<p>Today's Image of the Day from the James Webb Space Telescope features the planetary nebula NGC 6072, located about 3,200 light-years away in the constellation Scorpius.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The nebula was formed from the outer layers of a dying star and shaped by complex interactions that likely involved a hidden companion star.</p>



<p>When stars like our <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/widest-high-resolution-photo-of-the-sun-ever-captured-solar-orbiter/">Sun</a> reach the end of their lives, they don’t go quietly. They erupt - slowly, over thousands of years - shedding their outer layers into space and creating glowing shells of gas and dust called planetary nebulae.&nbsp;</p>



<p>These dramatic displays are not only visually striking but also packed with information about how stars live and die. Thanks to NASA’s <a href="https://webbtelescope.org/contents/news-releases/2025/news-2025-124.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">James Webb Space Telescope</a>, astronomers are now getting a much closer look at stellar life cycles in remarkable detail.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-not-your-typical-nebula">Not your typical nebula</h2>



<p>NGC 6072 doesn’t look like the neat, symmetrical nebula that many might imagine. Instead, Webb’s image shows what looks like a cosmic splatter painting: a tangled web of gas, dust, and glowing rings shooting out in different directions.</p>



<p>While some planetary nebulae are spherical or have two clear lobes - what astronomers call "bipolar" shapes - this one breaks the mold. Webb’s Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) reveals that NGC 6072 is “multi-polar,” with at least three separate lobes extending in different directions.&nbsp;</p>



<p>One pair stretches from roughly 11 o’clock to 5 o’clock, another from 1 to 7, and possibly a third from 12 to 6. It’s like watching a fountain spew in several directions all at once.</p>



<p>These lobes likely didn’t form by chance. Instead, astronomers think they’re being sculpted by the powerful influence of a second star orbiting the one that’s dying.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-partner-in-the-chaos">A partner in the chaos</h2>



<p>The idea of a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/red-supergiant-star-betelgeuse-has-a-companion-finally-found-after-100-years/">companion star</a> adds a layer of complexity to the story. The star at the center of NGC 6072 is nearing the final stages of its life and shedding its outer layers - a common fate for low- to intermediate-mass stars like the Sun. But when there’s a second star nearby, things can get messy.</p>



<p>Astronomers believe that this companion is interacting with the main star’s ejecta, shaping the outflows and possibly compressing material into a disk that appears perpendicular to the lobes. Webb’s high-resolution data suggests this dynamic duo is responsible for NGC 6072’s odd shape.</p>



<p>The central area has a light blue glow in near-infrared light, showing the hot core that remains. Dark orange wisps of gas and dust curve around it, interrupted by deep blue openings.&nbsp;</p>



<p>These shapes may have been carved out by fast stellar winds blowing through the earlier, slower-moving halo of gas the star expelled long ago.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mysterious-rings-of-ngc-6072">Mysterious rings of NGC 6072</h2>



<p>In the mid-infrared view from Webb’s <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/mission/webb/mid-infrared-instrument-miri/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MIRI instrument</a>, the picture becomes even more intriguing. One tiny pinkish-white dot, likely the main star, sits at the center, surrounded by a faint bullseye of concentric rings. These rings hint at a story that spans thousands of years.</p>



<p>One explanation is that the orbiting companion star may have carved out these rings as it passed through the outer layers of the primary star’s expanding envelope, leaving behind a pattern much like ripples in a pond.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Another possibility is that the main star itself may have gone through pulsations, shedding material in evenly spaced intervals, each separated by millennia.</p>



<p>The red areas in the near-infrared and blue areas in the mid-infrared both highlight cold molecular gas - most likely molecular hydrogen.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Closer to the center, astronomers see hot, ionized gas glowing brightly. This layered combination of temperatures and gases offers insight into how the star has evolved over time and what forces are at work.</p>



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



<p>Eventually, the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/six-rogue-worlds-discovered-inside-a-young-star-forming-nebula/">nebula</a> will fade. The hot central core will cool and shrink into a white dwarf, and the glowing gas will disperse into the interstellar medium. But it doesn’t just vanish. That material - now enriched with heavier elements forged inside the star - will go on to seed future <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/hubble-captures-a-stunning-stellar-nursery/">stars</a>, planets, and maybe even life.</p>



<p>This is part of a larger cosmic cycle, and NGC 6072 is helping scientists understand it better. The fact that it doesn’t follow a simple, symmetrical pattern is actually a big deal.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The more astronomers study these oddly shaped nebulae, the more they can learn about the role of companion stars, stellar winds, and other forces in shaping the final acts of stellar life.</p>



<p>Astronomers studying NGC 6072 with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/thousands-of-galaxies-revealed-in-a-single-webb-image/">Webb</a> want to learn more about the full life cycle of stars and how they impact their surrounding environments. That includes understanding how stars lose up to 80 percent of their mass in these final stages and how that material gets recycled into the universe.</p>



<p>Image Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI</p>



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What we can learn from dying stars and their stunning light shows

Today's Image of the Day from the James Webb Space Telescope features the planetary nebula NGC 6072, located about 3,200 light-years away in the constellation Scorpius.&nbsp; The nebula was formed from the outer layers of a dying star and shaped by complex interactions that likely involved a hidden companion star. When stars like our Sun reach the end of their lives, they don’t go quietly. They erupt - slowly, over thousands of years - shedding their outer layers into space and creating glowing...

<p>Today's <strong>Image of the Day</strong> from the European Space Agency features the barred spiral galaxy NGC 1559, located around 35 million light-years away in the southern constellation Reticulum. The image was captured by the James Webb Space Telescope.&nbsp;</p>



<p>"The data featured in this portrait make use of two of Webb’s instruments: the Mid-InfraRed Instrument (MIRI) and Near-InfraRed Camera (NIRCam)," noted <a href="https://www.esa.int/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ESA</a>.</p>



<p>"Here MIRI captures the glow of interstellar dust grains, which trace out the interstellar medium, the fuel for future star formation. NIRCam shows the light from stars, even young stars hidden behind prodigious amounts of dust. NIRCam also captures emission from ionized nebulae around young stars."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-webb-reveals-galaxies-in-new-light">Webb reveals galaxies in new light</h2>



<p>The data was collected by the <a href="https://sites.google.com/view/phangs/home" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PHANGS team</a> as part of a program in which Webb will observe 55 <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/james-webb-captures-galaxies-that-are-too-old-to-exist/">galaxies</a> that have also been mapped by the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) radio telescope and the Hubble Space Telescope. </p>



<p>ESA said that by combining Webb’s unprecedented view of the dust and stars with data from these other facilities, the team aims to obtain a new, highly detailed view of how stars are born, live, and die in galaxies across the Universe.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ngc-1559-a-loner-in-space">NGC 1559: A loner in space</h2>



<p>Although NGC 1559 appears to sit close to one of our nearest neighbors in the sky - the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) - this is just a trick of perspective, noted ESA.</p>



<p>While it is part of the Reticulum constellation, NGC 1559 is not part of the Local Group of galaxies but instead resides in a more distant region of space.</p>



<p>"In reality, NGC 1559 is physically nowhere near the LMC in space; in fact it truly is a loner, lacking the company of any nearby galaxies or membership of any galaxy cluster," said ESA.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-star-formation-in-ngc-1559">Star formation in NGC 1559</h2>



<p>NGC 1559 is notable for its active star formation and strong magnetic fields. It has also been the site of several <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/supernova-explosions-could-damage-distant-planets/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">supernovae</a>, making it of particular interest to astronomers who study the life cycle of stars.</p>



<p>The structure of NGC 1559 includes well-defined spiral arms that contain young, hot stars and regions of ionized gas, indicative of ongoing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/black-hole-is-starving-its-host-galaxy-of-star-forming-fuel/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">star formation</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-an-extragalactic-wonder">An extragalactic wonder</h2>



<p>Despite being relatively small compared to larger galaxies like the Milky Way, NGC 1559 is an important object for understanding how barred spiral galaxies evolve and the processes that trigger supernovae.</p>



<p>The galaxy’s remote location and active nature make it a fascinating subject of study in the field of extragalactic astronomy. </p>



<p>The isolation of NGC 1559 allows for a clearer view of its structure without much interference from neighboring galaxies.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-barred-spiral-galaxies">Barred spiral galaxies</h2>



<p>Barred spiral galaxies are a type of spiral galaxy characterized by a central bar-shaped structure composed of stars. This bar extends out from the core and connects to the galaxy's spiral arms, which swirl outward in a graceful pattern.</p>



<p>Scientists believe that the bar plays a crucial role in the evolution of the galaxy, funneling gas towards the core and potentially triggering star formation or feeding a central black hole. </p>



<p>The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/newly-discovered-stars-milky-way-are-old-as-universe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Milky Way</a>, our own galaxy, is an example of a barred spiral. These galaxies are quite common in the universe, making up about two-thirds of all observed spiral galaxies.</p>



<p>The bar itself is thought to be a temporary feature, developing as the galaxy matures and possibly disappearing over time as the dynamics of the stars change. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-reticulum-constellation">The Reticulum constellation</h2>



<p>Reticulum is a small, faint constellation in the southern sky. Its name means "the reticle" in Latin, which refers to the crosshairs in an eyepiece of a telescope.</p>



<p>The constellation was named in the 18th century by the French astronomer Nicolas Louis de Lacaille to honor the reticle he used in his scientific instruments. It is one of the 88 modern constellations recognized by the International Astronomical Union.</p>



<p>Image Credit: ESA/Webb, NASA &amp; CSA, A. Leroy, J. Lee and the PHANGS Team</p>



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Spiral galaxy glows with young stars and interstellar dust

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

<p>Today's Image of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA Earth Observatory</a> features the Aral Sea, captured by an astronaut aboard the International Space Station while orbiting over Kazakhstan.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Although it is referred to as a sea, the Aral Sea is technically an endorheic lake that straddles the border between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, receiving water from the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-severe-desertification-nbsp-of-the-aral-sea">Severe desertification&nbsp;of the Aral Sea</h2>



<p>Over the last six decades, extensive diversion of these rivers for agricultural <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/satellites-can-now-show-us-how-much-water-we-use-for-irrigation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">irrigation</a> has dramatically reduced the lake's surface area, which once might have covered most of this image.</p>



<p>Formerly the fourth largest lake in the world by surface area, the Aral Sea has shrunk to about 10% of its original size since the 1960s.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-aralkum-desert">The Aralkum Desert</h2>



<p>The southeast region of the lake has undergone severe <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/oases-grow-by-human-effort-but-face-threats-from-desertification/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">desertification</a>, giving rise to the Aralkum Desert - one of the world's newest deserts, covering 62,000 square kilometers (24,000 square miles).&nbsp;</p>



<p>The image shows sand dunes in the bottom-center, formed by winds sweeping across the barren landscape. The shrinking of the Aral Sea has also led to frequent sand and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sand-and-dust-storms-have-become-unpredictable-and-dangerous/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dust storms</a>, worsening local air quality.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-barsa-kelmes-nature-reserve">The Barsa-Kelmes Nature Reserve</h2>



<p>In the local Turkic language, "aral" means "island," reflecting the lake's history of containing over 1,100 islands. One such island hosts the Barsa-Kelmes Nature Reserve, located between what remains of the North and South Aral Seas.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The reserve is home to hundreds of plant and animal species. Efforts to revive the local ecosystem and curb further aridification are underway, including a project supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development which involves planting black saxaul shrubs (Haloxylon aphyllum).&nbsp;</p>



<p>These shrubs help stabilize the soil and reduce dust storm impacts, aiding in the recovery of native flora and fauna.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-destruction-of-the-aral-sea">Destruction of the Aral Sea</h2>



<p>The Aral Sea was once known for its vibrant fishing industry, which was a cornerstone of the local economy - particularly in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan - for centuries.&nbsp;</p>



<p>In the 1950s, the sea supported a thriving fishery, with annual catches of around 40,000 to 50,000 tons of fish. Several species of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/one-quarter-of-freshwater-fish-species-face-extinction/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fish</a> thrived in its waters, including carp, roach, bream, and the Aral barbel.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-collapse-of-the-fishing-industry-nbsp">Collapse of the fishing industry&nbsp;</h3>



<p>However, the industry began to collapse in the 1960s when the Soviet government initiated massive irrigation projects that diverted the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers away from the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/alarming-study-most-of-the-worlds-largest-lakes-are-quickly-losing-water/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">lake</a> to irrigate cotton fields.&nbsp;</p>



<p>As water levels dropped, salinity increased, making the environment uninhabitable for most fish species. </p>



<p>By the 1980s, commercial fishing became untenable; the industry virtually disappeared, resulting in economic and social hardship for the communities that depended on it.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ecological-disaster">Ecological disaster</h3>



<p>The shrinkage of the Aral Sea is one of the most severe anthropogenic ecological disasters of the 20th century. The loss of the fishing industry was just one of many devastating consequences.</p>



<p>The region experienced a sharp decline in biodiversity, with many native fish species becoming extinct, severely affecting the local fishing industry. The exposed sea bed also created health problems for local populations as winds spread toxic dust and salt from the dry seabed.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ongoing-efforts-to-restore-the-aral-sea">Ongoing efforts to restore the Aral Sea</h3>



<p>Today, the area struggles with these legacies, even as there are ongoing efforts to revive some parts of the sea and mitigate the environmental damage.</p>



<p>Efforts have been made to partially restore the Northern Aral Sea, which has seen some improvement in water levels and fish populations due to the construction of a dam.&nbsp;</p>



<p>However, the larger Southern Aral Sea remains largely desiccated and the overall environmental restoration of the area is a complex and ongoing challenge.</p>



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



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The shrinking Aral Sea: An environmental disaster

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

<p>Today's <strong>Image of the Day</strong> from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA Earth Observatory</a> features a large fire burning in the Abyysky District, located in the Sakha region of northeastern <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wildfires-in-siberia-are-a-growing-global-threat/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Siberia</a>. The image was captured on July 10, 2024 by the OLI (Operational Land Imager) on Landsat 8.</p>



<p>“The fire burned along the Khatyngnakh River in a remote area south of National Park Kytalyk, a UNESCO world heritage site,” said NASA.</p>



<p>“Burned areas appear brown. Darker green areas are forested and likely include dwarf larch and birch. Tundra grasses, mosses, and lichen are dominant in the lighter green areas.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dozens-of-fires-in-siberia-nbsp">Dozens of fires in Siberia&nbsp;</h2>



<p>In a separate satellite image captured on July 15, several large <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/discovery-massive-amounts-of-methane-gas-spews-from-wildfires/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fires</a> were visible burning in the same region.</p>



<p>By July 18, there were 69 fires burning across 276,983 hectares in Sakha, according to Russia’s Federal Forestry Agency.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“More than 2,000 people were in the region, including hundreds of paratroopers providing firefighting assistance. Sakha is one of nine areas in Russia that have declared a state of emergency due to fires,” said NASA.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fires-cut-off-communities-in-sakha">Fires cut off communities in Sakha</h2>



<p>The region is mostly populated by the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fear-and-anxiety-the-mental-health-impacts-of-wildfires/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">communities</a> of Eveny, Evenki, and Sakha, Indigenous peoples who have lived in the region for hundreds of years, noted NASA.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Stanislav Saas Ksenofontov is a postdoctoral scholar at the University of Northern Iowa who studies how climate change is affecting Indigenous communities in the Siberian Arctic.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Ksenofontov described the Sakha communities as small, dispersed, sometimes semi-nomadic groups with traditional activities such as fishing, hunting, foraging, and reindeer herding.</p>



<p>“Devasting fires like this can cut off communities, damage hunting grounds and berry-picking areas, and disrupt reindeer migration routes.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-increasing-fire-activity-in-siberia">Increasing fire activity in Siberia</h2>



<p>The Arctic lowlands of the Russian Far East are typically a frigid landscape of permafrost and peat, said NASA, but it's also increasingly becoming a region that is prone to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wildfire-smoke-is-an-underestimated-threat-to-public-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wildfires</a>.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Kevin Smith is a U.S. Forest Service plant physiologist who co-authored a 2022 analysis of wildland fire activity in the Siberian Arctic.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Smith pointed out that most fires in this region are ignited by dry lightning. “Fires are a natural part of boreal and high Arctic landscapes in Sakha and the broader Siberian Arctic.”</p>



<p>“However, the frequency, severity, and area encompassed by current wildfire conditions are truly striking.”</p>



<p>Smith and his colleagues focused a study on two decades of fire detections captured by MODIS sensors.</p>



<p>The team found a three-fold increase in the number of fires and more than a doubling in the total area burned between 2000-2010 and 2010-2020. The biggest changes had occurred in the western and central regions of Siberia.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-carbon-emissions-from-arctic-fires">Carbon emissions from Arctic fires</h2>



<p>Mark Parrington is an atmospheric scientist with the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF). According to his data,&nbsp; carbon emissions from fires within the Arctic Circle have been much higher so far in June and July 2024 than during this period over the past few decades.</p>



<p>While Arctic fires result in an immediate release of carbon into the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/twenty-years-of-air-quality-improvement-erased-by-wildfires/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">atmosphere</a>, determining the long-term effects of Arctic fires on the carbon cycle can be challenging due to the complexities of the ecosystem’s response. </p>



<p>Smith noted that tundra fires can disturb soils in ways that make it easier for trees to colonize areas that had previously been dominated by grasses and mosses - a process that draws boreal forests northward and can result in increased carbon storage.</p>



<p>“On the other hand, climate and associated vegetation shifts can result in whole new regimes that reduce the natural storage of carbon by peat bogs and lead to increases in the release of methane, a strong greenhouse gas,” said Smith.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“To truly understand the ecological consequences of Arctic fires like these, it’s essential that we track fire activity and ecosystem responses with satellites but also that we follow up with on-the-ground research to better understand the implications.”</p>



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



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Dozens of fires are raging in Siberia

<p>Today's <strong>Image of the Day</strong> from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA Earth Observatory</a> features Culebra Island, located about 17 miles east of Puerto Rico.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The unique marine ecosystems of Culebra include extensive <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/satellites-discover-huge-expanse-of-earths-coral-reefs-that-were-previously-unknown/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">coral reefs</a> safeguarded by the Culebra National Wildlife Refuge and the Luis Peña Channel Natural Reserve.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Known as the "rainforests of the sea," coral reefs host a diverse array of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-is-impacting-marine-life-more-than-we-realized/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">marine life</a>. They are formed from the calcium carbonate excreted by tiny organisms called polyps. </p>



<p>Although coral reefs occupy less than 1% of the ocean floor, they are crucial habitats for nearly 25% of ocean species at some stage of their lives.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-landsat-image-of-culebra-nbsp">Landsat image of Culebra&nbsp;</h2>



<p>This Landsat 8 image - captured on February 10, 2024 - illustrates Culebra’s varied landscapes, ranging from the dry forests covering its hills to the stunning sandy beaches along its northern shore. </p>



<p>“Deeper (dark blue) waters surround the island and nearby cays, while shallower (light blue) waters line the shores and lagoons. The green areas in shallow water are likely coral reefs, though seagrass meadows and seaweed patches can look similar,” noted NASA.</p>



<p>“You can absolutely see patch reefs east of Culebra in this image. But know that many of its reefs are located near the shore and are not easy to distinguish in Landsat imagery, depending on the depth of the water and the type of coral,” said Juan Torres-Pérez, a research scientist at NASA’s Ames Research Center.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fringing-and-patch-reefs-nbsp">Fringing and patch reefs&nbsp;</h2>



<p>NOAA's detailed benthic habitat maps reveal that fringing and patch reefs are prevalent around Culebra, particularly to the north and east, with seagrass and seaweed meadows more common in the southern shallows.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Fringing reefs are the most common type of coral reef. They are directly attached to a shore or border a landmass with little to no lagoon between the shore and the main reef body. Fringing reefs grow seaward directly from the coastline.</p>



<p>Patch reefs are small, isolated platforms of coral that can occur independently or within a larger system of reefs, such as a barrier reef. They often appear as "patches" dispersed throughout a lagoon, separated by areas of sand or sea grass.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The reefs of Culebra feature key species such as branching staghorn and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/favorable-conditions-offer-hope-for-endangered-elkhorn-coral/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">elkhorn corals</a>, as well as mound-shaped and brain corals.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-environmental-threats">Environmental threats</h2>



<p>Environmental threats such as coastal development, overfishing, and warming, acidic waters challenge reefs worldwide, including those around Culebra.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Local issues, like increased runoff from development, also threaten these delicate ecosystems by introducing harmful pollutants.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Furthermore, record-high global <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/extreme-ocean-heating-signals-alarm-for-a-3c-warmer-world/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ocean temperatures</a> in 2023 have led to a significant coral bleaching event, affecting reefs across 62 countries and territories.</p>



<p>The ongoing marine heat wave poses an added risk, especially with higher starting sea surface temperatures this summer compared to last.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-oceanos-program-nbsp">OCEANOS program&nbsp;</h2>



<p>NASA’s OCEANOS program is actively involved in studying and conserving these reefs. This program, designed for Hispanic/Latino high school graduates and first-generation college students in Puerto Rico, offers training in remote sensing, coral reef ecology, and other marine sciences.</p>



<p>In partnership with Sociedad Ambiente Marino, NASA’s efforts include planting over 160,000 coral pieces around Culebra to strengthen the reefs.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This summer, OCEANOS students will also learn about coral farming, beach profiling, reef ecology, 3D printing of coral colonies, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/seagrass-is-of-fundamental-importance-to-earths-future/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">seagrass conservation</a>, further contributing to the health and resilience of Culebra's marine environments.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-culebra-island-nbsp">Culebra Island&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Culebra Island is renowned for its stunning natural beauty and laid-back atmosphere. This small island is part of the Spanish Virgin Islands and is less commercialized than its neighbor, Vieques, or the main island of Puerto Rico.&nbsp;</p>



<p>It's especially famous for Flamenco Beach, often ranked among the most beautiful beaches in the world with its white sands and clear, turquoise waters.</p>



<p>Culebra has a protected wildlife refuge that covers approximately one-third of the island, providing shelter to a variety of wildlife, including sea turtles and seabirds. </p>



<p>The surrounding coral reefs are vibrant and full of marine life, making it a popular spot for snorkeling and diving. Despite its small size, the island has a rich history, having been used as a naval gunnery and bombing practice site until 1975.</p>



<p>Today, Culebra is a favorite destination for those seeking a peaceful retreat in nature. The island's emphasis on conservation and its community's commitment to preserving its natural environment make it a unique place for eco-tourism.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Visitors can also enjoy hiking, kayaking, and fishing alongside the local population, which is known for its warmth and hospitality.</p>



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



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Protecting the coral reefs of Culebra

<p>Today's <strong>Image of the Day</strong> from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA Earth Observatory</a> features South Keeling, a remote, U-shaped <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/arise-project-will-coral-islands-survive-rising-sea-levels/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">atoll</a> in the Indian Ocean made up of numerous coral islets.&nbsp;</p>



<p>South Keeling stretches 11 miles from Horsburgh Island to South Island. Located 15 miles away is North Keeling - a smaller, uninhabited atoll. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-astronaut-image-of-south-keeling">Astronaut image of South Keeling</h2>



<p>The striking image of South Keeling was captured by astronauts aboard the International Space Station.</p>



<p>Astronaut photographs often highlight the varying depths of clear water. In this image, the shallow waters in the southern part of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/coastal-lagoons-have-high-loads-of-microplastics/">lagoon</a> appear light blue-green and can dry out during low water levels.&nbsp;</p>



<p>In contrast, the deeper waters in the northern half, ranging from 26 to 46 feet, appear a darker shade of blue.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cocos-keeling-islands-nbsp">Cocos-Keeling Islands&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Together, North and South Keeling form the Cocos-Keeling Islands. They are situated about halfway between Australia and Sri Lanka.</p>



<p>The islands have been known as both Cocos and Keeling since the 1800s, with "Cocos" referring to the abundant coconut palm groves and "Keeling" honoring William Keeling, the first European to discover the islands in 1609.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The combined name Cocos-Keeling Islands was officially adopted when the islands were incorporated into Australia in 1955.</p>



<p>Approximately 600 residents inhabit two of South Keeling's islets. Bantam Village, the largest settlement, is situated on Home Island.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The other populated island, West Island, is extensive enough to accommodate an airstrip, which is partially obscured by clouds in the image.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-significance-of-south-keeling">Significance of South Keeling</h2>



<p>Historically, South Keeling has significant ties to Charles Darwin, who visited the islands in 1836 aboard the HMS Beagle. Bathymetric studies conducted during this voyage supported Darwin's theories on atoll formation.&nbsp;</p>



<p>South Keeling played a pivotal role in global communications during the early 20th century. In 1910, a telegraph cable station was established on&nbsp;Direction Island, positioning these remote islands as a crucial communication hub between Australia, Southeast Asia, and southern Africa before the First World War.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-charles-darwin-s-famous-expedition">Charles Darwin's famous expedition</h2>



<p>Charles Darwin, the renowned naturalist, embarked on his famous journey aboard the HMS Beagle from 1831 to 1836. This expedition was crucial in shaping his theories on evolution and natural selection.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Darwin's observations of diverse species and geological formations, particularly in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/giant-tortoise-believed-extinct-found-in-the-galapagos/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Galápagos Islands</a>, provided essential evidence for his groundbreaking work, "On the Origin of Species."&nbsp;</p>



<p>The voyage allowed Darwin to collect a vast array of specimens and data, contributing significantly to the scientific understanding of biodiversity and the processes driving natural variation.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-coral-islets">Coral islets</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/coral-superhighway-connects-remote-coral-reefs-seychelles/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Coral islets</a>, also known as coral islands or cays, are small, low-elevation landforms formed primarily from coral detritus and associated organic material.&nbsp;</p>



<p>These islets are typically found in tropical and subtropical regions, particularly within coral reef ecosystems.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Coral islets form when fragments of coral and other marine organisms accumulate and consolidate over time, often on the reef's crest or a submerged bank.&nbsp;</p>



<p>They are characterized by their sandy or rocky composition and often support various plant and animal life, including specialized flora adapted to salty and nutrient-poor conditions.&nbsp;</p>



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



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The remote beauty of South Keeling

<p>Today's <strong>Image of the Day</strong> from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA Earth Observatory</a> features the Cow Valley fire, which is the largest of eight major <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/canadian-wildfires-of-2023-were-a-global-environmental-setback/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wildfires</a> that broke out in mid-July across the state of Oregon. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cow-valley-fire-nbsp">Cow Valley fire&nbsp;</h2>



<p>The Cow Valley fire developed just north of the Bonita Springs fire and to the west of the Huntington Mutual Aid fire. By July 15, the megafire had burned over 132,000 acres.</p>



<p>“The fire ignited on the morning of July 11 in an area of open rangeland near Brogan, a small town in eastern Oregon. Blistering heat, low humidity, and high winds allowed the fire to spread quickly to the south. Smoke billowed from the fire as it burned through dry grasses and shrubs,” said NASA.</p>



<p>“The fire coincided with a long-lasting heat dome that brought extreme temperatures to much of the U.S. West. On July 10, Baker City, Oregon, 40 miles north of Brogan, hit 105 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius), breaking the record of 99°F for that day set in 2002, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).”&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-oregon-wildfires-are-spreading-rapidly-nbsp">Oregon wildfires are spreading rapidly&nbsp;</h2>



<p>On Monday, Governor Tina Kotek declared an extended state of emergency.</p>



<p>"Wildfires are active across Oregon and are growing at a concerning pace," Kotek said in a statement. "Hot and windy conditions this weekend, including forecasted lightning in some areas, are threatening even larger wildfires."</p>



<p>According to a report from NBC, both the Cow Valley fire and the Bonita Springs fire were characterized as human-caused, although the exact mechanisms are not yet known.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The second-largest fire in the state of Oregon is the Falls Fire in Malheur National Forest,  about 13 miles north of Burns. The fire had burned 85,000 acres by Tuesday morning, with zero containment.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-record-breaking-heat-nbsp">Record-breaking heat&nbsp;</h2>



<p>The severe heat dome is affecting much of the United States, particularly in the Midwest and Northeast. This phenomenon occurs when high pressure in the upper atmosphere traps <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/unbearable-heat-could-make-some-parts-of-the-world-uninhabitable/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hot air</a> below, causing temperatures to skyrocket. </p>



<p>Cities like Chicago and Cincinnati are seeing record-breaking highs, with some areas experiencing temperatures around 97 degrees Fahrenheit and heat indexes making it feel even hotter.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The prolonged heat wave is not only shattering historical temperature records but also putting millions under extreme heat alerts, underscoring the growing impact of climate change on weather patterns.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-oregon-heat-wave">Oregon heat wave</h2>



<p>In Oregon, the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/antarctica-experienced-the-most-intense-heat-wave-ever-recorded/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">heat wave</a> has shattered multiple temperature records across the state. The heat dome caused temperatures to soar well above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, with cities like Portland, Medford, and Eugene hitting unprecedented highs. </p>



<p>Portland reached 104 degrees on one of the hottest days, breaking previous records for the same dates.</p>



<p>This extreme heat led to significant health concerns, particularly as many homes in Oregon are not equipped with air conditioning. This made the population especially vulnerable to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/heat-related-cardiovascular-deaths-may-double-in-the-coming-decades/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">heat-related illnesses</a>, and several deaths were reported due to the high temperatures. </p>



<p>In response, Governor Tina Kotek declared a state of emergency, enabling state agencies to provide additional support and resources, including the opening of cooling centers and the distribution of water and air conditioning units to those in need.</p>



<p>The intense heat also heightened the risk of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/twenty-years-of-air-quality-improvement-erased-by-wildfires/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wildfires</a>, as the high temperatures dried out vegetation, creating ideal conditions for fires to ignite and spread. </p>



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



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Wildfires rage in Oregon during historic heat wave

<p>Today's Image of the Day from NASA Earth Observatory features Montgomery Reef in Western Australia, where one of the world's most significant tidal ranges is displayed. </p>



<p>Montgomery Reef is a remarkable natural formation located in the Kimberley region. This unique reef system covers an area of more than 300 square kilometers, making it one of the largest inshore reefs in Australia.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dynamic-nature-of-montgomery-reef-nbsp">Dynamic nature of Montgomery Reef&nbsp;</h2>



<p>What makes Montgomery Reef especially fascinating is its dynamic nature. During low tide, the reef dramatically emerges from the ocean, revealing a vast expanse of sandstone islets, seaweed-covered coral, and tidal lagoons.</p>



<p>As the tide falls, water cascades down the sides of the emerging reef, creating temporary waterfalls and exposing a rich ecosystem that includes marine life like turtles, reef sharks, and various species of fish and birds, which can be seen feeding in the shallow pools left by the receding water.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Its fascinating interaction with the sea makes Montgomery Reef a popular destination for tourists, particularly those interested in nature and photography. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-structure-of-montgomery-reef-nbsp">Structure of Montgomery Reef&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Montgomery Reef's current structure is layered over a flat-topped mesa of dolomite and sandstone formed around 1.8 billion years ago, now covered with marine life, including the coralline algae rhodolith. </p>



<p>The reef contains both hard and soft corals, which are resilient to the extreme tidal temperature fluctuations and prolonged exposure during low tide.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-montgomery-reef-wildlife">Montgomery Reef wildlife</h2>



<p>The wildlife on and around Montgomery Reef is incredibly diverse and includes a wide variety of marine and bird species. </p>



<p>Sea turtles, including the hawksbill and green turtles, use the reef as a feeding ground. Dugongs can often be seen grazing on sea grasses, while various species of sharks and rays patrol the waters.</p>



<p>Additionally, the reef supports a vibrant population of fish, mollusks, and crustaceans, making it a vital habitat in the marine ecosystem. </p>



<p>The intertidal zones provide breeding grounds for numerous bird species, including the white-bellied sea eagle and various species of herons and waders.</p>



<p>Montgomery Reef is also significant for its cultural heritage, being part of the traditional sea country of the Dambimangari people, who have a deep spiritual connection to the area. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-global-coral-bleaching-event-nbsp">Global coral bleaching event&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Despite their resilience, these corals faced significant stress in 2016 during a global bleaching event that followed a marine heat wave. </p>



<p>More recently in 2024, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) confirmed the fourth <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-worlds-largest-coral-bleaching-event-is-now-underway/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">global coral bleaching event</a> on record. </p>



<p>While Montgomery Reef has yet to show signs of bleaching, NOAA’s Coral Reef Watch suggests that corals in southwestern Western Australia and near the equator are currently more susceptible to bleaching risks.</p>



<p>The mass bleaching event has been confirmed in numerous regions, including the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/recent-coral-recovery-in-the-great-barrier-reef-has-paused/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Great Barrier Reef</a>, the Caribbean, the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf, and parts of the Indian and Pacific Oceans.</p>



<p>Coral bleaching occurs when corals, stressed by elevated sea temperatures, expel the symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae) that give them color and provide most of their energy. This can lead to coral death if the stress continues for a prolonged period, though recovery is possible if conditions improve relatively quickly.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-urgent-need-to-address-climate-change-nbsp">Urgent need to address climate change&nbsp;</h2>



<p>The widespread nature of this bleaching event has been attributed to unusually <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ocean-temperatures-hit-a-record-high-this-week-with-the-worst-heat-still-to-come/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">high sea temperatures</a> and is exacerbated by ongoing climate change.</p>



<p>The impact of such extensive bleaching is profound, affecting not only the biodiversity of coral ecosystems but also the economic and social structures of human communities dependent on these ecosystems for food, tourism, and coastline protection.&nbsp;</p>



<p>NOAA and other scientific bodies are emphasizing the urgent need for global efforts to address climate change and improve <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-are-some-corals-more-resilient-to-climate-change-than-others/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">coral resilience</a> through conservation and restoration initiatives​.</p>



<p>The image was captured on April 29, 2024 by the Operational Land Imager (OLI) on Landsat 8.</p>



<p>Image Credit: <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA</a> Earth Observatory </p>



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Montgomery Reef: A uniquely dynamic ecosystem

<p>Today's <strong>Image of the Day</strong> from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA Earth Observatory</a> features Hurricane Beryl on July 8, just after the storm made landfall near Matagorda, Texas.&nbsp;</p>



<p>With its fury of winds and rain, Hurricane Beryl knocked out power to approximately 3 million homes and businesses, and claiming three lives.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“As it moved north toward Houston, Beryl dumped 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20 centimeters) of rain over the metro area,” said NASA.</p>



<p>The National Hurricane Center reported the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/record-heat-fueled-unexpected-and-deadly-storms-in-2023/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">storm</a> has since moved east and downgraded to a tropical depression, but it continues to pose threats for several states in its path.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-turmoil-across-texas">Turmoil across Texas</h2>



<p>Beryl, having initially struck as a Category 1 hurricane, resulted in significant damage due to high-speed winds destroying ten transmission lines and toppling countless trees that, in turn, brought down power lines. State and local officials warn that restoring full power may take several days.</p>



<p>While Beryl has since weakened into a tropical storm and subsequently a tropical depression, its powerful winds and rains have continued to cause damage, knocking down hundreds of trees and stranding vehicles in flooded areas. "We're not past any difficult conditions," said Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-in-the-eye-of-the-storm">In the eye of the storm</h2>



<p>Houston was hit particularly hard by Hurricane Beryl. CenterPoint Energy reported that over 2 million homes and businesses were left in the dark around the nation's fourth-largest city. </p>



<p>Patrick stated that the utility company is deploying thousands of additional workers to reinstate power, giving priority to essential places like nursing homes and assisted living centers.</p>



<p>According to the Associated Press, at least two individuals were killed when trees fell onto their homes. A third person, an employee of the Houston Police Department, died after being trapped in floodwaters beneath a highway overpass.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dangerous-heat-and-power-outages">Dangerous heat and power outages</h2>



<p>Despite the storm moving inland, officials from Houston and Harris County said that power crews are urgently working to restore electricity, especially essential in the peak of the summer season. </p>



<p>The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory, warning that temperatures could soar to 105 degrees Fahrenheit as early as Tuesday.&nbsp;</p>



<p>To combat these conditions, the state plans to create and operate cooling centers alongside food and water distribution hubs, said Nim Kidd, chief of state emergency operations.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-aftermath-of-beryl-nbsp">The aftermath of Beryl<strong>&nbsp;</strong></h2>



<p>Beryl's aftermath left Houston and various coastal areas grappling with the reclosing of streets in neighborhoods already battered by previous storms.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Louisiana now braces for Beryl. "The risk is going to be for that heavy rainfall and potential for flash flooding," said National Weather Service meteorologist Donald Jones.</p>



<p>As it continues its path, Hurricane Beryl is expected to wreak further havoc with strong rains and winds in more states over the coming days. Missouri, already dealing with a wet summer, anticipates the imminent arrival of Beryl on Tuesday.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-truly-historic-storm-nbsp">A truly historic storm&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Hurricane Beryl exceeded all expectations for an Atlantic storm developing in June. Even in a world increasingly shaped by <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-will-climate-change-affect-extreme-weather-events/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">extreme weather</a> events, Hurricane Beryl stands out as a historic storm.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Beryl smashed countless records, including the earliest Category 4 and Category 5 <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-propose-adding-a-category-6-to-the-current-hurricane-intensity-scale/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hurricanes</a> in the Atlantic, as a result of unusually warm water.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Early in July, Beryl tore into Carriacou Island as a powerful storm. "On the morning of July 1, Hurricane Beryl made landfall on Carriacou Island as a Category 4 storm with maximum sustained winds of 150 miles (240 kilometers) per hour,” said NASA.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-beryl-s-rapid-intensification">Beryl's rapid intensification</h2>



<p>Hurricane Beryl wasn't just a record-breaker for its early arrival. The storm exhibited exceptionally rapid <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/coastal-hurricanes-are-intensifying-faster-due-to-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">intensification</a>.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Beryl started as a tropical depression in the central tropical Atlantic on June 28 and transformed into a tropical storm the very next day. It wasn't long before the National Hurricane Center upgraded the storm to a Category 4 hurricane.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<p>"The storm rapidly intensified from a tropical storm to a powerful Category 4 in less than 24 hours. ‘Rapid intensification’ occurs when wind speeds increase by at least 35 miles (56 kilometers) per hour, over 24 hours,” said NASA.</p>



<p>This was striking because, according to the National Hurricane Center, atmospheric conditions in late June are typically unfavorable for storm intensification in this part of the Atlantic.</p>



<p>Furthermore, the experts pointed out that very few storms have formed this far east so early in the hurricane season.</p>



<p>The image was captured by the Advanced Baseline Imager on the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-16 (GOES-16).</p>



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



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<h1 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hurricane-beryl-nbsp">Hurricane Beryl:&nbsp;</h1>

Hurricane Beryl: Heavy rain, winds, and destruction in Texas

<p>Today's <strong>Image of the Day</strong> from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA Earth Observatory</a> features Hurricane Beryl, which exceeded all expectations for an Atlantic storm developing in June. </p>



<p>Even in a world increasingly shaped by <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/drought-to-downpour-climate-change-triggers-extreme-weather-shifts/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">extreme weather</a> events, Hurricane Beryl stands out as a historic storm. </p>



<p>Beryl smashed countless records, including the earliest Category 4 and Category 5 hurricanes in the Atlantic, as a result of unusually warm water.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-arrival-of-beryl">The arrival of Beryl</h2>



<p>NASA noted that the first Atlantic hurricane of 2024 unleashed dangerous winds and life-threatening storm surges, primarily targeted towards the Caribbean's Grenadine Islands.</p>



<p>Early in July, Beryl tore into Carriacou Island as a powerful Category 4 storm. "On the morning of July 1, Hurricane Beryl made landfall on Carriacou Island as a Category 4 storm with maximum sustained winds of 150 miles (240 kilometers) per hour,” said NASA.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-viirs-image">The VIIRS image</h2>



<p>The true scale of Beryl's intensity was revealed with an image captured by the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) onboard the NOAA-21 satellite.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This image, taken at 12:50 p.m. Atlantic Standard Time on June 30, showed Beryl when the eye of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/coastal-hurricanes-are-intensifying-faster-due-to-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">storm</a> was about 300 miles (490 kilometers) southeast of Barbados.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-beryl-s-rapid-intensification">Beryl's rapid intensification</h2>



<p>Hurricane Beryl wasn't just a record-breaker for its early arrival. This storm exhibited exceptionally rapid intensification.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Beryl started as a tropical depression in the central tropical Atlantic on June 28 and transformed into a tropical storm the very next day. It wasn't long before the National Hurricane Center upgraded the storm to a Category 4 <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/what-causes-the-rapid-intensification-of-hurricanes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hurricane</a>.  </p>



<p>"The storm rapidly intensified from a tropical storm to a powerful Category 4 in less than 24 hours. ‘Rapid intensification’ occurs when wind speeds increase by at least 35 miles (56 kilometers) per hour, over 24 hours,” said NASA.</p>



<p>This was striking because, according to the National Hurricane Center, atmospheric conditions in late June are typically unfavorable for storm intensification in this part of the Atlantic.</p>



<p>Furthermore, the experts pointed out that very few storms have formed this far east so early in the hurricane season.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-legacy-of-beryl">The legacy of Beryl</h2>



<p>By the time Beryl reached the Mexican coast, it had struck various parts of the Caribbean with deadly ferocity. The storm had its first encounter with land in the southeastern Caribbean, significantly impacting islands like Barbados, Grenada, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Saint Lucia.</p>



<p>The aftermath was a scene of chaos and destruction. Heavy rains, savage winds, dangerous storm surges prompted evacuations and widespread preparations.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The storm continued its deadly march, heading towards Jamaica as a Category 4 hurricane, causing significant disruptions, including flight cancellations and the closure of major airports. Beryl then turned its attention to the Cayman Islands, before eventually making landfall on Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-sign-of-the-times">A sign of the times</h2>



<p>The U.S. National Hurricane Center said that Beryl is expected to rapidly weaken to a tropical storm as it crosses over the Yucatan Peninsula. There is, however, a chance that the storm could gain strength in the Gulf of Mexico.</p>



<p>Hurricane Beryl serves as a reminder of the unpredictable consequences of climate change and the increasing prevalence of extreme weather events. As <a href="https://www.earth.com/search-results/?search=Hurricanes&amp;start=0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ocean temperatures</a> rise, experts warn that this unprecedented storm event is a sign of what's to come. </p>



<p>Hiroyuki Murakami is a research scientist at Noaa’s Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory. “Although it is uncertain to what extent climate change contributed to the early formation of Hurricane Beryl, our climate models suggest that the mean intensity of hurricanes will increase in the future due to enhanced global warming.”</p>



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



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Hurricane Beryl is a disturbing sign of the times 

<p>Two trees fell in northern Ontario and exposed a stone that most people would have walked past without a second thought. Etched into bedrock near Wawa, the stone slab carries a long inscription and a small scene that set archaeologists buzzing.</p>



<p>Early whispers leaned toward Vikings, but the evidence points elsewhere. The inscription records a Swedish version of the Lord’s Prayer, and it was carved with a runic system not used by medieval Norse travelers.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-swedish-prayer-on-an-old-stone">Swedish prayer on an old stone</h2>



<p>Henrik Williams from <a href="https://www.uu.se/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Uppsala University</a>, led the analysis of the runes. He identified a Swedish and Protestant version of the Lord’s Prayer, matching a 1611 model, a finding consistent with expert reports on the discovery.</p>



<p>The carving runs to 255 runic characters, in a panel that measures about 4 by 5 feet (1.2 by 1.5 meters). The runes sit beside a carved image of a boat with about 16 figures and several X marks. </p>



<p>The text uses characters from Futhark, a historic runic alphabet adapted for Swedish by early modern scholars.</p>



<p>The inscription is not a hoax and not a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/remarkable-viking-silver-hoard-discovery-reveals-far-reaching-global-trade-links/">Viking</a> era message. The content, language, and letter forms point to a later hand working with a specific, early modern guide to writing Swedish with runes.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cracking-the-wawa-stone-text">Cracking the Wawa stone text</h2>



<p>The Ontario Centre for Archaeological Research and Education (<a href="https://www.ocare.ca/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">OCARE</a>) coordinated a site visit after initial checks showed the writing was not Indigenous petroglyph art. </p>



<p>The team brought in a runologist, a specialist in runic inscriptions, to read the text under field conditions.</p>



<p>“The longest runic inscription of any on the North American continent,” noted Williams, citing his field <a href="https://www.ocare.ca/s-projects-basic" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">report</a>. </p>



<p>That assessment came after several hours of careful character tracing and comparison; the findings highlight the inscription’s scale and rarity.</p>



<p>OCARE’s notes also record that the boat motif sits beside the prayer and that both are deeply carved. No other artifacts were found at the panel, which limits how precisely researchers can date and interpret the scene.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-swedish-prayers-on-the-wawa-stone">Swedish prayers on the Wawa stone</h2>



<p>To understand the text, you need a <a href="https://archive.org/details/runaabcboken00bureuoft" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">booklet</a> written by Johannes Bureus in 1611. He was a 17th century Swedish scholar who taught Swedish people how to write with runes. His booklet includes Christian prayers that are written in runes and in Latin letters.</p>



<p>That 1611 template matches what appears on the Wawa stone. Swedish readers in later centuries kept Bureus’s guide alive, which explains how a prayer in early modern Swedish could appear far from Sweden.</p>



<p>The likely scenario is ordinary, not sensational. A Swedish hand in the 1800s, perhaps tied to commerce or travel, spent weeks incising a prayer from a printed model as an act of devotion or identity.</p>



<p>The boat looks like a long, shallow craft with a line of seated figures. The X marks stand near the boat in two clusters, but their meaning is unclear.</p>



<p>Scholars do not yet agree on whether the scene marks a gathering place or simply adorns the prayer. Without <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/850-paleolithic-artifacts-discovered-with-the-naked-eye-in-a-desert/">artifacts</a>, the safest reading is that the image underlines the text’s devotional purpose.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-old-is-the-prayer-slab">How old is the prayer slab</h2>



<p>The team has not pinned down a date. Field notes point to a 19th century window, but the lack of associated material keeps the estimate cautious.</p>



<p>Weathering patterns and the historical availability of Bureus’s runic prayer suggest a carver working at least a century ago. The present consensus keeps the door open to earlier or later dates until a peer-reviewed study appears.</p>



<p>It is not evidence of a Viking settlement on Lake Superior. The only confirmed Viking settlement in North America is <a href="https://parks.canada.ca/culture/spm-whs/sites-canada/sec02a" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">L’Anse aux Meadows</a>, a UNESCO World Heritage site at the tip of Newfoundland’s Great Northern Peninsula.</p>



<p>The Wawa inscription belongs to a later tradition. Medieval Norse used an earlier suite of runes and a different language, while this stone follows a Swedish Lutheran text that is filtered through an early modern revival of runic writing.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-the-wawa-stone-matters">Why the Wawa stone matters</h2>



<p>Runic literacy did not end in the Middle Ages. This panel shows that Swedish readers, centuries later, still knew how to write their sacred texts in characters that many Europeans had forgotten.</p>



<p>It also expands the very short list of authentic runic inscriptions in North America. Because the prayer is long, it provides a rare, stable sample for studying how Bureus-inspired runic spelling was actually used by later readers.</p>



<p>Researchers still want to explain the boat and the X marks with more than educated guesses. Better dates may come from microerosion studies, close documentation of tool marks, or finds in regional archives.</p>



<p>Public access will require careful conservation. Deep carvings last a long time, but exposure to freeze thaw cycles and foot traffic can erase details that make the text readable.</p>



<p>Viking presence in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/copper-and-gold-deposit-found-near-canadas-golden-triangle-just-59-feet-below-the-surface/">Canada</a> rests on other evidence. A 2021 dendrochronology and radiocarbon <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03972-8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">study</a> fixed wood cutting at L’Anse aux Meadows to AD 1021 by detecting a solar storm signature in tree rings.</p>



<p>That benchmark helps draw a clean line between medieval Norse activity in Newfoundland and later European lives inland. The Wawa stone sits on the newer side of that line, a Swedish prayer engraved in Canadian rock.</p>



<p>The study is published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03972-8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Nature</em></a>.</p>



<p>Image credit: <em>Ryan Primrose</em>.</p>



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Who engraved a stone slab in the Canadian wilderness with the Swedish Lord's Prayer?

Two trees fell in northern Ontario and exposed a stone...

<p>Drylands are famous for their silence after long droughts - until the first raindrops hit. Then the ground itself seems to exhale. For decades, scientists assumed those sudden “pulse emissions” of gases came almost entirely from soil microbes jolted awake by water.</p>



<p>New research from <a href="https://www.bgu.ac.il/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ben-Gurion University of the Negev</a> (BGU) upends that idea. In some desert soils, the very first and strongest bursts can be driven by chemistry alone.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dead-soils-release-gas">Dead soils release gas</h2>



<p>A team led by Dr. Isaac Yagle and Professor Ilya Gelfand at BGU’s Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research compared gas releases from natural desert soils. </p>



<p>The team used identical soils that had been sterilized with high-dose gamma irradiation. The soils - collected near the Dead Sea - were then wetted to mimic a passing shower.</p>



<p>Within minutes, both sets began emitting carbon dioxide (CO₂), nitrous oxide (N₂O), and nitric oxide (NO). Surprisingly, the sterilized soils - essentially stripped of living <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/soil-microbes-survive-the-desert-by-sleeping-through-the-dry-spells/">microbes</a> - released far more nitrogen gases in the first moments after wetting: up to thirteen times more NO and five times more N₂O than the “live” soils.</p>



<p>The finding overturns a longstanding assumption that biology is the sole trigger for post-rain gas surges in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/40-percent-of-earths-land-has-became-permanently-drier/">drylands</a>. It also helps explain why pulses arrive so quickly. Microbes can react fast, but chemical reactions can ignite almost instantly.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rain-triggers-chemical-surges">Rain triggers chemical surges</h2>



<p>What’s going on inside those first few wet minutes? In arid, alkaline soils that bake under intense sun, reactive nitrogen compounds accumulate during drought - especially nitrite (NO₂⁻).</p>



<p>When water finally arrives, it sparks a burst of purely chemical activity. A process called chemodenitrification, driven by minerals and trace metals, allows nitrite to decompose into NO and N₂O without microbial help. </p>



<p>Water also dissolves carbonates and releases CO₂, creating a non-biological gas pulse that joins the familiar microbial “breath” of soil.</p>



<p>The team’s side-by-side tests make the point clear. Even when soils were sterilized, the earliest emissions surged. And when the researchers compared inorganic nitrogen levels, the first N₂O and NO pulses looked nearly identical in sterilized and live soils - evidence that abiotic chemistry dominates the opening act.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-soil-microbes-join-the-act">Soil microbes join the act</h2>



<p>Still, the chemical start is not the whole story. In live soils, CO₂ rose higher overall because microbes add a steady respiratory contribution.</p>



<p>Over the next hours and days, as bacteria and archaea recover from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-a-humble-plant-may-help-us-save-crops-from-drought/">drought</a> stress, they resume nitrification and denitrification, layering biological processes on top of the chemical foundation.</p>



<p>This gradual handoff creates a two-part performance. Abiotic reactions set the stage in those first wet moments, while microbial activity delivers the longer, steadier second act. For nitrogen gases in particular, though, the curtain-raiser belongs mostly to chemistry.</p>



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



<p>N₂O and NO aren’t just lab curiosities. Nitrous oxide is a powerful, long-lived greenhouse gas and a leading destroyer of stratospheric ozone. Nitric oxide is a building block of ground-level ozone and smog.</p>



<p>In drylands around the world - from the Sahel to the American Southwest - short rain showers are becoming more erratic as climate change reshapes storm patterns. That means more frequent wet–dry cycles and, potentially, more frequent pulses.</p>



<p>Until now, most models that estimate greenhouse gas emissions from soils have treated these bursts as a microbial phenomenon. The new results show that approach can miss a big piece of the puzzle in deserts and semi-deserts.</p>



<p>If chemistry is responsible for a large share of the earliest emissions - especially for N₂O and NO - then ignoring abiotic reactions likely underestimates a region’s contribution to warming and to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/millions-of-people-die-from-air-pollution-each-year-yet-theres-still-a-lack-of-monitoring/">air pollution</a> episodes following storms.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-curbing-desert-gas-surges">Curbing desert gas surges</h2>



<p>There’s also a management angle. In some dryland soils, high background salinity, alkalinity, and stored nitrogen set the stage for stronger chemical pulses. </p>



<p>Land uses that alter soil nitrogen - think fertilized rangelands, irrigated fallows, or dust inputs - could unintentionally prime bigger emissions after rain. </p>



<p>Recognizing the chemical pathways at play might guide strategies to reduce peaks, for example by limiting nitrogen buildup in vulnerable areas.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-inside-desert-soil-reactions">Inside desert soil reactions</h2>



<p>The study’s design is as important as its conclusions. By sterilizing soils with gamma irradiation&nbsp; - a method that preserves the physical structure and many chemical traits while eliminating most life - the team could cleanly separate biological from abiotic processes. </p>



<p>Rapid measurements right after wetting captured the fleeting first minutes that field campaigns often miss.</p>



<p>The comparison revealed a mixed picture for CO₂. Biology dominates, but non-biological carbonate reactions can make a meaningful contribution, especially in alkaline desert soils. For N gases, chemistry takes the initial lead, and biology joins later.</p>



<p>It’s a nuanced message: post-rain pulses in drylands aren’t either microbial or chemical - they’re both, but their timing differs. The chemicals sprint; the microbes run the middle distance.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-drylands-shape-the-future">Drylands shape the future</h2>



<p>Drylands already cover more than 40 percent of Earth’s land surface, and they’re expanding. As droughts lengthen and rain arrives in shorter, sharper bursts, the conditions that produce pulse emissions will become more common.</p>



<p>Translating the lab results to landscapes will require field tests across different <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/floods-are-becoming-more-deadly-in-the-desert/">deserts,</a> soil types, and storm intensities. But the core takeaway is ready for prime time: abiotic processes belong in the accounting.</p>



<p>For climate modelers, that means adding fast chemical terms to the equations that predict N₂O and NO releases after rain. </p>



<p>For air-quality forecasters, it means recognizing that even “sterile” soil chemistry can feed ozone formation in the hours after a storm. And for anyone who thinks of deserts as lifeless, it’s a reminder that the ground itself holds a lively chemistry set - one that can shape the air we all share.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-12362-3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Scientific Reports</em></a><em>.</em></p>



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Greenhouse gases surge from desert soils just minutes after rain

Drylands are famous for their silence after long droughts -...

<p>If you’re the kind of traveler who gets queasy on winding roads, science has a simple suggestion: change the soundtrack. In a new simulator study, researchers found that short bursts of music can help people bounce back from motion sickness - but not all tunes are created equal. </p>



<p>Soft and joyful tracks eased nausea the most, while sad music actually made motion sickness slightly worse than just sitting quietly.</p>



<p>Qizong Yue from <a href="https://admissions.swu.edu.cn/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Southwest University</a> in China, together with colleagues, examined this issue in a recent study. </p>



<p>"Music represents a noninvasive, low-cost, and personalized intervention strategy,” Yue said.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-virtual-roads-real-queasiness">Virtual roads, real queasiness</h2>



<p>To test whether music can smooth rough rides, the team built a controlled carsickness challenge. First, 40 volunteers tried out different virtual routes in a high-fidelity driving simulator so the researchers could lock in a course that reliably provoked nausea.</p>



<p>From there, the team recruited 30 people who said they were moderately prone to carsickness and fitted them with EEG caps to record <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/your-brain-literally-changes-based-on-daily-activities-and-lifestyle/">brain activity</a>.</p>



<p>Participants completed a baseline rest, drove the nausea-inducing route, and rated how they felt. As soon as they stopped, most were randomly assigned to hear one of four musical moods for 60 seconds - soft, joyful, passionate, or sad.</p>



<p>A comparison group recovered in silence. A separate “no-nausea” group had their drives halted at the first hint of discomfort. Their EEG data provided a clean yardstick for what brain activity looks like when symptoms never developed.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-soft-music-eases-nausea">Soft music eases nausea</h2>



<p>The results were strikingly consistent. Joyful tracks delivered the biggest lift, cutting self-reported carsickness by 57.3 percent. </p>



<p>Soft music was a hair behind at 56.7 percent. Passionate, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/music-gives-rise-to-unique-physical-sensations-in-the-body/">high-energy songs</a> helped, too, but less so, bringing symptoms down by 48.3 percent. Simply resting reduced nausea by 43.3 percent.</p>



<p>Sad music was the outlier. It trimmed symptoms by only 40 percent - meaning it slightly underperformed quiet rest. That gap suggests downbeat tunes may amplify negative emotions or bodily focus at exactly the wrong time, nudging queasiness to linger.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-brain-scans-reveal-sickness-patterns">Brain scans reveal sickness patterns</h2>



<p>The EEG recordings backed up what people reported. When participants felt sick, activity patterns in the occipital lobe&nbsp;- the brain’s visual processing hub&nbsp;- became less complex, a sign the system wasn’t handling sensory input normally. As participants felt better, those patterns rebounded toward baseline.</p>



<p>That fits long-standing theories that motion sickness arises when the brain struggles to reconcile visual cues with signals from the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mammals-evolved-similar-inner-ears-despite-different-ancestry/">inner ear</a>. The better the brain resynchronizes, the faster the stomach settles.</p>



<p>Why would specific musical moods help? The team points to two plausible pathways. Gentle tracks likely dial down anticipatory tension, which is known to speed the onset and severity of symptoms. </p>



<p>Joyful songs may also recruit the brain’s reward systems and shift attention outward, breaking the loop of hyperawareness that makes every bump feel worse.</p>



<p>By contrast, sad music pulls attention inward and can heighten discomfort - the opposite of what a woozy traveler needs.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-music-strategies-for-travelers">Music strategies for travelers</h2>



<p>For people who dread winding highways, this is welcome news. The intervention is short, simple, and easy to try. In the study, a single minute of music right after driving stopped was enough to move the needle.</p>



<p>In a real car or bus, you might cue up a gentle or upbeat track the moment symptoms flicker, and let it play while you steady your breathing and look toward a stable point on the horizon. </p>



<p><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ai-artificial-intelligence-noise-canceling-headphones-listen-one-voice-crowd/">Headphones</a> can help you control the soundscape even if everyone else is chatting or the radio is blaring something moodier.</p>



<p>“The primary theoretical frameworks for motion sickness apply broadly to sickness induced by various vehicles,” Yue said, adding that the benefits of cheerful or gentle music likely extend to air and sea travel.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-music-therapy-needs-more-testing">Music therapy needs more testing</h2>



<p>Like any early-stage experiment, this one has limits. The sample was small, and the “cars” were virtual; a simulator can’t reproduce every jolt, smell, and distraction of a real road. Musical taste also varies widely, and the study didn’t tailor playlists to individual preferences.</p>



<p>The researchers want to validate EEG patterns as an objective marker of carsickness in larger groups, repeat the work outside the lab, and test how personal favorites shape the effect.</p>



<p>Still, the core insight is both intuitive and empowering: the nervous system listens to what you play for it. If you’re prone to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/unique-new-sound-therapy-reduces-motion-sickness-without-medication/">motion sickness</a>, sound can be a gentle lever. </p>



<p>Keep a few soft or joyful tracks handy, skip the dirges, and give your brain every chance to resync before your stomach decides it’s time to revolt.</p>



<p>The research is published in the journal <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/human-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2025.1636109/full" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Frontiers in Human Neuroscience</em></a>.</p>



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Your music playlist may hold the cure to motion sickness

If you’re the kind of traveler who gets queasy on...

<p>Dog owners are increasingly asking whether their pets can thrive without meat. A new analysis offers a nuanced answer: plant-based dry foods sold in the UK can deliver nutrition comparable to meat-based products.</p>



<p>However, most products of all kinds, including veterinary renal diets, fall short of industry nutrient guidelines.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The study, led by the <a href="https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Nottingham</a>, included laboratory testing of thirty-one dry foods labeled “complete,” a term that signals a product should provide all essential macro- and micronutrients for an adult dog.</p>



<p>The research team examined 19 meat-based diets, six plant-based diets and six veterinary formulations designed to be lower in protein for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dogs-are-evolving-to-fit-the-modern-lives-of-humans/">dogs</a> with kidney disease. </p>



<p>The team measured total protein, essential amino acids, fatty acids, vitamin D, all B-vitamins, and major and trace minerals, then compared those values with <a href="https://europeanpetfood.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">European Pet Food Industry Federation</a> (FEDIAF) recommendations for adult maintenance.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nutrition-from-different-dog-diets">Nutrition from different dog diets</h2>



<p>Perhaps the most striking result is how closely plant-based and meat-based diets aligned for total protein and most essential amino acids.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The big differences emerged elsewhere. On average, vegan formulas provided less iodine and fewer B-vitamins than meat-based diets - shortfalls that echo what nutritionists often see in human plant-forward eating.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Crucially, these are straightforward formulation problems to solve. Iodine fortification and robust, bioavailable B-vitamin premixes can close the gap without changing the overall dietary philosophy.</p>



<p>According to study lead author Rebecca Brociek, while many people assume dogs “need meat” to stay healthy, biologically they just need nutrients in the right amounts and forms.</p>



<p>Thus, plant-based products “stacked up more closely to meat-based diets than expected,” even as both categories revealed some nutritional gaps. </p>



<p>Similar studies in Brazil and Canada point in the same direction: properly formulated vegan diets can be a viable option for adult dogs.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-complete-label-falls-short">The “complete” label falls short</h2>



<p>While every food in the study met the guideline for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/taking-vitamin-d-supplements-may-add-years-to-your-life/">vitamin D</a>, very few met all targets at once. Just over half complied with essential amino-acid recommendations, fewer than one in five hit all mineral targets, and only a handful satisfied every B-vitamin requirement. </p>



<p>In practical terms, 30 of the 31 products were missing at least one essential nutrient for adult maintenance. </p>



<p>This does not mean a single bowlful is dangerous. Shortfalls accumulate over time. If iodine remains low, for example, the thyroid can struggle; if B-vitamin levels are chronically inadequate, energy metabolism and nerve function may be affected. </p>



<p>The takeaway for manufacturers is clear: publish full nutrient profiles, test routinely, and fortify thoughtfully. For <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dog-owners-ages-and-beliefs-influence-their-pet-food-choices/">dog owners</a>, it is a reminder to look beyond marketing claims and, when possible, ask brands for detailed analyses.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-medical-diets-and-dog-nutrition">Medical diets and dog nutrition </h2>



<p>The veterinary renal diets in the sample illustrate a different kind of trade-off. These foods intentionally lower crude protein to reduce kidney workload, a valid clinical strategy. </p>



<p>But the study found that two-thirds of these low-protein products also fell short on one or more essential amino acids.&nbsp;</p>



<p>That is not an indictment of renal nutrition; it is a formulation challenge. Even at reduced total protein, companies can blend higher-quality protein sources or add specific amino acids - lysine, methionine, tryptophan, and others - to maintain adequacy while meeting therapeutic goals. </p>



<p>For dogs managing kidney disease, veterinarians remain the best guides; the solution here is better amino-acid balancing, not abandoning medical diets.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-this-means-for-everyday-feeding">What this means for everyday feeding</h2>



<p>For healthy adult dogs, the findings open space rather than close doors. A well-designed plant-based diet can be nutritionally adequate, provided it is properly fortified with iodine and a complete B-vitamin spectrum and meets amino acid and mineral targets.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Meat-based diets are not automatically superior; they must meet the same benchmarks. Labels that claim “complete” should be supported by transparent data, and pet owners can reasonably expect brands to share that information.</p>



<p>Every dog is an individual. Age, activity level, body condition, pre-existing conditions, and even <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/some-dogs-have-a-higher-risk-of-digestive-problems-like-diarrhea/">gut health</a> can shift needs and influence how well a dog absorbs and uses nutrients.</p>



<p>That is why regular veterinary checkups - ideally with periodic bloodwork for dogs on unconventional or therapeutic diets - remain the gold standard for catching problems early.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-limitations-of-the-study">Limitations of the study </h2>



<p>This research analysed nutrients in the lab; it did not follow dogs over months or years to track clinical outcomes. The study also focused on adult-maintenance foods rather than puppy diets, where requirements are higher and the margin for error is smaller. </p>



<p>And while hitting a target on paper is essential, bioavailability can vary with ingredient sources, processing methods and the health of a dog’s digestive tract.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The authors call for long-term feeding trials and bioavailability studies, especially for plant-based and renal formulations, to connect lab values with real-world health markers.</p>



<p>These markers include body condition, muscle maintenance, thyroid and kidney function, skin and coat quality, and immune status.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-achieving-complete-nutrition-for-dogs">Achieving complete nutrition for dogs</h2>



<p>The encouraging part is how fixable the shortfalls appear. Fortifying vegan recipes with iodine and comprehensive B-vitamin premixes, tightening amino-acid balance in low-protein therapeutic diets, and publishing batch-tested nutrient profiles would close most of the gaps identified.&nbsp;</p>



<p>For environmentally minded owners curious about lower-impact options, that matters. For veterinarians and formulators, it is a roadmap: engineer for nutrients, not narratives; verify with data rather than assumptions.</p>



<p>Brociek’s own conclusion captures the pragmatic spirit of the work. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dogs-on-vegan-diets-stay-healthier-and-visit-the-vet-less-often/">Plant-based diets</a>, when properly formulated, can be a healthy and viable alternative to meat-based options. </p>



<p>The next step should be long-term feeding studies. In the meantime, the message to the industry is straightforward. Whether the protein comes from chicken or chickpeas, the job is the same: deliver complete, bioavailable nutrition, prove it with transparent testing, and give owners the information they need to feed confidently.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0328506"><em>PLOS One</em></a>.&nbsp;</p>



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Meat or vegan? Scientists decide which diet is better for the all-around health of dogs

Dog owners are increasingly asking whether their pets can thrive...

<p>The dream of slowing down aging has fascinated humanity for centuries. Today, science is edging closer to making that dream a reality. A surprising candidate in this journey is rapamycin, a drug once meant to suppress the immune system. </p>



<p>Researchers are now finding that rapamycin may do something far more profound: protect our very <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-identify-a-turning-point-when-your-body-starts-aging-faster-proteins-key/">DNA</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-from-transplant-to-aging-cure">From transplant to aging cure</h2>



<p>Rapamycin was first developed to stop organ rejection in transplant patients. It works by blocking mTOR, a protein that controls cell growth and metabolism. </p>



<p>What scientists didn’t expect was that at low doses, the same drug could extend <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/life-purpose-the-secret-ingredient-for-healthy-aging/">lifespan</a> in animals, making them healthier and more resilient, with improved immunity, reduced inflammation, and stronger energy systems in their cells. </p>



<p>Over time, researchers saw not only longer lives but also better quality of life, as rapamycin-treated animals resisted age-related decline across multiple organs.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rapamycin-protects-dna">Rapamycin protects DNA</h2>



<p>New research shows rapamycin’s powers go beyond slowing cell growth. It appears to shield DNA itself from damage. Since DNA breaks are a major driver of immune system decline, this discovery links rapamycin directly to slowing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/organ-aging-can-predict-diseases-decades-in-advance/">aging</a> at its roots.</p>



<p>In experiments, human T-cells exposed to a DNA-damaging drug fared badly - most didn’t survive. But when rapamycin entered the mix, the picture changed. Damage was reduced, and three times more cells survived. The effect appeared within hours, pointing to a direct protective action.</p>



<p>Ghada Alsaleh, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Oxford, explained that rapamycin consistently produces the same effect, whether it’s given before, during, or after the damage occurs.</p>



<p>Study co-author Lynne Cox said the effect happens rapidly - within about four hours it appears to influence the DNA damage response and the buildup of lesions.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-cautious-endorsement">A cautious endorsement</h2>



<p>Matt Kaeberlein at the <a href="https://www.washington.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Washington</a> sees the study as strong evidence that rapamycin protects DNA. Yet he emphasizes the mechanism remains a mystery. The next step is to track how the drug changes RNA and protein activity inside immune cells.</p>



<p>In a pilot study, older men given low-dose rapamycin showed less DNA damage in their immune cells without harming overall immune function. This is a critical finding, according to Cox.</p>



<p>Even more intriguing, a longer trial revealed that rapamycin reduced senescence marker p21 while raising levels of p53, a protein that not only manages DNA damage but also fuels mitochondria, the cell’s energy engines. This dual action hints at improved genetic stability and metabolic health.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rapamycin-and-aging-immune-cells">Rapamycin and aging immune cells</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/defying-time-three-ways-to-slow-biological-aging/">Aging</a> immune cells carry telltale signs of stress: elevated markers like p21 and p53, which signal accumulated DNA damage and declining function. </p>



<p>Rapamycin dampened these signals and lowered exhaustion markers, pointing toward rejuvenated immune activity and a more balanced immune landscape. </p>



<p>By reducing the burden of senescence in these cells, the drug appears to restore some of their lost vitality, giving them a second chance at defending the body effectively.</p>



<p>These findings could explain why rapamycin also boosts vaccine responses and lowers infection risk in older adults, helping their immune systems respond more strongly to new threats and maintain protection against recurring illnesses. </p>



<p>Scientists believe this rejuvenating effect could transform how we prepare aging populations for pandemics, seasonal infections, and even the challenges of cancer treatment.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-beyond-aging-space-and-pandemics">Beyond aging: Space and pandemics</h2>



<p>The potential stretches further. Protecting DNA could aid astronauts facing cosmic radiation, cancer patients undergoing therapy, and even older adults during pandemics. </p>



<p>Some scientists suggest short bursts of rapamycin could be paired with vaccines to strengthen immune protection, boosting the body’s ability to fight dangerous infections.</p>



<p>Others believe the drug might help counter DNA damage from chronic viral diseases, reduce complications of age-related immune decline, and even serve as a preventative shield in high-risk environments such as hospitals or long-term care facilities where older individuals remain especially vulnerable.</p>



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



<p>Despite the potential benefits, caution is still needed. Senescent cells play roles in wound healing and defense against infections. Blocking these processes entirely could backfire, leading to slower recovery from injuries or reduced ability to clear harmful pathogens.</p>



<p>Rapamycin’s promise lies in finding the sweet spot - doses that guard DNA without disturbing essential repair. Researchers stress that timing, duration, and context will matter, since what protects against aging in one situation could prove risky in another. </p>



<p>Careful clinical trials are needed to strike this balance, ensuring rapamycin enhances longevity without undermining the body’s natural resilience.</p>



<p>Zahida Sultanova at the <a href="https://www.uea.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of East Anglia</a> calls for broader trials that include women and younger age groups. Evidence from animals suggests rapamycin doesn’t act the same in everyone. </p>



<p>The next wave of studies will determine whether this transplant drug truly becomes a medicine for longer, healthier lives.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.08.15.670559v1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bioRxiv</a></em>.</p>



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Slowing down aging, one DNA strand at a time

The dream of slowing down aging has fascinated humanity for...

<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>



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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>



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<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>



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Revolutionizing agriculture through microbiome engineering

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

What we can learn from dying stars and their stunning light shows

News coming your way