Insects are the tiny engines of life: flying, crawling, pollinating, and recycling. They sustain plants, hold food webs together, and enrich the soil. But despite the fact that insects are everywhere, they are quietly disappearing.



The crisis is no longer just in farmlands and cities. A new study from Colorado’s mountains shows steep declines even in wild, remote areas. That makes the warning louder: no <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/insect-populations-dramatically-declining-around-the-world-rising-temperatures/">ecosystem</a> is safe.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-insects-decline-in-mountains">Insects decline in mountains</h2>



Keith Sockman, a biologist at the <a href="https://www.unc.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of North Carolina</a> at Chapel Hill, spent 20 years counting flying insects in a high Colorado meadow. 



The site sits above 3,000 meters, near wilderness, with little human disturbance. It has decades of weather records, which made it ideal for linking insect numbers with climate.



The results were stark. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/very-little-is-known-about-99-of-all-insects-on-earth/">Insect</a> numbers fell by an average of 6.6 percent every year. Over two decades, that meant a 72.4 percent drop. The main culprit was rising summer temperatures, especially warmer nights.



“Insects have a unique, if inauspicious position in the biodiversity crisis due to the ecological services, such as nutrient cycling and pollination, they provide and to their vulnerability to environmental change,” Sockman said. “Insects are necessary for terrestrial and fresh-water ecosystems to function.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-when-warmth-lingers-at-night">When warmth lingers at night</h2>



The study found a lagged effect. Hot summers hurt <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/insects-are-still-disappearing-and-there-are-hundreds-of-reasons-why/">insect</a> numbers the following year. Warmer nights were the most damaging. 



Over the past 38 years, summer low temperatures in the region rose by about 0.8°C per decade. That left insects with less recovery time from daytime heat.



This matches what scientists have seen with mountain butterflies. Even slight rises in nightly lows can strain species already adapted to narrow temperature ranges.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-than-farmland-losses">More than farmland losses</h2>



Germany’s famous study showed over 80 percent declines in farmed landscapes over 27 years. Those findings were often blamed on pesticides and habitat loss. 



Sockman’s work shows something different. Insects are collapsing even in a meadow with little human pressure. Climate itself may be enough.



“Several recent studies report significant insect declines across a variety of human-altered <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/modern-farming-is-causing-many-insect-species-to-collapse/">ecosystems</a>, particularly in North America and Europe,” Sockman said. 



“Most such studies report on ecosystems that have been directly impacted by humans or are surrounded by impacted areas, raising questions about insect declines and their drivers in more natural areas.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-other-forces-at-play">Other forces at play</h2>



Climate change explains much, but not everything. Sockman points to other possibilities: shifts in vegetation as meadows change, rising carbon and nitrogen altering plant nutrition, or natural succession. 



The traps used in the study also captured mainly flying insects. That means the decline may not reflect every insect group, though the loss is still severe.



Seasonal timing shifts (when insects emerge earlier or later) could also play a role. But the data showed consistent drops that timing alone could not explain. Even if some insects shifted their activity to earlier in the season, the overall counts did not recover. 



Years with hotter summers still produced smaller populations the next year, which suggests the pressure is deeper than timing changes. It points toward long-term stress, not just seasonal mismatch, driving the collapse.



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



Mountain ecosystems are fragile. Insects there need traits like cold tolerance, rapid development, and resilience to harsh winds. 



They pollinate alpine flowers, recycle nutrients in short growing seasons, and serve as prey for birds. If they vanish, the entire system weakens.



“Mountains are host to disproportionately high numbers of locally adapted endemic species, including insects. Thus, the status of mountains as biodiversity hotspots may be in jeopardy if the declines shown here reflect trends broadly,” Sockman said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-global-signal">A global signal</h2>



High mountains and high latitudes are warming faster than the rest of the planet. They act like islands, with no higher ground for species to escape to. What is happening in Colorado is likely happening elsewhere too. 



The losses here are not local - they are global warnings, signaling risks for ecosystems from the Andes to the Himalayas and across Arctic regions where insects support both wildlife and human livelihoods.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-protecting-insects-in-mountains">Protecting insects in mountains</h2>



Insect monitoring must expand beyond farmland and suburban areas. Remote ecosystems also need attention. Long-term studies like Sockman’s are rare but essential for tracking change.



The message is urgent. Insects are not resilient enough to withstand unchecked warming. If they vanish, food webs will collapse, pollination will falter, and ecosystems will unravel. Their fate is tied to ours.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ecy.70187" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ecology</a>.



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Remote mountain meadow confirms global insect crisis

Insects are the tiny engines of life: flying, crawling, pollinating, and recycling. They sustain plants, hold food webs together, and enrich the soil. But despite the fact that insects are everywhere, they are quietly disappearing. The crisis is no longer just in farmlands and cities. A new study from Colorado’s mountains shows steep declines even in wild, remote areas. That makes the warning louder: no ecosystem is safe. Insects decline in mountains Keith Sockman, a biologist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, spent 20...

Bed bugs and humans go way back - possibly further than most people would care to know. Around 60,000 years ago, a few adventurous bed bugs decided to latch onto <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/humans-and-neanderthals-species-face-structure-evolved-differently/" rel="nofollow">Neanderthals</a> who were emerging from caves. That moment marked the beginning of a long and successful ride alongside humans.



Meanwhile, their less curious relatives stayed behind with the bats. Those bat-associated bed bug populations didn’t fare as well. 



Since the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ice-age-data-analysis-reshapes-climate-future-lowers-warming-estimates/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Last Glacial Maximum</a>, roughly 20,000 years ago, their numbers have been decreasing. In contrast, the human-loving bed bugs have only flourished.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-bed-bugs-the-basics">Understanding bed bugs - the basics</h2>



Bed bugs are tiny, flat insects that feed on human blood, usually while people sleep. They’re reddish-brown, about the size of an apple seed, and incredibly sneaky. 



They don’t jump or fly, but they crawl quickly and hide in cracks, mattress seams, or even behind picture frames. 



Most people first notice them because of itchy bites or small rust-colored stains on sheets - left behind after the bugs feed.



These pests spread easily by hitching rides on luggage, clothes, or used furniture. Once they’re in your home, they’re tough to get rid of without persistent effort or professional help. They reproduce fast, and a single female can lay hundreds of eggs in her lifetime. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-genetics-bed-bugs-and-humans">Genetics, bed bugs, and humans</h2>



Researchers from <a href="https://www.vt.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Virginia Tech</a> recently took a closer look at this curious split. They compared the full genomes of two genetically distinct bed bug lineages - those that feed on bats and those that feed on people.



The findings show that the bugs associated with humans have a demographic history that closely mirrors our own. This might make them the world’s first true urban <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pests-are-moving-to-cooler-regions-due-to-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pests</a>.



“We wanted to look at changes in effective population size, which is the number of breeding individuals that are contributing to the next generation, because that can tell you what’s been happening in their past,” said Lindsay Miles, a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Entomology.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-human-society-and-bed-bug-populations">Human society and bed bug populations</h2>



The research adds to our understanding of how pest populations might respond as human cities grow. By linking the global expansion of humans with the rise of urban pests like bed bugs, the study could help pinpoint traits that evolved in parallel with urban development.



The data includes a stairway graph showing that bed bug population growth mirrors the spread of humans across the globe. 



“Initially with both populations, we saw a general decline that is consistent with the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/humans-were-in-north-america-during-last-glacial-maximum/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Last Glacial Maximum</a>; the bat-associated lineage never bounced back, and it is still decreasing in size,” said Miles, who is also affiliated with the <a href="https://fralinlifesci.vt.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Fralin Life Sciences Institute</a>.



“The really exciting part is that the human-associated lineage did recover and their effective population increased."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-environments-where-bed-bugs-thrive">Environments where bed bugs thrive</h2>



The recovery of the human-linked group appears to line up with the early days of large <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ancient-bridge-found-inside-genovesa-cave-spain-changes-human-migration-timeline/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">human settlements</a>. 



Around 12,000 years ago, cities like Mesopotamia began to form. Humans were clustering together, creating environments where bed bugs could thrive.



“That makes sense because modern humans moved out of caves about 60,000 years ago,” said Professor Warren Booth. 



“There were bed bugs living in the caves with these humans, and when they moved out they took a subset of the population with them so there’s less genetic diversity in that human-associated lineage.”



As our communities grew, so did the bed bugs' breeding pool. Their population expanded along with ours.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-two-lineages-still-one-species">Two lineages, still one species</h2>



Using genome data, the researchers have created a base for future studies of this 245,000-year-old lineage split. 



Although the two lineages are genetically different, they haven’t evolved into two separate species. That makes the human-associated lineage a compelling case for studying recent evolutionary changes.



“What will be interesting is to look at what’s happening in the last 100 to 120 years,” said Booth. “Bed bugs were pretty common in the old world, but once <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/exposure-to-ddt-alters-sperm-putting-children-at-risk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">DDT</a> [dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane] was introduced for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/natural-pest-control-the-hidden-power-of-aloe-vera-peels/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pest control</a>, populations crashed."



Although bed bugs were thought to have been eradicated at this stage, they reappeared within five years - and they had become resistant to the pesticide. 



Booth, Miles, and graduate student Camille Block previously identified a gene mutation that might explain this resistance. 



Their current research continues to explore how bed bugs evolve at the genetic level, especially when it comes to surviving chemical treatments.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-science-support-and-the-long-view">Science, support, and the long view</h2>



The project also reflects the benefits of giving researchers the time and support to follow interesting scientific questions, wherever they lead.



“It’s a great resource to have,” said Booth. “We are using it for work investigating the evolution of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/insecticides-may-be-helping-weeds-thrive/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">insecticide</a> resistance and species spread using museum specimens collected from 120 years ago to our present-day samples. I’m very lucky to have that freedom to explore.”



From cave walls to skyscrapers, bed bugs have stayed close to humanity through every major chapter in our story. And thanks to research like this, we’re finally starting to understand just how close that connection really is.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsbl.2025.0061" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Biology Letters</a>.



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Bed bugs hitched a ride on Neanderthals and became the first human pest

Bed bugs and humans go way back - possibly further...

For decades, scientists assumed that birds, with their ability to fly long distances and nest in a range of habitats, would cope better with a warmer climate than most other animals.



A new study from <a href="https://www.yale.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Yale University</a> upends that optimism, showing that even the continent’s feathered high-flyers cannot relocate quickly enough to escape rising temperatures.



The researchers examined 406 <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hundreds-of-bird-species-face-extinction-risks-in-the-neotropics/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bird species</a> across North America. Using 20 years of sightings from thousands of volunteer birdwatchers and matched to detailed local weather records, the team asked a simple question: Can birds move far enough and fast enough to keep living in their preferred climate? The short answer is no.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-warming-on-the-rise">Climate warming on the rise</h2>



During summer, many species did exactly what textbooks predict: they edged north or climbed to higher ground. On average, populations shifted between 40 and 50 miles toward cooler latitudes, trimming about 1.3°C from the heat they would otherwise have faced.



Yet the continent warmed even faster. In their newly adopted territories, birds still endured an average summer increase of roughly 1.35°C compared with the conditions in their original range two decades earlier.



Winter was worse. Although some species crept into chillier regions, those movements reduced the warming they experienced by only 11 percent. 



Over 20 years, typical winter temperatures in the places birds actually occupied rose by a staggering 3.7 °C. Relocation shaved off barely half a degree.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-some-birds-stay-behind">Some birds stay behind</h2>



Birds that clock up marathon <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/vanishing-forests-make-bird-migration-harder-across-the-corn-belt/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">migrations</a> coped best. The blue-winged <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bird-competition-how-warblers-share-trees-without-fighting/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">warbler</a>, an energetic insect-eater, shifted its breeding range more than 100 miles north, avoiding roughly two degrees of extra heat. Even success stories may falter as birds now face warmer climates than those at the start of the millennium.



At the other end of the scale are species essentially stuck in place. The cactus wren, tied to the thorny desert scrub of the American Southwest, barely budged. 



Constrained by specialized habitat needs and competition for new territories, these birds face the full brunt of desert warming without an obvious escape route.



About three-quarters of species moved north or upslope, but their progress was limited and inconsistent. Males, females, and juveniles did not respond in lockstep. Many populations overshot suitable habitat or encountered barriers like mountains, farmland, or suburbs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wings-can-t-match-warming">Wings can't match warming</h2>



Lead scientist Jeremy Cohen, an associate research scientist in Yale’s Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, noted that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/birds-adapt-their-survival-strategies-to-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate change</a> is moving the goalposts faster than wings can follow.



Temperature zones are marching poleward at an average of 20 to 50 miles per decade in North America - comparable to the distances the birds moved over the entire twenty-year study.



 To keep up, birds would need to shift the size of a small state every few decades. That pace is hampered by geography, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-soil-moisture-can-predict-severe-storms/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">storms</a>, and the biological reality that individuals usually return to the same breeding and wintering grounds year after year.



Another complication is that climate is only one piece of a bird’s ecological puzzle. Food supply, nesting trees, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/some-birds-use-snake-skins-in-their-nests-to-deter-predators/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">predator</a> pressures all vary unpredictably across the landscape.



A route that looks thermally comfortable may be barren of insects or overrun by competing species. As a result, many birds tolerate hotter conditions rather than gamble on unknown habitat.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-about-species-that-are-less-mobile">What about species that are less mobile?</h2>



If birds - arguably the planet’s most mobile vertebrates - struggle to match climate velocity, prospects for ground-bound animals look bleak. Reptiles, amphibians, and small mammals cannot outrun rising heat and are often hemmed in by roads or urban sprawl.



“In a uniquely well-studied continental system, we find that even a highly mobile group, such as birds, is unable to relocate quickly enough to keep up with this velocity,” said senior author Walter Jetz, a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at Yale. 



“This raises deep concerns about the ability of all the other, less mobile species and lesser known species to persist in a warmer world."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-preventing-an-extinction-crisis">Preventing an extinction crisis</h2>



A better understanding and management of the bird species most vulnerable to a warmer climate is needed to prevent a looming extinction crisis.



The study highlights a widening mismatch between the environmental conditions species evolved to handle and the realities they now encounter.



Over thousands of years, each bird developed a “climatic niche,” a sweet spot of temperature and rainfall. Human-driven warming is shifting those niches faster than evolutionary adaptation or migration can compensate.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-saving-birds-in-hot-times">Saving birds in hot times</h2>



The findings do not mean that every species is doomed, but they shift the conservation spotlight. Efforts that focus only on protecting traditional breeding grounds may fail if those areas become too hot.



Instead, wildlife managers may need to safeguard corridors of suitable habitat that allow gradual, multi-generational range shifts. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/colorful-urban-environments-promote-well-being/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Urban planners</a> can also help by reducing glass collisions and creating green spaces that serve as stepping-stones.



Meanwhile, the most effective long-term solution remains slowing climate change itself. The faster global emissions are curtailed, the smaller the gap between where species are and where they need to be.



For bird lovers, the takeaway is bittersweet. Spring migrants will still return, but many will arrive earlier, seek shade more often, and raise their young in warmer nests than their ancestors ever knew. Their journey north is a race they are already losing - a stark reminder that flight alone cannot lift wildlife clear of a rapidly warming planet.



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Birds are struggling to keep pace with a warming climate

For decades, scientists assumed that birds, with their ability to...

Birds don’t just fly and sing. They also molt - the process of shedding and regrowing feathers - which is as vital to survival as migration and breeding.



From insulation to attraction during mating season, the quality and timing of feather replacement can make or break a bird’s chance of survival.



A new study from <a href="https://eccles.utah.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the University of Utah</a> highlights just how sensitive this molting process has become to climate change. 



Researchers tracked changes in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-explore-why-and-where-birds-molt-their-feathers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">molt</a> timing - known as molt phenology - using 13 years of detailed bird-banding records gathered at the university’s Bonderman Field Station at Rio Mesa in southeastern Utah.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bird-feathers-tell-a-new-climate-story">Bird feathers tell a new climate story</h2>



Over 22,000 birds representing 134 species were monitored between 2011 and 2024. Mist nets, set up near sunrise and checked every 30 minutes, temporarily captured birds during their spring and fall <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bird-migration-is-influenced-by-social-relationships/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">migrations</a>. 



Each bird’s age, sex, species, feather and body condition, and molt stage were recorded before release. These seasonal captures formed the foundation for an important discovery.



“In the fall, we found that birds are shifting both their body and their flight feather molt earlier over time across the 13 years at a rate of about one day earlier per year,” said lead researcher Kyle Kittelberger.



That shift suggests a response to changing climate patterns, especially related to events like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/el-nino-event-may-push-earth-towards-its-hottest-year-ever/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">El Niño</a>. These patterns are increasingly influencing the timing of birds’ migration and breeding, indirectly prompting earlier feather molts.



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



“Molt is a really fundamental component of a bird's lifecycle. It's one of the main elements that a bird does, one of the main activities in addition to breeding and migrating,” said Kittelberger.



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/unique-molting-patterns-may-have-saved-birds-during-dinosaur-extinction/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Molting</a> replaces old, damaged feathers, ensuring better flight performance and even helping with mate attraction. 



“If you have poor feather quality that could impact, for example, your migration. You might not be able to fly as well. It could also in the spring impact your ability to attract a mate,” he added.



But molting isn’t something birds usually do while <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/oil-and-gas-infrastructure-harms-breeding-birds-in-alaska/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">breeding</a> or migrating. Those are energy-intensive periods, and feather regrowth is equally demanding. Doing both at once would stretch a bird’s resources dangerously thin.



“Birds don't want to be actively replacing feathers in their wings when they're migrating because they're going to be putting energy into replacing those feathers that will compete with the energy that they need for those long-distance flights,” said Kittelberger.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-not-all-seasons-are-equal">Not all seasons are equal</h2>



Interestingly, no overall shift was observed in spring molt across species. “We didn't see any shift at the community level for spring body molt," said Kittelberger.



"Some of the reasons for that might be birds tend to migrate much faster in the spring because it's more of a direct shot getting back to their breeding grounds so that they can start preparing for the breeding season, whereas in the fall, it's a slower and more meandering process." 



That slower fall pace might explain why birds now molt earlier. Other studies have also found that many <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/migratory-birds-have-new-strategy-to-cope-with-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">migratory birds</a> are breeding sooner, which could lead to earlier molting after the breeding season ends.



“A lot of molting occurs after breeding. That might be why we're seeing an earlier shift in time with molt in the fall, because they could be breeding earlier,” Kittelberger said. 



“But we're also seeing that some species are delaying their migration in the fall. So that could alternatively mean that they have an opportunity to molt more of their feathers earlier before a later migration.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-following-the-bird-s-full-journey">Following the bird's full journey</h2>



The study demonstrates the importance of long-term field stations in understanding how birds adapt - or struggle to adapt - to changing environmental cues. However, this research offers just a snapshot in a single location along the Dolores River.



“To really get a clearer picture of changes in molt, we need to go to their breeding or post-breeding grounds and assess birds there,” said Kittelberger. 



“That is the next element of this kind of research, to not only look at what's going on in the summer when they're beginning to molt but to see if that overlaps with anything like breeding.”



As the climate continues to shift, so too do the rhythms of bird life. Feather by feather, birds are adapting - but how long they can keep up remains a question worth watching.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/735848" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The American Naturalist</a>.



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Birds are molting earlier in the fall as global seasons continue shifting

Birds don’t just fly and sing. They also molt -...

Most moths and butterflies eat plants when they’re caterpillars. Well, almost all of them. Out of nearly 200,000 species, barely any eat meat. But scientists found one weird exception in Hawaii: caterpillars that live in spider webs, eating the bugs that get stuck - including the spider that built the web.



Even creepier? It builds a little shelter out of silk, and then decorates its tiny home with the dead body parts of the insects and spiders it kills. It’s like the caterpillar version of a haunted house.



This strange meat-eating caterpillar has been doing its thing for over six million years - longer than the current Hawaiian islands have even existed. 



But today, scientists have only found one species left, and it lives in a tiny patch of forest on one mountain in Oʻahu - nowhere else in the world.



According to <a href="https://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/site/Bio.aspx?ID=RUBINDAN" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Daniel Rubinoff</a> from the <a href="https://manoa.hawaii.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Hawaii at Manoa</a>, these caterpillars now teeter on the brink of vanishing from their only known habitat.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-these-caterpillars-coexist-with-spiders">How these caterpillars coexist with spiders</h2>



Most similar species, nibble on leaves, stems, or fruit throughout their larval stage. 



By contrast, this rare Hawaiian caterpillar lives in spider webs because it's a predator, placing it among the fewer than 0.13% of carnivorous caterpillars, based on the recent study.



It constructs a mobile case using silk and reinforces it with exoskeleton bits from dead insects. This camouflage seems to disguise its presence from predators while it moves around the forest.



Researchers refer to this creature as a “bone collector” because of how it gathers insect segments. The idea of a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/caterpillar-noses-can-lead-to-safer-ways-to-protect-crops/">caterpillar</a> wearing bug remains may seem outlandish, but it helps it persist in a competitive environment.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-life-as-a-tiny-camouflaged-predator">Life as a tiny, camouflaged predator</h2>



Rather than weaving its own traps, this caterpillar takes advantage of spider webs filled with unwary insects. It can consume portions of the spiders’ leftovers while hiding behind its camouflage.



“It’s like they’re literally living in the lion’s den,” said Rubinoff. Staying concealed is crucial when you share space with an <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rethinking-arachnid-evolution-the-surprising-history-of-spiders/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">arachnid</a>, especially one that could turn you into a meal if it notices you. 



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/bone-collecting-caterpillar_spiders-web_camouflage_credit-UHawaii_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/bone-collecting-caterpillar_spiders-web_camouflage_credit-UHawaii_1s.webp" alt="A bone collector caterpillar living undisrupted in a spider’s web. © Rubinoff lab, Entomology Section, University of Hawaii, Manoa" class="wp-image-1971577"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A bone collector caterpillar living undisrupted in a spider’s web. Click image to enlarge. Credit: Rubinoff lab, Entomology Section, University of Hawaii, Manoa</figcaption></figure>



Scientists have observed that these larvae remain safe even in webs owned by introduced spider species. This knack for blending in may allow them to exploit a range of web-building hosts.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-carnivorous-caterpillars-eating-spiders">Carnivorous caterpillars eating spiders</h2>



This Hawaiian species is not alone in swapping a plant-based diet for meat. Some inchworms in the genus <a href="https://www.schweizerbart.de/papers/entomologia/detail/8/98429/Biogeography_of_the_Moth_Genus_Eupithecia_in_Oceania_and_the_Evolution_of_Ambush_Predation_in_Hawaiian_Caterpillars_Lepidoptera_Geometridae" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eupithecia</a> are known to capture insects using a sit-and-wait tactic.



Such adaptations hint that carnivory can evolve multiple times in isolated environments. Hawaii, with its remote location and diverse microclimates, is famous for producing surprising insect behaviors.



Biologists note that these unusual diets often emerge when typical plant food is limited or competition is intense. Each instance of carnivory underscores the versatility of caterpillars in responding to selective pressures.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-one-of-a-kind-and-already-endangered">One-of-a kind and already endangered</h2>



Large swaths of Hawaii’s native forests have been replaced by non-native plants and feral animals. 



The <a href="https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/hisc/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hawaii Invasive Species Council</a> reports that these intruders can disrupt local ecosystems and push delicate species toward extinction.



This caterpillar occupies a fraction of its former territory in the <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g60661-d261541-Reviews-Waianae_Mountain_Range-Waianae_Oahu_Hawaii.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Waiʻanae Mountains</a> on Oʻahu. Relentless habitat change and invasive predators leave little room for its specialized lifestyle.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/bone-collecting-caterpillar_insect-parts_examples_credit-UHawaii_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/bone-collecting-caterpillar_insect-parts_examples_credit-UHawaii_1s.webp" alt="Several cases of the bone collector caterpillar, adorned in insect parts. © Rubinoff lab, Entomology Section, University of Hawaii, Manoa" class="wp-image-1971575"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Several cases of the bone collector caterpillar, adorned in insect parts. Click image to enlarge. Credit: Rubinoff lab, Entomology Section, University of Hawaii, Manoa</figcaption></figure>



Researchers worry that a single damaging event, such as a severe storm or a sudden surge in invasive pests, could wipe out the entire population. Hawaii has already lost many endemic insects to habitat destruction.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-isolation-drives-strange-evolution">Why isolation drives strange evolution</h2>



Islands like Hawaii are natural laboratories for unusual life forms. Their isolation allows species to branch off from their ancestors and evolve in weird, specific ways.



With few predators and limited competition, even insects can carve out bizarre niches. These bone collector caterpillars, and their strange relationship with spiders, show how far evolution can stretch when a species gets the time and space to experiment.



Just the idea that a caterpillar species could live side-by-side with a spider sounds completely farfetched, but then science is always full of surprises.



Experts see this <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/caterpillars-use-their-hair-to-detect-predators-static-electricity/">caterpillar</a> as a window into the island’s evolutionary past. Its genetic blueprint could reveal how an herbivorous lineage transforms into a predator over millions of years.



“This is the last sort of holdout for this entire lineage,” said Rubinoff. He and his team describe this insect as an astounding survivor of Hawaii’s tough conditions.&nbsp;



Many scientists hope that targeted conservation efforts will preserve it. Practical steps could include safeguarding remaining habitat and restricting further spread of invasive plants.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-of-bone-collecting-caterpillars">Future of bone-collecting caterpillars</h2>



“It doesn’t do what you’d expect simply because we have these expectations that aren’t always accurate,” said Rubinoff. The team voiced an interest in decoding how these caterpillars identify and process spiders and insect remains.



The researchers suggested that a specialized metabolic pathway might allow them to handle such a heavy protein intake. Further lab work could confirm whether this species has unique enzymes or supportive gut microbes.



By studying them closely, experts can gain insights into the evolutionary leaps that set these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/baby-caterpillars-defend-their-territory-without-a-fight/">caterpillars</a> apart. If researchers secure enough support, future generations may still marvel at an insect that blurs the line between plant-eater and predator.



Small creatures can raise big questions about natural adaptation. The ongoing struggle for survival in Hawaii’s changing environment sets the stage for new scientific discoveries.



Without sustained attention, though, this caterpillar may slip into obscurity like so many island species before it. Conservation supporters warn that every lost native insect weakens Hawaii’s ecological tapestry.



Click here to <a href="https://spaces.hightail.com/receive/c2BXtmaqCF/fi-80020a9f-074e-447e-ba19-0656c22b6afd/fv-8f7fba77-03ce-499b-ad83-fd52c0055cd6/25069%20Bone%20Collector%20Caterpillar%201080p%20VNR%20v2.mov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">watch a video about this bone-collecting caterpillar...</a>



The study is published in <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.ads4243" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science</a>.



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Biologists discover "bone-collecting" caterpillar species that uses dead bugs as camouflage and lives with spiders

Most moths and butterflies eat plants when they’re caterpillars. Well,...

Early on winter mornings in 2021, commuters waiting at a modest suburban intersection unwittingly became part of a hawk's aerial ambush.



Parked just beyond the brake lights sat Vladimir Dinets, a behavioral ecologist at the <a href="https://www.utk.edu/">Universit</a><a href="https://www.utk.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">y</a><a href="https://www.utk.edu/"> of Tennessee</a>, who had noticed an unusual blur skimming car roofs.



Over 18 separate dawn stakeouts, he pieced together a remarkable strategy. A young Cooper’s hawk had learned to read the rhythms of pedestrian crosswalk signals and the queues of idling vehicles, turning rush-hour gridlock into the perfect hunting blind.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-hawk-learned-traffic-signals">The hawk learned traffic signals </h2>



The crossroads in question joins a busy thoroughfare, dubbed "Main Street" to protect residents’ privacy, with a narrower "Side Street." Most red-light cycles last only 30 seconds, lining up no more than four vehicles.



But when a pedestrian presses the crossing button, an audible “beep-beep” sounds for 45 seconds. The red phase then triples to 90 seconds, stretching the queue past what the study called House #8 toward a small, dense-crowned tree outside House #11. That extra half-minute is exactly what the hawk needed.



Each evening, residents of what was dubbed House #2 dined outdoors, sprinkling the lawn with crumbs. By sunrise, the yard teemed with house <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sparrows-have-fewer-friends-as-they-age-just-like-most-people/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sparrows</a>, mourning doves and the occasional starling. All of which were ideal prey.



From his car, Dinets saw the young raptor slip into the tree at House #11 whenever the audio crossing cue chimed. That sound correctly forecast an impending long red light on fewer than four percent of mornings. Once the traffic blocked its quarry’s sightline, the hawk launched.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hawk-s-attack-route">Hawk's attack route</h2>



The bird’s route never varied. It hugged the sidewalk south of the so-called "Side Street," flapping less than a meter above the pavement for about 65 meters. Then the hawk banked sharply beneath another streetside tree, shot through a gap between cars, and pounced on the breakfasting flock in front of House #2.



Dinets recorded six such strikes in 12 hours of observation; at least two ended with the hawk carrying off a sparrow or plucking a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rare-dove-is-not-related-to-any-other-birds-we-know-today/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dove</a> on the ground.



Crucially, the sound cue itself had fallen silent by the time each attack commenced. Statistical odds of the bird merely coinciding with the rare signal were about 1 in 18,600, strongly suggesting it anticipated the longer red phase after hearing the beeps.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hawk-uses-cues-from-city-traffic">Hawk uses cues from city traffic </h2>



For the strategy to work, the hawk needed a mental map of blind corners and parked cars, plus an understanding that long queues appear only when the pedestrian alarm sounds.



Dinets says that combination of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/chimpanzees-have-remarkable-spatial-memory-and-sense-of-direction/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">spatial memory</a>, cause-and-effect reasoning, and split-second timing goes beyond simple conditioning. He says it represents one of the most sophisticated uses of human <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ai-traffic-cameras-are-preventing-thousands-of-crashes-each-year/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">traffic</a> patterns ever documented in a wild animal.



Accipiter hawks are already famous for stealth, using hedges and fences as natural blinds before explosive charges at prey. Urban goshawks in Hamburg perch on TV aerials, hop through backyards, and even hunt under streetlights after dark. 



Sparrowhawks in Ukraine trail streetcars to mask their approach. Yet coaxing meaning from an audible pedestrian signal appears to be new territory.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-seasonal-city-tactics">Seasonal city tactics</h2>



Cooper’s hawks rarely breed in densely built areas of New Jersey, but they visit reliably each cold season. 



Evidence suggests that the young hawk had arrived only weeks earlier and quickly deciphered the local traffic language. The following winter, an adult - likely the same hawk - re-enacted the tactic twice.



By summer 2023 the sound box at the light malfunctioned and the family at House #2 stopped dining outside; no hawk has been seen since.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-smart-survival-in-cities">Smart survival in cities</h2>



City life is perilous for a mid-sized raptor like the Cooper's hawk that survives on small birds: reflections in glass, speeding cars, and a maze of wires pose constant threats.



But urban terrain also offers dense prey populations year-round. Studies show some raptors hunt more successfully in towns than in forests, provided they innovate.



The hawk Dinets followed joins a growing list of animals - including crows that use cars to crack nuts and foxes that exploit trash schedules - showing cognitive flexibility in human-altered landscapes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lessons-from-a-single-intersection"><a></a>Lessons from a single intersection</h2>



Because the observations center on one bird at one junction, they cannot be easily replicated. Still, they broaden researchers’ perspective on how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/un-report-disturbing-details-about-the-state-of-earths-wildlife/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wildlife</a> exploits anthropogenic cues.



The discovery highlights the importance of considering not only the physical obstacles cities impose, but also the new information streams - sounds, lights, queues - that animals might tap.



When commuters sit through an extra-long red light on Side Street, they may grumble about lost seconds. Unbeknownst to them, those seconds once provided cover for a hawk’s silent sprint.



The reseach reminds us that intelligence is not solely a human trait. It wings silently above our windshields, reading the same signals we do - and using them to survive.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/ethology/articles/10.3389/fetho.2025.1539103/full" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Frontiers in Ethology</a>.



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Young hawk uses city traffic to sneak up on its prey

Early on winter mornings in 2021, commuters waiting at a...

When your cat sniffs your shirt or rubs its head on your leg, it may be doing more than showing affection. A new study published in&nbsp;PLOS One&nbsp;reveals that cats can distinguish between humans using scent alone. 



This discovery comes from researchers at <a href="https://www.nodai.ac.jp/english/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tokyo University of Agriculture</a>, led by Yutaro Miyairi. Cats have long fascinated scientists and pet owners alike with their independence and selective social behavior. Unlike dogs, whose loyalty is expressed openly, cats often seem mysterious in their affections. 



But what if those subtle behaviors hide complex recognition abilities? This study offers a new way to understand how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cats-have-become-one-of-the-worlds-most-invasive-predators/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cats</a> perceive us - through their noses.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cats-sniff-unfamiliar-humans-longer">Cats sniff unfamiliar humans longer</h2>



The research team studied 30 domestic cats to explore their reactions to human odors. Each cat was tested with swabs collected from two people - their owner and a stranger of the same sex as the owner.



These swabs came from specific body areas: behind the ears, the armpits, and between the toes. A third tube acted as a control and contained no scent.



All odor samples were freshly collected before the trials and handled with strict cleanliness to avoid contamination. The trials took place in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cats-can-associate-human-words-with-images/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cats</a>’ homes, and each session was recorded with a GoPro camera for precise behavioral analysis. 



The researchers ensured that cats were familiar with their environment to reduce stress during testing.



The cats were presented with all three tubes at once: one containing their owner’s scent, one from a stranger, and a blank. The tubes were attached to an acrylic sheet with equal spacing, ensuring that cats had the same physical access to each.



Cats consistently sniffed the unfamiliar human scent longer (about 4.8 seconds) than their owner’s scent (about 2.4 seconds) or a blank tube (1.9 seconds). This clear preference suggests they can detect and react to novelty using only their noses.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nostrils-show-a-left-right-split">Nostrils show a left-right split</h2>



The cats initially sniffed with their right nostril, then gradually switched to the left as they grew familiar with the scent. This change mirrors findings in dogs and horses, who also show such lateralization - favoring one nostril for new scents and the other for familiar ones.



This nostril-switching implies brain involvement. The right nostril links to the right brain hemisphere, often used for processing new or alerting stimuli. Once the scent becomes familiar, the left hemisphere seems to take over, suggesting a routine response kicks in.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tube-placement-also-affected-behavior">Tube placement also affected behavior</h2>



Interestingly, nostril use also varied with tube location. Tubes were spaced 3 centimeters apart on an acrylic plate. 



Cats used the nostril opposite to the tube’s position. For instance, they used their left nostril for the right-side tube, and vice versa. The likely reason: body alignment. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-cat-day-creating-life-saving-change-for-cats/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cats</a> may sniff with one nostril while preparing to rub that side of their face. 



The researchers found that cats often rubbed the same side of their face as the nostril they used to sniff. This could suggest an exploratory sequence: sniff, then rub.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sniffing-often-leads-to-face-rubbing">Sniffing often leads to face rubbing</h2>



Rubbing behavior followed sniffing in many trials. This is common in cats, who rub faces to deposit scent markers. But in this study, cats rubbed more often after sniffing their owner’s scent. 



The team observed a strong link between this behavior and emotional closeness scores reported by the owners.



“We suggest that cats use their olfaction for the recognition of humans. Also, we record characteristic rubbing (marking) behavior occurring after sniffing, indicating that sniffing may be an exploratory behavior preceding the rubbing of odor (marking) in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-do-cats-outlive-dogs-clues-found-in-their-genes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cats</a>,” the authors note.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cat-personality-shaped-sniffing-patterns">Cat personality shaped sniffing patterns</h2>



The study also looked at how cat personality affects behavior. Using the Feline Five scale (neuroticism, extraversion, dominance, impulsiveness, agreeableness), researchers found that male cats with higher neuroticism scores sniffed more repetitively. 



Meanwhile, more agreeable males sniffed calmly. Female cats didn’t show a clear pattern. Cats that sniffed the blank tube first had higher neuroticism. 



Those that went for the known scent first scored higher in extraversion and agreeableness. This suggests that personality traits might influence scent-driven choices even before sniffing begins.



Though cats responded more to unfamiliar scents, how close they were to their owners didn’t change their sniffing duration. 



The emotional bond did influence rubbing behavior but not olfactory exploration. This shows sniffing may be more instinctive, while rubbing could be more social.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cats-use-scent-to-recognize-you">Cats use scent to recognize you</h2>



This research sheds new light on the private world of cats. We now know that their sense of smell helps them recognize us. They don’t rely only on our voices or faces. Instead, they may build an internal scent map of the humans in their lives.



Cats sniff longer when something smells new. They switch nostrils based on familiarity. They rub their faces to mark people or things. And all of this may connect to their personality - especially in male cats.



Future studies may examine whether cats can identify individuals by smell alone in more complex scenarios. Researchers might use cross-modal testing to find out whether a cat can match a scent with a voice or face.



Until then, the next time your cat sniffs your sock or rubs its head on your knee, remember - that’s not just affection. It might be recognition, memory, and even a scent-based “hello.”



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0324016" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PLOS One</a>.



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Cats can tell people apart by sniffing them

When your cat sniffs your shirt or rubs its head...

A 14.6-million-year-old <a href="https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1029/2020PA004037" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Miocene fossil</a> is encouraging a fresh look at how bees spread across isolated landmasses. It comes from a single specimen preserved in Hindon Maar mudstone in southern New Zealand, where researchers have been unearthing various ancient life forms.



The scientists behind the find, <a href="https://www.amnh.org/research/staff-directory/michael-engel" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dr. Michael Engel</a> from the American Museum of Natural History and <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/scientific-contributions/Uwe-Kaulfuss-2006259469" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dr. Uwe Kaulfuss</a> from the Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, describe the fossil as part of the <a href="https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/376828-Leioproctus" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Leioproctus genus</a>. 



Leioproctus is a member of the <a href="https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/colletid-bees-plasterer-bees-cellophane-bees-and-polyester-bees" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plasterer bee family</a>, also known as Colletidae, which includes solitary bees that build tiny brood cells lined with a cellophane-like secretion.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-leioproctus-bee-connections">Leioproctus bee connections</h2>



The fossil measures around 0.25 inches from head to abdomen and reveals details of wing veins that match modern Leioproctus bees. 



Researchers report that this ancient insect, named Leioproctus barrydonovani, might hint at a branch of bees that did not spread or adapt the way related species have done in other regions.



Its size is similar to small plasterer bees that still live in New Zealand and Australia. Scientists believe the family arrived in these areas through dispersal events millions of years ago.



Some experts have wondered if <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-are-highly-concerned-that-so-many-bee-hives-have-disappeared/">bees</a> arrived in New Zealand much later than in other parts of the world. According to a previous study, only 42 species exist in the islands, with 28 being unique to that area.



“In many respects the fauna is typical of an island biota, reflective of lineages dispersing to the landmass at various times since its breakup from Gondwana c. 80 million years ago and then speciating,” said the study authors. The Miocene fossil suggests a possible earlier timeline.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-this-discovery-raises-eyebrows">Why this discovery raises eyebrows</h2>



If Leioproctus took root in New Zealand 14.6 million years ago, one would expect more local offshoots of this group across the islands. Instead, there are only 18 native Leioproctus species today, indicating that something might have limited their spread.



One possibility is that these bees entered multiple times, with earlier groups dying out. Another is that the harsh environmental changes of later geological periods reduced any ancient populations that once thrived.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-possible-ties-to-local-flowers">Possible ties to local flowers</h2>



Ancient pollinators often had specialized relationships with certain plants. Leioproctus barrydonovani might have visited flowers of the <a href="https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/54630-Pseudopanax" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">genus Pseudopanax</a>, based on abundant fossilized blooms in the same Hindon Maar deposits.



Modern Leioproctus pango gathers pollen from Pseudopanax shrubs, so the ancient species may have followed a similar pattern. If pollen is discovered on future fossils, researchers can confirm which plants served as its food source.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-leioproctus-bee-evolution">Leioproctus bee evolution</h2>



Paleontologists see New Zealand as a fascinating puzzle. It drifted away from Gondwana tens of millions of years ago, and the landmass changed shape and size through rising seas and volcanic activity.



Through all of those changes, insect life sometimes flourished and sometimes disappeared. The scarcity of native <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/science-is-giving-beekeepers-a-better-way-to-fight-colony-collapse/">bees</a> there today could trace back to cataclysmic events that shaped the land’s landscapes and climates.



The short supply of <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28610183/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">melittofauna</a> (bee diversity) in New Zealand has puzzled scientists for decades. Bees are typically strong pollinators worldwide, but here they seem overshadowed by generalist flies and a small number of pollinating birds.



Some researchers propose that once the flora adapted to the few insects available, there was less of a push for the bees to radiate into new forms. Others suggest the seeds of that smaller population were planted more recently than many realize.



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



By exploring more of the Hindon Maar deposits, paleontologists hope to uncover additional fossils that could confirm the relationships between extinct and modern bee species. 



Direct evidence of pollen on fossil wings or bodies might pin down which plants they favored, shining light on pollination habits in Miocene forests.



Those glimpses could also help clarify why certain insect lineages thrived while others remained static. New pieces of evidence might alter long-held views about how pollinator groups moved around this rugged region.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-does-leioproctus-lead-us-now">Where does Leioproctus lead us now?</h2>



Experts think more fossils from Otago could reveal whether Leioproctus barrydonovani truly represents an early branch of the genus or a short-lived offshoot. 



Genetic studies of modern Leioproctus might link them directly to this ancient ancestor or place them on a separate track.



If the 14.6-million-year-old <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/flowers-hear-bee-sounds-and-make-sweeter-nectar-in-response/">bee</a> does turn out to be unrelated to modern New Zealand Leioproctus, it may confirm that bees settled the islands multiple times. 



That scenario might explain why the local plasterer bees have limited variation despite millions of years of potential opportunities.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-questions-than-answers">More questions than answers</h2>



Those who study pollinators say that New Zealand’s unusual mix of plants and insects shows how migration and survival often take unexpected paths. These findings encourage biologists to remain flexible in how they classify new fossil data.



The differences in wing structure between Leioproctus barrydonovani and present-day relatives hint at <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/227602332_Evolution_and_biogeography_of_native_Hawaiian_Hylaeus_bees_Hymenoptera_Colletidae" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">lineages</a> that never made it past the Miocene. 



If fresh clues confirm that ancient populations were wiped out, that detail might reshape how we understand pollinator extinctions and arrivals.



The compressed specimen was likely deposited in a calm lake environment. Conditions at Hindon Maar allowed for delicate body parts and wings to remain visible over the ages, giving researchers a precious look at a past ecosystem.



Its delicate preservation has raised the hope of recovering pollen details in future specimens. That kind of evidence would strengthen claims about who pollinated New Zealand’s flora millions of years ago.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-leioproctus-challenges-evolution-timelines">Leioproctus challenges evolution timelines</h2>



Each step forward in fossil <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bee-survival-depends-on-more-than-just-pollen-abundance/">bee</a> research challenges standard timelines of insect migration. 



When data appear to break from standard patterns, it prompts evolutionary biologists to question whether earlier assumptions missed entire waves of arrival.



Ancient pollinators may have been more widespread than the modern fauna suggests. 



Understanding why some species thrive while others vanish helps paint a bigger picture of how life adapts to shifting environments.



The study is published in <a href="https://bioone.org/journals/zoosystema/volume-47/issue-3/zoosystema2025v47a3/A-bee-from-the-middle-Miocene-Hindon-Maar-of-southern/10.5252/zoosystema2025v47a3.short" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Zoosystema</a>.



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Scientists unearth a 14.6-million-year-old bee whose family tree does not fit existing theories

A 14.6-million-year-old Miocene fossil is encouraging a fresh look at...

A teenager in Iowa headed outside to look for arrowheads on a friend’s farmland. He never expected to make a discovery that would send ripples through the scientific community.



He stumbled upon a massive bone later identified as part of a <a href="https://www.sdnhm.org/exhibitions/fossil-mysteries/fossil-field-guide-a-z/mastodon/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mastodon</a>, an extinct elephant cousin believed to have died out around 10,000 years ago.



According to <a href="https://ees.uiowa.edu/people/tiffany-adrain" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tiffany Adrain</a>, the special collections manager at the University of Iowa’s <a href="https://paleorepository.sites.uiowa.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Paleontology Repository</a>, the jaw bone belonged to a young animal. Adrain oversees one of the region’s largest collections of ancient specimens.



“He cradled the fossil in his arms, which is very heavy, and carried it up to the farmhouse,” said Adrain. It was still so fresh that letting it dry completely in the sun would have destroyed it.



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



The jaw measures about 30 inches in length and is from a juvenile that likely stood around 7 feet tall. Researchers have noted that these animals roamed much of North America during the <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/social-sciences/late-pleistocene" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Late Pleistocene</a>, which spanned roughly from 129,000 to 11,700 years ago.



This freshly uncovered fossil was swiftly wrapped in plastic to keep it from deteriorating. The student had luck on his side, because the fossil may have crumbled in just a few weeks if nobody had found it.



People often confuse mastodons with mammoths. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ancient-americans-relied-on-mammoths-for-food-and-survival/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mammoths</a> usually had high-crowned teeth adapted for grazing, whereas mastodons had distinct ridged molars suited for munching on branches and leaves.



Both animals are distant relatives of modern elephants. Mastodons, though slightly smaller than many mammoths, could still grow impressively large, with some males sporting tusks of remarkable length.



Iowa’s landscape once supported a surprising variety of big creatures. Mammoths, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/early-humans-in-america-coexisted-with-giant-sloths-and-mastodons/">mastodons</a>, giant ground sloths, and huge bears roamed parts of the Midwest for millennia.



Many of these species thrived in wetlands and forests that now appear very different from the farmland that covers much of the state. Shifting climate patterns and changes in vegetation contributed to their eventual disappearance.



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



Keeping the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/archaeopteryx-fossil-soft-tissue-flight-evolution-proves-darwin-right/">fossil</a> moist was key. Mastodon bones can degrade quickly once exposed to air and light, which explains why quick thinking can be as important as scientific insight.



Experts say that staying alert to unusual shapes or textures along creek beds can lead to more finds. Mastodon fossils have turned up where water currents erode buried layers and reveal ancient surprises.



The farm owners chose to donate the jaw. Large fossil discoveries can captivate the public, yet landowners may also worry about trespassing or disruptions. In this instance, they quietly ensured the fossil reached experts for proper study.



Once at the University of Iowa’s Paleontology Repository, the specimen joined a collection of over a million artifacts. 



The repository continues to examine how this young mastodon lived and what its discovery can show about <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ice-age-teens-romito-2-went-through-puberty-grew-up-like-modern-teens/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ice Age life</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-this-discovery-matters-for-science-education">Why this discovery matters for science education</h2>



Young people getting involved in discoveries like this can make science feel real and immediate. 



When a student stumbles on a fossil that turns out to be over 30,000 years old, it changes the way science is seen - not as something that only happens in labs, but as something alive in everyday life.



Institutions like the Paleontology Repository regularly work with students to catalog specimens, which helps train the next generation of scientists. 



In fact, around 148,000 items in the collection have already been logged with the help of local high school and college students.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mastodon-fossils-and-lost-ecosystems">Mastodon fossils and lost ecosystems</h2>



Fossils like this jaw help researchers understand Late Pleistocene ecosystems and how creatures adapted to harsh conditions. 



One recent <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7463256/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">investigation</a> suggested that regional mastodon populations expanded during warming cycles but still vanished by the onset of a cooler climate event.



Such discoveries feed larger debates over what drove these animals to extinction. Climate shifts, human activities, and changes in habitat are all factors researchers consider as they piece together the story.



<a href="https://www.amnh.org/explore/news-blogs/american-mastodons-northern-habitat" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Scientists believe</a> mastodons spread across much of North and Central America for more than 20 million years. 



They flourished in flexible habitats that included forests and wetlands, but they ultimately disappeared in the late phases of the last Ice Age.



Modern archaeology and paleontology depend on keen-eyed individuals just as much as trained specialists. Many noteworthy finds start with curious people simply paying attention to what’s around them.



The study is published in <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/313800551_Late_Pleistocene_proboscidean_population_dynamics_in_the_North_American_Midcontinent" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Boreas</a>.



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Student discovers a 34,000-year-old mastodon fossil by accident while walking around a farm

A teenager in Iowa headed outside to look for arrowheads...

Proteins are central to life because they shift shape in response to molecules they encounter. Some transform in milliseconds, triggering everything from muscle movement to signals in the nervous system.



Scientists have tried for decades to engineer these biological <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-find-new-forms-of-life-inside-humans-rna-carriers-obelisks/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">building blocks</a> to do specific tasks. 



Now there is a fresh example of synthetic proteins that adjust just like those found in cells, described by Tanja Kortemme, PhD, a professor of bioengineering at the <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of California, San Francisco</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-proteins-that-change-shape">Proteins that change shape</h2>



Natural proteins shift into new configurations when they meet triggers such as ions or small molecules. This motion can set off downstream effects, including the release of <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/neurotoxin" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">neurotoxins</a>, the contraction of heart muscles, or the breakdown of complex nutrients.



Until recently, most engineering methods focused on building rigid <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-life-begins-egg-sperm-and-a-covert-team-of-proteins/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">shapes</a>. That approach has powered household cleaning solutions and lifesaving drugs like insulin, but it fell short when trying to capture the graceful movements found in biological systems.



Many teams have used advanced computational tools, including <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03819-2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">alphaFold2</a>, to predict how proteins fold. A few years ago, these tools took a leap forward, solving perplexing puzzles that once consumed research labs for months.



The latest research adds movement to these predictions. By adjusting a protein so it can switch between two shapes, the scientists hope to open possibilities in medicine, agriculture, and even <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ai-algorithms-can-increase-ocean-plastic-cleanup-efficiency/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">environmental cleanup</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-early-synthetic-proteins-stayed-rigid">Early synthetic proteins stayed rigid</h2>



Earlier synthetic proteins were usually static. They stayed locked in one form, which was enough for some tasks but limiting for signals that rely on on-off mechanisms.



Medications that control metabolism or cell division often target proteins that move between active and inactive states. The ability to design synthetic versions with similar <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/long-covid-persistent-spike-proteins-accumulate-in-the-brain/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dynamics</a> could transform drug development.



<a href="https://kortemmelab.ucsf.edu/current---amy-guo.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Amy Guo</a>, a graduate student at UCSF, focused on adding a small swinging segment to a simple protein so it could bind a calcium ion. The new segment switched positions based on the presence or absence of that ion.



Upon success, she tapped advanced modeling techniques to verify that the structure would remain stable in both configurations. These techniques relied on a library of possible shapes before converging on the final two.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-one-small-loop-to-change-protein-shape">One small loop to change protein shape</h2>



One crucial test involved nuclear magnetic resonance simulations performed by <a href="https://pharm.ucsf.edu/nmr/people/kelly" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mark Kelly</a>, a pharmaceutical chemist at UCSF. 



Those simulations confirmed the synthetic protein could capture calcium, then return to its original shape.



Research teams have been fascinated by how small modifications open the door to more sophisticated reactions. A short movable loop can reconfigure a protein’s entire structure, paving the way for sensors that pick up subtle signals.



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



Scientists see applications in <a href="https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2017/07/biosensors-your-health" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">biosensors</a> that monitor conditions in living organisms and trigger alerts for early disease signs. Others imagine proteins that break down plastics or adapt crops to temperature extremes.



“This study is the first step on a path that will lead far beyond biomedicine, into agriculture and the environment,” said Tanja Kortemme. Her team’s achievements underline the importance of shape-shifting proteins in diverse applications.



“We wanted to devise a design method that could be applied in lots of situations,” said Guo. She observed that small tweaks in a protein’s design could lock or unlock its active state.&nbsp;



These efforts may help shape new therapeutics that sense chemical signals in the body, respond to them, then revert to a resting form. Such changes enable more targeted interventions, possibly reducing side effects.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shape-shifting-proteins-use-energy-wisely">Shape-shifting proteins use energy wisely</h2>



Researchers note that engines of metabolism, immune responses, and other essential systems function through shifting proteins. A well-tuned synthetic protein might repair micro-fractures in metals or <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-plants-rewire-themselves-to-battle-the-cold/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">boost crop resilience</a>.



“That really gives me confidence that this was for real, that we really did it,” said Guo. The finding was confirmed through multiple analytical steps.



“The possibilities are truly endless,” said Guo. Experimental validations continue, indicating that shape-changing proteins could transform a range of scientific fields.



<a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adr7094" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dynamic proteins</a> mirror nature’s preference for efficient processes, as their conformational shifts often hinge on specific environmental cues. Their shapes adapt only when needed, minimizing energy waste while enhancing reactivity.



Engineered molecules with these qualities can address urgent issues in healthcare and ecological management. 



A shape-altering protein could detect a pollutant, neutralize it, then reset itself for another encounter, giving it an edge over conventional static systems.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-building-artificial-proteins-that-react">Building artificial proteins that react</h2>



Some researchers envision <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ai-model-esm3-creates-new-protein-that-simulates-500-million-years-of-biological-evolution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">artificial proteins</a> that function like finely tuned switches in the body’s immune system. These switches could identify a virus or tumor marker, change shape to deliver a therapeutic agent, and revert once the threat is resolved.



Others point to potential uses in synthetic biology for producing fuels or sustainable materials. Such proteins might adapt their structure based on temperature shifts, ensuring optimal performance in diverse industrial processes.



Additional exploration could involve harnessing shape-shifting proteins to stabilize vaccines. By flexibly responding to temperature fluctuations, these molecules might reduce cold-chain requirements in resource-limited areas.



Researchers are also examining whether dynamic proteins can handle tasks that require rapid structural changes under mechanical stress. This could shape the future of engineering fields that rely on adaptive materials.



The study is published in <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40403060/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science</a>.



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New shape-shifting proteins open doors in medicine and farming

Proteins are central to life because they shift shape in...

If you’ve ever noticed how squirrels vastly outnumber foxes in your neighborhood - or seen the same car brands dominate parking lots - you’re observing a pattern that governs not just human-made environments, but the natural world at every scale.



This pattern, where a few species are extremely common while most remain rare, is called the “hollow curve” species-abundance distribution.



For nearly a century, ecologists have sought a unified model to explain it. Now, researchers from the <a href="https://www.virginia.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Virginia</a> (UVA) believe they’ve found that model.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-universal-pattern-in-nature">Universal pattern in nature</h2>



In a recent study, the team analyzed an enormous array of 30,000 datasets covering ecosystems from U.S. forests to the microbial colonies in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-methane-producing-microbe-discovered-in-the-human-gut/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">human gut</a>. 



The researchers discovered that a mathematical model known as the “powerbend distribution” consistently describes how species are spread out. This applies to birds, trees, bacteria, and other organisms in communities across the planet.



“This is the first study to comprehensively examine all types of organisms, large and small,” said Martin Wu, professor of biology at UVA and co-author of the study. “We found that the powerbend distribution consistently fits communities of all life forms, habitats, and abundance scales.”



The powerbend model shows most species are rare, while a few are extremely common - a core pattern in ecology.



Wu explains this through an everyday example: “If you walk around UVA, you might see a lot of squirrels and, only once in a while, a raccoon or fox. If you look at cars on city streets, you’ll see a lot of Hondas, Toyotas, or Fords, but there are many other brands you only see every once in a while.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-estimating-life-we-can-t-see">Estimating life we can't see</h2>



The breakthrough isn’t just about better understanding nature - it also has practical implications for conservation and environmental monitoring. The powerbend model allows scientists to estimate the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/polar-light-sustains-biodiversity-over-millions-of-years/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">biodiversity</a> of a region without needing to count every individual organism.



“Previously, if I collected one gram of soil, I had no way of knowing how many bacterial species it contained,” Wu said. “Now that we have the model, I don’t need to enumerate every single cell in the soil and I can have a pretty good estimate.”



This is particularly important when dealing with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/microbes-laid-the-foundation-for-early-life-on-earth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">microbes</a>, which are notoriously difficult to grow and study using traditional lab techniques. Prior to the development of DNA sequencing tools around 2008, scientists struggled to survey microbial communities effectively.



Since then, technological advances have given microbiologists access to vast genetic data, transforming our understanding of microbes.



“You can go to a forest to survey trees or use binoculars to look at birds, but until recent DNA sequencing technologies became available, we couldn’t easily survey microbes,” Wu said. “Since 2008, there’s been an explosion of microbial survey data, and we’re learning a lot.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ecology-meets-math">Ecology meets math</h2>



Though Wu is a microbiologist by training, the turning point in the research came when two math-savvy graduate students - Yingnan Gao and Ahmed Abdullah - joined his lab. Their expertise allowed the team to rigorously test the powerbend distribution against real-world datasets across ecosystems, organisms, and regions.



The model even made its way into the classroom. “Using a thumb drive-sized DNA sequencer and a laptop, we did a real-time demonstration in the class when we surveyed the gut microbiome of a beloved professor known to students,” Wu said. “It was a great way to show the students what kind of microbes live in the gut.”



The exercise gave students the chance to become “microbe detectives” in a hands-on lab course focused on sequencing-based ecological surveys.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pattern-stretches-across-life">Pattern stretches across life</h2>



One dataset in the study looked at the pattern of tree species across the United States. In Virginia, for instance, five species - red maple, loblolly pine, yellow poplar, sweetgum, and American holly - make up about 45% of the state’s 10.6 billion trees. The remaining 55% is spread across over 120 other species.



“Generally, you’ll find that 20% of tree species account for 80% of the total abundance,” Wu said. “This follows the Pareto Principle, a term coined by Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto, who found that 20% of the population controlled 80% of the wealth.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-formula-for-nature">A formula for nature</h2>



The discovery of the powerbend distribution as a consistent and predictive model offers scientists a new tool for tackling ecological questions. 



More than that, it reaffirms that despite the dizzying <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/microfossils-reveal-a-leap-in-lifes-complexity-2-4-billion-years-ago/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">complexity of life</a> on Earth, there are underlying patterns that unify everything from backyard birds to invisible bacteria.



As ecologists confront biodiversity loss and work to restore ecosystems, understanding natural species distribution patterns could be a crucial step forward. Thanks to the UVA team’s work, that understanding just got a lot clearer.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-59253-9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications</a>.



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Life's hidden pattern: Why most species are rare but a few rule the world

If you’ve ever noticed how squirrels vastly outnumber foxes in...

Black,Widow,Spider,-,Latrodectus,Mactans

Many folks wonder why some spiders deliver mild bites, while others inflict serious harm. This puzzling contrast has caught the attention of scientists who are keen to decode the hidden complexities behind spider venom.



Recent findings reveal how certain <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/spider-man-web-slinging-technology-has-become-a-reality/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">species</a> pack a stronger punch than previously suspected. These insights spark curiosity about whether a spider’s prey preferences shape its venom’s strength.



A new study led by Dr. Keith Lyons at the <a href="https://www.universityofgalway.ie" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Galway</a>’s School of Natural Sciences examined over 70 spiders to identify patterns in toxicity. 



The team concluded that a spider’s usual prey can heavily influence its venom’s intensity.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-prey-type-alters-spider-venom">Prey type alters spider venom</h2>



Scientists have long suspected that <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/neurotoxin" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">neurotoxins</a> might be tailored to subdue specific prey. Some data show that spiders feeding on insects alone tend to develop toxins that target bug physiology.



<a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11627431/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Black widows</a> are known for packing venom reported to be about fifteen times stronger than a rattlesnake’s. 



Such potency makes them a subject of constant study and often overshadows less dangerous <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ai-monitoring-will-help-protect-endangered-spider-monkeys/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">species</a>.



Predators adapt to the meals they encounter most. Spiders are no different, and their biological arsenal can shift over time based on typical feeding patterns.



Arachnologist is the term for a scientist who studies <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/spider-venom-has-hidden-biochemical-value/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">spiders</a>, and many have observed that mammal-hunting species sometimes pose greater risk to humans. According to the team, a venom aimed at rodents might inadvertently affect people.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-some-spiders-evolved-unique-venom">Some spiders evolved unique venom</h2>



“Our results show that spider venoms have evolved to be especially potent when tested on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/slingshot-spiders-listen-for-the-right-moment-to-launch-their-webs/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">animals</a> found in their diet in the wild,” said Dr. Lyons.



“This may explain why species that are known to occasionally prey upon small mammals, such as the <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9972223/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brazilian wandering spider</a> or Black widow, have venoms that can cause medically significant effects in us humans."



Conversely, species that only prey on invertebrates, such as the <a href="https://pestsense.cahnrs.wsu.edu/Search/MainMenuWithFactSheet.aspx?CategoryId=2&amp;ProblemId=842" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Giant house spider</a>, have evolved venoms that target invertebrate physiologies rather than our own, posing little threat to humans.



“We thought spiders that use webs might not need strong venom since they depend more on their webs to trap prey," explained <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/kevin-healy-2238554" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dr. Kevin Healy</a>, Senior author and Head of the Macroecology lab.



"But to our surprise, there was no link between web use and venom strength, which means webs probably help hold prey in place no matter how powerful the venom is.” 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-human-uses-for-spider-venom">Human uses for spider venom</h2>



Dr. Healy explained that the findings offer insight into how spider venom evolves, which could clarify why certain species like the <a href="https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/invertebrates/spiders/false-widow-spider" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Noble False widow</a> become invasive and how some venoms might be useful for creating targeted insecticides or new medicines.



Neurotoxins within these spiders could be harnessed for <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/233799365_Arthropod_venoms_A_vast_arsenal_of_insecticidal_neuropeptides" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">medicines</a> that target specific sites in the human body. Researchers see promise in compounds that kill pests but spare beneficial insects.



Some experts believe that a better grasp of how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/enduring-earth-mystery-partially-solved-artificial-intelligence-nazca-geoglyphs/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">spiders</a> evolve their venoms can advance agriculture and health. Each unique toxin might become a building block for safer pest control.



“By understanding the fundamental drivers of venom evolution we can better predict the types of biomolecules in spider venoms that have yet to be explored for drug discovery and why some species of spiders are more likely to become invasive species,” said <a href="https://www.ted.com/speakers/michel_dugon" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dr. Michel Dugon</a>, Head of the Venom Systems Lab.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-linking-venom-strength-to-spider-diet">Linking venom strength to spider diet</h2>



Encounters with venomous spiders do happen in some places. Bites from a few species can bring serious trouble, though <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/outdoor-workers/about/venomous-spiders.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fatalities</a> are quite rare.



Individuals working in damp cellars or sheds often share space with species like the <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537045/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">brown recluse</a>. That spider can cause necrotic wounds, though these cases remain uncommon.



Clarifying how feeding habits shape venom potency may explain the differences between notorious spiders and their calmer cousins. 



The research also raises new possibilities for designing pest-control agents that leave pollinators unharmed.



These findings highlight the flexible nature of spider toxins as they respond to different dietary needs. A shift in prey could gradually tune venom toward fresh targets.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-protecting-both-people-and-bugs">Protecting both people and bugs</h2>



Spider venom research stands at a turning point where ecological insights blend with biochemical exploration. 



Many labs see this field as an opportunity to gather new knowledge that may save lives and protect ecosystems.



Scientists are excited about exploring toxins that target only pest organisms, leaving beneficial creatures unaffected. This approach aligns with increasing demand for safer methods to manage insects.



Better understanding of spider diets might guide the discovery of specialized proteins with therapeutic value. Focusing on diet-venom connections could guide us toward treatments for painful conditions.



Further research is poised to reveal whether new spider species hold potent toxins we have not yet tapped. Observers remain watchful for any next steps that might spark medical innovations.



The study is published in <a href="http://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/epdf/10.1098/rsbl.2025.0133" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Biology Letters</a>.



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Biologists learn why some spiders have deadlier venom than others

Many folks wonder why some spiders deliver mild bites, while...

The Australian outback once shook under the footfalls of birds taller than a person and five times heavier than a cassowary. For more than a century, scientists knew these giants - called dromornithids - only from scattered and often mangled bones. 



A crushed skull that turned up in 1913 led to wild guesses about how the last of the line, Genyornis newtoni, looked, fed, and sounded. 



Now, freshly unearthed skull bones from the dry bed of Lake Callabonna have changed the picture in a single, definitive stroke.



The discovery rewrites ideas about where these birds fit on the avian family tree and how they made a living in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ice-age-climate-shifts-changed-early-human-migration-patterns/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ice Age Australia</a>. The new evidence even hints at why such a successful lineage vanished around 45,000 years ago.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-genyornis-newtoni-found-on-a-lake-bed">Genyornis newtoni found on a lake bed</h2>



<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Callabonna" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lake Callabonna</a>, once a shallow watering hole in South Australia’s desert interior, turned into a natural trap when drought lowered its water level and exposed slick mudflats. 



Many large animals - birds included - blundered in and never made it back out. Their skeletons settled in salt-rich sediments that halted decay, building a fossil trove that rivals the La Brea Tar Pits for completeness. 



Until recent field seasons, though, the site had failed to yield a Genyornis skull that could withstand careful study. 



That changed in 2019 when a field team recovered a nearly complete cranium lying beside limb bones that matched the species’ telltale proportions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-thunder-bird-built-like-a-giant-goose">Thunder bird built like a giant goose</h2>



“Genyornis newtoni had a tall and mobile upper jaw like that of a parrot but shaped like a goose, a wide gape, strong bite force, and the ability to crush soft plants and fruit on the roof of its mouth,” says <a href="https://www.flinders.edu.au/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Flinders University</a> researcher Phoebe McInerney. 



At roughly 230 kg - about 507 lb - the adult bird dwarfed today’s heaviest ground birds. That mass rested on thick legs that could outpace most Ice Age predators in a sprint yet showed no sign of the running specializations seen in ostriches. 



Instead, the proportions resemble an oversized goose that traded wings for added muscle below the waist.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-genyornis-newtoni-has-ties-to-waterfowl">Genyornis newtoni has ties to waterfowl</h2>



Early researchers grouped dromornithids with emus and ostriches, largely because all three lost the power of flight. The new skull tells a different story. 



“The exact relationships of Genyornis within this group have been difficult to unravel; however, with this new skull we have started to piece together the puzzle that shows, simply put, this species to be a giant goose,” McInerney explains. 



Features in the braincase and palate echo those in modern screamers of South America and the Australian magpie goose - both considered living holdovers from deep <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earliest-modern-bird-lived-in-antarctica-69-million-years-ago/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">waterfowl branches</a> that split near the dawn of duck evolution.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-powerful-bite-mechanics">Powerful bite mechanics</h2>



A parrot-like hinge between the beak tip and the rest of the skull let the upper bill lift slightly while biting, increasing leverage on tough food. 



“We were particularly excited to discover the first fossil upper bill of Genyornis. For the first time we could put a face on this bird, one very different from any other bird, yet like a goose,” says co-author Dr Trevor Worthy. 



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/genyornis-newtoni-skull_thunder-bird_credit-Jacob-Blokland_Flinders-U_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/genyornis-newtoni-skull_thunder-bird_credit-Jacob-Blokland_Flinders-U_1s.webp" alt="Genyornis newtoni skull. Credit: J Blokland, Flinders University" class="wp-image-1971371"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Genyornis newtoni skull. Click image to enlarge. Credit: J Blokland, Flinders University</figcaption></figure>



Muscle scars on the lower jaw support computer models that rank the bite among the strongest ever estimated for a bird, rivaling some small <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/large-theropod-dinosaurs-thrived-in-polar-environments/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">theropod dinosaurs</a>. That force was likely aimed at aquatic plants, fallen fruit, and maybe freshwater mussels.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-living-by-inland-lakes">Living by inland lakes</h2>



Lake Callabonna’s ancient shoreline held patches of reeds, stands of water-loving palms, and seasonal pools teeming with snails and small fish. Genyornis newtoni carried adaptations that make sense in such a setting. 



Bony ridges around the ear opening and a curtain-like flap of bone behind the tongue would have shielded soft tissue when the bird thrust its head underwater. 



Jacob Blokland, who created a digital reconstruction of the skull, notes, “Using modern birds as comparatives, we are able to put flesh back on the fossils and bring them back to life.” 



The casque - a dome of solid bone on the crown - may have anchored display feathers or acted as a resonator for low calls that carried across open flats.



Freshwater oases shrank as Australia drifted north and its interior dried out. Genyornis, tied to lakes and wetlands, found itself hemmed in by spreading salt pans. 



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stone-tool-flint-discovery-challenges-theory-of-human-cultural-evolution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stone-tool</a> marks on a few bones hint that people living there around 50,000 years ago also hunted the birds. 



Climate pressure, habitat loss, and human predation together may have nudged the last population over the brink by 45,000 years ago.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-genyornis-newtoni-matters-today">Why Genyornis newtoni matters today</h2>



Ice Age giants often feel remote from present-day concerns, yet their stories speak directly to modern conservation. 



The new Genyornis newtoni skull shows how a species can thrive for tens of millions of years, survive continent-wide climate swings, and still succumb once key habitats disappear. 



Reconstructing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/biodiversity-loss-can-lead-to-total-ecosystem-collapse/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">lost ecosystems</a> helps scientists gauge how today’s wetlands might fare under rapid change.



The Lake Callabonna specimen closes a century-long gap in Australia’s fossil record, giving researchers the first true look at Genyornis from the neck up. 



It confirms that dromornithids were titanic waterfowl, not giant emus, and reveals feeding tools as specialized as any living bird. 



Above all, it reminds us that in science, patience pays: even a single skull, pulled from cracked desert clay, can flip long-held assumptions on its head - proving there is always more to learn from bones left in the earth.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08912963.2024.2308212" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Historical Biology</a>.



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Archaeologists find rare skull of an extinct, massive 'thunder bird'

The Australian outback once shook under the footfalls of birds...

<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.

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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.



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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

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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...

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

[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...

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

[sendtonews key="X0f6OHYoI4-2310561-12187" 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.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Santiago, the capital city of Chile. The city is located in the center of the Santiago Metropolitan Region, which has a population of about eight million people.&nbsp;



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

[sendtonews key="JRaP49ISmm-2357509-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

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

[sendtonews key="e4ZG0Jawp3-2374785-12187" type="single"] Astronomers at Johns Hopkins University have created...

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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"

[sendtonews key="uV9Lh2fQbV-1760058-12187" type="single"] Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky" Today’s...

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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

[sendtonews key="qjvhBOBnY8-2426650-12187" 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.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

[sendtonews key="oL4FnPTGCV-2384527-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

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Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="https://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



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The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

[sendtonews key="0879czfG3k-1785905-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from NASA...

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

[sendtonews key="6HyfrAJTBI-1831843-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

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"

[sendtonews key="QIoVYJqRBi-2434608-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from NASA...

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

[sendtonews key="JbW4VsY53O-1632195-12187" type="single"] Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected...

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