As night falls in the rainforests, orangutans climb into the canopy to construct intricate tree nests, displaying remarkable ingenuity. 



These comfy platforms are carefully engineered beds, providing warmth, comfort, protection from predators, and even reduce mosquito bites.



Scientists have long wondered how young orangutans learn to master such complex architecture. Recent findings reveal that they acquire this skill through close observation and practice, a process called observational <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/chimpanzees-and-bees-are-capable-of-complex-social-learning/">social learning</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-orangutans-build-nests-for-survival">Orangutans build nests for survival</h2>



Nest-building is essential for survival. Unlike many behaviors in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/what-orangutans-can-teach-humans-about-food-and-fitness/">animals</a>, this skill is neither entirely instinctive nor quickly learned. 



Orangutans must manipulate branches, twigs, and leaves with strength and dexterity while making decisions about materials and structure.



Night nests, far more elaborate than day nests, can include linings, pillows, blankets, and even roofs. 



To build such structures requires both technical know-how and material knowledge, making nest-building a cognitively demanding task.



Young <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/orangutan-mothers-have-unique-parenting-styles-like-humans/">orangutans</a> begin showing interest in nests at just six months, playing with leaves and branches. 



Practice of basic day nests starts around age one, but night nest practice begins only at three years and is not mastered until about the age of eight.



Complex additions, such as multitree nests and comfort elements, appear later. This long timeline shows that the skill is not acquired quickly but gradually, with repeated attempts and guided observation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-learning-from-mom">Learning from mom</h2>



Researchers documented that immatures who carefully peered at their mothers during nest-building were far more likely to practice soon afterward. 



Merely being nearby without watching closely did not have the same effect. This highlights the importance of selective attention in learning.



“Nest-building is critical to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/experts-unlock-the-mysteries-of-orangutan-communication/">survival</a> in orangutans but is surprisingly not the focus of a lot of research," noted Dr. Ani Permana from the <a href="https://warwick.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Warwick</a>. 



"We previously reported that it takes multiple years for immature orangutans to learn to nest-build but, based on 17 years of observational data, this paper shows that this learning process is highly dependent on young animals carefully watching the nest-building of others.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-orangutan-nests-are-complex">Orangutan nests are complex</h2>



The study also showed that young orangutans pay special attention to complex features like multitree nests, twig manipulations, and comfort elements. 



These require memorizing multiple steps and sequences. After observing these, immatures increased their practice, suggesting they were specifically learning the more challenging parts. 



Simpler nests, such as single-tree day nests, did not trigger the same level of focused observation.



“Orangutan nest-building tendency may have some innate basis, but the details and method must be socially learned, starting from a very young age, by watching and practicing, learning from mistakes as they grow and this paper is the first time this has been shown in wild apes,” Dr. Permana added.



At first, immatures mostly learn from their mothers, but as they grow older, they begin peering at other group members, thereby expanding their knowledge base.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-learning-what-to-use">Learning what to use</h2>



Beyond construction skills, orangutans also learn what materials to use. 



“Aside from learning ‘how to’ build a nest, immature orangutans also appear to learn the ‘know-what’ of which materials to use," noted Dr. Caroline Schuppli, <a href="https://www.ab.mpg.de/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior</a>.



The choice of tree species is important, and infants - who primarily peer at their mothers - are more likely to select the same species their mothers use.



“Just like human teenagers finding their own path, maturing orangutans increasingly peer at the nest-building of others and begin experimenting with the tree species those individuals use," Dr. Schuppli continued.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-returning-to-roots">Returning to roots</h2>



Interestingly, adults often revert to using the tree species favored by their mothers, even after experimenting with alternatives in youth.



“Ultimately, adult orangutans tend to revert to the nest materials used by their mothers, perhaps recognizing that the most effective methods had already been established," Dr. Schuppli noted. 



"This consistent variation in nest materials across generations indicates that wild orangutan populations possess cultural elements that could be lost without the conservation of the species and their habitats,” 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-orangutans-learn-and-pass-on-traditions">Orangutans learn and pass on traditions</h2>



The study emphasized four main points: peering, not just proximity, drives learning; immatures focus on complex multi-step elements; role models expand with age; and knowledge of tree species is socially transmitted.



These findings suggest orangutans display cultural variation, with nest-building traditions passed through generations.



<a href="https://academic.oup.com/book/32658/chapter-abstract/270606055?redirectedFrom=fulltext&amp;login=false" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nest-building</a> is an evolutionarily ancient behavior shared by great apes. 



By proving that orangutans acquire this skill through observational social learning, the study suggests that such cultural learning has deep roots in primate history.



It highlights not just the intelligence of orangutans but also their fragile cultural heritage - one that can only continue if their forest homes are preserved.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s42003-025-08217-2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Communications Biology</a>.



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Orangutans learn to build complex tree nests by watching their mothers

As night falls in the rainforests, orangutans climb into the canopy to construct intricate tree nests, displaying remarkable ingenuity. These comfy platforms are carefully engineered beds, providing warmth, comfort, protection from predators, and even reduce mosquito bites. Scientists have long wondered how young orangutans learn to master such complex architecture. Recent findings reveal that they acquire this skill through close observation and practice, a process called observational social learning. Orangutans build nests for survival Nest-building is essential for survival. Unlike many behaviors in animals, this skill is...

Leopard seals, some of the loneliest animals in Antarctica, may have more in common with us than we thought. A new study reveals that these massive, solitary predators spend hours underwater each day singing songs that echo the structure of the nursery rhymes we sing to children.



The discovery comes from researchers at <a href="https://www.unswcollege.edu.au/">UNSW Sydney</a>. The team analyzed old recordings of leopard seal calls and found striking similarities in the structure of their songs and the predictability of human rhymes.



“Leopard seal songs have a surprisingly structured temporal pattern,” said Lucinda Chambers, a PhD candidate at UNSW and the study’s lead author. 



“When we compared their songs to other studies of vocal animals and of human music, we found their information entropy - a measure of how predictable or random a sequence is - was remarkably close to our own <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/reading-nursery-rhymes-to-babies-helps-them-quickly-learn-language/">nursery rhymes</a>.”



But don’t mistake the singing for lullabies. The seals aren’t crooning to their young. In fact, it’s the males who do most of the vocalizing, and their reasons have more to do with competition and courtship.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-leopard-seals-spend-spring-days">How leopard seals spend spring days</h2>



Leopard seals live in the icy waters around Antarctica. They're apex predators who spend most of their lives alone. But during spring, from late October to early January, something changes.



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-reveal-new-features-of-the-elusive-leopard-seal/">Male seals</a> begin a daily ritual. They swim beneath the pack ice and sing. For hours on end, they alternate two minutes underwater with two minutes at the surface, cycling through this pattern up to 13 hours a day.



Study co-author Professor Tracey Rogers from UNSW began recording leopard seal songs in the 1990s.



“They’re incredibly committed. It’s big business for them," said Professor Rogers. "They’re like the songbirds of the Southern Ocean. During the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fascinating-mating-behaviors-of-leopard-seals-revealed/">breeding</a> season, if you drop a hydrophone into the water anywhere in the region, you’ll hear them singing.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-songs-that-carry-across-long-distances">Songs that carry across long distances</h2>



These aren’t random noises. The calls are composed of five core sounds shared by the population. What makes each seal’s song unique isn’t the sound itself, but the order and structure.



“You can’t tell them apart by how the call sounds. It’s the order and pattern that matters," explained Professor Rogers.



"They’ve stylized it to an almost boring degree, which we think is a deliberate strategy, so their call carries a long distance across the ice.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-purpose-of-the-leopard-seal-calls">Purpose of the leopard seal calls</h2>



Male leopard seals are spread far apart on the sea ice, but their voices carry. A single call can travel long distances <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/elephant-seals-use-sonar-signals-to-dine-deep-underwater/">underwater</a>. That’s useful during breeding season, when females are only in heat for a few days each year.



“The greater structure in their songs helps ensure that distant listeners can accurately receive the message and identify who is singing,” noted Chambers.



The singing might help attract mates, but it also sends a signal to rivals. These underwater performances could be about love - or territory.



“It’s a bit of a dual message,” said Professor Rogers. “It could be a ‘this is my patch’ to other males and also a ‘look how strong and lovely I am’ to the females.”



“It’s like they’re saying, ‘I'm the biggest and the strongest, look how long and how loud I can sing,'" said Chambers. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-features-of-leopard-seal-songs">Features of leopard seal songs</h2>



To better understand how leopard seal songs compare to other species, the researchers analyzed entropy - essentially how repetitive or predictable a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/seals-have-a-surprising-sense-of-rhythm/">sound</a> sequence is.



They compared recordings from 26 male leopard seals to vocal sequences from humpback whales, bottlenose dolphins, squirrel monkeys, and several types of human music, including baroque, classical, romantic, contemporary, and Beatles songs.



What stood out was how closely the leopard seal songs matched the structure of nursery rhymes.



“Nursery rhymes are simple, repetitive and easy to remember - that’s what we see in the leopard seal songs,” said Chambers.



“They’re not as complex as human music but they aren’t random either. They sit in this sweet spot that allows them to be both unique and highly structured.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-each-seal-has-its-own-signature-song">Each seal has its own signature song</h2>



The sound recordings analyzed in the study were from the 1990s, when Professor Rogers would bike across Antarctica to the ocean's edge, mark individual seals with dye, and return at night to record their songs.



“They sing at night, so I would mark them during the day and go back out at night to visit each of the seals to get recordings from different males,” she said.



While all the seals use the same five calls, each male puts them in a distinct order - creating a kind of signature.



“We think it’s a bit like each seal having its own name,” explained Chambers. “They’re all using the same alphabet of five sounds - but the way they combine them creates a pattern that’s individually distinctive.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-an-evolving-story">An evolving story </h2>



With today’s tools, the researchers want to return to Antarctica and investigate what has changed.



According to Chambers, the next step is to use mathematical models to test whether leopard seals use their songs like dolphins use signature whistles - to announce individual identity.



“We want to know if new call types have emerged in the population,” she said. “And if patterns evolve from generation to generation."



“We’d love to investigate whether their ‘alphabet’ of five sounds has changed over time.”



It turns out that in the coldest, quietest places on Earth, animals are still finding ways to be heard - and remembered.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-11008-8">Scientific Reports</a>.



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Leopard seals sing songs underwater that are strikingly similar to nursery rhymes

Leopard seals, some of the loneliest animals in Antarctica, may...

Urbanization may seem harmless at first glance. Yet beneath the pavement and concrete lies a growing crisis. A new study from the <a href="https://sheffield.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Sheffield</a> reports that urban areas support 43 percent fewer pollinating insect species. These losses have consequences for both ecosystems and crop yields.



Researchers sampled allotment sites across Sheffield, Leeds, and Leicester. These plots varied in proximity to city centers. The closer they were to concrete-heavy areas, the fewer <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-bee-day-2025-protecting-the-pollinators-that-feed-the-world/">pollinators</a> they supported. Insect abundance and richness fell sharply in built-up zones.



Bees often dominate the conversation. But this study highlights that moths and hoverflies also matter. These two groups of pollinating insects showed higher sensitivity to urbanization than bees. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-some-insect-pollinators-struggle">Why some insect pollinators struggle</h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pollinators-are-disappearing-and-its-bad-news-for-plants/">Bees</a> tend to persist in urban areas due to their simpler needs. They depend mainly on flowers for both adult and larval food. Urban greenspaces often provide these resources in abundance. 



Social bees, like honeybees and bumblebees, show strong adaptability because of their generalist foraging behaviour and long flight ranges.



Moths and hoverflies, in contrast, need diverse resources. Many hoverflies breed in stagnant water or rely on prey for their larvae. Moths require tree cover for daytime roosting and specific plants for their caterpillars. These features are often lacking in urban environments.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-trees-help-insect-pollinators-survive">Trees help insect pollinators survive</h2>



The study confirmed that habitat type shapes pollinator survival. Semi-natural habitats supported all three major insect groups, but tree canopy cover had a uniquely strong effect on moths. Moth species richness and abundance rose significantly with increasing tree cover.



Gardens, however, had no consistent effect. Although common in cities, their quality varies widely. Many gardens include lawns, paving, or ornamental plants not suitable for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rising-dangers-threaten-the-survival-of-bees-and-pollinators/">pollinators</a>. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-urban-layout-influences-insect-declines">Urban layout influences insect declines</h2>



Urban landscapes form a mosaic of impervious surfaces, fragmented greenspaces, and isolated habitats. These patterns influence how different pollinators respond. 



Hoverflies and moths saw the steepest declines in areas with high impervious surface cover.



For every 10 percent increase in concrete or tarmac, species richness dropped by up to 7.5 percent. 



These declines occurred across different scales - within 250, 500, and 1,000 meters of the sampling sites. The loss of moth and hoverfly abundance was especially strong at closer ranges.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pollinators-do-more-than-pollinate">Pollinators do more than pollinate</h2>



Pollination is just one part of the ecological role these insects play. Hoverfly larvae, for instance, prey on crop pests like aphids. 



Moths help recycle nutrients through their feeding and contribute to food chains. Birds and bats feed on them, linking lower and higher levels of the ecosystem.



The loss of moths and hoverflies doesn’t only threaten pollination. It weakens entire ecosystems. Without them, pest control declines. Nutrient cycling slows. Predators struggle to find food.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-redesigning-cities-for-insects">Redesigning cities for insects</h2>



To reverse this trend, cities must do more than plant flowers. They must support a variety of habitats. Increasing tree cover, preserving semi-natural green areas, and reducing fragmentation can help. 



The study urges planners and policymakers to consider the varied needs of pollinator groups.



“All pollinating insects struggle to find suitable food and habitat in cities,” said study co-author Stuart Campbell. “The greater sensitivity of hoverflies and moths to urbanization might be due to their ecological requirements.



“All of these species need flowers to feed on, but moths also require tree and shrub canopies, and food plants for their caterpillars, while many hoverflies require stagnant water to breed."



"These are all habitat characteristics that can be much harder to find in more heavily built up areas, and we will need to consider these features in order to conserve such a diverse group of insects for future generations.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-moths-and-hoverflies-need-attention">Moths and hoverflies need attention</h2>



Study lead author Emilie Ellis noted that the scale of the threat to many pollinator <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pollinator-decline-is-a-direct-threat-to-food-security/">species</a> remains relatively unknown due to a global focus on bees. 



"However moths and hoverflies are just as important for our ecosystems, and our results show they may be particularly vulnerable in urban habitats,” said Ellis. 



Understanding insect needs can help protect them. Cities must consider more than floral density. Structural vegetation like trees and complex ground cover matter too. So do aquatic features and undisturbed soils.



Urbanization affects insect pollinators in complex ways. While bees survive on city flowers, moths and hoverflies face harsher challenges. 



This study highlights the urgent need for diverse, well-structured greenspaces. Pollinators don’t all need the same things. But all need us to pay attention.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2025.0102" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences</a>.



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Urbanization causes massive decline in insect pollinators

Urbanization may seem harmless at first glance. Yet beneath the...

About 56 million years ago, Earth slipped into the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM), a sudden global warming pulse that pushed temperatures up by at least 5°C (9°F). In the badlands of what is now Wyoming, one mid-sized predator, Dissacus praenuntius, found itself confronting a landscape in flux.



A new study led by <a href="https://www.newark.rutgers.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rutgers University</a> suggests the animal’s solution was unexpected: when prey became scarce, it started crunching bones.



“What happened during the PETM very much mirrors what's happening today and what will happen in the future,” said Andrew Schwartz, the Rutgers anthropology doctoral student who led the research.



The work combines field excavations in the Bighorn Basin with a forensic technique called dental microwear texture analysis (<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B9780128155998000071" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">DMTA</a>). 



By reading microscopic pits and scratches on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tooth-enamel-analysis-suggests-early-eurasians-were-multiple-species-paranthropus-robustus/">fossil teeth</a>, the team reconstructed what the animal was chewing in the weeks before it died; tougher, deeper marks usually point to hard items such as bone.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dissacus-praenuntius-ate-bones">Dissacus praenuntius ate bones</h2>



Dissacus praenuntius was roughly the size of a modern coyote and, at first glance, looked like a lanky wolf. But it walked on tiny hooves and belonged to an archaic lineage known as mesonychids.



“They looked superficially like wolves with oversized heads,” Schwartz said, describing them as super weird mammals "Their teeth were kind of like hyenas. But they had little tiny hooves on each of their toes.”



Before the planet heated up, DMTA shows the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bastetodon-fearsome-predator-was-once-king-of-the-ancient-egyptian-forests/">predator</a> had a diet which resembled that of today’s cheetahs: mostly soft but sinewy meat. Once the PETM began, everything changed.



“We found that their dental microwear looked more like that of lions and hyenas,” Schwartz said. “That suggests they were eating more brittle food, which were probably bones, because their usual prey was smaller or less available.”



The microwear evidence dovetails with other signs of environmental stress. Earlier work has shown many mammal species shrank <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paleocene%E2%80%93Eocene_Thermal_Maximum" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">during the PETM</a>, and Dissacus appears to have followed that trend - smaller bodies need less food.



While scientists once blamed this shrinkage solely on heat, the new findings strengthen the case that limited nutrition was a major driver.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-adaptability-drove-survival-success">Adaptability drove survival success</h2>



“One of the best ways to know what's going to happen in the future is to look back at the past,” Schwartz said. “How did animals change? How did ecosystems respond?”



For Schwartz, the PETM offers a natural experiment on how warming reshapes <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/whales-reveal-a-toxic-threat-to-arctic-food-webs/">food webs</a>. The lesson, he argues, is that dietary flexibility can make or break a species.



“In the short term, it’s great to be the best at what you do,” he said. “But in the long term, it’s risky. Generalists, meaning animals that are good at a lot of things, are more likely to survive when the environment changes.”



That principle is visible today. “We already see this happening,” Schwartz said. “In my earlier research, jackals in Africa started eating more bones and insects over time, probably because of habitat loss and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-is-the-largest-threat-to-u-s-endangered-species/">climate stress</a>.”



Pandas, koalas, and other extreme specialists lack that wiggle room and could therefore be more vulnerable as habitats fragment or shift.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wyoming-s-ancient-badlands">Wyoming’s ancient badlands</h2>



To trace Dissacus praenuntius through time, the team zeroed in on the Bighorn Basin, one of the rare places where sedimentary layers preserve an almost year-by-year record across the PETM. 



Field crews collected dozens of jaws and isolated teeth from successive strata, then scanned their chewing surfaces under high-resolution confocal microscopes.



Sophisticated software converted the textures into numerical values capturing roughness, complexity, and orientation - clues to the animal’s final meals.



Professor Robert Scott, a co-author on the paper, notes that DMTA is revolutionizing paleontology because it captures dietary snapshots just weeks or months before death, unlike isotope analyses that average years.



The method revealed a clear pattern: before the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ancient-global-warming-event-sheds-light-on-earths-future/">thermal maximum</a>, tooth surfaces carried long, shallow scratches characteristic of slicing flesh; during and after, they showed deeper pits and gouges typical of bone fragmentation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dissacus-praenuntius-faded-away">Dissacus praenuntius faded away</h2>



Despite this adaptive flair for bones, Dissacus praenuntius did not make it through the next 15 million years. Bigger, better-equipped carnivores eventually displaced it, and the shifting vegetation of post-PETM North America favored more agile hunters.



Still, its bone-crunching episode underscores how rapidly predators can recalibrate their behavior when climate jolts prey supply.



Schwartz hopes insights like these will aid modern <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wildlife-conservation-can-help-stabilize-the-climate/">conservation biology</a> by spotlighting which species could be climate winners or losers.



The study also signals the importance of preserving continuous fossil sites: without the Bighorn Basin’s layered rocks, the dietary flip would have remained invisible.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-local-fossils-global-lessons">Local fossils, global lessons</h2>



Schwartz traces his fascination with fossils to childhood trips along New Jersey’s waterways with his father, an amateur collector. Now close to completing his Ph.D., he is eager to show the broader public how deep time research can illuminate future challenges.



&nbsp;“If I see a kid in a museum looking at a dinosaur, I say, ‘Hey, I’m a paleontologist. You can do this, too.’”



That encouragement matters because, as Earth barrels toward PETM-like CO₂ levels, society will need scientists who can decode past crises to steer us through the next one. 



The tale of a jackal-sized mammal gnawing harder fare in a hothouse world is more than a curiosity; it is a mirror held up to our own warming century. 



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0031018225003748?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology</a>



Image Credit: ДиБгд, CC BY 4.0 &lt;https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0&gt;, via Wikimedia Commons



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Ancient predator had a gut-wrenching strategy for adapting to climate shock

About 56 million years ago, Earth slipped into the Paleocene-Eocene...

Anyone who has ever scanned a party guest list for a familiar face will sympathize with female mountain gorillas. When it comes time to leave home and join another troop, they too prefer a little social security.



A new study shows that dispersing females routinely pick groups that contain females they have lived with before, while steering clear of males from their childhood homes.



The findings emerged from more than two decades of near-daily monitoring by the <a href="https://gorillafund.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund</a> in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park.



By piecing together the life histories of dozens of animals across many overlapping groups, researchers from the <a href="https://www.uzh.ch/en.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Zurich</a>, the Fossey Fund, and collaborating institutions were able to ask a deceptively simple question: How do females decide where to go?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-female-gorillas-avoid-familiar-males">Female gorillas avoid familiar males</h2>



Early analyses revealed what did not matter. For instance, widespread group traits such as group size or sex ratio did not seem to matter. 



Instead, past <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/some-gorillas-get-sick-from-being-too-social/">social experience</a> loomed large. Females almost never joined a group that housed males they had grown up with.



“Because female mountain <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mountain-gorillas-climb-trees-despite-their-massive-size/">gorillas</a> do not know with certainty who their fathers are, they might rely on a simple rule like ‘avoid any group with males I grew up with,’ as the likelihood of them being related will be higher than with males they did not grow up with,” said lead author Victoire Martignac, a Ph.D. student at the University of Zurich.



That rule is context-dependent, not merely a function of familiarity. Female gorillas may encounter many males on the forested slopes as they move between troops, yet they single out those childhood companions for avoidance.



“This really tells us that it’s not just who they know that matters but how they know them,” Martignac said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-old-friends-as-social-insurance"><a></a>Old friends as social insurance</h2>



Far more attractive than familiar males were familiar females. The study found that the presence of even one former denmate dramatically increased the odds that a female would choose a particular destination.



The effect was strongest when the pair had shared at least five years in the same troop and had seen each other within the last two. Those long-standing bonds appear to buffer the risks of immigration.



“Going into a new group could feel pretty scary, with individuals usually entering at the bottom of the social hierarchy," said Robin Morrison, the senior author on the study. "A familiar female might help reduce this, providing a social ally.” 



“It could also act like a recommendation from a friend - if a female they know has chosen to stay in this group it could indicate positive things about the group as a whole or the dominant male leading that group.”



These results challenge the assumption that multiple dispersals undermine the value of social investment. Instead, they reveal a network of relationships that stretches well beyond any single troop. Females may spend years apart, yet the memory of past <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/from-single-cells-to-complex-life-was-cooperation-the-first-step/">cooperation</a> still shapes their future moves.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gorilla-behavior-mirrors-humans">Gorilla behavior mirrors humans</h2>



The parallels with our own species are hard to miss. “This mirrors a key aspect of human societies: the existence of strong ties between different social groups,” Martignac noted. 



Humans hop between schools, jobs and cities, leaning on old friends for introductions and support. Mountain gorillas, it seems, deploy a comparable strategy as they navigate a landscape of fluid fission-fusion societies.



Such flexibility brings evolutionary payoffs. By avoiding males from their natal group, females limit the risk of inbreeding and spread genetic diversity across the Virunga Massif.



By following trusted female acquaintances, they ease the social costs of joining a new hierarchy, increasing their chances of reproductive success. In turn, those decisions influence the genetic and social architecture of the entire population.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracking-lives-over-decades">Tracking lives over decades</h2>



Untangling these threads required patience. “Being to track not only where individuals are from but also where they go, and to construct their whole social history in such detail, is only possible because of decades of data collection,” said Tara Stoinski, the president and chief scientific officer of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund.



“With just a few years and a few groups, all of these inter-group ties and extended networks would be invisible to us. This really highlights the value of long-term observations on multiple groups in better understanding the evolution of sociality.”



The Fossey Fund’s continuous presence allowed researchers to code every male and female gorilla ever met, how long they co-resided, and when they last saw each other. 



The resulting dataset revealed the subtle calculations behind each female’s leap into the unknown.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gorilla-behavior-guides-protection">Gorilla behavior guides protection</h2>



Understanding how gorillas choose new homes matters for their conservation. As habitat fragments and human pressures mount, facilitating safe dispersal corridors could help maintain the social and genetic fabric that keeps populations viable.



More broadly, the study invites scientists to rethink dispersal as a deeply social process - one that both dissolves and forges bonds, shaping <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/from-rumbles-to-rituals-scientists-map-the-cultures-of-the-animal-kingdom/">animal societies</a> in ways that resonate with our own.



In other words, when a female gorilla trudges across a lava flow to join strangers in the next valley, she is not rolling the dice. 



She is following the whisper of memory, looking for an old friend in an unfamiliar crowd - proof that friendship can span forests, decades, and even species.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2025.0223" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the Royal Society B</a>.



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Female gorillas rely on old friends to choose new homes

Anyone who has ever scanned a party guest list for...

Most people wouldn’t expect a quiet walk in the park today to feel so different from one in the early '90s - but a butterfly watcher would. Fewer flutter past, and some species don’t show up at all.



That hunch is backed by numbers. Scientists spent decades tracking butterfly populations across the Midwest - recording over 4.3 million sightings in all. The results show a steady, widespread decrease in abundance, with nearly half of the 136 species declining.



These results come from a study led by researchers at <a href="https://msu.edu/">Michigan State University</a>. Their findings paint a sobering picture of how butterfly biodiversity is shifting in the heart of the country.



“We expected to find that at least some species had done well over the past 32 years,” said lead researcher Wendy Leuenberger.



Instead, the numbers tell a different story. For every 10 <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/butterfly-species-are-declining-fast-across-the-united-states/">butterfly species</a> in a Midwest county in 1992, only nine remain today. And in terms of individuals, populations have declined by 40 percent. The loss touches rare and familiar species alike.



“You would have such a different experience taking a walk to look at butterflies in 1992 as compared to 2023,” Leuenberger said. 



“While most of the common species like monarchs and cabbage whites are still present, you wouldn’t see nearly as many of them as in 1992. You’re less likely to spot rare species as well. These are all changes that have occurred during my lifetime, which is humbling.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-decades-of-butterfly-data">Decades of butterfly data</h2>



The study is based on a massive dataset - over 90,000 hours of butterfly surveys conducted by volunteers across the U.S. Midwest. The time span of the data stretches from 1992 to 2023, offering one of the most complete overviews of butterfly population trends in North America.



This work builds on a national study published earlier this year in Science, which found similar butterfly declines across the country between 2000 and 2020. But by looking a decade further back, the MSU team had a chance to see how patterns of decline started even earlier.



Though this study didn’t focus on the exact causes of the decline, the timeline overlaps with several key changes in the environment. Neonicotinoid <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/butterfly-decline-in-american-midwest-linked-to-insecticides/">insecticides</a> became widely used starting in the mid-1990s. 



At the same time, shifts in weather patterns due to climate change also began to take hold - including <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/warming-winters-may-reshape-global-plant-communities/">warmer winters</a>, drier summers, and more erratic rainfall.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-not-all-butterflies-are-the-same">Not all butterflies are the same</h2>



Butterflies aren’t one-size-fits-all when it comes to their responses to stress. Some migrate long distances. Others stay in one place their whole lives. 



Some butterflies are picky about where they live or what they eat, while others are more flexible. Even how they survive the winter - as an egg, a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/baby-caterpillars-defend-their-territory-without-a-fight/">caterpillar</a>, or an adult - affects their chances of survival.



“Traits affect how resilient butterflies are to change,” Leuenberger explained. “For instance, ones that only have a single generation a year don’t do as well as multi-generational butterflies.”



That kind of variation matters. Conservation strategies that help one species might not help another. That’s why this study focused on details - not just overall trends - to understand which types of butterflies are declining the most, and how fast.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-rare-long-term-view">A rare, long-term view</h2>



According to MSU’s senior author Elise Zipkin, the Midwest plays a key role in butterfly research.



“We are lucky to be working in the midwestern U.S., an area with the highest density of butterfly surveys of anywhere in North America,” said Zipkin, Red Cedar Distinguished Professor and director of MSU’s Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior Program. 



“Volunteer scientists use the same protocols week after week and year after year. Without their invaluable efforts, we would not know how butterflies are faring and what we can do to reverse declines.”



This consistency gives scientists a rare long-term view of how these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/insects-are-still-disappearing-and-there-are-hundreds-of-reasons-why/">insects</a> are doing, and that view is essential. Butterflies aren’t just pretty to look at. As caterpillars, they are prey for many species of birds. 



As adults, they pollinate flowers which develop into fruits and vegetables. What happens to them is often a warning sign for what’s happening to other insects - and the ecosystems that depend on them.



“Humans rely on insects more than we realize,” said Leuenberger. “We need to figure out how we can protect them before it’s too late.”



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2501340122">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.



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Butterfly populations are disappearing - and it's happening fast

Most people wouldn’t expect a quiet walk in the park...

Short-nosed dog breeds like French Bulldogs and Pugs dominate pet popularity charts. Scroll through social media, and you’ll see their faces everywhere. Scientists at Eötvös Loránd University (<a href="https://www.elte.hu/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ELTE</a>) explored whether the charm lies in their genes or in how we raise them. The truth? It’s both - with some surprises.



While people often describe these dogs as friendly, calm, and easy-going, such impressions don't always hold up. 



Many owners treat these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/most-dogs-binge-watch-television-everyday/">dogs</a> as babies, which affects their behavior. This pampering often replaces basic training. Without clear boundaries, even calm dogs can act out.



The new study confirms that short-nosed dogs have certain innate traits, but these are shaped - or masked - by lifestyle, body size, and human habits.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-we-treat-cute-dogs-like-babies">Why we treat cute dogs like babies</h2>



The popularity of flat-faced breeds may stem from the “baby schema effect.” Their facial features mimic those of human infants, triggering care instincts in adults. 



These breeds have big heads, round eyes, and small snouts. Owners report stronger emotional bonds and often project human-like emotions onto these pets.



However, these emotional ties can lead to unrealistic expectations and overindulgence. Owners of brachycephalic dogs are more likely to be younger, first-time dog parents, women, and people who live alone. They often view the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/national-puppy-day-2025-where-happiness-meets-responsibility/">dog</a> purely as a companion. 



As a result, these dogs are kept indoors, spend time on beds, and receive little formal training.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-small-dogs-and-bad-behavior">Small dogs and bad behavior </h2>



The ELTE study included over 5,000 purebred dogs across 90 breeds. The team compared personality traits like calmness, boldness, and trainability with behaviors like leash-pulling and reacting to visitors. These were analyzed alongside head shape, size, and lifestyle factors.



The data revealed something critical: smaller dogs are perceived as less threatening, so owners often tolerate bad behavior. 



But small <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/do-dogs-actually-judge-people-its-not-as-simple-as-we-thought/">dogs</a> - including many short-nosed ones - actually show more behavioral problems. These include poor recall and increased excitability. 



The dogs’ size and training history explained many of the traits wrongly blamed on head shape.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-behavior-depends-more-on-training">Behavior depends more on training</h2>



When the researchers accounted for training, size, and living conditions, many behavioral differences across head shapes vanished.



For example, short-nosed dogs seemed harder to train. But when adjusted for lack of training and smaller body size, that difference disappeared. Calmness and boldness, however, remained strongly linked to head shape.



Dogs with short skulls also showed lower dog sociability after controlling for age. This hints at a true personality trait rather than a learned behavior. 



Interestingly, these dogs were less likely to pull on the leash or jump up - but only after researchers controlled for size and lack of training. These good behaviors remained hidden under poor dog-keeping habits.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-head-shape-affects-brain-and-behavior">Head shape affects brain and behavior</h2>



So why does head shape matter at all? Short-nosed dogs have more rounded skulls. This likely changes brain structure. It might explain why these dogs focus more on humans and less on problem-solving. 



Owners see this as loyalty or dependence, but it might reflect pain or restricted movement from chronic health issues. This passivity is often interpreted as calmness.



There’s also evidence that owners view these dogs through a softer lens. Cute appearance may lead them to ignore or excuse problematic behaviors. In some cases, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dogs-can-understand-words-even-in-monotone-speech/">dogs</a>’ behavior goes unnoticed because it matches owners’ emotional needs more than reality.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-many-factors-affect-dog-behavior">Many factors affect dog behavior </h2>



The ELTE study offers clear insights for dog lovers, revealing that head shape alone does not determine a dog’s behavior. Instead, factors like age, body size, and training history play significant roles. 



When properly trained, short-nosed dogs often show lower aggression and better leash manners than commonly believed.



However, without consistent training, these potential advantages can be overshadowed by poor behavior shaped by environment rather than genetics. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dogs-need-training-and-structure">Dogs need training and structure</h2>



The study also suggests that what many perceive as a calm or gentle personality may sometimes be the result of chronic discomfort or restricted activity due to health issues.



The researchers warn that while brachycephalic breeds might look like perfect companions, proper care and training matter even more. These dogs aren’t toys. They need structure, exercise, and discipline like any other breed.



Their unique combination of calm, friendly, and slightly helpless traits makes them popular. But if that calmness comes from health limitations, we must rethink what traits we admire.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-proper-care-for-a-healthy-companion">Proper care for a healthy companion </h2>



Small brachycephalic dogs offer both advantages and challenges. Selection for small size may increase excitability, while flat faces support calmness and dependence. This trade-off creates a behavior profile that many owners misread.



The charm of these dogs is real, but owners should focus less on appearances and more on their needs. 



Training, awareness, and responsible breeding can help their positive traits shine - without relying on perceived cuteness alone. Proper care, not pampering, makes for a truly good companion.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/15/2221" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Animals</a>.



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Dogs' head shape influences their behavior in some very interesting ways

Short-nosed dog breeds like French Bulldogs and Pugs dominate pet...

The bright yellow legs of a giant new spider are catching eyes south of the Mason Dixon line, and experts warn that the Northeast is next in line.



The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/worlds-first-gene-edited-spiders-spin-red-silk/">traveler</a> is the Joro spider, an Asian orb weaver first confirmed in Georgia around 2013. A recent study found that climate matching models show a comfortable fit for this species across most of the eastern United States. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-meet-the-joro-spider">Meet the Joro spider</h2>



David Coyle, an invasive species specialist at Clemson University, expects the Joro spider to <a href="https://news.clemson.edu/clemson-scientist-study-shows-joro-spiders-are-here-to-stay-spreading-fast/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">spread</a> across much of the eastern United States.&nbsp;



As a seasoned arachnologist, he has tracked its rapid expansion from a few Georgia counties to sightings in over a dozen states.



Females span nearly four inches (10 centimeters) tip to tip, and weave gold-tinted webs that can stretch wider than a front door. Males stay thumbnail small and lurk on the edge of the females’ silk, avoiding both predators and courtship missteps.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-the-giant-spiders-got-here">How the giant spiders got here</h2>



Joro spiders likely arrived in the United States by accident, hitching rides in shipping containers, crates, or other imported goods.



Their introduction is believed to have occurred around 2010, but exact records of the first entry point remain unclear due to the nature of global trade.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-they-travel-on-wind-currents">How they travel on wind currents</h2>



Joro hatchlings practice ballooning, releasing gossamer threads that catch air currents and can carry them more than 100 miles (160 kilometers). Older juveniles sometimes hitch rides on cars, mail trucks, and nursery <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/discovery-changes-what-we-thought-about-friendship-between-plants-fungus-networks/">plants</a>, letting human trade fill in the gaps between natural flights.



Their silks are strong enough to remain intact in stiff breezes, so a single breezy afternoon can seed dozens of yards. Because the spiders favor tall launch points, highway light poles and second story decks become unintended takeoff pads.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cold-weather-advantage">Cold weather advantage</h2>



Joro spiders have shown an impressive ability to handle colder temperatures, continuing to thrive in regions that experience seasonal chills. Their spread into areas with winter lows suggests they can survive brief freezes that would limit other warm-climate species.



In lab trials, three quarters of adult females recovered after being chilled to freezing point for two hours, an endurance <a href="https://resjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/phen.12385" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">unmatched</a> by most orb weavers. That resilience removes the climatic barrier that once boxed warm-weather spiders below Washington, D.C.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-york-could-see-joro-spiders-soon">New York could see Joro spiders soon</h2>



The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sydney-funnel-web-new-giant-species-of-worlds-most-dangerous-spider-identified/">species</a> is expected to reach the New York metro corridor within the next two to three summers, unless it arrives sooner through accidental transport in cargo. Once established, prevailing wind patterns could allow spiderlings to spread through the Hudson Valley in just one season.



Observations submitted through community science platforms have recorded scattered sightings in northern New Jersey, suggesting the species is beginning to establish itself in the area.



The earliest signs are usually large, gold-colored webs about the size of a basketball, and often stretched between trees or porch railings.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bigger-than-they-look">Bigger than they look</h2>



A palm sized female looks intimidating, yet her fangs struggle to puncture human skin, and the venom ranks no worse than a bee sting. Most reported bites occur when a spider is trapped against clothing, not during routine yard work.



Joro spiders help trim pest numbers, regularly netting stink bugs, mosquitoes, and even invasive lanternflies in their intricate webs.



Their diets overlap little with pollinating bees, so ecologists do not anticipate major crop impacts.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-to-do-if-one-sets-up-shop">What to do if one sets up shop</h2>



Experts advise leaving non nuisance webs alone; the spiders die off naturally by late November. If a web blocks a walkway, knock it down with a broom in the evening and the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fossil-with-spiders-brain-suggests-arachnids-originated-in-the-sea/">resident</a> often relocates overnight.



Homeowners concerned about numbers can target egg sacs in winter, scraping the cottony bundles into sealed bags for disposal. Commercial pest treatments offer short term relief but will not halt regional spread.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-potential-ecological-ripples">Potential ecological ripples</h2>



Surveys in Georgia show sites occupied by Joros support on average fewer native orb weaver species than nearby uninvaded spots. Researchers <a href="https://phys.org/news/2023-11-huge-spiders-eastern-experts.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">suspect</a> competition for web space is the main driver, though long-term studies are still under way.



The spiders’ large silk mats may also alter insect flow, rerouting prey away from smaller <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/all-legs-no-guts-sea-spider-genome-stuns-scientists/">web builders</a>. Whether that shift cascades through local food webs remains uncertain, making continued monitoring a priority.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-looking-ahead">Looking ahead</h2>



States from Pennsylvania to Maine are updating invasive species watch lists to include the Joro spider, aiming to standardize reporting. Citizen uploads with clear photos remain the fastest way to confirm the giant spider's arrival in new counties and to guide research crews.



No eradication plan exists, so adaptation will be key as the arachnid advances. Public outreach stresses calm coexistence, reminding residents that a startling spider is still an ally against biting pests.



The study is published in<a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ece3.10728" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Ecology and Evolution</a>. Photo credit: David R. Nelsen.



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Giant spider species that weaves enormous webs has invaded the United States

The bright yellow legs of a giant new spider are...

On Canada’s Pacific coast, something unusual has been unfolding beneath the water’s surface. Mass die-offs of farmed oysters, once dismissed as side effects of warming seas or pollution, now appear linked to a mysterious new virus. 



The newly discovered virus emerged from British Columbia's Pacific oyster farms. During a mass mortality event in 2020, scientists identified a previously unknown pathogen.



This finding adds another layer to the complex mystery behind recurring oyster die-offs. 



“We’ve recently seen annual mass die-offs in B.C. and elsewhere of Pacific oysters, the most widely farmed shellfish worldwide. Often, we don’t know the cause," said Dr. Kevin Zhong, lead author from the University of British Columbia's <a href="https://www.eoas.ubc.ca">Department of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences</a>.



Pacific oysters generated around $16 million in B.C. in 2023. Yet, the industry faces ongoing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/previously-overlooked-viruses-may-secretly-shape-bacterial-populations/">risks</a> from pathogens and rising sea temperatures. In many cases, scientists cannot pinpoint the exact reason behind the deaths.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-virus-found-in-oyster-farms">New virus found in oyster farms</h2>



The researchers gathered 33 oysters from two affected farms and 26 wild oysters from nearby coastal areas. RNA tests revealed a novel virus - Pacific Oyster Nidovirus 1 (PONV1) - in 20 of the dead farmed oysters. Wild oysters, however, showed no signs of the virus.



“This discovery highlights how little we know about viruses <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/covid-virus-spread-too-quickly-for-bats-alone-to-be-responsible/">infecting</a> invertebrates in general and oysters in particular,” said Dr. Curtis Suttle, senior author and UBC professor. “It’s important to investigate mass die-offs in oysters to determine what causes disease."



"Similar to humans, disease and death are not caused by a single factor, but prevention is not possible until the causes are known.”



The virus appears strongly linked to oyster mortality. However, researchers caution that other stressors may contribute as well.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-record-breaking-genome">A record-breaking genome</h2>



PONV1 has one of the largest RNA genomes found so far. It’s only the second known nidovirus in bivalves. Other nidoviruses infect many species, including humans. The virus that causes COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, also belongs to this group.



“The extraordinarily large genome of this virus makes it particularly fascinating as it pushes the known boundaries of how big RNA <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/what-makes-a-virus-capable-of-causing-a-pandemic/">virus</a> genomes can get," Dr. Zhong said.



A larger genome may allow the virus to encode more genes or protein domains, potentially expanding or enhancing its ability to interact with hosts. 



"This discovery offers a rare window into the possible evolutionary mechanisms that enable genome expansion in RNA viruses,” he said. 



This oversized genome gives researchers clues about how viruses evolve. PONV1 may hold answers about genetic flexibility and host adaptation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scientists-name-viral-giant">Scientists name viral giant</h2>



By searching global databases, the team identified 15 similar <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/arctic-warming-may-fuel-the-spread-of-diseases-by-unleashing-frozen-viruses/">viruses</a> in oysters from Europe and Asia. These strains appear widespread but are not linked to die-offs.



The newly discovered virus, PONV1, stands out because its genetic structure is unlike that of any known virus in its group. 



After analyzing its RNA sequence, researchers found that it differed significantly from other known nidoviruses. This level of genetic difference was so great that the team concluded it didn’t fit within any existing virus family.



As a result, the scientists proposed creating an entirely new family of viruses to accommodate it. They named this new family&nbsp;Megarnaviridae, which means “large RNA viruses.” The name reflects the unusually large genome carried by the virus - one of the biggest ever recorded in RNA viruses.



To further define this discovery, the team suggested a scientific name for PONV1:&nbsp;Megarnavirus gigas. The term&nbsp;gigascomes from Latin and means “giant,” referring again to the virus’s large genetic size. So,&nbsp;Megarnavirus gigas&nbsp;translates to “large RNA virus giant,” highlighting both its uniqueness and its size.



“Fortunately, the virus does not infect humans. It seems specific to oysters,” said Dr. Suttle.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-virus-raises-warning-about-oyster-trade">Virus raises warning about oyster trade</h2>



B.C. oyster growers often import juvenile oysters, or spat, from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/master-switch-controls-the-timing-of-fish-egg-hatching/">hatcheries</a> both domestically and overseas. This practice might carry hidden pathogens.



The discovery of the virus is a reminder that growers should use an abundance of caution when moving oyster spat internationally and nationally, as we still know very little about what causes disease in oysters. New pathogens may be introduced when spat are imported.



"Ultimately, developing rapid tests for detecting potential pathogens is essential for safely importing oyster seed, and identifying the causes of disease and mortality,” Dr. Suttle said.



This research supports better monitoring systems. With early testing, the industry can reduce the spread of unknown viruses.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-turning-point-for-aquaculture">A turning point for aquaculture</h2>



The team stressed that the discovery is not cause for panic. Instead, it opens the door to more informed oyster health management.



“This research is not a cause for alarm,” said Dr. Suttle. “Rather, this is a meaningful step forward in advancing our understanding of oyster health and supporting the long-term sustainability of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/90-percent-of-the-worlds-aquaculture-faces-substantial-risk-from-human-induced-environmental-changes/">shellfish aquaculture</a>.”



With more study, experts hope to understand the virus’s exact role. The goal is to improve disease prevention and ensure safe, thriving oyster farms worldwide.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2426923122" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.



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Mysterious oyster deaths linked to newly discovered virus

On Canada’s Pacific coast, something unusual has been unfolding beneath...

On the surface, the 106,000-acre Avon Park Air Force Range in central Florida seems an unlikely refuge for endangered wildlife, including woodpeckers. The U.S. Air Force uses the property for bombing practice, artillery training, and low-level flight runs.



Yet tucked between target zones and drop sites lies one of the largest remaining swaths of longleaf pine savanna in the state - a habitat that now shelters more than forty at-risk species.



Thanks to an unusual partnership among the military, federal biologists, and academic researchers, this living laboratory has just yielded some of the clearest evidence yet that carefully planned animal “translocations” can pull struggling populations back from the brink.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-moving-endangered-woodpeckers">Moving endangered woodpeckers</h2>



A team led by <a href="https://msu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Michigan State University</a> (MSU) conservation biologists reported that moving endangered red-cockaded woodpeckers from healthier forests into Avon Park did far more than provide a short-term boost. 



Over two decades, newcomers and their offspring boosted numbers, improved genetics, and outperformed locals in nesting and survival.



This is a rare success story scientists seldom get to document in such detail. MSU graduate student Alex Lewanski, the paper’s first author, spent years analyzing banding records, nesting logs, and genetic samples collected since 1998.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-need-for-a-genetic-rescue"><a></a>The need for a genetic rescue</h2>



Once common from Texas to the Carolinas, red-cockaded woodpeckers depend on mature longleaf pines peppered with natural cavities.



Logging, fire suppression, and development have reduced the bird’s range to just three percent of its original habitat. Small, isolated colonies face a double threat: fewer mates and the gradual erosion of genetic diversity needed to adapt.



Avon Park’s savannas - more than 35,000 acres of open <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/what-gives-pine-trees-fresh-scent/">pine</a> and wiregrass - offered prime real estate, but only a tiny remnant population of endangered woodpeckers survived there in the 1990s.



Beginning in 1998, field crews from nearby <a href="https://www.archbold-station.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Archbold Biological Station</a>, working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Air Force land managers, captured juvenile birds in six larger populations. The birds were released, in pairs, into vacant Avon Park territories.



By 2016, the team had translocated 54 individuals - each fitted with color leg bands for lifetime tracking.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-watching-the-bird-colony-grow">Watching the bird colony grow</h2>



Because the range is a federally protected “Sentinel Landscape,” researchers could monitor the birds with unusual intensity. They mapped cavity trees, checked nests weekly, and recorded every fledgling’s parents.



Over time, they also collected feathers and genetic material, building pedigrees that now extend across three woodpecker generations.



Lewanski and senior author Sarah Fitzpatrick, an assistant professor at MSU, combined those field notes with the genetic analyses to ask a suite of questions. Did the imported birds survive, pair with locals or other transplants, produce offspring that lived longer or had more young, and how did the influx affect the colony’s overall genetic health?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stronger-birds-stronger-colony">Stronger birds, stronger colony</h2>



The answers were striking. Roughly seventy percent of the moved birds survived to breed - remarkable for a species with high juvenile mortality. Many paired with native adults, injecting new genetic combinations into the population.



Translocated birds tended to nest for more years than locally hatched ones, adding measurably to annual fledgling counts. Over 25 years, the Avon Park colony grew steadily, with pedigree data showing a matching decline in inbreeding levels.



“The only reason these populations are still around is because of collaborations and long-term investment in these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-is-the-largest-threat-to-u-s-endangered-species/">imperiled species</a>,” Lewanski said. He credits coordinated burning programs that restore open pine structure and the military’s commitment to conservation buffers around training zones.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lessons-for-working-landscapes"><a></a>Lessons for working landscapes</h2>



The findings echo earlier MSU work demonstrating that gene flow - moving individuals or their sperm and eggs between isolated groups - can jump-start recovery in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fish-are-quietly-battling-climate-change-on-the-seabed/">fish</a>, amphibians, and plants. 



In woodpeckers, the benefits are magnified because suitable habitat is so rare and fragmented.



“It has the potential to act as an important component of managing many imperiled species,” Lewanski said. He pointed to Florida scrub jays and gopher tortoises as candidates for relocation into protected military bases or private ranches in federal incentive programs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-predicting-rescue-with-data">Predicting rescue with data</h2>



Fitzpatrick added that emerging DNA technologies will soon let managers gauge genetic rescue needs without decades of cavity-tree checks. 



Portable sequencers and landscape-scale genome surveys can flag rising inbreeding long before it hurts reproduction, guiding when and where to move birds.



Genomic analysis combined with on-site monitoring could offer tailor-made strategies for managers attempting translocations. It could also help build data dashboards that integrate burn schedules, nest counts, and genetic risk scores.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-blueprint-beyond-the-bombing-range"><a></a>A blueprint beyond the bombing range</h2>



As <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/birds-adapt-their-survival-strategies-to-climate-change/">climate change</a>, urban sprawl and timber markets continue to carve up southeastern pine ecosystems, the Avon Park study offers rare optimism. 



It shows that even tiny remnant populations on “working” lands - not just pristine refuges - can rebound if managers pair habitat stewardship with strategic translocations.



Endangered red-cockaded woodpeckers once filled 90 million acres of longleaf pine with the calls of noisy social clans. Its recovery at a bombing range suggests that, with the right mix of science and partnerships, extinction isn’t inevitable.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2410946122" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.



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Endangered woodpeckers found an unlikely refuge at a military base

On the surface, the 106,000-acre Avon Park Air Force Range...

In the story of conservation, certain characters steal the spotlight. We celebrate the survival of endangered animals, restore their habitats, and marvel at their recovery.



But hidden beneath these victories is a quieter, almost invisible loss - one that rarely earns public attention or sympathy. This is the story of the kākāpō and the silent extinction of the parasites that once lived alongside it.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-vanishing-kakapo-parasites">Vanishing kākāpō parasites</h2>



Researchers from the University of Adelaide, Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research, and the <a href="https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Auckland</a> have uncovered a surprising shift in the lives of New Zealand’s kākāpō parrots. Over 80 percent of the parasites found in their droppings before the 1990s have disappeared. 



Using ancient DNA and microscopic analysis, the team studied feces dating back more than 1,500 years. 



The researchers discovered that nine of the 16 <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/common-parasite-may-be-affecting-your-brain-without-symptoms/">parasite</a> types vanished before the 1990s, the same period when the birds began full-population management. Another four species disappeared after this conservation work began.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-parasites-disappear-with-their-hosts">Parasites disappear with their hosts</h2>



"Despite their sometimes negative portrayal, parasites are increasingly appreciated for their ecological importance," said the <a href="https://www.adelaide.edu.au" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Adelaide</a>'s Dr. Jamie Wood. These organisms are among the most successful and widespread lifeforms on Earth.



Parasites are not always harmful invaders. Many play subtle yet vital roles in ecosystems. They help train host immune systems, regulate disease, and sometimes outcompete more dangerous parasites.



Almost every free-living animal harbors parasites, making them one of the most widespread life forms. Yet this close connection creates a risk. 



Parasites depend heavily on specific host <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/parasitic-snails-are-sneaking-inside-sea-cucumbers/">species</a> to survive and reproduce. If the host population declines - due to disease, habitat loss, or conservation interference - the parasites may also disappear.



These losses often go unnoticed, yet they could have lasting effects on host health and ecological balance. When parasites vanish, we may lose not just pests, but essential contributors to the natural world.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-parasites-may-vanish-before-their-hosts">Parasites may vanish before their hosts</h2>



This study focuses on the concept of&nbsp;co-extinction, a process where one species disappears because it depends entirely on another species that is going extinct.



In this case, the dependent species is a&nbsp;parasite, and the host is the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-discover-rare-marine-parasite-that-inhabits-black-corals/">species</a> it lives on. If the host population declines or dies out, the parasite often can't survive. But the key point here is that&nbsp;parasites may vanish even before the host does.



"Predictive models indicate that parasites may go extinct before their hosts during the coextinction process as opportunities to transmit between host individuals diminish," said Dr. Wood.



Even if the host species is saved later through conservation efforts,&nbsp;its lost parasites might never come back. This has unknown consequences. 



Parasites are hard to study, because they’re rarely recorded before they disappear. By the time scientists realize they’re gone, it's too late to learn about what role they played.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wider-implications-for-biodiversity">Wider implications for biodiversity</h2>



The study highlights that parasite extinctions might happen more often than previously thought. 



"Our new research indicates that parasite extinctions may be far more prevalent than previous estimates suggest, with unknown impacts on their hosts and their ecosystems," noted Dr. Wood.



Study lead author Alexander Boast from Manaaki Whenua–Landcare Research was taken aback by the findings. 



"The level of parasite loss in kākāpō was greater than we had expected, and very few parasite species were found in both ancient and modern kākāpō populations," said Boast.



"Thus, it seems that endangered species everywhere may possess fractions of their original parasite communities."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-protecting-kakapo-parasites-from-extinction">Protecting kākāpō parasites from extinction</h2>



As biodiversity declines, the loss of less visible species like parasites may also increase. 



"Global rates of climate change, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-confirm-first-case-of-rare-parasite-in-pigs-posing-health-risks/">ecosystem</a> modification, and biodiversity decline continue to rise, which means there is an increasingly urgent need to recognize and understand the downstream impacts on dependent species, such as parasites, mutualists, or predators," said Dr. Wood.



"Documenting parasite extinction, how quickly it can unfold, and estimating the number of presently threatened parasites are key first steps toward a 'global parasite conservation plan' and supporting informed predictions for past, present, and future parasite losses."



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/abstract/S0960-9822(25)00875-9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Current Biology</a>.



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Ancient bird droppings reveal massive parasite extinction

In the story of conservation, certain characters steal the spotlight....

More than a decade after a mysterious marine epidemic began wiping out sea stars, scientists have finally identified the cause. 



Published in Nature Ecology &amp; Evolution, the new study reveals that the devastating disease - known as sea star wasting disease (SSWD) - is caused by a strain of Vibrio pectenicida. 



This marks a major breakthrough in understanding the largest documented <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/terrifying-sea-stars-could-be-the-key-to-kelp-forest-recovery/">marine</a> epidemic in the wild.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unmasking-the-killer">Unmasking the killer</h2>



Sea star wasting disease has killed billions of sea stars along the Pacific coast, affecting over 20 species from Alaska to Mexico. 



Researchers from the Hakai Institute, the University of British Columbia (<a href="https://www.ubc.ca" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UBC</a>), and the <a href="https://www.washington.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Washington</a> set out to investigate, working with partners including The Nature Conservancy and the U.S. Geological Survey.



After four years of testing, the experts found that the culprit was V. pectenicida strain FHCF-3. Once inside the sea star, this strain causes lesions, arm loss, and tissue breakdown. The sea star can die in as little as two weeks.



“When we looked at the coelomic fluid between exposed and healthy sea stars, there was basically one thing different: Vibrio,” said Alyssa Gehman, senior author and marine disease ecologist at the <a href="https://hakai.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hakai Institute</a> and UBC. “We all had chills. We thought, That’s it. We have it. That’s what causes wasting.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sea-star-loss-disrupts-ocean-balance">Sea star loss disrupts ocean balance</h2>



The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sunflower-sea-stars-are-nearly-extinct-but-scientists-are-growing-them/">loss</a> of sea stars, especially sunflower sea stars (Pycnopodia helianthoides), has reshaped coastal ecosystems. Over 90 percent of these giant sea stars are gone. 



“When we lose billions of sea stars, that really shifts the ecological dynamics,” said Melanie Prentice, first author and evolutionary ecologist at Hakai and UBC. 



“In the absence of sunflower stars, sea urchin populations increase, which means the loss of kelp forests, and that has broad implications for all the other marine <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sea-otter-populations-thrive-when-sea-stars-vanish-from-an-area-but-why/">species</a> and humans that rely on them.”



Gehman explained that after the sunflower sea stars disappeared, sea urchin populations exploded. Without predators to keep them in check, the urchins quickly devoured vast areas of kelp forest.



"Until this event, we didn’t really grasp the importance of the link between sunflower sea stars and kelp. We knew sunflower sea stars ate urchins. We didn’t know how much they mattered until they all died," said Gehman.



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



Kelp forests are vital marine habitats. They support fisheries, attract tourists, shelter wildlife, and hold cultural value for coastal First Nations and tribal <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/deep-sea-life-is-more-connected-than-we-ever-realized/">communities</a>. They also store carbon and protect coasts from storms.



“Understanding what led to the loss of the sunflower sea star is a key step in recovering this species and all the benefits that kelp forest ecosystems provide,” noted Jono Wilson of <a href="https://www.nature.org/en-us/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Nature Conservancy</a>’s California chapter.



The research shows the importance of knowing what you're fighting. According to Prentice, it is incredibly hard to work on solutions without knowing what the pathogen is." 



“Getting this information makes management and recovery possible. Now all these doors are opened up to us, so we can start doing a lot more work to understand the drivers of disease and the roles played by different species," said Prentice.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lab-tests-confirm-the-bacteria">Lab tests confirm the bacteria</h2>



The research team didn’t stop with detection. Amy M. Chan, a marine microbiologist at UBC, cultured the bacteria from infected sea stars. They then injected it into healthy ones. The rapid deaths confirmed&nbsp;V. pectenicida&nbsp;FHCF-3 as the cause of SSWD.



The team now wants to explore why this bacterium became such a threat. One possible answer is warmer oceans. Many Vibrio strains grow faster in warm water, and SSWD outbreaks often follow temperature spikes.



“Those patterns of Vibrio in general suggest that we really should look down that road to see how temperature dependence matters,” said Gehman.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-recovery-for-sea-stars">Recovery for sea stars</h2>



Now that scientists know the cause, they are ready to act. They aim to test for the disease, track outbreaks, and breed resistant sea stars. They are also exploring reintroduction into the wild.



“Now that we found the causative agent of disease, it makes me more hopeful that we might actually be able to do something for sunflower sea stars,” said Gehman. 



“We can be really targeted in how we work with them, and I think that’s going to help us move a lot faster and to try to tackle sea star wasting disease.”



According to Prentice, there is a parallel with the human experience of going through the COVID-19 pandemic, and how much COVID tests really changed the way we interacted.



"Now that we know what causes sea star wasting disease, we can develop a test to screen samples, and that will tell us which animals we can move around and what areas are best for reintroduction."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-future-for-sea-stars">The future for sea stars</h2>



“This finding opens up exciting avenues to pursue and expands the network of researchers able to develop solutions for recovery of the species," said Wilson. 



"We are now actively pursuing studies looking at genetic associations with disease resistance, captive breeding of the animals, and experimental outplanting to understand the most effective strategies and locations to reintroduce sunflower sea stars into the wild."



The death toll has been staggering. But with this breakthrough, the tide may turn. The future of sunflower sea stars (and the kelp forests they protect) could depend on what comes next.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-025-02797-2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Ecology &amp; Evolution</a>.



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Cause of death for billions of sea stars finally identified

More than a decade after a mysterious marine epidemic began...

After years of outsmarting conservation efforts, rhino horn traffickers may finally meet their match - and it’s coming from an unlikely source: nuclear science.



The Rhisotope Project, led by a team at <a href="https://www.wits.ac.za/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wits University</a> in South Africa in collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), is using low-level radioactive isotopes to make <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/historical-photos-suggest-that-rhino-horns-have-gotten-smaller/">rhino horns</a> traceable at border checkpoints. 



After six years of testing, the project has now reached a point where it’s ready for widespread use.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-safe-for-rhinos-tough-on-traffickers">Safe for rhinos, tough on traffickers</h2>



Six months ago, the project embedded trace amounts of radioactive material into the horns of 20 rhinos living in the UNESCO Waterberg Biosphere. 



Since then, scientists have been closely monitoring the animals. Blood tests and veterinary checkups show no harm has been done.



“We have demonstrated, beyond scientific doubt, that the process is completely safe for the animal and effective in making the horn detectable through international customs nuclear security systems,” said Professor James Larkin, chief scientific officer of the Rhisotope Project.



To verify safety, researchers used a method called biological dosimetry. They cultured blood samples from the rhinos and looked for signs of cell damage in white blood cells. None were found. This confirms that the isotope levels used are well within safe limits.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nuclear-tools-fight-poaching">Nuclear tools fight poaching</h2>



Nuclear tech, often tied to energy or medicine, is now helping fight <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wildlife-crime-cases-can-be-solved-with-genetic-forensics/">wildlife crime</a> in a surprising new role. It’s a shift from the lab to the landscape, where science meets real-world urgency.



“This is one example of how Wits University’s researchers work and think innovatively, stepping out of the clinical environments of their laboratories to bring bold, creative solutions to some of the world’s toughest challenges,” said Professor Zeblon Vilakazi, vice-chancellor and principal of Wits University.



South Africa is home to most of the world’s rhinos. For more than a decade, it’s been losing them to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dehorning-rhinos-significantly-cuts-down-on-poaching/">poachers</a> who sell the horns on the black market. 



The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) now lists white rhinos as “Near Threatened” and black rhinos as “Critically Endangered.”



The project hopes to reduce this threat by making smuggled horns easier to detect. It aims to work not just visually, but with standard radiation detectors already used at airports and ports worldwide.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rhino-horn-tracking-in-real-life">Rhino horn tracking in real life</h2>



To make sure the technology works in real-world conditions, the team tested how detectable the treated horns would be during transport.



“We simulated transport scenarios with the 3D-printed horns in carry-on luggage, air cargo shipments, and priority parcel delivery systems," said Larkin. "In each case, even a single horn with significantly lower levels of radioactivity than what will be used in practice successfully triggered alarms in radiation detectors,” 



The horns even showed up inside full-size shipping containers. That means border security officers around the world could start catching illicit shipments much more reliably.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-global-effort-to-protect-rhinos">Global effort to protect rhinos</h2>



The Rhisotope Project is a registered non-profit and will be fully operational starting August 2025. The team encourages conservation groups, rhino owners, and government agencies to reach out and participate.



“Our goal is to deploy the Rhisotope technology at scale to help protect one of Africa’s most iconic and threatened species," said Jessica Babich, CEO of the Rhisotope Project. "By doing so, we safeguard not just rhinos but a vital part of our natural heritage.” 



The project is already getting international attention - not just from wildlife groups, but from the nuclear -science community.



“This project exemplifies how nuclear science can be applied in novel ways to address global challenges,” said IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi. “By leveraging existing nuclear security infrastructure, we can help protect one of the world’s most iconic and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/national-endangered-species-day-protecting-life-on-the-brink/">endangered species</a>.”



For once, rhinos may have the upper hand. And with science on their side, their horns may become less of a prize - and more of a trap - for traffickers.



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Rhino horns go radioactive to stop poaching

After years of outsmarting conservation efforts, rhino horn traffickers may...

<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=3Y4eLFNYrKE
</div></figure>



On the unforgiving landscape of North Greenland, temperatures drop and sunlight barely penetrates through the polar winter. It was here, however, that an international team of scientists found <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/predatory-worms-were-terror-beasts-half-a-billion-years-ago/#google_vignette" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">evidence of sea monsters</a> that would change our understanding of ocean life in the past.



This video captures the discovery of Timorebestia fossils that had been hidden for more than 500 million years in the Sirius Passet formation. The "terror beasts," as they are called, are a hidden chapter in the evolutionary history of <a href="https://www.earth.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earth</a>, showing that sophisticated predator-prey interactions occurred much earlier than previously envisioned.



Dr. Jakob Vinther and his research team at the <a href="https://www.bristol.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Bristol</a>, in collaboration with researchers at the <a href="https://eng.kopri.re.kr/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Korean Polar Research Institute</a>, braved extreme weather conditions at 82.5 north latitude to locate these giant creatures. Using sophisticated electron microprobe analysis, they revealed the detailed anatomy of the animals, including their muscle and nerve tissues.



The find upsets the traditional timeline of sea predators. Although we've long appreciated that Cambrian oceans were at one time ruled by <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWI3-UgA3_o&amp;list=PL1QLQMW9MWDwpkFOnvgAmu7wT6rZmYqdJ&amp;index=19" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">arthropods</a>, these discoveries indicate that relatives of arrow worms were first to dominate the seas. These worms were building sophisticated food webs several million years before other predator groups arose.



Each fossil is a story of ancient hunger, with fossil stomach contents revealing these meter-long beasts dined on heavily armored arthropods regularly, cementing their place as the ocean's first apex predators.



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Worms dominated seas before dinosaurs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Y4eLFNYrKE On the unforgiving landscape of North Greenland, temperatures drop...

<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=Ow3JH03PqEQ
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">New York is the site of the world's oldest forest.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-385-million-year-old-trees-discovered">385-million-year-old trees discovered</h2>



Scientists have uncovered something extraordinary just two hours north of New York City. The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/worlds-oldest-forest-discovered-close-to-new-york-city/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">world's oldest forest</a>, dating back 385 million years, offers a window into how Earth's first complex forests shaped our planet's atmosphere.



Located near <a href="https://townofcairo.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cairo, New York</a>, in Greene County, these weren't merely primitive plants struggling to survive. These were sophisticated trees with root systems remarkably similar to modern forests. This ancient woodland predates dinosaurs by 140 million years.



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



385 million years ago, upstate New York was a tropical paradise near the equator. Thanks to continental drift, this ancient forest has traveled thousands of miles to its current location.



The fossil forest sits in an abandoned quarry, roughly half the size of a football field. This represents just a slice of what was likely a massive forest system stretching from New York into Pennsylvania.



Charles Ver Straeten, curator of sedimentary rocks at the <a href="https://www.nysm.nysed.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New York State Museum</a>, made the discovery in 2009. While scouting the former highway department property, his trained eye spotted wandering patterns in the stone that looked like marine features.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-revolutionary-age-and-preservation">Revolutionary age and preservation</h2>



The site contains 385-million-year-old rocks with fossilized woody roots forming horizontal patterns up to 18 feet (5.5 meters) wide. As Christopher Berry, a paleobotanist at Cardiff University, explains: "You are walking through the roots of ancient trees."



This discovery pushes back advanced tree evolution by millions of years. The research, published in <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/home" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Current Biology</a> in December 2019, fundamentally changes our understanding of when complex forests first emerged.



Researchers believe a massive flood buried the forest floor, creating perfect fossilization conditions. Over millions of years, sediment hardened into rock, preserving these root patterns like nature's time capsule.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-meet-archaeopteris-the-first-modern-tree">Meet Archaeopteris: the first modern tree</h2>



The star of this ancient forest is Archaeopteris – not to be confused with the feathered dinosaur Archaeopteryx. This tree was far older and more revolutionary.



William Stein from <a href="https://www.binghamton.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Binghamton University</a> describes the roots as "strikingly modern, essentially what you'd see outside in my yard right now." These weren't simple root systems you'd expect from ancient plants.



Some fossilized roots are six inches (15 centimeters) in diameter, forming 36-foot-wide (11-meter) patterns. These giants grew up to 65 feet (20 meters) tall with five-foot-diameter (1.5-meter) trunks.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-changing-impact">Climate-changing impact</h2>



These trees fundamentally changed Earth's environment. Kevin Boyce, a Stanford University geoscientist, explains how their deep roots triggered "weathering," chemical reactions that pulled carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.



This process dropped atmospheric CO2 levels from 10-15 times higher than today to roughly modern concentrations. These ancient trees helped create atmospheric conditions that made complex life possible.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ancient-forest-ecosystem">Ancient forest ecosystem</h2>



The forest was remarkably diverse. Scientists identified Eospermatopteris, palm tree-like plants with short roots that reached 30 feet (9 meters) tall but lacked woody structure. The forest also housed cladoxylopsids and a mysterious third species still being studied.



All reproduced through spores rather than seeds – millions of years before seeds evolved. This tropical environment had no grass, flowers, or flying insects, just towering trees creating Earth's first complex forest canopy.



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



Before this finding, the Gilboa forest, located 25 miles (40 kilometers) away, held the "oldest forest" title. Cairo's trees are 2-3 million years older, showing that complex forest ecosystems developed much faster than scientists believed possible.



Patricia Gensel, a <a href="https://www.unc.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of North Carolina</a> paleobotanist, notes: "The size of those root systems is really changing the picture. Even 20 years ago, researchers assumed trees with such complex root systems didn't evolve so early."



The Cairo site presents three unique root systems, suggesting Devonian period forests were diverse ecosystems with different trees occupying different environmental niches, much like today's forests.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-modern-preservation-efforts">Modern preservation efforts</h2>



In 2022, New York State Senator Michelle Hinchey secured a $170,000 grant for the town of Cairo to construct specialized fencing around the fossil forest site. The town plans to conduct a feasibility study exploring the possibility of creating an educational center and working lab on-site.



Joe Hasenkopf, chair of the Cairo Planning Board, hopes to partner with educational institutions to create a research facility serving scientists, students, and the public.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lessons-for-today-s-climate">Lessons for today's climate</h2>



Why does a 385-million-year-old forest matter today? It shows how dramatically forests can change Earth's climate. These ancient woodlands created the atmospheric conditions supporting complex life.



Understanding how prehistoric forests transformed the planet helps us appreciate modern forests' critical role in addressing climate change. Forests remain Earth's most effective carbon capture systems.



These prehistoric trees changed Earth's atmosphere by pulling massive amounts of carbon dioxide from the air. As we face modern climate challenges, this ancient forest reminds us of trees' incredible power to transform our planet's environment.



The next time you walk through a forest, remember you're experiencing an ecosystem whose blueprint was established 385 million years ago in upstate New York. These ancient pioneers didn't just survive – they thrived and changed the world forever.



The full study was published in the journal Current Biology.



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Earth's oldest forest found in the United States

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow3JH03PqEQ New York is the site of the world's oldest...

<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=prrq8Ql81zk
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Acid rain and a crisis solved.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-don-t-we-ever-hear-about-acid-rain-anymore-the-environmental-crisis-that-was-solved">Why don't we ever hear about "acid rain" anymore? The environmental crisis that was solved</h2>



Remember the 1980s when acid rain dominated headlines? Dire warnings about rain eating buildings, killing fish, and destroying forests filled every news cycle. Then, almost like magic, acid rain vanished from public discourse. What happened? Did we actually solve one of the late 20th century's most pressing environmental challenges?



The answer might surprise you. Unlike many environmental issues that drag on indefinitely, acid rain represents one of modern history's most successful ecological recovery stories. It's a tale of science, politics, and technology working together to tackle what seemed impossible.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What was acid rain?</h2>



Acid rain isn't regular rain having a bad day – it's precipitation that became significantly more acidic due to air pollution. When power plants, factories, and vehicles burn fossil fuels, they release sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) into the atmosphere.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The science behind it</h2>



Think of acid rain as nature's chemistry experiment gone wrong. These compounds react with water, oxygen, and other chemicals to form sulfuric and nitric acids. When mixed with water vapor in clouds, they create precipitation with dangerously low pH levels.



While clean rain has a pH of about 5.6, acid rain could drop as low as 4.2 to 4.4 – roughly as acidic as tomato juice or coffee. According to US Geological Survey documentation, Scottish chemist Angus Smith first coined "acid rain" in 1872, but it didn't become a household phrase until the 1960s and 1970s when Swedish scientist Svante Odén documented its devastating effects on Scandinavian lakes and European forests.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The crisis at its peak</h2>



During the height of public concern, environmental damage was both widespread and visible. This wasn't some abstract future threat – people could see destruction happening in real-time.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Environmental devastation</h2>



The most dramatic impacts were impossible to ignore. Research documented by the Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation shows that in the Adirondack Mountains, more than 200 lakes became so acidic they couldn't support fish life. The Adirondack Council reports that 409 lakes once supported brook trout, but many lost their fish populations due to acid rain.



By 1976, when scientists cataloged all acidified lakes in the Adirondack Park, researchers found that half of the lakes over 2,000 feet above sea level had no fish, according to studies published in environmental journals. The acidification process worked like a slow-motion disaster. As acid rain fell into watersheds, it gradually lowered pH levels. Fish couldn't survive in acidic water, and their food sources died off too.



Trees at high elevations showed stress directly linked to acid rain. It weakened them by leaching nutrients and making them susceptible to disease. Historical records show Germany's Black Forest saw nearly half its trees damaged by the mid-1980s.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Economic impact</h2>



Acid rain wasn't just environmental – it was expensive. Acidic precipitation corroded infrastructure, buildings, and monuments. Historic stone structures deteriorated at accelerated rates. Tourism suffered as lakes became fishless and forests declined. EPA economic analyses from the period documented repair costs mounting into billions annually.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The solution: government action and technology</h2>



Transformation from crisis to success required unprecedented cooperation between governments, industries, and environmental groups.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Clean Air Act of 1990</h2>



The turning point came with the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, signed by President George H.W. Bush. This represented a fundamentally new approach to environmental regulation, as documented in EPA historical records.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Cap-and-trade success</h2>



Instead of mandating specific technologies, the 1990 amendments introduced something revolutionary: a cap-and-trade system for sulfur dioxide emissions. EPA program documentation shows this market-based approach set overall limits but allowed companies to trade emission allowances.



The genius was harnessing market forces to find cost-effective pollution reduction. Companies reducing emissions cheaply could sell excess allowances to those facing higher costs. Research published in environmental economics journals and EPA progress reports shows this resulted in dramatic SO2 reduction at a fraction of projected costs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Technology advances</h2>



Policy provided the framework, but technology made reductions possible. Studies in atmospheric science journals document the widespread adoption of flue gas desulfurization systems ("scrubbers") that removed sulfur dioxide before it reached the atmosphere. By the 2000s, new installations could remove over 95% of SO2 emissions, according to EPA technical reports.



The push coincided with cleaner energy development. Natural gas produces fewer sulfur compounds than coal. Wind and solar, emerging in the 1990s, captured growing market share, reducing reliance on high-sulfur coal.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-we-don-t-hear-about-it-today">Why we don't hear about it today</h2>



Why did acid rain disappear from headlines? Simple: the problem was largely solved.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Success doesn't make news</h2>



There's an old journalism saying: "If it bleeds, it leads." Environmental success stories don't generate urgency like crisis reporting. Media attention shifted to other challenges: climate change, plastic pollution, and biodiversity loss. There's only so much environmental anxiety the public can absorb, and newer concerns replaced acid rain.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Mission accomplished</h2>



The primary reason is beautifully simple: interventions worked. EPA monitoring data shows sulfur dioxide emissions dropped over 90% since 1990. Academic research published in environmental science journals confirms pH levels in formerly affected areas returned closer to normal. This represents one of history's most dramatic environmental recoveries. Studies by the Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation show fishless lakes now support healthy populations. Forests recovered, and building damage slowed dramatically.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-is-it-really-gone">Is it really gone?</h2>



The crisis is largely resolved, but monitoring data shows the problem isn't completely eliminated – it's managed to acceptable levels. Some areas still experience occasional events during high pollution periods. International environmental research indicates that rapidly industrializing Asian countries face similar problems to what we experienced decades ago, though they're implementing successful strategies.



EPA research shows nitrogen oxide emissions proved more challenging than sulfur dioxide, coming from vehicles and mobile sources. Climate science studies suggest changing weather patterns add complexity to how acid rain forms and falls.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What this teaches us</h2>



The acid rain experience proves that seemingly intractable environmental problems can be solved with scientific understanding, political will, and technological innovation. Environmental monitoring data shows recovery speed was remarkable – within a decade, measurable improvements appeared in air quality and ecosystem health.



Success came from bipartisan support across party lines. Policy analysis studies show the market-based approach appealed to those preferring economic incentives while achieving environmental goals. This support created lasting policy surviving political changes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Conclusion</h2>



Acid rain's disappearance from public consciousness represents environmental science's greatest success stories. Through effective regulation, technological innovation, and international cooperation, we transformed an overwhelming crisis into a manageable challenge.



Today's silence isn't because we forgot – it's because we solved it. The 1990 Clean Air Act, combined with technology and energy market changes, reduced acid rain emissions over 90%, according to comprehensive EPA data analysis.



This success offers hope for current challenges. It proves complex problems can be solved when science, policy, and technology work together. As we face climate change and plastic pollution, acid rain reminds us that dramatic positive change is possible.



Next time someone asks whether environmental regulations work, remember acid rain. It's proof that sometimes, we get it right.



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



Sources: This article draws from EPA official documentation and progress reports, peer-reviewed research published in environmental and atmospheric science journals, historical data from the Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation records, US Geological Survey publications, policy analysis studies, and environmental monitoring data collected over three decades.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Frequently Asked Questions</h2>



1. Is acid rain completely gone? No, but EPA monitoring shows it's reduced to manageable levels. US sulfur dioxide emissions dropped over 90% since 1990, making acid rain much less severe than the 1980s crisis.



2. How long did solving take? Environmental monitoring data shows significant improvements began within 5-10 years of 1990s emission controls. Full ecosystem recovery took longer – some areas need 20-30 years for complete recovery.



3. What made the solution successful? Clear scientific understanding, visible damage motivating action, bipartisan support, available technology, and innovative market-based policies like cap-and-trade.



4. Do other countries have acid rain problems? Yes, particularly rapidly industrializing Asian countries. However, international environmental research shows many implement similar successful control strategies.



5. Could acid rain return? Potentially, if regulations weaken or we return to high-sulfur coal without controls, though effects would take years to become severe according to environmental projections.



6. Can you recommend any teaching tools on the subject of "acid rain"? The United States Environmental Protection Agency produced a wonderful teacher's guide for ages 14 and under that you can find on the EPA website here: <a href="https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2017-03/documents/teachersguide.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2017-03/documents/teachersguide.pdf</a>



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The environmental problem we actually solved

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prrq8Ql81zk Acid rain and a crisis solved. Why don't we...

Fresh,Radish,Harvest,On,Soil,In,Garden.

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://youtu.be/Fi2OeEwuzRM?si=vTyd2m9FMmtyWkex
</div></figure>







Mid-July is an opportune time to kick-start a thriving fall garden, and this guide lays out the best vegetables and herbs to plant now for a fruitful autumn harvest. 



Fast-growing leafy greens such as spinach, lettuce, kale, and arugula perform especially well in the waning summer heat, with harvests beginning as soon as 30 days. 



These cool-season crops relish the transition into fall, offering repeated yields with cut-and-come-again methods.



Root vegetables like radishes, carrots, and beets also excel during this period. Radishes deliver satisfaction in under a month, while carrots and beets mature in about two months. Employing succession planting ensures a continuous stream of produce deep into the cooler months. 



For a boost of fresh flavor, herbs like cilantro, basil, dill, and chervil are excellent picks. These heat-loving varieties flourish in July’s warmth and are harvest-ready in about 30 days, especially when sown continuously.



Gardeners in zones 6 through 9 can benefit from planting bush beans and snap peas, which don’t require trellising and are ideal for compact plots. 



Maturing in 50–60 days, they’re a smart choice for quick, protein-rich harvests. For those in hotter regions, heat-tolerant crops such as okra and southern peas provide reliable yields and thrive in scorching conditions.



This guide emphasizes more than crop selection—it highlights the importance of timing, soil preparation, and ongoing sowing techniques. 



With thoughtful planning and attention to regional climate needs, even late-summer gardeners can enjoy fresh salads, hearty stews, and the satisfaction of a robust, homegrown harvest well into fall.



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What to plant in your garden in mid-July

https://youtu.be/Fi2OeEwuzRM?si=vTyd2m9FMmtyWkex Mid-July is an opportune time to kick-start a thriving...

Green,Ecoduct,Over,An,Empty,Highway,During,Sunset.

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://youtu.be/XYgiPzmNBTU?si=eFYY7gPHU1JznLvU
</div></figure>



A new long-term study in Monkton, Vermont, reveals that wildlife tunnels significantly reduce amphibian road mortality during seasonal migrations. 



Frogs and salamanders often cross roads to reach breeding ponds each spring, but many are killed by vehicles. 



Researchers from the <a href="https://www.uvm.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Vermont</a>, in collaboration with local citizens and the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, installed two underpass tunnels in 2015. 



Over a 12-year monitoring period, they observed an 80.2% reduction in amphibian deaths, and up to 94% for non-climbing species like salamanders. 



The study used a before-after-control-impact design and documented more than 5,200 amphibians, highlighting the tunnels’ effectiveness even in nearby buffer zones.



Funded at $342,397 - far cheaper than wildlife crossings for large mammals - the project showcased the power of community-led conservation.



Local groups initiated the effort after observing mass amphibian deaths. Wildlife cameras later captured over 2,200 amphibians using a tunnel in just one spring, along with other species like raccoons and bobcats, indicating wider ecosystem benefits.



This marks the first peer-reviewed, long-term data set in the northeastern U.S. confirming amphibian-specific underpasses work. 



The study urges transportation departments to incorporate these designs into road planning and highlights how community action, thoughtful infrastructure, and persistence can make a real difference for biodiversity.



The full study was published in the <a href="https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1617138125000780" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal for Nature Conservation</a>.



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Wildlife tunnels save millions of amphibians

https://youtu.be/XYgiPzmNBTU?si=eFYY7gPHU1JznLvU A new long-term study in Monkton, Vermont, reveals that...

Scientists are transforming chocolate into a functional food by infusing it with probiotics and prebiotics, aiming to create a treat that satisfies cravings while supporting gut health. 



The challenge lies in maintaining chocolate's beloved texture and flavor while adding health benefits.



<figure class="wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://youtu.be/Ug657J67iEo?si=w96YjGMsg939LD_3
</div></figure>



Probiotics - beneficial microbes that balance gut bacteria and aid digestion - are typically fragile and can be destroyed by stomach acid or processing. 



Prebiotics act as food for these microbes, helping them thrive. Together, they form "synbiotics," a powerful health combination.



Researchers Smriti Gaur and Shubhi Singh from India's Jaypee Institute of Information Technology took an innovative approach, using natural prebiotics like corn and honey instead of complex processing methods. 



They created five chocolate varieties: a control and four synbiotic versions containing different combinations of prebiotics, probiotics (Lactobacillus strains), and flavor enhancers (cinnamon or orange).



Laboratory simulations of human digestion showed the probiotics remained viable for over five hours, suggesting they could survive long enough to benefit gut health.



Taste tests were positive, with researchers particularly enjoying the orange-flavored variety, describing it as having "vibrant citrus notes" complementing the "rich cocoa" with a "luxurious" texture.



This research represents just the beginning. With further refinement of strains, textures, and flavors, chocolate could evolve beyond mere indulgence to become a functional food that nourishes while it delights.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsfoodscitech.4c00741" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ACS Food Science &amp; Technology</a>.

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

Scientists are transforming chocolate into a functional food by infusing...

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky" Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features northwest Lesotho in South Africa.



According to ESA, Lesotho is the only nation in the world that lies completely above 1,000 m in elevation. The country is famous for its tall mountains and narrow valleys, and is known as Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky."



Out of a population of around two million people, about 80 percent live in rural areas. More than 75 percent of these people are engaged in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-will-have-a-global-impact-on-agriculture/">agriculture</a>, including rainfed cereal production and animal grazing.&nbsp;



ESA reports that the country’s agricultural system faces a growing number of issues, with climate-related vulnerabilities such as drought, floods and extreme temperatures occurring more frequently. 



Diamonds are amongst the minerals found in the mountains. Indeed, Lesotho can truly be called the Kingdom in the Sky. Beautiful, culturally rich, safe, affordable, and easily accessible from Durban and Johannesburg, mountainous Lesotho is a vastly underrated travel destination. the Kingdom of Lesotho (Sotho: 'Muso oa Lesotho) is an enclaved country in southern Africa. It is just over 30,000 km2 (11,583 sq mi) in size and has a population of around 2 million.



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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