction-with-the-milky-way-nbsp">Dynamic interaction with the Milky Way&nbsp;</h2>



<p>The Large Magellanic Cloud is also of great interest to astronomers because of its dynamic relationship with the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/our-solar-systems-journey-through-the-milky-way-may-have-altered-earths-climate/">Milky Way</a>. It’s not just a passive companion - it’s interacting gravitationally with both the Milky Way and the Small Magellanic Cloud, another nearby dwarf galaxy.&nbsp;</p>



<p>These interactions have created long streams of gas, such as the Magellanic Stream, that arc across the sky. In fact, recent studies suggest the Large Magellanic Cloud may be on its first infall into the Milky Way’s halo, rather than orbiting it for billions of years as once thought.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This motion could have significant effects on the structure of our galaxy, possibly even perturbing the Milky Way’s dark matter halo.</p>



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



<p>The detailed observations of NGC 1786 not only showcase the stunning capabilities of the <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/mission/hubble/">Hubble Space Telescope</a> but also deepen our understanding of how galaxies like the Milky Way and the LMC evolve over time.&nbsp;</p>



<p>By examining ancient globular clusters in both the Milky Way and its neighboring galaxies, astronomers are uncovering vital clues about star formation and the processes that shaped our universe.</p>



<p>Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;</p>



<p>-----</p>



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



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



<p>-----</p>

Glittering time capsule: Hubble peers into a galaxy's past

<p>For decades, wildlife guides said a single Neotropical river otter species occurred from northern Mexico to northern Argentina. Fresh genomic work now shows that to be unlikely.</p>



<p>Researchers have confirmed that what looked like one kind of otter is actually two distinct species across Latin America. The change reshapes maps, field manuals, and conservation plans.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-changed-in-the-otter-map">What changed in the otter map</h2>



<p>Lead author Vera de Ferran from the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (<a href="https://www.pucrs.br/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PUCRS</a>), along with colleagues, analyzed DNA from river otters. Samples came from Mexico, Central America, and South America. </p>



<p>Their analyses separated the trans-Andes populations from those east of the mountain chain.</p>



<p>Researchers looked at DNA from 29 otters and discovered that they fall into two very different groups. </p>



<p>They suggest giving the western populations a new name and keeping the eastern ones under the older name, which covers otters living in the Amazon, Orinoco, and Paraná River regions.</p>



<p>The authors made it clear: their results show that otters living west of the Andes should be treated as a separate <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sea-otter-populations-thrive-when-sea-stars-vanish-from-an-area-but-why/">species</a>, now called <em>Lontra annectens</em>.</p>



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



<p>Species boundaries guide how scientists count wildlife and how agencies protect it. When one widespread species turns out to be two, each part can face different pressures and need its own specific management.</p>



<p>Splitting a species also changes how we track recovery. If two smaller species replace one big one, national laws and local plans often need updates to match the new picture.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-the-team-figured-it-out">How the team figured it out</h2>



<p>The researchers used <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35779528/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">phylogenomics</a>, a field that traces family trees using large sets of DNA and statistical models. </p>



<p>A maximum likelihood tree from their data showed strong support for the view that the trans-Andes group sits apart from the cis-Andes populations.</p>



<p>They also used statistical tests to check the DNA patterns across <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-otter-day-2025-on-the-front-lines-of-a-habitat-crisis/">otter species</a>. </p>



<p>One test showed that 35.5 percent of the genetic differences clearly separated the otters west of the Andes from the rest. Another test split the Amazon otters from other eastern groups.</p>



<p>To build that picture, the team captured thousands of ultraconserved genetic elements - short regions of the genome that change very slowly and anchor comparisons across species. </p>



<p>Those elements let researchers gather many comparable markers from the samples.</p>



<p>This method provides a reliable way to tell apart species that look almost the same. It works especially well for uncovering hidden diversity, where different species cannot be identified just by appearance.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-the-new-otter-species-lives">Where the new otter species lives</h2>



<p>The Andes are not just scenic mountains. For small to medium carnivores that depend on rivers and coasts, the range works like a wall that can block movement and restrict gene flow.</p>



<p>The study’s tree and clustering results track that barrier. West of the Andes, the Mexican and Colombian animals form one cluster, while east of the Andes, Amazonian and southern groups sort differently.</p>



<p>The newly named species, <em>Lontra annectens</em>, lives in rivers and wetlands across Mexico and Central America, and continues down the Pacific side of Colombia and Ecuador to the base of the Andes. </p>



<p>On the other side of the mountains, the other <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/what-river-otter-poop-reveals-about-life-in-chesapeake-bay/">species</a> is found in the Amazon, Orinoco, and Paraná River systems.</p>



<p>These ranges match river histories and watershed divides. They also line up with hints from skull shape and nose pad variation that earlier workers noticed but could not confirm at a species level.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-names-shape-protection">How names shape protection</h2>



<p>Today, the Neotropical river otter is listed as near threatened on the <a href="https://www.iucnredlist.org/assessment/process" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Red List</a>, reflecting ongoing habitat loss and pressure from pollution and overfishing in many places. </p>



<p>A formal species split will require new assessments and possibly separate management plans for the two lineages.</p>



<p>Any change of this kind needs a formal review by the <a href="https://iucn.org/about-iucn#:~:text=IUCN%20(International%20Union%20for%20Conservation,that%20values%20and%20conserves%20nature." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">IUCN</a>. That process weighs data on range, trends, and threats before assigning categories like "Vulnerable" or "Endangered."</p>



<p>Taxonomy moves first, and red lists follow. The Mammal Diversity <a href="https://www.mammaldiversity.org/taxon/1006847/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">database</a> now lists <em>Lontra annectens</em> and marks its Red List status as "Not Evaluated."</p>



<p>That Not Evaluated tag is normal in the early stages. It signals that conservation bodies should begin separate monitoring and, where needed, targeted protections.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-the-numbers-tell-us">What the numbers tell us</h2>



<p>Sampling included 29 individuals spread across the full range. That spread matters because patchy sampling can produce misleading clusters, while broad coverage tests whether divisions hold across landscapes.</p>



<p>The analysis used 30,205 variable genomic sites and reported high support for the branching pattern that isolates the trans-Andes clade. In plain terms, the math behind the tree is solid and consistent across methods.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cutting-through-technical-terms">Cutting through technical terms</h2>



<p>The paper labels the old <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sea-otters-use-tools-to-access-larger-prey-and-protect-their-teeth/">single species</a> concept as paraphyletic, meaning that the group, as defined, left out some descendants that belong together. </p>



<p>In conservation genetics, that is a red flag that the name does not match the evolutionary story.</p>



<p>The authors also report principal component analysis, a technique that reduces complex DNA variation to a few axes that explain most of the differences. This helps visualize clusters without getting lost in thousands of markers.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-window-into-american-otter-migrations">Window into American otter migrations</h2>



<p>The split between trans-Andes and cis-Andes otters fits a broader pattern for New World otters. </p>



<p>Earlier whole genome phylogenomics placed Nearctic and Neotropical otters in a sequence that likely reflects movements across the Isthmus of Panama and subsequent southward diversification. </p>



<p>Seeing the same signal in a focused <a href="https://www.earth.com//news/otters-have-the-ability-to-restore-delicate-ecosystems/">river otter analysis</a> and in a global otter tree builds confidence in the story. It also helps biologists ask better questions about how rivers, coasts, and mountains shaped these carnivores.</p>



<p>The team points to potential structure within the eastern group, including an Amazonian cluster that may deserve special management <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/japans-obsession-with-otters-comes-at-a-cost/">attention</a>. That question needs denser sampling in areas that connect the Amazon to Atlantic drainages.</p>



<p>Field teams will also need to refine identification keys for camera traps and track surveys. Clearer names can then flow into national action plans, fisheries policies, and river corridor protections.</p>



<p>The study is published in the <a href="https://academic.oup.com/jmammal/article/105/3/534/7631689" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Journal of Mammalogy</em></a>.</p>



<p>-----</p>



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



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



<p>-----</p>

Scientists confirm discovery of a new otter species

For decades, wildlife guides said a single Neotropical river otter...

Young,Interracial,Couple,Smiling,Happy,And,Speaking,Sitting,On,The

<p>People judge honesty or deception in the moment it happens, and the brain makes that determination very quickly. A new study shows that split-second patterns shared across two brains can flag when one person will accept a lie from the other.</p>



<p>Lead researcher <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/scientific-contributions/Yingjie-Liu-2186794450" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Yingjie Liu</a>, North China University of Science and Technology (<a href="https://en.ncut.edu.cn/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NCUT</a>), and colleagues examined how closeness and context shape these decisions. </p>



<p>They focused on whether messages framed as gains or losses sway us, and whether it matters if the sender is a friend or a stranger.</p>



<p>The team reports their results in a <a href="https://www.jneurosci.org/content/early/2025/09/04/JNEUROSCI.2129-24.2025" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">paper</a> that monitored 66 adult pairs using a method called hyperscanning. They measured brain activity from both people at once while they exchanged information on networked screens.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-daily-life-deception-and-the-brain">Daily life, deception, and the brain</h2>



<p>Most lab studies on lying isolate individuals, but daily life is social. This project looks at deception as it unfolds between two people who are sharing a task, and it tests how prior relationships change the calculation.</p>



<p>It also tracks interpersonal neural synchrony (<a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnins.2024.1286130/full" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">INS</a>) across the pair. INS is the moment by moment alignment of brain activity between two people.</p>



<p>Pairs sat face to face and relayed information through computers while the system recorded surface-level brain signals. </p>



<p>When the shared outcome of a choice helped both partners, the trial counted as a gain; when it harmed both, it counted as a loss.</p>



<p>The researchers then asked whether the receiver would accept the sender’s statement and how often acceptance depended on friendship or context. Across trials, people believed messages more in gain settings than in loss settings.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-brain-signals-in-deception">Brain signals in deception</h2>



<p>The method used was functional near infrared spectroscopy (<a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3294084/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fNIRS</a>), which tracks oxygenated blood changes near the cortex. </p>



<p>The analysis zeroed in on regions tied to evaluating risk, processing reward, and grasping another person’s intent.</p>



<p>The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/dorsolateral-prefrontal-cortex" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">DLPFC</a>) helps weigh choices when risk is on the table.</p>



<p>Causal stimulation studies show it shapes the computation of subjective value under risk, as demonstrated in a recent <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-18529-6" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">study</a>. Signals there related to careful evaluation matched the loss context.</p>



<p>The orbitofrontal cortex (<a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7749795/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">OFC</a>) contributes to assigning reward value and updating expectations during learning. </p>



<p>Its role in representing reward and non-reward has been mapped across species in a comprehensive <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33364600/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">review</a>, and in this work OFC coupling tracked better with gain contexts.</p>



<p>A third area, the frontal pole, supports understanding intentions and long range planning. Together, these systems formed a network whose coupling differed by context and by whether the dyad contained friends or strangers.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-role-of-friendship">Role of friendship</h2>



<p>Friendship increased shared brain activity in task relevant regions. In gain settings, friends showed more coupling in the OFC, and in loss settings they showed more coupling in the DLPFC.</p>



<p>This coupling did not just mirror the context, it carried predictive power. Trial by trial, higher synchrony in the relevant region aligned with a higher chance the receiver would accept the sender’s statement, even when the statement was deceptive.</p>



<p>Related work with romantic partners offers a useful comparison point. </p>



<p>In deception tasks, couples show stronger brain-to-brain <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10216105/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">synchronization</a> and lower rates of deceptive success compared with strangers, highlighting how relationship closeness reshapes vigilance.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-early-signs-of-deception">Early signs of deception</h2>



<p>One practical result stands out. The model based on shared neural activity predicted successful deception at the level of a single trial, and it did so from early moments in the exchange.</p>



<p>That fits with prior <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5042136/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">work</a> arguing that the neuroscience of deception involves rapid control processes layered over memory and valuation. In other words, much of the outcome is decided before long deliberation kicks in.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-impact-of-deception-on-daily-life">Impact of deception on daily life</h2>



<p>The pattern suggests two forces pulling in opposite directions. Gains invite trust, and closeness invites alignment, which can ease coordination but can also lower caution when caution is warranted.</p>



<p>This is not a claim that friends lie more or that friendship is unsafe. </p>



<p>It is a reminder that when a message promises upside and comes from a familiar face, the brain shifts its weighting toward reward signals and relationship cues, which may bias truth checks.</p>



<p>For science, detecting deception is not the end goal. The goal is to understand how people process social information so that we can improve training, design safer systems, and reduce harm in settings like finance, healthcare, and online platforms.</p>



<p>Future studies will need to test whether simple behavioral prompts can nudge evaluation back toward balance in tempting gain contexts. </p>



<p>They will also need to probe whether synchrony measures generalize beyond lab tasks to natural conversations, and how they interplay with culture and age.</p>



<p>The study is published in <a href="https://www.jneurosci.org/content/early/2025/09/04/JNEUROSCI.2129-24.2025" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>JNeurosci</em></a>.</p>



<p>-----</p>



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



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



<p>-----</p>

The science of lying: How human minds behave during the act of deception

People judge honesty or deception in the moment it happens,...

<p>A new kind of hearing treatment is changing the picture for some families living with genetic deafness. It uses a single inner ear injection to supply a missing gene and restart the hearing pathway.</p>



<p>In a new clinical trial, children began to detect sounds within weeks and the group’s average hearing threshold improved from 106 dB to 52 dB. Adults improved too, though not as strongly.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-the-hearing-treatment-works">How the hearing treatment works</h2>



<p><a href="https://ki.se/en/people/maoli-duan" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Maoli Duan</a>, consultant and docent at the Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology (<a href="https://ki.se/en/clintec" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CLINTEC</a>) at Karolinska Institutet, is a corresponding author on the study. He and a large team worked with hospitals in China to test the approach in people aged 1 to 24.</p>



<p>The otoferlin protein, which is needed for sending sound signals from the ear to the hearing nerve, helps inner ear cells pass those signals along. </p>



<p>When the <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK1251/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">OTOF</a> gene is mutated, the process is blocked, so the nerve never receives the signals even though the ear cells still look normal.</p>



<p>People with OTOF related deafness often do not benefit from hearing aids. Cochlear implants can help, but a genetic fix could restore the missing step in the ear’s own circuit.</p>



<p>This type of hearing loss is sometimes called auditory synaptopathy. The ear senses vibration, yet the message cannot move along the nerve with the timing that speech requires.</p>



<p>Language learning depends on early and consistent access to sound. Better <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/drugs-may-be-available-to-prevent-hearing-loss/">hearing</a> in the early school years can support speech clarity, literacy, and social connection.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-using-a-virus-to-restore-hearing">Using a virus to restore hearing</h2>



<p>Doctors placed a specially designed virus into the ear through the round window, a thin layer at the base of the cochlea. </p>



<p>The virus carried a healthy copy of the OTOF gene into the cells, allowing them to make the missing protein again.</p>



<p>The virus used in this treatment was specially designed so it could enter the delicate cells of the inner ear that handle sound. </p>



<p>Once inside, it delivered the healthy gene where it was needed. Doctors found that giving just a single injection in each ear was enough for the patients who took part in the trial.</p>



<p>Surgeons aim the dose to a tiny space just beyond the round window membrane. The volume is small and the goal is a quiet delivery that protects delicate structures while letting the vector spread along the spiral.</p>



<p>Most trials start with one ear so doctors can compare progress and manage risk. If hearing grows steadily and safety holds, a second ear may be considered in future protocols.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hearing-treatment-audible-range">Hearing treatment audible range</h2>



<p>Researchers tracked hearing with behavioral tests and with objective signals such as the Auditory Brainstem Response (<a href="https://www.asha.org/public/hearing/auditory-brainstem-response/?srsltid=AfmBOoo1R8L1Wuetru8sOLquUYEyfynkdVlbgzNEZhh1kO2QCPnc0tnZ" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ABR</a>). They looked at how soft a tone needed to be before a response showed up in the brain pathway.</p>



<p>The youngest children tended to do best, with the strongest gains in the 5 to 8 age range. Speech understanding followed as thresholds dropped, and several families reported everyday conversations that had never been possible before.</p>



<p>“Smaller studies in China have previously shown positive results in children, but this is the first time that the method has been tested in teenagers and adults, too,” says Duan.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The testing included how well the ear detects clicks and tone bursts. They also checked steady state responses that reflect how the brainstem locks to rapid sound patterns.</p>



<p>Objective and behavioral measures answer different questions about <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/women-hear-better-than-men-across-all-environments/">hearing</a>. As neural responses gain strength and reliability, pure tone thresholds often improve, which helps in quiet and in noise.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-safety-signals-and-limits">Safety signals and limits</h2>



<p>No serious adverse events were reported in early follow up. The most frequent lab change was a lower percentage of neutrophils, a type of white blood cell, and this was mild.</p>



<p>The trial was small and single arm, so there was no placebo comparison group. Durability of the benefit will take years to confirm, and the team plans long term monitoring.</p>



<p>As with any procedure in the inner <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/useless-ear-muscles-may-actually-serve-a-purpose/">ear</a>, infection and pressure related injury are possible, though rare in expert hands. Vector spread beyond the treated ear is monitored, and patients are followed with routine exams and labs.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-of-hearing-treatments">Future of hearing treatments</h2>



<p>There are still no approved gene therapies for genetic hearing loss in the United States. Families considering research participation need careful counseling about risks, alternatives, and realistic expectations.</p>



<p>Access will hinge on trained surgical teams and centers that can support careful testing before and after treatment. Insurance coverage, travel, and support services will shape who can benefit and how fast programs roll out.</p>



<p>“This is a huge step forward in the genetic treatment of deafness, one that can be life-changing for children and adults,” says Maoli Duan. </p>



<p>The statement reflects both the speed of early benefit and the possibility of broader access if future trials confirm safety and efficacy.</p>



<p>Researchers emphasized that OTOF is only the first step, and they are already turning their attention to other genes, including GJB2 and TMC1, which are among the most common causes of inherited hearing loss.</p>



<p>The study is published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-025-03773-w" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Nature Medicine</em></a>.</p>



<p>-----</p>



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



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



<p>-----</p>

Single ear injection enables deaf children to hear for the first time

A new kind of hearing treatment is changing the picture...

<p>A mountain the size of a major Rocky Mountain peak is sitting under the Pacific Ocean north of Palau, and we finally have a map of it. The top rests about 800 feet below the surface, yet the whole <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hidden-plastic-graveyard-uncovered-in-the-deep-mediterranean-sea/">structure</a> climbs roughly 2.6 miles from the deep seafloor.</p>



<p>The discovery comes from a NOAA Ocean Exploration cruise that focused on a rarely mapped stretch of ocean. The team put time on task, swept the area with high resolution acoustics, and confirmed the feature’s size and shape.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hidden-ocean-mountain-discovered">Hidden ocean mountain discovered</h2>



<p>The first public look at this feature appeared in a field <a href="https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/expedition-feature/live-from-the-field-updates-from-garret/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">log</a> posted on September 2, 2025, which described the mountain about 250 miles north of Palau and noted its summit depth and scale. That early report also set the stage for future dives and sampling.</p>



<p>This account comes from <a href="https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/multimedia/garret-odonnell-with-noaa-ship-okeanos-explorer/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Garret O’Donnell</a> of NOAA Ocean Exploration, a 2025 <a href="https://seagrant.noaa.gov/communities/students/graduate-fellows/knauss-fellowship-program/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">John A. Knauss</a> fellow aboard NOAA Ship <a href="https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Okeanos</a> Explorer. He is part of the mapping team that turned raw sonar pings into a usable chart of the seamount.</p>



<p>“It’s funny to me that were we not actively mapping these features, we would have no idea that a mountain half the height of Mount Everest lies directly beneath us," O'Donnell enthused. </p>



<p>"Maybe one day the map we made of this behemoth will be used to navigate the feature with a remotely operated vehicle to get a closer look."</p>



<p>The numbers are straightforward and worth stating clearly. The peak sits about 800 feet down, and the full height from the abyssal plain to the summit is about 2.6 miles.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/seamount_ocean-mountain_palau_mapping_NOAA_1m.jpg"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/seamount_ocean-mountain_palau_mapping_NOAA_1s.webp" alt="A map showing the depth extent of an unnamed seamount that was fully mapped as part of Beyond the Blue: Palau Mapping 2 expedition. Credit: NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2025 Beyond the Blue" class="wp-image-1986402"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>A map showing the depth extent of an unnamed seamount that was fully mapped as part of Beyond the Blue: Palau Mapping 2 expedition. Click image to enlarge. Credit: NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2025 Beyond the Blue</em></figcaption></figure>



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



<p>A seamount is an <a href="https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/ocean-fact/seamounts/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">underwater mountain</a>, most often the remains of an extinct volcano that never broke the surface or later sank below the waves. </p>



<p>Less than one tenth of a percent of the world’s seamounts have been explored, a figure that captures how much frontier still exists in the deep <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-turtle-day-2025-ancient-creatures-with-modern-challenges/">ocean</a>.</p>



<p>Scientists estimate there are more than 100,000 large seamounts on Earth when you count those taller than about 3,280 feet. That global count was formalized in a 2010 <a href="https://topex.ucsd.edu/sandwell/publications/127.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">study</a> that combined satellite and ship data to build a census.</p>



<p>Why do these mountains matter for life in the ocean? Their shape changes currents, concentrates food, and creates habitats that attract fish, corals, and marine mammals.</p>



<p>This point was underscored by NOAA’s national marine sanctuaries team in a 2025 <a href="https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/news/2025/reasons-seamounts-matter.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">explainer</a> on why seamounts matter.</p>



<p>The new map north of Palau gives researchers a fixed target for future biological work. It also gives navigators and managers a better picture of the seafloor in a region where charts can still be sparse.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mapping-the-new-ocean-mountain">Mapping the new ocean mountain</h2>



<p>The workhorse tool was <a href="https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/technology/sonar-multibeam/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">multibeam sonar</a>, an array that sends out many sound beams and times their echoes to build a detailed picture of the seafloor. </p>



<p>Each pass traces a swath under the ship, and careful overlapping tracks stitch those swaths into a complete map.</p>



<p>Teams call the survey <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/unprecedented-collapse-panamas-ocean-upwelling-fails-for-the-first-time-in-40-years/">pattern</a> “mowing the lawn,” because it is an even, methodical sweep that favors coverage and consistency. </p>



<p>That approach is slow, but it is the way to find steep slopes, ledges, and summit shapes that single passes can miss.</p>



<p>Precision matters, so crews run regular checks to keep the data within tight error limits. When the seas cooperate, this produces clean coverage that captures the real outline of a feature rather than a guess based on sparse lines.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-palau-sanctuary-setting">Palau sanctuary setting</h2>



<p>The mountain rises inside waters tied to the <a href="https://marine-conservation.org/blue-sparks/projects/palau-nms/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Palau National Marine Sanctuary</a>, a <a href="https://picrc.org/work/palau-national-marine-sanctuary/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">policy</a> that closed about 80 percent of the nation’s exclusive economic zone to extractive activity on January 1, 2020. </p>



<p>This makes the area a natural lab for documenting geology and life with less pressure from fishing.</p>



<p>Palau’s sanctuary sits near deep water that drops quickly from the island shelf. That geography lets research ships reach study sites in hours rather than days, which helps when a weather window appears.</p>



<p>Protected status also changes the kinds of questions teams can ask. With a baseline in place, future work can track how untouched seamount habitats function over time.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-explaining-the-size">Explaining the size</h2>



<p>The summit at roughly 800 feet makes this feature accessible to surface ship sensors and, with the right systems, to human tended or autonomous vehicles. </p>



<p>The full height of about 2.6 miles shows it is not a small bump, but a major structure that would not look out of place among prominent continental <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/national-dolphin-day-2025-honoring-the-oceans-most-playful-minds/">peaks</a>.</p>



<p>For context, that height is in the same league as well known mountains on land. The comparison helps illustrate how much topography is hiding in plain sight beneath open water.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/seamount_ocean-mountain_palau_rov-tracks_NOAA_1m.jpg"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/seamount_ocean-mountain_palau_rov-tracks_NOAA_1s.webp" alt="The location of the unnamed seamount mapped during the Beyond the Blue: Palau Mapping 2 expedition relative to the ship’s trackline shows the lawn mowing survey pattern and position north of Palau. Credit: NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2025 Beyond the Blue" class="wp-image-1986404"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>The location of the unnamed seamount mapped during the Beyond the Blue: Palau Mapping 2 expedition relative to the ship’s trackline shows the lawn mowing survey pattern and position north of Palau. Click image to enlarge. Credit: NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2025 Beyond the Blue</em></figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ocean-mountain-maps-matter">Ocean mountain maps matter</h2>



<p>A remotely operated vehicle (ROV) can now be guided to interesting ledges and slopes rather than wandering. </p>



<p>Targeted transects can record sponge and coral communities, fish schools, and any signs of mineral crusts that often coat old volcanic rock.</p>



<p>Water sampling can pair with environmental DNA (<a href="http://edna/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">eDNA</a>) analysis to list species without seeing them directly. Those data can set a baseline for the site, which is essential for tracking change.</p>



<p>Good <a href="https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/bathymetry.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bathymetry</a> improves navigation by reducing the chance of surprise shallows or pinnacles near shipping routes. </p>



<p>It also makes tsunami and circulation models more accurate, since seafloor shape affects how waves and currents move energy.</p>



<p>For research planning, a complete map is the difference between blind searching and directed work. It saves days of ship time and compresses campaigns into focused operations.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-seamount-mapping">Future seamount mapping</h2>



<p>The expedition that produced this map connects to a larger push to chart and understand Palau’s deeper waters. </p>



<p><a href="https://www.noaa.gov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NOAA</a> has outlined a multi-cruise <a href="https://www.aoml.noaa.gov/3-research-cruises-depart-to-improve-understanding-of-atlantic-and-southern-ocean/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plan</a> in the region, working with local partners to collect high resolution mapping data across the sanctuary.</p>



<p>Each new map reduces uncertainty and opens the door to more detailed work. It is a steady build toward a fuller view of the Pacific floor near Palau.</p>



<p>The global picture still frames the task. A widely cited census estimated more than 100,000 large seamounts worldwide, which shows how much there is left to find and study.</p>



<p>-----</p>



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



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



<p>-----</p>

Massive underwater mountain discovered that is larger than some peaks in the Rockies

A mountain the size of a major Rocky Mountain peak...

<p>A recent analysis of the Sapphire Canyon mudstone core, drilled by NASA’s Perseverance rover in July 2024, adds new and convincing evidence to the ongoing search for life on Mars.</p>



<p>The study describes minerals and textures that - on Earth - are often linked to microbial activity. At the same time, the authors stress that some unknown, nonbiological chemistry could also explain the signals.</p>



<p>“This finding by Perseverance is the closest we have ever come to discovering life on Mars. The identification of a potential biosignature on the Red Planet is a groundbreaking discovery, and one that will advance our understanding of Mars,” said acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy. </p>



<p>“NASA’s commitment to conducting Gold Standard Science will continue as we pursue our goal of putting American boots on Mars’ rocky soil.”</p>



<p>The core was taken from a rock named "<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/perseverance-rover-finds-best-evidence-yet-life-on-mars-cheyava-falls-rock/">Chevaya Falls</a>" in Neretva Vallis, an ancient river channel about a quarter mile wide that once fed Jezero Crater’s lake. </p>



<p>After drilling, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/perseverance-rover-captures-a-surprise-dust-devil-while-taking-high-resolution-selfie-on-mars/">Perseverance</a> sealed the sample for possible return to Earth, where laboratory instruments can perform tests far beyond the rover’s onboard capabilities.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-inside-the-martian-mudstone">Inside the Martian mudstone</h2>



<p>Lead author Joel A. Hurowitz of <a href="https://www.stonybrook.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stony Brook University</a> (SBU) reports a fine-grained mudstone with circular reaction fronts informally called leopard spots, plus small nodules embedded in layered sediments.</p>



<p>Perseverance’s <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/centers-and-facilities/jpl/the-detective-aboard-nasas-perseverance-rover/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SHERLOC</a> and <a href="https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/heres-how-ai-is-changing-nasas-mars-rover-science/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PIXL</a> instruments mapped organic carbon with phosphate, iron, and sulfur arranged in distinct, repeating patterns.</p>



<p>Two minerals stand out: vivianite and greigite. Vivianite is an iron phosphate, while greigite is an iron sulfide associated with iron and sulfur cycling in oxygen-poor settings.</p>



<p>These features show up in rocks that settled from<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wave-ripples-discovered-mars-surface-indicate-liquid-water-present-4-billion-years-ago/"> water</a>, not in lavas. The site on Mars lies along Bright Angel, a set of outcrops that preserve layers and veins consistent with slow changes after the mud was laid down.</p>



<p>Textures and chemistry point to low temperature reactions that reorganized elements already present in the mud. </p>



<p>That detail matters because low temperatures fit environments that life can handle, while very hot conditions tend to erase delicate signals.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-earth-microbes-leave-similar-traces">Earth microbes leave similar traces</h2>



<p>On Earth, vivianite often forms where microbes reduce iron in water-rich sediments and trap phosphorus in blue-green nodules. </p>



<p>Laboratory and field work document biologically mediated vivianite through extracellular electron transfer.</p>



<p><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/greigite" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Greigite</a> frequently appears where sulfate reducing bacteria drive chemistry in anoxic muds. In controlled experiments, greigite was detected only in live biotic setups after months of incubation.</p>



<p>The Martian rock shows rims rich in vivianite surrounding small cores enriched in greigite. That bullseye pattern matches a sequence of electron transfer reactions seen in some Earth sediments.</p>



<p>None of this proves metabolism happened in Bright Angel mud, but it shows the chemistry is right for it. That is a subtle point, and it is the reason scientists keep the language cautious.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-evidence-of-life-on-mars">Evidence of life on Mars</h2>



<p>A potential biosignature is a feature that might have a biological origin but still needs more data to rule out nonbiological sources. </p>



<p>NASA points mission teams and the public to the Confidence of Life Detection, or CoLD scale, which encourages staged claims and independent checks.</p>



<p>The CoLD mindset is simple in practice. First detect a signal, then exclude contamination, then tackle alternatives, and only then talk about life on Mars with high confidence.</p>



<p>The Bright Angel work sits early on that ladder. It clears several necessary steps but leaves demanding tests for the lab.</p>



<p>Organic compounds can also arrive by <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/what-meteorites-tell-us-about-their-birthplace-in-space/">meteorites</a> or form without biology. The authors note those routes and describe how future analyses could tell paths apart.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-organic-signals-but-no-certainty">Organic signals, but no certainty</h2>



<p>The Mars rover detected organic carbon in several targets within Bright Angel. Reaction fronts rimmed with vivianite surround cores richer in greigite, a pairing consistent with iron and sulfur cycling recorded in the paper.</p>



<p>Mineral veins include calcium sulfate, while the mudstone remains fine-grained and low in magnesium and manganese. There is no sign of intense heating that would reset the rock or scramble tiny textures.</p>



<p>The outcrop sits within layered sediments deposited by water flowing through Neretva Vallis. That channel spans roughly a quarter mile across, which implies sustained flow into Jezero’s ancient lake.</p>



<p>Low temperature context favors life-compatible chemistry, but it does not require life. Abiotic organics and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mineral-discovery-sheds-light-on-mars-fiery-past/">mineral</a> reactions can sometimes copy the same shapes and signals.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-not-proof-but-potential-life-on-mars">Not proof, but potential life on Mars</h2>



<p>“It’s not life itself,” said Nicky Fox, associate administrator for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, stressing that this is a potential biosignature, not proof of life. The lead author echoed that caution.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“We cannot claim this is more than a potential biosignature,” said Hurowitz. Other officials also underscored the stakes and the limits.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“[But] this very well could be the clearest sign of life that we’ve ever found on Mars,” said Sean Duffy, acting NASA administrator. </p>



<p>Caution is not hedging for its own sake. It is how science avoids false alarms when the question is this important.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/mars-life_olivine_leopard-spot_Cheyava-Falls_Perseverance-rover_NASA_1big.jpg"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/mars-life_olivine_leopard-spot_Cheyava-Falls_Perseverance-rover_NASA_1s.webp" alt="NASA’s Perseverance rover discovered leopard spots on a reddish rock nicknamed “Cheyava Falls” in Mars’ Jezero Crater in July 2024. Scientists think the spots may indicate that, billions of years ago, the chemical reactions in this rock could have supported microbial life; other explanations are being considered. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS" class="wp-image-1985874"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>NASA’s Perseverance rover discovered leopard spots on a reddish rock nicknamed “Cheyava Falls” in Mars’ Jezero Crater in July 2024. Scientists think the spots may indicate that, billions of years ago, the chemical reactions in this rock could have supported microbial life; other explanations are being considered. Click image to enlarge. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS</em></figcaption></figure>



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



<p>If the vivianite and greigite formed through microbe-like metabolisms, then <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/perseverance-rover-begins-steep-climb-up-martian-crater-rim-jezero-crater/">Bright Angel</a> captures a period when surface waters supported the same chemical strategies some cells use for energy today. </p>



<p>That would extend Mars's habitability into a window when this part of Jezero was still wet.</p>



<p>If abiotic paths made the same pattern, the rock still records redox organization of iron, sulfur, and phosphorus in Martian mud. That is a window into how the planet cycles key elements without biology.</p>



<p>Either outcome matters for the bigger story. Mars did not just dry out, it changed its chemistry over time, and these samples let researchers track that change layer by layer.</p>



<p>The work also flags what to measure next. Isotopes, microtextures, and the exact structure of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/carbon-atoms-in-your-body-took-a-400000-light-year-journey-through-space/">carbon</a> in the core can separate metabolic signatures from chemical lookalikes.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-search-for-life-on-mars-moves-forward">Search for life on Mars moves forward</h2>



<p>The authors lay out lab experiments and field analogs on Earth to test whether nonbiological reactions can reproduce these textures and mineral pairings. </p>



<p>They also point to analyses that require the sample in a clean Earth lab, including isotope ratios that biology tends to skew.</p>



<p>Sample return planning will shape how fast those tests happen. Meanwhile, the rover can keep mapping where these features cluster and how they relate to other rock units nearby.</p>



<p>PIXL and SHERLOC have shown enough sensitivity to guide that search. The pairing of elemental maps and Raman detections gives a consistent picture that can be applied to other outcrops.</p>



<p>As new targets are logged, the CoLD framework will help communicate progress without getting ahead of the data. That is how a potential biosignature becomes a result people can trust.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://youtu.be/ieJKWW8sp2A
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>This animation depicts water disappearing over time in the Martian river valley Neretva Vallis, where NASA's Perseverance Mars takes the rock sample named “Sapphire Canyon” from a rock called “Cheyava Falls,” which was found in the “Bright Angel” formation. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech</em></figcaption></figure>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09413-0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Nature</em></a>.</p>



<p>-----</p>



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



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



<p>-----</p>

NASA announces "groundbreaking discovery" of life on Mars

A recent analysis of the Sapphire Canyon mudstone core, drilled...

<p>Most people think dry eyes are just part of getting older. A little itchiness, some blurry vision, maybe a burning sensation - not a big deal, right? So they buy some over-the-counter drops and carry on.</p>



<p>But new research says there’s a lot more going on here - and millions of people are living with a real medical condition that they never talk to a doctor about.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-surveys-reveal-hidden-epidemic">Surveys reveal hidden epidemic</h2>



<p>A major international survey has revealed just how common dry eye symptoms really are. More than half of over 7,000 adults surveyed across the U.S., U.K., France, Germany, Poland, and Saudi Arabia said they had experienced signs of dry eyes.</p>



<p>In the U.S. alone, a separate survey of 2,003 adults showed that 50 percent frequently felt their eyes were dry. Around 80 percent experienced related symptoms like watery eyes, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-is-making-allergy-season-worse-and-longer-lasting/">itchy eyes</a>, or fatigue. Yet just 17 percent had been diagnosed by an eye care provider.</p>



<p>The results came from the ongoing NESTS study - short for <em>Needs Unmet in Dry Eye: Symptoms, Treatment and Severity</em>. The study is being run by Bausch + Lomb and was presented at the <a href="https://www.escrs.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons</a>’ annual meeting in September 2025.</p>



<p>Dr. Piotr Wozniak, a refractive surgeon and dry eye specialist, presented the findings. “In the NESTS study, we found that 58 percent of the general population reported experiencing dry eye symptoms, yet only one in five had received a formal diagnosis from a healthcare provider,” he said.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-many-people-wait-years-to-get-help">Many people wait years to get help</h2>



<p>The researchers found that a lot of people wait a long time before seeking treatment. Around one-third had lived with symptoms for more than five years. Some waited four months or more before even speaking to a doctor. About 20 percent waited over a year.</p>



<p>There are a few reasons for this. Many see dry eyes as just part of life - something to put up with. Others don’t realize treatment options exist, or they assume their symptoms aren’t serious enough to mention.</p>



<p>But early treatment matters. “The delay in seeking treatment is concerning, especially since dry eye is a progressive <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/a-century-of-progress-in-the-fight-against-cardiovascular-disease/">disease</a>, and early intervention can prevent a vicious cycle of inflammation,” said Dr. Wozniak.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dry-eyes-seriously-affect-daily-life">Dry eyes seriously affect daily life</h2>



<p>This isn’t just about a little irritation. For many, dry eyes have a real impact on quality of life. In the international survey, around half of sufferers said they had symptoms every day. </p>



<p>One in three said their symptoms had gotten worse in the past year, while only 9 percent reported any improvement.</p>



<p>In real life, that meant 17 percent of people with dry eyes stopped driving at night. Another 15.2 percent reduced their use of heat or air conditioning, and 14.8 percent gave up wearing makeup altogether. </p>



<p>Many didn’t know what to do about it. Seventy percent said they lacked knowledge of treatment options. Forty percent didn’t know that dry eyes, left untreated, can lead to other eye problems or even <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-ai-could-protect-millions-of-people-from-vision-loss/">vision</a> loss.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-simple-care-often-missed">Simple care often missed</h2>



<p>Diagnosing dry eye usually starts with a conversation. Doctors ask about symptoms, check your eyes with a microscope, and may use dye or other tools to see how quickly your tears evaporate.</p>



<p>Treatments often start with something as simple as lubricating <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/laughter-may-help-dry-eyes-as-much-as-eye-drops/">eye drops</a>. But not all drops are the same, and people need the right kind for their condition. In the study, only 25 percent of patients felt their treatment matched their specific needs.</p>



<p>There were also national differences in follow-up care. In France, fewer than half of dry eye sufferers had any planned follow-up visits. In Saudi Arabia, most - 84 percent - were being regularly followed by a provider.</p>



<p>“Results from our studies reveal a substantial group of patients suffering without help,” said Dr. Wozniak. “Many see dry eye as a normal part of aging and something to endure. As a medical doctor, I find this particularly concerning because a simple eye drop could offer significant relief – but many people aren’t even asking for help.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-aging-increases-dry-eye">Aging increases dry eye</h2>



<p>Dry eyes become more common as we age, especially after 50. That’s because the glands that produce tears, especially the oily part that prevents them from drying up, don’t work as well over time.</p>



<p>Dry eyes can also mess with the results of eye surgeries, like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cataract-surgery-reduces-the-risk-of-dementia/">cataract</a> or laser procedures. That makes it even more important to diagnose and treat the condition before any surgery is done.</p>



<p>Other things can make dry eyes worse: cold or windy weather, air conditioning, central heating, smoking, autoimmune diseases, or hormone changes.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-awareness-better-care">More awareness, better care</h2>



<p>Dry eyes affect millions of people in ways most of us don’t notice until it starts impacting our lives.</p>



<p>“We need to educate patients and the public on the causes, consequences, and treatment options for dry eyes, as well as the importance of regular eye checks," said Dr. Wozniak. </p>



<p>Dr. Filomena Ribeiro, president of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons, also spoke about the study’s importance. </p>



<p>“It is concerning that such a small proportion of sufferers seek help for the condition, especially as it can make a real difference to the outcomes of ophthalmic surgery and also to their quality of life,” she said. “Eye and healthcare professionals need to discuss this with patients when they see them and encourage people to have regular eye care checks.”</p>



<p>Dry eye disease isn’t something to ignore. It’s common, it’s treatable, and it’s time more people started talking about it.</p>



<p>-----</p>



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



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



<p>-----</p>

Dry eyes affect millions, but most cases go undiagnosed

Most people think dry eyes are just part of getting...

<p>Rocks and water are not just scenery. They absorb carbon dioxide from the air, transport it through rivers, and set off reactions that later play out on the seafloor. They play a crucial role in the global carbon cycle.</p>



<p>A new study argues that these reactions form a single, connected system stretching from high ridges to deep marine basins. </p>



<p>The researchers concluded that we must treat land and ocean together if we want an accurate picture of how much carbon is stored or released.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-linked-systems-shape-carbon">Linked systems shape carbon</h2>



<p>Jeremy Caves Rugenstein, an associate professor of geosciences at <a href="https://www.colostate.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Colorado State University</a> (CSU), studies long-term climate and weathering feedbacks. His team links what rivers carry off the land to how marine sediments process that cargo.</p>



<p>“Here we propose that the Earth’s silicate weathering occurs along a continuum linking mountains to the deepest sedimentary environments and forward to reverse weathering,” said Gerrit Trapp-Müller, a geoscientist at <a href="https://www.uu.nl/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Utrecht University</a> (UU).</p>



<p>The experts show why downstream chemistry depends on where particles come from, how fast they were eroded, and the conditions they meet along the way.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-weathering-drives-carbon-chemistry">Weathering drives carbon chemistry</h2>



<p>Chemical silicate weathering transforms reactive rock <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/minerals-shaped-human-dna-in-surprising-ways/">minerals</a> into dissolved components that flow to the sea. These reactions consume atmospheric carbon dioxide as bicarbonate, which can later become carbonate minerals on the seafloor. This process has major implications for the global carbon cycle.</p>



<p>In marine muds, a different process - known as reverse weathering - forms new clays and releases carbon dioxide. These reactions alter the water’s alkalinity, which chemists use to track the acid–base balance that governs carbon chemistry.</p>



<p>The formation of marine clay minerals, also called reverse silicate weathering, plays a central role in controlling seawater pH.</p>



<p>The new study shows that these forward and reverse reactions are not independent. River particles inherit a history and continue reacting in floodplains, shelves, and deep basins. The balance can flip depending on the mineral mix and the local environment.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-small-swings-big-impacts">Small swings, big impacts</h2>



<p>On land, a 2021 global analysis estimated atmospheric <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ocean-based-carbon-dioxide-removal-may-not-be-effective/">carbon dioxide</a> consumption by continental silicate weathering at 0.133 to 0.169 gigatons per year. That is not insignificant, and it operates continuously over time.</p>



<p>However, other studies suggest these fluxes may be overestimated by roughly 12 to 28 percent at the global scale. This caution matters because even small percentage changes translate into long-term climate differences.</p>



<p>The continuum study also highlights a recurring control. When weathering rates on land are high relative to erosion, many river particles have already lost most of their reactive cations. This shift nudges marine sediments toward reverse reactions.</p>



<p>Observed modern ratios of weathering to erosion cluster between 0.03 and 0.09, and changes within that range can shift the balance on the ocean side.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-ocean-s-role-in-weathering">The ocean’s role in weathering</h2>



<p>“Authigenic clay formation can proceed even faster, within weeks to months,” wrote Sonja Geilert, <a href="https://www.geomar.de/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">GEOMAR</a> researcher and lead author of a 2023 study. That was observed after extreme rainfall delivered fresh reactive minerals from land to Peru’s shelf.</p>



<p>Marine <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ancient-sediments-predict-future-stressors-for-cold-water-corals/">sediments</a> occupy the intersection of biological activity, mineral inputs, and water chemistry. In shelf muds rich in iron and aluminum, reverse weathering can accelerate and reduce alkalinity. In areas supplied with fresh volcanic ash or mafic minerals, forward weathering can dominate and increase alkalinity.</p>



<p>Rates also depend on transport. When waves and currents churn the seabed, or when organisms pump water through burrows, reactions accelerate.</p>



<p>When sedimentation is steady and deep, the balance can flip with depth as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-weather-satellite-delivers-early-data-just-weeks-after-launch/">conditions</a> shift from oxygen-poor to sulfur-rich to methane-rich layers.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-land-gains-ocean-losses">Land gains, ocean losses</h2>



<p>Enhanced weathering on farm soils has attracted attention as a carbon removal strategy. With national-scale modeling, this approach could have sizable potential. The promise is real, and co-benefits for soils add to its appeal.</p>



<p>The new continuum view adds a necessary caveat: much of the material weathered on land may eventually feed reverse reactions at sea.</p>



<p>This means that some carbon-cycle gains on land could be reduced or delayed downstream. Verifying net removal requires tracking not only what dissolves in fields but also what happens to the products once rivers carry them to coasts.</p>



<p>The details depend on rock type, particle size, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rainfall-is-increasingly-unpredictable-due-to-climate-change/">rainfall</a>, and transport pathways. Basalt-rich amendments can drive land reactions toward greater alkalinity release.</p>



<p>However, coastal settings rich in aluminum and iron can still push marine balances toward reverse weathering. Careful monitoring must follow the chain from source to sink.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-directions-for-climate-models">New directions for climate models</h2>



<p>The continuum concept encourages <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-models-underestimate-sea-ice-melt-and-global-warming/">climate models</a> to couple land, shelf, and deep-ocean weathering more tightly. This includes representing the observed short timescales for clay formation in dynamic margins and capturing how biology and hydrodynamics alter surface area and transport.</p>



<p>Better constraints will come from isotope tracers, mineral fingerprints, and direct measurements of alkalinity changes in sediments. The goal is not only to tally global fluxes but also to identify when and where the balance flips - and why.</p>



<p>Weathering also shares the stage with other carbon-cycle players. Oxidation of ancient organic carbon on land can add carbon dioxide, while burial of reduced sulfur in anoxic muds can help preserve alkalinity. Untangling these threads across shared landscapes and seascapes remains a challenge.</p>



<p>Policymakers and engineers should anticipate regional variation. Strategies that succeed in one basin may require a different approach in another. Verification rules must reflect that spatial complexity without losing sight of measurable carbon outcomes.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41561-025-01743-y" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Nature Geoscience</em></a>.</p>



<p>-----</p>



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



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



<p>-----</p>

From rocks to ocean mud, weathering shapes the carbon cycle

Rocks and water are not just scenery. They absorb carbon...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHHxOej4QfE
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Researchers found a correlation between Alzheimer's disease and traffic pollution.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-invisible-threat-in-urban-air"><strong>Invisible threat in urban air</strong></h2>



<p>City dwellers face an unseen danger with every breath. New findings from Emory University researchers suggest that fine particulate matter from <a href="http://earth.com/news/traffic-related-air-pollution-might-increase-alzheimers-risk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">vehicle emissions may significantly elevate the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease</a>. The study examined brain tissue samples from 224 individuals who had confirmed diagnoses and volunteered their brains for scientific research.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-disturbing-connections-emerge"><strong>Disturbing connections emerge</strong></h2>



<p>Scientists analyzed neuritic plaques — protein clusters that characterize Alzheimer's — while mapping each participant's exposure to PM2.5 particles based on residential location and surrounding traffic density. The correlation proved more alarming than anticipated. Individuals experiencing higher pollution exposure showed nearly double the likelihood of elevated plaque accumulation in brain tissue.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-timing-matters"><strong>Timing matters</strong></h2>



<p>The research team discovered that pollution exposure during the final year before death demonstrated the strongest association with brain changes. This timeline suggests relatively rapid impacts from environmental toxins on neural health. The connection remained robust even after accounting for various demographic and health factors.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-genetic-vulnerability-patterns"><strong>Genetic vulnerability patterns</strong></h2>



<p>Perhaps most concerning, people lacking the APOE gene—which naturally predisposes individuals to Alzheimer's — exhibited more than twice the susceptibility to pollution-related brain damage. Study author Dr. Anke Huels noted this indicates environmental elements like air contamination could trigger the disease in cases where hereditary factors don't explain.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-public-health-implications"><strong>Public health implications</strong></h2>



<p>These findings, published in <em><a href="https://www.neurology.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Neurology</a></em>, underscore the critical importance of air quality regulations in urban planning. The research suggests that implementing stricter emission controls and promoting alternative transportation could serve as powerful tools in Alzheimer's prevention.</p>



<p>As cities worldwide grapple with growing traffic congestion and aging populations, this study highlights an urgent need for comprehensive approaches to environmental health that protect both our lungs and our minds.</p>



<p>—–</p>



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



<p>—–</p>



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



<p>—–</p>

Traffic fumes may trigger Alzheimer's

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHHxOej4QfE Researchers found a correlation between Alzheimer's disease and traffic...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2E0mn5mTvhQ
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">'Death Star' moon Mimas conceals a 15-million-year-old ocean that scientists never expected.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hidden-waters-beneath-ancient-craters">Hidden waters beneath ancient craters</h2>



<p>Scientists have made a startling discovery that challenges everything we thought we knew about <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/saturn-moon-mimas-has-remarkably-young-ocean/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Saturn's moon Mimas</a>. Beneath the heavily cratered surface that earned it the nickname "Death Star" lies a global ocean that formed just 5 to 15 million years ago—a remarkably young age by cosmic standards.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cassini-data-reveals-orbital-secrets">Cassini data reveals orbital secrets</h2>



<p>The discovery, led by Dr. Valéry Lainey of the <a href="https://observatoiredeparis.psl.eu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Observatoire de Paris</a>, emerged from careful analysis of <a href="https://www.nasa.gov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA</a>'s Cassini spacecraft data. By studying subtle irregularities in Mimas's orbit around Saturn, researchers detected the gravitational signature of liquid water hidden 20 to 30 kilometers beneath the moon's icy shell.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-an-unlikely-ocean-world">An unlikely ocean world</h2>



<p>At only 400 kilometers in diameter, Mimas seemed like the least likely candidate to harbor a subsurface ocean. Unlike other ocean moons such as Europa and Enceladus, which show clear surface signs of internal activity, Mimas displays no obvious hints of the liquid water beneath its ancient, crater-scarred exterior.</p>



<p>"Mimas is a small moon, and its heavily cratered surface gave no hint of the hidden ocean beneath," explained Dr. Nick Cooper from <a href="https://www.qmul.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Queen Mary University of London</a>, a study co-author.</p>



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



<p>The ocean's recent formation makes Mimas a prime target for studying how oceans develop and potentially support life. This discovery adds another member to the exclusive club of ocean worlds in our solar system, each offering unique insights into the conditions necessary for habitability.</p>



<p>The research, published in <em><a href="https://www.nature.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a></em> journal, demonstrates how advanced orbital analysis can reveal hidden features of celestial bodies, opening new possibilities for understanding ocean formation throughout the cosmos.</p>



<p>—–</p>



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



<p>—–</p>



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



<p>—–</p>

Scientists discover unexpected young ocean on Saturn's cratered moon Mimas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2E0mn5mTvhQ 'Death Star' moon Mimas conceals a 15-million-year-old ocean that...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0DuSr87SHY
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">57 million-year ice age mystery solved by Australian scientists.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-when-earth-became-a-frozen-wasteland">When Earth became a frozen wasteland</h2>



<p>Imagine Earth as a giant snowball, frozen solid from the North Pole to the equator. This wasn't the plot of a science fiction movie – it was our planet's reality 700 million years ago during an extreme ice age that has puzzled scientists for decades.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-discovery">The discovery</h2>



<p>Australian researchers from the <a href="https://www.sydney.edu.au/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Sydney</a> have finally cracked one of geology's greatest mysteries: what caused the Sturtian glaciation and why it persisted for an unprecedented 57 million years. This period occurred long before dinosaurs roamed the Earth, when no complex plants or multicellular animals existed.</p>



<p>Dr. Adriana Dutkiewicz, the study's lead author, describes a world completely unlike today's climate. "Imagine the Earth almost completely frozen over," she explained. "The planet was blanketed in ice from poles to equator, and temperatures plunged."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-combination-of-climate-factors">The combination of climate factors</h2>



<p>The research team discovered that this massive freeze resulted from a "double whammy" of geological events. First, plate tectonic activity reduced volcanic carbon dioxide emissions to historically low levels. Volcanic activity typically releases CO2 into the atmosphere, creating a greenhouse effect that keeps Earth warm.</p>



<p>Simultaneously, weathering of volcanic rocks in what is now Canada actively absorbed atmospheric CO2, further reducing greenhouse gas concentrations. When atmospheric carbon dioxide levels dropped below 200 parts per million – less than half of today's levels – glaciation engulfed the entire planet.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-modern-climate-implications">Modern climate implications</h2>



<p>Published in the journal <em><a href="https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/geology" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Geology</a></em>, this research provides crucial insights into Earth's climate system. While geological climate changes occur over millions of years, the study emphasizes that human-induced climate change is happening at a pace ten times faster than previously observed natural changes, highlighting the urgent need to understand our planet's delicate climate balance.</p>



<p>—–</p>



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



<p>—–</p>



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



<p>—–</p>

What caused the planet's longest ice age

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0DuSr87SHY 57 million-year ice age mystery solved by Australian scientists....

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXXGGiynIjs
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Greenland is not sinking. In fact, it is the opposite.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-contrasting-climate-response">A contrasting climate response</h2>



<p>Most coastal towns are <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sinking-land-will-intensify-the-effects-of-rising-sea-levels/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">preparing for higher sea levels</a>, but <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/greenland-no-longer-has-to-worry-about-rising-sea-levels/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Greenland presents</a> a different scenario during climate change. The ground there is rising at a remarkable rate. Over the past decade, some areas have lifted about 20 centimeters, which translates to roughly 2 meters per century. This rate significantly exceeds current projections for sea level rise.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-geological-rebound-process-through-climate-change">Geological rebound process through climate change</h2>



<p>The mechanism behind this phenomenon is straightforward. As the ice sheet melts, the immense weight is removed from the bedrock, causing the land to rebound upward. This process resembles the way compressed material springs back when pressure is released.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scientific-monitoring-networks">Scientific monitoring networks</h2>



<p>Researchers at the <a href="https://www.dtu.dk/english/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Technical University of Denmark</a> are documenting this uplift using the GNET network, consisting of 61 GPS stations positioned around Greenland's coast. These sensors can detect movement with millimeter precision, providing detailed measurements of the ongoing changes.</p>



<p>The data reveal that current uplift rates exceed the gradual rebound occurring since the last ice age ended approximately 12,000 years ago. This acceleration corresponds directly with increased ice sheet melting rates.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-coastal-transformation">Coastal Transformation</h2>



<p>This uplift is actively reshaping Greenland's coastline. New islands and rocky formations, called "skerries," are emerging as previously submerged land surfaces rise above the water level. This represents a notable contrast to global concerns about rising seas.</p>



<p>The study, published in Geophysical Research Letters, demonstrates the varied regional impacts of climate change. While many locations face rising water levels, Greenland's bedrock is literally rising above the surrounding seas.</p>



<p>The full study was recently published in <em><a href="https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1029/2023GL104851" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Geophysical Research Letters</a></em>.</p>



<p>—–</p>



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



<p>—–</p>



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



<p>—–</p>

Greenland's ground rises while coasts worldwide face higher seas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXXGGiynIjs Greenland is not sinking. In fact, it is the...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSM3EVeGHJU
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Companies like MindStudio help companies train their employees to implement the latest AI Agent building platform.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ai-agent-training-transforms-the-workplace-fear-factor-into-a-competitive-advantage">AI agent training transforms the workplace 'fear factor' into a competitive advantage</h2>



<p>Organizations that offer comprehensive artificial intelligence training to their workers find remarkable value that extends well beyond basic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mind-wandering-might-be-more-productive-than-you-think/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">productivity improvements</a>. Emerging research demonstrates that carefully crafted AI training programs <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ai-does-not-replace-human-creativity-but-enhances-it/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">enhance</a> corporate performance, lower operational costs, and dramatically improve employee psychological well-being by turning workplace uncertainty into professional empowerment.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-addressing-the-widespread-ai-anxiety-crisis-among-us">Addressing the widespread 'AI anxiety' crisis among us</h2>



<p>A staggering 53% of employees expressed concern that the use of AI tools to automate work tasks could make them appear disposable to their employers, according to <a href="https://www.microsoft.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Microsoft</a>'s 2024 workplace survey. Such pervasive worry about being substituted by machines has caused what researchers have termed "AI technostress" – a psychological state that can result in occupational burnout and poorer mental well-being.</p>



<p>Data published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/palcomms/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Humanities and Social Sciences Communications</a> showed that belief in AI learning ability was a moderator in the link between technology adoption and work pressure, and higher confidence significantly lowered negative psychological responses. Workers provided ample training to become competent with AI software have significantly lower stress.</p>



<p>Companies like <a href="https://www.mindstudio.ai/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MindStudio</a> have platforms for building what are known as "AI Agents".  In essence, AI Agents are simply tools that employees can build for themselves or their teams quickly and inexpensively.   MindStudio will even train entire companies, from the CEO on down, at no cost. By letting MindStudio empower employees, companies avoid hiring more IT staff, buying more software, and implementing solutions to problems that do not exist.</p>



<p>MindStudio even has partners locally for companies, like <a href="http://www.dominnus.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dominnus</a> with offices in the Carolinas, California, and Denver, to help build AI Agents and support employees as they become resident AI experts for their organization.  The training provided by MindStudio is applicable across other AI Agent building platforms as well.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-revolutionary-productivity-through-focused-learning">Revolutionary productivity through focused learning</h2>



<p>Organizations that implement large-scale AI training programs achieve dramatic outcomes. Employees performed tasks significantly better when they utilized AI support compared to when they didn't, according to <a href="https://www.nngroup.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nielsen Norman Group</a> research findings. Their study documented productivity increases of 66% for a variety of professional tasks.</p>



<p>Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis research finds workers record 33% higher productivity in time working with generative AI tools. The benefit is equivalent to 5.4% of work time savings for AI users – around 2.2 hours per week for full-time workers.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-psychological-well-being-benefits-through-ai-competence">Psychological well-being benefits through AI competence</h2>



<p>The emotional transformation when employees are provided with proper technology training is a fundamental transformation from fear to professional confidence. A survey of 600 employees across industries, carried out by ScienceDirect, proved that AI capabilities strengthen work environment commitment and improve job satisfaction.</p>



<p>A <a href="https://www.lut.fi/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LUT University</a> study discovered that AI adoption has no direct effect on workers' well-being but does so indirectly through working conditions like task optimization and safety protocols. Strategically deployed AI that involves correct training can actually increase workplace mental well-being.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-from-replacement-anxiety-to-partnership-confidence">From 'replacement anxiety' to 'partnership confidence'</h2>



<p>Although 35% of those interviewed in recent McKinsey studies were concerned about workforce displacement, firms with large-scale training initiatives witness such fears dissipate quickly. The World Economic Forum found that two out of three respondents believe AI competencies will enhance their career prospects and job marketability.</p>



<p>This shift from fear to trust has measurable implications for job satisfaction. Applied Sciences research indicates AI can create tailored wellness programs based on individual employee requirements.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-financial-benefits-of-increased-retention">Financial benefits of increased retention</h2>



<p>The mental health advantages of AI learning have a direct impact on organizational bottom lines in the form of a positive feedback cycle with high retention of employees. Recent ROI research validates that artificial intelligence learning has a beneficial impact on employee turnover and satisfaction levels.</p>



<p>PriceWaterhouseCoopers' research documents 20% to 30% improvements in productivity, market speed, and revenue in organizations that attempt systematic AI adoption through comprehensive training.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-environmental-advantages-of-ai-enabled-teams">Environmental advantages of AI-enabled teams</h2>



<p>AI training has unforeseen environmental benefits as it makes the work environment more efficient. According to a study in Scientific Reports, the carbon footprint in writing and illustrating work is significantly lower when AI performs it compared to humans. AI software produces 130 to 1,500 times less CO2 equivalent per page of text created than human authors.</p>



<p>In addition, AI-driven remote work functionality significantly reduces environmental impact. Research by Cornell University and Microsoft indicates that remote workers reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 54% by not commuting daily to offices. Hybrid workers working remotely two to four days a week can reduce their carbon footprint by 11% to 29%.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cumulative-organizational-advantages">Cumulative organizational advantages</h2>



<p>The compounding gains of better mental well-being, reduced turnover, increased productivity, and environmental benefits flow to enterprises from the pairing. McKinsey analysis estimates the long-term AI potential at $4.4 trillion in incremental productivity growth opportunity from business use cases.</p>



<p>As of now, 75% of knowledge workers globally utilize generative AI, mirroring widespread adoption patterns. Organizations that provide organized training and assistance see the most favorable results in productivity, worker satisfaction, and ecological sustainability.</p>



<p>The research overwhelmingly indicates that companies that invest in proper AI education, like that offered through <a href="https://www.mindstudio.ai" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MindStudio</a>, establish win-win scenarios where employees are both more empowered and less stressed, and companies enjoy the gains of increased productivity, reduced turnover, and improved mental health outcomes throughout their workforce.</p>



<p>For more on MindStudio's free AI training for companies, visit the website's of MindStudio and Dominnus from the links below.</p>



<p>The research was published across a variety of peer-reviewed journals, including <a href="https://www.nature.com/palcomms/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Humanities and Social Sciences Communications</a>, <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/artificial-intelligence" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence</a>, and <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/journal/applsci">Applied Sciences</a>.</p>



<p id="block-9bd989d6-2fd3-4580-957f-6cacce134f08">-----</p>



<p id="block-eff5dea3-a9bb-40b5-a923-e5a9978bc0e2">Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



<p id="block-43e218f4-0391-477c-8396-eb777c8c80a3">Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.earth.com/author/eralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.</p>



<p id="block-1f9a227a-ec37-4140-81b8-ffa4a7cc6689">-----</p>



<p>MindStudio.AI: <a href="https://www.mindstudio.ai" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.mindstudio.ai</a></p>



<p>Dominnus: <a href="https://www.dominnus.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.dominnus.com</a></p>

AI agent training boosts mental health and profits

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSM3EVeGHJU Companies like MindStudio help companies train their employees to...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HDXqTGEmi4
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Scientists give plants superpowers against bacterial disease</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-natural-solution-to-disease-through-crop-modification">A natural solution to disease through crop modification.</h2>



<p>The agricultural industry stands at a crossroads between productivity and environmental responsibility, and crop modification often carries a negative connotation. While chemical pesticides have long been the go-to solution for crop protection, their harmful effects on ecosystems and human health have prompted scientists to seek alternatives. The recent breakthrough by <a href="https://www.southampton.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Southampton</a> researchers offers a promising path forward through the precise manipulation of plant-associated microbial communities.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-science-behind-microbial-partnerships">The science behind microbial partnerships</h2>



<p>Plants naturally harbor diverse ecosystems of bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms that function as biological allies. These microscopic partners contribute to disease resistance, nutrient absorption, and stress tolerance. However, until now, scientists lacked the tools to deliberately reshape these communities to enhance crop protection.</p>



<p>The Southampton team's approach centered on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/engineered-plant-microbiomes-the-future-of-crop-protection/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">modifying lignin biosynthesis genes in rice plants</a>. This strategic intervention altered the plant's metabolic output, creating conditions that favored beneficial bacterial populations while suppressing harmful ones. The result was a living defense system embedded within the plant itself.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-for-global-food-security">Implications for global food security</h2>



<p>The successful demonstration against Xanthomonas oryzae, the pathogen responsible for bacterial blight in rice, represents more than a laboratory achievement. Rice feeds nearly half the world's population, and bacterial blight causes devastating crop losses annually. Traditional control methods rely heavily on pesticides that contaminate soil and water systems.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-looking-beyond-disease-resistance">Looking Beyond Disease Resistance</h2>



<p>While disease protection represents the immediate application, the research framework opens doors to broader agricultural improvements. Future developments could engineer microbiomes to enhance nutrient uptake, reducing dependence on synthetic fertilizers. This dual benefit addresses both crop productivity and environmental sustainability.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-path-forward">The path forward</h2>



<p>As this technology advances from laboratory to field applications, it promises to reshape sustainable agriculture. The ability to program plants with their own biological defense systems could herald a new era where crops protect themselves naturally, reducing chemical inputs while maintaining yields necessary for global food security.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal&nbsp;<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-44335-3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Nature Communications</em></a>.</p>



<p>-----</p>



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



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



<p>-----</p>

Revolutionizing agriculture through microbiome engineering

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HDXqTGEmi4 Scientists give plants superpowers against bacterial disease A natural...

headline # 2

News coming your way