Jaguars already carry a reputation as strong swimmers. What nobody expected was just how far one could go. In Brazil’s Serra da Mesa Reservoir, camera traps caught an adult male jaguar making the longest confirmed swim ever recorded for the species.



The journey covered at least 1.27 kilometers (0.79 miles) of open water. If the cat skipped a smaller islet along the way, the distance stretched closer to 2.3 kilometers (1.43 miles). Either option shattered previous records, which had topped out at just 200 meters (656 feet).



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-record-jaguar-swim">Record jaguar swim</h2>



The jaguar first appeared on camera traps along the mainland in 2020. Four years later, the same animal showed up again, this time on a forested island. Its coat pattern left no doubt about its identity.



Leandro Silveira from the <a href="https://www.institutooncapintada.org.br/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jaguar Conservation Fund</a> noted that the team used a conservative estimate, assuming the jaguar paused on a smaller island before continuing. In reality, the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/after-300-years-ruins-of-this-rebellious-city-sak-bahlan-are-emerging-that-spain-tried-to-erase/">animal</a> might have swum the full 2.3-kilometer (1.43-mile) stretch in one go.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-big-cats-cross-unexpected-gaps">Big cats cross unexpected gaps</h2>



For years, hydropower reservoirs were seen as walls to big carnivores. Islands more than a kilometer (0.62 miles) away were often assumed unreachable, leaving them without top <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/jaguars-offer-a-glimpse-of-survival-in-a-changing-world/">predators</a>. Yet this swim tells a different story.



Reservoirs don’t always act as absolute barriers. Instead, they impose different costs depending on distance and conditions. Warm water, quiet surroundings, and an islet or two can lower those costs enough to let a jaguar cross.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lions-and-cougars-swim-too">Lions and cougars swim too</h2>



This isn’t the first big cat to push across long channels. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mountain-lions-cleverly-change-their-habits-to-avoid-humans/">Lions</a> in Uganda’s Kazinga Channel have crossed distances of more than a kilometer, driven by the calls of females on the opposite bank.



In Washington State, cougars have braved cold, fast-moving waters to reach islands, sometimes swimming more than a kilometer (0.62 miles) in open channels.



These journeys highlight the determination of large carnivores when survival, reproduction, or territory expansion is at stake. Long swims may be rare, but when the incentive is strong enough, even top predators will take the risk.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-jaguars-thrive-in-all-terrains">Jaguars thrive in all terrains</h2>



Jaguars have always adapted to diverse <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/preserving-earths-genetic-future-before-its-too-late/">environments</a>. Some stalk prey in the Amazon floodplains. Others survive in the dry Caatinga with little water at hand. 



Research using GPS collars has shown that jaguars can cover more than 120 kilometers (74 miles) in a month, even in areas shaped by human activity. The reservoir crossing adds to this evidence of resilience and adaptability.



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



A new framework ranks aquatic challenges on a simple scale. Short swims under 300 meters (984 feet) with islets fall into the low-cost category. Distances up to 1,000 meters (0.62 miles) with stepping-stones are considered medium cost.



Anything over one kilometer (0.62 miles) without help qualifies as high cost. The Serra da Mesa crossing lands firmly in the high-cost range but proves that jaguars can still manage.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reservoirs-impact-jaguar-survival">Reservoirs impact jaguar survival</h2>



Hydropower projects have already submerged more than 25,000 square kilometers (9,650 square miles) of jaguar habitat. 



The flooding converted continuous forests into scattered islands. In Venezuela’s Guri Reservoir, islands more than one kilometer (0.62 miles) from the mainland eventually lost their predators, which triggered ecological collapse.



The Brazilian record challenges that bleak picture. If conditions align, jaguars can bridge gaps once assumed permanent. Protecting riparian forests, keeping natural shorelines intact, and safeguarding small islands could all help create corridors that keep populations connected.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-primates-in-the-water">Primates in the water</h2>



The lesson doesn’t stop with jaguars. Primates in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/deforestation-is-drying-the-amazon-more-than-climate-change/">the Amazon</a> have been observed swimming between islands, though only short distances.



Waterways that look like dead ends for land animals may instead be costly, but sometimes usable, filters. By planning for those possibilities, conservationists can keep ecosystems more intact even in reservoir-dominated regions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rethinking-fragmented-habitats">Rethinking fragmented habitats</h2>



A jaguar swimming more than a kilometer (0.62 miles) across a dam reservoir forces a rethink. Water is not always an immovable wall. It can be a demanding path, but one that big predators can take. Recognizing these abilities changes how we view fragmented habitats. 



Understanding when those paths open up, and what makes them possible, could shape how conservationists manage landscapes in a century marked by dams, development, and habitat loss. 



It also raises questions about how often such events occur, how many animals attempt them, and whether these rare crossings can keep isolated populations connected over generations.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.09.05.674446v1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bioRxiv</a>.



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Jaguar stuns scientists with longest swim ever recorded

Jaguars already carry a reputation as strong swimmers. What nobody expected was just how far one could go. In Brazil’s Serra da Mesa Reservoir, camera traps caught an adult male jaguar making the longest confirmed swim ever recorded for the species. The journey covered at least 1.27 kilometers (0.79 miles) of open water. If the cat skipped a smaller islet along the way, the distance stretched closer to 2.3 kilometers (1.43 miles). Either option shattered previous records, which had topped out at just 200 meters (656 feet)....

A team of scientists led by the <a href="https://www.wcs.org/">Wildlife Conservation Society</a> (WCS) has published a new method for counting <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/african-elephants-only-inhabit-a-small-part-of-their-potential-range/">African</a> forest elephants. These elephants were recently recognized by the IUCN as being a critically endangered species that is distinct from African savannah elephants. 

"The more accurately we can count forest elephants, the more we can measure whether conservation efforts are successful," said study lead author Alice Laguardia.

"We are hopeful that the results of this study will help governments and conservation partners protect this Critically Endangered species throughout its range."

The research is part of a larger initiative to conduct the first nationwide census for more than 30 years in Gabon, a country along the Atlantic coast of Central Africa.

Scientists typically use aerial surveys to count savannah elephants, but forest elephants cannot be detected so easily. To determine the best method to count them, the team compared the use of traditional methodologies with spatial capture-recapture (SCR) techniques. 

"We compare DNA- and camera trap based-spatial capture-recapture approaches to the widely-used, dung-based line transect distance sampling (LTDS) method to assess their performance when applied to three relatively large populations of forest elephant Loxodonta cyclotis," explained the study authors.

The study showed that a method using camera traps for SCR and DNA sampling was the most accurate and least expensive way to count forest elephants.

Camera trap surveys were more precise on smaller scales but more expensive. The experts recommend that the use of both SCR methods, and their development, continue. 

The researchers said that future findings and improvements should be compiled across studies to ensure their robust evolution as an option for monitoring the African forest elephant across its range and inform strategies and action for its conservation.

In recent years, forest elephants have been severely impacted by ivory poachers. A WCS census that was released in 2014 showed that forest elephants declined by 65 percent between 2002 and 2013. Through the new study, researchers can gain a better understanding of how many forest elephants remain and where they reside. 

Gabon is considered the most important country for forest elephant conservation. Despite accounting for less than 15 percent of the species' range, Gabon is thought to harbor more than 50 percent of the remaining forest elephant population.

Lee White is the Gabonese Minister of Water, Forests, the Seas, the Environment, charged with Climate Change &amp; Land Use Planning. 

"As long as ivory is a precious commodity, elephants will be at risk," said White. "In Africa there is a clear link between environmental governance, peace and security. Countries that have lost their elephant populations have all too often descended into civil strife. Through the results of this study we hope to obtain a clear picture of the trend of poaching and elephant populations in all of Gabon."

Ted Schmitt is the director of conservation at Vulcan Inc., a Seattle company that funded the research.

"Vulcan recognizes the significant role of accurate population data for conservation management and policy decisions," said Schmitt.

"By providing timely census data, we can fill critical knowledge gaps and enable prioritization of conservation resources. We are pleased to be part of this effort with Wildlife Conservation Society and the government of Gabon to help preserve this important species."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.journals.elsevier.com/global-ecology-and-conservation">Global Ecology and Conservation</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Counting critically endangered forest elephants

A team of scientists led by the Wildlife Conservation Society...

A new report published by <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/">Frontiers</a> has revealed that up to 97 percent of Earth land is no longer ecologically intact. This is ten times less than the amount of remaining intact wilderness areas found in previous assessments.

Study lead author Dr. Andrew Plumptre is head of the Key Biodiversity Areas Secretariat in Cambridge.

"We know intact habitat is increasingly being lost and the values of intact habitat have been demonstrated for both biodiversity and people, but this study found that much of what we consider as intact habitat is missing species that have been hunted by people, or lost because of invasive species or disease," explained Dr. Plumptre.

In past studies on the integrity of natural ecosystems, experts focused on mapping the human impact on wilderness areas. Maps indicated that between 20 and 40 percent of the planet's terrestrial surface remains free from major human disturbance, including development and light and noise pollution.

For the current study, Dr. Plumptre and his team took a different approach. Instead of focusing on the human impact on wilderness, they looked at Key Biodiversity Areas (KBA) Criterion C, which states that an intact ecological community has the full range of species known to occur in a particular site. 

Based on faunal intactness, as well as functional intactness, the researchers found that only between 2 and 3 percent of Earth's terrestrial surface qualifies as being intact. 

Among the sites that meet the study's criteria, only 11 percent are legally protected. Many of these wilderness areas coincide with territories managed by indigenous communities, which play a crucial role in maintaining them. 

"Areas identified as functionally intact included east Siberia and northern Canada for boreal and tundra biomes, parts of the Amazon and Congo basin tropical forests, and the Sahara Desert," wrote the study authors.

On the bright side, the researchers estimated that up to 20 percent of the planet's land surface could be restored to faunal intactness through reintroductions of only a few species into remaining intact habitat. 

"The results show that it might be possible to increase the area with ecological intactness back to up to 20% through the targeted reintroductions of species that have been lost in areas where human impact is still low, provided the threats to their survival can be addressed and numbers rebuilt to a level where they fulfil their functional role," explained Dr. Plumptre.

Going forward, it is important to identify areas under KBA Criterion C to help focus attention on these sites for conservation and restoration.

"It has been shown that intact habitat has important benefits for both wildlife and people and as a result needs to be a critical target of the ongoing negotiations of the Convention on Biological Diversity post-2020 global biodiversity framework," said Dr. Plumptre.

"Recognition of these special places within intact habitat, where you have full functional intactness, is needed and plans to focus restoration in areas where ecological integrity might be recovered."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/forests-and-global-change">Frontiers in Forests and Global Change</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Few of Earth's wilderness areas remain ecologically intact

A new report published by Frontiers has revealed that up...

Eurasian Blackcaps have reversed their migrations as a result of backyard gardens and climate change, according to a new study from <a href="https://www.cornell.edu/">Cornell University</a>. 

Many Blackcaps, which breed across Europe, migrate south to the Mediterranean region and Africa after the breeding season.

However, with an abundance of backyard feeders and gardens offered by people across the United Kingdom and Ireland, some populations of Blackcaps have started heading north to the British Isles for the winter. 

In addition to bird feeders and fruit-bearing plants, the Blackcaps are getting a boost from warmer weather associated with climate change. 

"Many migratory birds are in decline, but the Blackcap seems to be thriving in a changing world," said study lead author Benjamin Van Doren.

In collaboration with experts at Oxford University, the British Trust for Ornithology, and the Max Planck Institute, the researchers banded hundreds of birds at dozens of sites across the British Isles.

The team recruited citizen scientists to report sightings of the birds at feeders over the course of four winters. The experts also used geolocators to track several dozen individuals and follow their migrations throughout the year.

The study revealed that Blackcaps wintering in the British Isles move around much less than those that head south for winter. Birds that have reversed their migrations are also more likely to return to the same sites from one winter to the next. The difference could be the availability of food, according to the study authors.

"Birds that winter in the Mediterranean and Africa are primarily eating fruit and moving large distances to track local food abundance," said Van Doren. "Blackcaps wintering in British and Irish gardens have a steady, predictable food supply, and as a result they move around a lot less."

The Blackcaps seen wintering in the British Isles appear to be in better shape. The experts report that birds who frequent backyard gardens are in better body condition and maintain smaller fat reserves than individuals who embark on long southward migrations.

Furthermore, the birds were found to return from the north an average of 10 days earlier, which puts them at a major advantage.

There was evidence that backyard gardens may even be influencing the anatomy of Blackcaps. Those seen frequently in gardens had longer bills and more rounded wingtips. The researchers noted that these traits that may be linked to their more generalist diet and sedentary winter lifestyle.

"Our results show that individual Blackcaps have great flexibility in their movement patterns and how they respond to environmental conditions," said Van Doren. "Species with this kind of flexibility will probably be better equipped to face environmental changes in the coming decades."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/13652486">Global Change Biology</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Backyard gardens have reversed migrations among Blackcaps

Eurasian Blackcaps have reversed their migrations as a result of...

Blow flies could provide scientists with a non-invasive way to monitor the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/legume-crops-boost-nutrition-while-protecting-the-environment/">environment</a> and important changes within ecosystems, according to a new study from <a href="https://www.indiana.edu/">Indiana University</a>. 

The research is based on the analysis of stable isotopes, which provide important information about the diet and surroundings of any given animal. 

Study co-author William Gilhooly noted that the disruptions of climate change have increased the need for new ways to monitor animals' environments without disturbing them.

"Blow flies are found on all continents, with the exception of Antarctica," said Gilhooly. "Therefore, blow flies are effectively sentinels of animal response to climate change in almost any location in the world."

More than four years ago, the researchers set out to investigate what blow flies are eating in the wild.

"We know these types of flies feed on dead animals, but until now, we really had no way of actually determining the types of carcasses they were utilizing without actually finding the carcasses themselves," explained study co-author Charity Owings. 

Stable isotopes including carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen, and oxygen are found in the food we eat and become a part of our body through our diet. 

"When we eat a hamburger, we are getting the carbon isotopes that came from the corn that the cow was fed. Flies do the exact same thing," said Gilhooly.

The researchers collected blow flies in Indianapolis, Yellowstone National Park,  and the Great Smoky Mountains.

"Collecting flies is easy: Have rotten meat, can travel," said Picard. "That is it: We would go someplace, open up our container of rotten meat, and the flies cannot resist and come flying in. Collections never took longer than 30 minutes, and it was like we were never there."

The blow flies were placed in a furnace to convert the nitrogen and carbon into a gas form. The gases were analyzed in a stable isotope ratio mass spectrometer.

"Nitrogen and carbon isotopes hold valuable information about diet," said Gilhooly. "Animals that eat meat have high nitrogen isotope values, whereas animals that eat mainly plants have low nitrogen isotope values.

"Carbon isotopes will tell us the main form of sugar that is in a diet. Food from an American diet has a distinct isotope signature because it has a lot of corn in it, either from the corn fed to domesticated animals or high fructose corn syrup used to make most processed foods and drinks. This signal is different from the carbon isotopes of trees and other plants. These isotope patterns are recorded in the fly as they randomly sample animals in the environment."

The stable isotope analysis was used to determine whether the blow flies were feeding on carnivores or herbivores when they were larvae.

"With repeated sampling, one can keep an eye on animal health and wellness," said Picard. "If the flies indicate a sudden, massive of dead herbivores - and knowing what we know right now, that typically the herbivores are readily scavenged and not available for flies - it could tell us one of two things: Herbivores are dying, yet the scavengers don't want anything to do with them as they may be diseased; or there are more herbivores than the carnivores/scavengers, and perhaps the populations of these animals has decreased."

In Indianapolis, the majority of the blow fly larvae had been feeding on carnivores. The researchers believe this is because of the large number of animals being hit and killed by cars, making carcasses more available to the blow flies to lay their eggs.

The experts found that the larvae fed on carnivores across the national parks, despite greater numbers of herbivores. This indicates that the competition is higher to scavenge for the larger herbivore carcasses.

The study also revealed some of the impacts that humans have on the animals. The carbon isotopes of corn-based foods were present in flies from Indianapolis, as expected, but also in flies from the Great Smoky Mountains. As the most visited park in the country, scavengers have greater access to human food in the Smokies.

"This wealth of information provided by the blow flies will be fundamental to detecting changes within the ecosystem," said Picard.

"This research has the potential to revolutionize the way biologists investigate important global issues, especially in the era of climate change," said Owings. "Researchers will no longer be restricted to finding animals themselves, which is a daunting task; the flies can easily find the animals and then can be 'called in' by scientists."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/">PLOS ONE</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Blow flies can help monitor the environment

Blow flies could provide scientists with a non-invasive way to...

Gray wolves became one of the largest predators to survive the last ice age by changing their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plant-based-diet-lowers-the-overall-risk-of-stroke/">diet</a>, according to a new study from the <a href="https://nature.ca/">Canadian Museum of Nature</a>.

The research suggests that wolves survived by adapting their diet over thousands of years. The wolves transitioned from hunting horses during the Pleistocene to primarily relying on caribou and moose today. 

The researchers analyzed evidence preserved in the teeth and skull bones of both ancient and modern gray wolves. The specimens were all collected in the Yukon,  and some dated back as far as 50,000 years. 

Study lead author Zoe Landry conducted the research as a Carleton University student under the guidance of palaeontologist Dr. Danielle Fraser.

"We can study the change in diet by examining wear patterns on the teeth and chemical traces in the wolf bones," said Landry. "These can tell us a lot about how the animal ate, and what the animal was eating throughout its life, up until about a few weeks before it died."

The study was carried out using models that can determine an animal's eating habits by examining microscopic wear patterns on its teeth.

Scratch marks were found in both the ancient and modern teeth which indicate that all of the wolves in this region were primary predators - eating flesh rather than gnawing on bones as scavengers.

Today, gray wolves have a diet that mainly consists of caribou and moose. To investigate what ancient wolves were eating, the study authors looked at the ratios of carbon and nitrogen isotopes extracted from collagen in the bones."The axiom, you are what you eat comes into play here," said Landry.

The results of the analysis showed that horses, which went extinct during the Pleistocene, accounted for at least half of the ancient gray wolf diet, while about 15 percent came from caribou and Dall's sheep.

"This is really a story of ice age survival and adaptation, and the building up of a species towards the modern form in terms of ecological adaptation," said study co-author Dr. Grant Zazula.

"The gray wolves showed flexibility in adapting to a changing climate and a shift in habitat from a steppe ecosystem to boreal forest," explained Dr. Fraser. "And their survival is closely linked to the survival of prey species that they are able to eat."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.journals.elsevier.com/palaeogeography-palaeoclimatology-palaeoecology">Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Gray wolves survived the ice age by changing their diet

Gray wolves became one of the largest predators to survive...

A new study from the <a href="https://www.ed.ac.uk/">University of Edinburgh</a> has revealed that squirrels have bigger <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/animals-needed-sleep-before-they-even-had-brains/">brains</a> than their closest living relatives, mountain beavers, which live in burrows. 

According to the researchers, greater brain power has given squirrels key abilities that are needed to thrive in woodland habitats, including better vision, motor skills, and head and eye movements.

The study is providing brand new insight into how the brain of rodents have changed since they evolved around 50 million years ago. 

Rodents are a diverse group of animals that make up more than 40 percent of all mammals. By looking into the brain size of extinct rodent species, the experts were able to uncover important changes that have taken place in key parts of the brain. 

The researchers used CT scans of skulls from 38 living and extinct rodent species to examine gradual changes in the brain. The results of their analysis show that the size of the overall brains, as well as specific brain regions, have been shaped by the body mass, lifestyle, and evolutionary history of the rodents. 

For example, the relative brain size of tree squirrels has increased over time, driven largely by a sharp decline in their body mass, said the researchers. 

The experts also found that two key regions of the brain - which are involved with vision, motor skills, and tracking moving objects - have grown larger among tree squirrels. 

The researchers noted that the enlargement of these two regions has helped tree-dwelling rodents adapt to life in complex environments. 

By contrast, these parts of the brain were found to be smaller in mountain beavers, as well as some extinct burrowing species of rodents. This is likely because vision is less crucial for animals that spend most of their time underground with little light. 

"Squirrels' ancestors were at an important juncture 34 million years ago. They were smaller than their closest extinct relatives, and there were far fewer primates living in trees than today, which opened up a new niche for them," explained study lead author Dr. Ornella Bertrand.

"When trees became available to them, squirrels' ancestors seized the opportunity. This transition was a key evolutionary step for squirrels as it enabled them to acquire larger and more complex brains."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/commsbio/">Communications Biology</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Bigger brains allow squirrels to live in complex environments

A new study from the University of Edinburgh has revealed...

Crop and timber production are two of the biggest drivers of declining wildlife populations, and collectively contribute 40 percent of the overall extinction risk of mammals, birds, and amphibians.

Sustainable <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/study-identifies-genes-that-control-heat-response-in-crops/">crop</a> and timber production could greatly reduce terrestrial species extinctions, according to a new report from the <a href="https://www.iucn.org/">International Union for the Conservation of Nature</a> (IUCN).

For the investigation, the researchers used a new metric that allows businesses and governments to assess their potential contributions to global species extinction risk. The tool can be used to calculate regional or national targets. 

The work was led by the IUCN Species Survival Commission's Post-2020 Taskforce, a collaboration of scientists from 54 institutions in 21 countries around the world.

"For years, a major impediment to engaging companies, governments and others in biodiversity conservation has been the inability to measure the impact of their efforts," said IUCN Director General Dr. Bruno Oberle. 

"By quantifying their contributions, the new STAR metric can bring all these actors together around the common objective of preserving the diversity of life on Earth. We need concerted global action to safeguard the world's biodiversity, and with it our own safety and well-being."

The study authors applied the new Species Threat Abatement and Restoration (STAR) metric to all groups of terrestrial vertebrate species that are on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 

The experts found that removing threats from crop production would reduce global extinction risk among these groups by 24 percent. Eliminating threats caused by unsustainable logging would reduce extinction risk by an additional 16.percent.

STAR can also be used to calculate the benefits of restoration. According to the study, restoring the habitat of endangered species could reduce their global extinction risk by 56 percent.

"We are in the midst of a biodiversity crisis and resources are limited, but our study shows that extinction risk is concentrated in relatively small areas with greater numbers of highly threatened species," said study lead author Louise Mair of Newcastle University.

"The STAR methodology allows us to consistently measure where and how conservation and restoration could have the biggest impact."

"At the same time, our analysis shows that threats to species are omnipresent, and that action to stem the loss of life on Earth must happen in all countries without exception."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/natecolevol/">Nature Ecology &amp; Evolution</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Sustainable practices could greatly reduce species extinction risk

Crop and timber production are two of the biggest drivers...

Experts at the <a href="https://www.eva.mpg.de/">Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology</a> have determined that chest beating conveys information about the identity and body size of mountain <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/young-gorillas-without-mothers-get-extra-support-from-their-group/">gorillas</a>.

Chest beating is unique because it is not a vocalization, but a gesture that can be both seen and heard. According to the researchers, the beating sounds can be heard over one kilometer away.

The findings demonstrate how non-verbal behaviors may contribute to communication among mountain gorillas.

It has been widely assumed that gorillas beat their chests to attract females and intimidate rivals. To investigate, the researchers observed and recorded 25 adult male silverback gorillas in Volcanoes National Park that are regularly monitored by the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund.

The experts measured body size using a non-invasive technique based on photographs. The analysis revealed that larger males emitted chest beats with lower peak frequencies compared to smaller individuals. This means that chest beating conveys <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/collecting-dna-from-rivers-uncovers-biodiversity/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">information regarding body size</a>.

"The gorilla chest beat is one of those iconic sounds from the animal kingdom, so it is great that we have been able to show that body size is encoded in these spectacular displays," said study first author Edward Wright.

Previous research conducted by Wright's team showed that larger males were more socially dominant and more successful in terms of reproduction than smaller males. Body size is an important attribute among many animals because it tends to reflect strength and fighting ability. 

Rival males most likely use the chest drumming sounds to size up their competition. This would help them decide whether to initiate, escalate, or retreat in aggressive contests with them. Females are likely using the same information to identify potential mates.

The researchers were surprised to find a great deal of variation in both the number of chest beats as well as the duration. "This hints at the possibility that chest beats may have individual signatures, but further study is needed to test this," said Wright.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/srep/">Scientific Reports</a>.

---

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

Chest beating conveys important details about mountain gorillas

Experts at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology have...

Ants respond to social isolation in similar ways as humans and other <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/some-ocean-mammals-are-recovering-others-are-not/">mammals</a>, according to a new study. The researchers found that ants who endured social isolation exhibited behavioral differences, such as letting themselves go.

The experts were particularly surprised to find that immune and stress genes became less active in the brains of the isolated ants. 

"This makes the immune system less efficient, a phenomenon that is also apparent in socially isolating humans - notably at present during the COVID-19 crisis," explainedp study co-author Professor Susanne Foitzik of <a href="https://www.uni-mainz.de/eng/">Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz</a> (JGU). 

Social mammals like humans experience stress as a result of isolation, which has a negative impact on well-being and physical health. 

"Isolated people become lonely, depressed, and anxious, develop addictions more easily, and suffer from a weakened immune system and impaired overall health," said study lead author Professor Inon Scharf.

The effects of social isolation have been widely investigated among mice and humans but little is known about how insects cope. This is surprising because insects such as ants like in highly evolved social systems.

For their entire lives, ants participate as members of the same colony and are dependent on the other group members. Worker ants give up their own reproductive potential and dedicate themselves to responsibilities like feeding the larvae, cleaning and defending the nest, and searching for food.

The current study was focused on the effects of social isolation among ants of the German species Temnothorax nylanderi. These ants live on the forest floor in cavities in acorns and sticks, with colonies of a few dozen workers. 

The researchers removed young workers from 14 colonies and kept them in isolation for varying lengths of time, ranging from one hour to a maximum of 28 days. 

The experts found that after isolation, the workers were less interested in their adult colony mates and spent less time grooming themselves. On the other hand, the amount of time they spent in brood contact increased.

"This reduction in hygienic behavior may make the ants more susceptible to parasites, but it is also a feature typical of social deprivation in other social organisms," explained Professor Susanne Foitzik.

The study revealed significant changes in the behaviors of the isolated insects, but the most striking findings that were found were changes in gene activity. Many genes related to immune system function and stress response became less active after social isolation.

"This finding is consistent with studies on other social animals that demonstrated a weakening of the immune system after isolation," said Professor Scharf.

"Our study shows that ants are as affected by isolation as social mammals are and suggests a general link between social well-being, stress tolerance, and immunocompetence in social animals," said Professor Foitzik.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/1365294x">Molecular Ecology</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Social isolation affects ants in similar ways as humans

Ants respond to social isolation in similar ways as humans...

Speedbumps are helping to protect one of Africa's rarest primates, according to a new study from the <a href="https://www.wcs.org/">Wildlife Conservation Society</a>. The researchers found that there has been a drastic reduction in the number of deaths of red colobus monkeys after four speedbumps were installed along a stretch of road that the animals frequently cross. 

Red colobuses are Old World monkeys that are native to the forests of Unguja, the main island of Zanzibar. The monkeys are classified by the IUCN as endangered. 

For the study, the researchers assessed mortality from vehicle collisions - an increasing threat to primates living in fragmented habitats.

Around half of the Zanzibar red colobus population can be found in Jozani-Chwaka Bay National Park. Historical data from the road crossing through the park showed that one colobus was killed every two to three weeks by traffic. After speedbumps were installed, this number was reduced to one every six weeks.

"After the road at Jozani was surfaced but before the speedbumps were installed, a colobus was reported to have been killed every two to three weeks, resulting in perhaps about 12-17 percent annual mortality, according to one estimate," said study lead author Harry Olgun.

"The recent data show that speedbumps have made a huge difference for the safety of the colobus. Adding more speedbumps would help reduce the risk further."

According to the researchers, despite the great progress, the current mortality rate is still a significant threat to the species.  

"Cars are not selective in the animals they kill," noted study senior author Dr. Alexander Georgiev. "This means that while natural predators may target the very young and old more often, cars are equally likely to kill reproductively active young adults, who would contribute the most to population growth. And this may be a problem," 

Study co-author Dr. Tim Davenport is the director of Species Conservation &amp; Science in Africa at WCS. He led the first countrywide census of the Zanzibar red colobus a few years ago.

"As tourism grows in Zanzibar and habitat continues to shrink, using science to quantify and solve conservation problems has never been so important," said Dr. Davenport. "Understanding the impact of vehicles on wildlife within a park, and implementing practical solutions is exactly what we as conservationists should be doing."

The study is published in <a href="https://www.oryxthejournal.org/">Oryx - The International Journal of Conservation</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Speedbumps help protect endangered red colobus monkeys

Speedbumps are helping to protect one of Africa's rarest primates,...

Dogs get jealous at the mere thought of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/arctic-plants-face-more-competition-for-pollinators-as-temperatures-rise/">competition</a> for their owner's affection, according to a new study from the <a href="https://www.psychologicalscience.org/">Association for Psychological Science</a>. 

Using a very realistic artificial dog, the researchers demonstrated that pet dogs exhibited jealous behaviors when they imagined their owner was interacting with a rival. 

In surveys, more than 80 percent of dog owners report that when when they give attention to other dogs, their pets display jealousy through vocalizations, pulling on their leash, or other agitated behaviors.

"Research has supported what many dog owners firmly believe - dogs exhibit jealous behavior when their human companion interacts with a potential rival," said study lead author Amalia Bastos of the University of Auckland. 

"We wanted to study this behavior more fully to determine if dogs could, like humans, mentally represent a situation that evoked jealousy."

Among humans, jealousy is closely linked with self-awareness. This is one reason that animal cognition scientists, who study the mental capacities of non-human animals, are interested in studying emotions such as jealousy. 

Dogs appear to display jealous behaviors similar to how a human child responds when their mother gives affection to another child. 

For the investigation, the researchers observed 18 dogs under conditions in which they could imagine a social interaction between their human companion and either a realistic fake dog or a fleece cylinder. The fake dog served as a potential rival for attention, while the fleece cylinder served as a control.

The experiment was designed so that the dogs could observe the artificial dog positioned next to their owner before a barrier was put in place to obscure their view. 

When the dogs thought their owners may be petting the artificial dogs, they forcefully pulled on their leash in an attempt to reach the other side of the barrier. The dogs had much less of a response when they observed their owners with a fleece cylinder.

"These results support claims that dogs display jealous behavior. They also provide the first evidence that dogs can mentally represent jealousy-inducing social interactions," said Bastos. 

"Previous studies confounded jealous behavior with play, interest, or aggression, because they never tested the dogs' reactions to the owner and the social rival being present in the same room but not interacting."

"There is still plenty of work to do to establish the extent of the similarities between the minds of humans and other animals, especially in terms of understanding the nature of nonhuman animals' emotional experiences."

According to Bastos, it is too early to say whether dogs experience jealousy as humans do, but it is now clear that they react to jealousy-inducing situations, even when those situations occur out of sight. 

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/home/pss">Psychological Science</a>. 

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Dogs appear to get jealous over their owner's affection

Dogs get jealous at the mere thought of competition for...

Each year, thousands of juvenile loggerhead turtles set out on a journey across the Pacific Ocean from Japan to Baja California, where they feed on red crabs. Little is known about this <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/study-of-peregrine-falcons-suggests-birds-have-a-migration-gene/">migration</a>, which involves thousands of miles and as much as two decades or longer. 

An international team of scientists led by <a href="https://www.stanford.edu/">Stanford University</a> has discovered new details about the epic migrations of loggerhead turtles. They have found evidence that intermittent passages of warm water allow sea turtles to cross inhospitably cold ocean barriers. 

The findings could help inform conservation measures to protect sea turtles and other migratory marine animals. 

"For decades, our ability to connect the migratory dots for this endangered species has remained elusive," said study lead author Dana Briscoe.

"This work builds on the backbone of exceptional research about these 'lost years,' and for the first time ever we are excited to provide evidence of a 'thermal corridor' to explain a longstanding mystery of one of the ocean's greatest migrants."

Six of the seven sea turtle species are listed by the IUCN as vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered.

The researchers set out to understand why some loggerhead turtles travel to the western coast of North America while others remain in the central Pacific Ocean. In addition, they wanted to know how sea turtles can cross a frigid zone called the Eastern Pacific Barrier when they are extremely sensitive to temperature.

To investigate, the experts created the largest dataset on satellite-tagged loggerhead sea turtles ever compiled. They used sophisticated remote sensing techniques and collected one of the first detailed records of sea turtle aging and stable isotope testing. The research was built upon decades of research by the team.

The researchers identified a "thermal corridor" from unusually warm sea surface temperatures that allowed the turtles to cross the Eastern Pacific Barrier to coastal foraging grounds.

The experts report that the corridor was present during the late spring and summer, and was preceded by early ocean warming in the months before it opened. Warming conditions may provide key environmental cues to sea turtles that the thermal corridor is opening. 

As global warming continues, locations that were once impassable, like the Eastern Pacific Barrier, will open up to various species. This will increasingly shift the distribution and migratory patterns of creatures ranging from sea birds to white sharks, which will present new challenges. For example, loggerhead turtles could become more frequent victims of bycatch. 

"Understanding how and why species like the North Pacific loggerhead move among habitats is crucial to helping them navigate threats," said study senior author Professor Larry Crowder. "Emerging technologies and analyses can help illuminate these journeys."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/marine-science">Frontiers in Marine Science</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Loggerhead turtles migrate using a secret thermal corridor

Each year, thousands of juvenile loggerhead turtles set out on...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

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

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=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.

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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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https://youtu.be/Ug657J67iEo?si=w96YjGMsg939LD_3
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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

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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

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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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

[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...

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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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