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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



-----



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Remote mountain meadow confirms global insect crisis

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

A new study is shedding light on the economic value of mollusc shells. The seafood industry dumps over 7 million tons of the shells in landfills or in the sea every year. Researchers are developing plans that will put these biomaterials to good use. 

Dr. James Morris and a team of CACHE researchers from the <a href="https://www.naturalsciences.be/">Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences</a> are exploring  environmentally and economically sustainable options for mollusc shells.

"Mollusc shells are viewed by the aquaculture and seafood industries as 'nuisance waste' and largely disposed of in landfills", said Dr. Morris. "Not only is this an expensive and ecologically harmful practice, it is a colossal waste of potentially useful biomaterials".

Dr. Morris and his team are proposing the use of discarded shells to redevelop damaged oyster reefs and cultivate the growth of new oysters. Oyster reef restoration is not expensive or difficult, and it provides invaluable ecological benefits.

"Healthy shellfish populations can have many benefits to the environment: cleaning the water, providing a complex structure for other organisms to call home, and also acting as a coastal protection structure," explained Dr Morris.

Mollusc shells are over 95 percent calcium carbonate, and have many useful applications. Calcium carbonate can be used to develop cement mix and treat wastewater. It can also be fed to hens as a calcium supplement and used by <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/maryland-farmers-cover-crops/">farmers</a> to control soil acidity.

Limestone mining is the world's main source of calcium carbonate, and it is not an environmentally friendly or sustainable practice. Dr. Morris and his team hope to reduce limestone mining by recycling mollusc shells as a secondary source of calcium carbonate.

"Reusing shell waste is a perfect example of a circular economy, particularly as shells are a valuable biomaterial, not only does it improve the sustainability of the aquaculture industry moving forwards, but it can also provide secondary economic benefits to shellfish growers and processors as well," said Dr. Morris.

Dr. Morris believes eliminating tons of mollusc shell waste every year will be advantageous in many ways. 

"The proper disposal procedure for shell waste is in landfill, which costs a lot of money and can be a big burden for shellfish farmers and seafood producers," said Dr Morris."Simply finding a use for shells to avoid taking them to a landfill already has economic value!"

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Source: <a href="https://www.naturalsciences.be/">Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences</a>

How sea shells could be a source of sustainable biomaterials

A new study is shedding light on the economic value...

It is common sense to assume that flushing dangerous chemicals down the drain could negatively impact wildlife down the line. But according to a new study from the <a href="http://www.exeter.ac.uk/">University of Exeter</a>, flushing contraceptives and cleaning products is actually turning male fish transgender.

The team of researchers studied freshwater fish at 50 different locations across the UK and found that 20 percent of male fish had feminine characteristics. They also found that the offspring of these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/500-year-old-fish-trap-alaska/">fish</a> were more susceptible to being chemically altered themselves. 

The chemicals in these products and contraceptives, like the birth control pill, work very much like the human hormone oestrogen. The chemicals cause male river fish to have reduced sperm production and even prompte the production of eggs.

Over 200 different chemicals from sewage plants were found to have these kinds of transgender effects, and also altered the fish’s behavior. 

Fish who had ingested these chemicals were typically found to be less aggressive and competitive. 

“We are showing that some of these chemicals can have much wider health effects on fish that we expected,” said Professor Charles Tyler from the University of Exeter. “Using specially created transgenic fish that allow us to see responses to these chemicals in the bodies of fish in real time, for example, we have shown that oestrogens found in some plastics affect the valves in the heart.”

In addition to contraceptives and cleaning products, plastics, cosmetics, and antidepressants were also found to release these kinds of chemicals.

-

By <a href="mailto:rarnold@earth.com">Rory Arnold</a>, <a href="http://earth.com/staff">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="http://www.exeter.ac.uk/">University of Exeter</a>

Chemicals flushed down the drain are creating transgender fish

It is common sense to assume that flushing dangerous chemicals...

Animals are at a greater risk of extinction when their habitat has been fragmented by factors such as urban development and deforestation, a new study found.

"For the first time in Earth's history, one species -- Homo sapiens, or humans -- dominates the globe," said Kevin Crooks, the study's lead author and a professor at <a href="https://www.colostate.edu/">Colorado State University</a>. "In contrast to prior eras, we travel and communicate across the entire planet. Unfortunately, the more 'connected' we become, non-human life with which we share this planet becomes increasingly disconnected, at their peril.”

The study, the first of its kind, measured habitat fragmentation for over 4,000 species of land-dwelling mammals.

Researchers used high-resolution habitat-suitability models to measure the degree of fragmentation. They then examined the relationship between habitat fragmentation and extinction risk, as assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List, and developed a comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of animals and plants.

The scientists also produced maps, predicting key areas of intact high-quality habitats as well as hotspots of fragmentation for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/otter-fossil-mammals-migrated-america/">mammals</a>. Most suitable environments for mammals are located outside of known protected areas, the study found.

Crooks and his colleagues previously found that large carnivores, mountain lions and bobcats, decline and at times disappear, in highly-fragmented urban areas of the United States.

Habitat fragmentation also increases the effects of other agents of global environmental change, including limiting the ability of wildlife to move in response to climate change.

"Habitat fragmentation needs to be addressed urgently, but it is also a manageable global conservation challenge," Crooks said.

Researchers hope the study will provide critical guidance to conservationists.

“The findings of the study warrant intensified efforts to protect remnant habitat patches, as well as to restore connectivity to fragmented landscapes through conservation tools such as wildlife corridors and habitat linkages,” Crooks said.

The study was published in the <a href="http://www.pnas.org/">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.

--

By: <a href="mailto:dbeasley@earth.com">David Beasley, </a><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="https://www.colostate.edu/">Colorado State University</a>

How habitat fragmentation increases risk of extinction

Animals are at a greater risk of extinction when their...

There is one animal on Earth that has a double kneecap: the ostrich. Scientists, however, still haven’t figured out why or how it developed.

But that’s not stopping them from studying it. 

"Understanding more about different kneecap configurations in different animals could help to inform prosthesis design, surgical interventions, and even robots with better joints,” said Sophie Regnault, a doctoral student at the <a href="http://www.rvc.ac.uk/">Royal Veterinary College</a> in the United Kingdom.

Ostriches have an upper kneecap that is structured much like kneecaps in other animals. However, they also have a lower kneecap that is shaped and structured much like a human elbow – a fixed, bony structure.

The double kneecap seems to be unique to ostriches, Regnault said. Even extinct giant bird species don’t seem to have a similar knee structure.

The purpose of the double kneecap isn’t immediately clear, she said. However, it could have an effect on the ostrich’s running ability.

"We speculate that this might mean ostriches are able to extend their knees relatively faster than they would with one kneecap,” Regnault said in a press release.

Regnault and her team used CT scans and fluoroscopy to study ostrich leg structures in various positions. They then build an animated, 3D model of an ostrich leg to study its movement.

The model has helped them to better understand how the double kneecap structure works and its limitations, but has brought them no closer to understanding why or how the ostrich’s unique kneecap developed in the first place.

"We are still not sure why ostriches might have evolved this second kneecap," Regnault said. "It might help to protect the tendon of these heavy fast-running birds, but there are other potential roles that we haven't yet explored."

Regnault and her team will present their research at the <a href="https://www.sebiology.org/">Society for Experimental Biology’s</a> annual main meeting on Monday in Gothenburg, Sweden.

—

By <a href="mailto:kcathey@earth.com">Kyla Cathey</a>, <a href="http://www.earth.com">Earth.com</a> staff writer

Ostriches have a double kneecap, but scientists still don't know why

There is one animal on Earth that has a double...

Orca whales are having trouble finding enough fish to eat, making it more difficult for them to reproduce, a new study found.

Two-thirds of orca pregnancies failed over a seven-year period, according to the <a href="https://www.washington.edu/">University of Washington</a> study that examined orca excrement collected at sea.

"A large number of whales are conceiving, but when nutrition is poor, they don't sustain those pregnancies," said Sam Wasser, lead author of the paper and a University of Washington professor.

The study focused on food supply as an important stress factor among these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/early-whales-limited-hearing-land/">whales</a>, who typically eat fish. While other killer whales usually eat marine mammals, these orcas primarily eat salmon.

The study was published in the journal <a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosone/">PLOS ONE</a>.

"I think it's fair to call out nutrition as a major stressor for these guys," said Joe Gaydos, a wildlife veterinarian and science director of <a href="http://www.seadocsociety.org/">SeaDoc Society</a>.

Loss of habitat from urban development, dams, fishing, pollution and competition from non-native fish have caused many species of salmon to be listed as threatened or endangered.

Researchers also studied two whale hormones that play important roles in physiological stress and were able to differentiate between stress from poor nutrition and stress from boat traffic.

Transient resident whales that feed on marine mammals confront similar boat noise and pollution but haven't had the same kind of pregnancy problems as the fish-eating whales, the study said.

Improving Chinook salmon runs by reducing pollution could help save Puget Sound orcas, the study added.

--

By: <a href="mailto:dbeasley@earth.com">David Beasley, </a><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_ORCAS_PREGNANCY_PROBLEMS_WAOL-?SITE=AP&amp;SECTION=HOME&amp;TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&amp;CTIME=2017-06-29-14-37-36">AP</a>

Orca whale reproduction harmed by food shortfall

Orca whales are having trouble finding enough fish to eat,...

The largest field study to date concludes that widely used pesticides called neonicotinoids weakened honeybee hives in Europe.

Researchers planted about 7.7 square miles of rapeseed, which is used to make cooking oil. Some of the seeds were treated with pesticides and others weren’t.

Beehives in Hungary and England near fields with pesticide-treated seeds had lower survival rates than those with non-pesticide seeds, the study found. In Hungary, the honeybee colonies near treated fields had 24 percent fewer worker bees the next spring when compared to those near untreated crops.

In Germany, however, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/east-african-honey-bees/">bees</a> did not seem to be harmed by the pesticide-treated seeds. An analysis of the pollen determined that German bees were healthier to start with, with a broader diet that included less of the pesticide-treated seeds, said study director Richard Pywell. The German bee diet was only 10 percent from neonicotinoid-treated plants, compared to more than 50 percent in Hungary and Great Britain, he said.

The study was published Thursday in the journal <a href="http://www.sciencemag.org/">Science</a>.

If hives weakened by disease, parasites, or bad diet, neonicotinoids push them "over the edge," said Pywell, a scientist at the <a href="https://www.ceh.ac.uk/">Center for Ecology and Hydrology</a> in England. 

Researchers couldn’t calculate the exact impact of the insecticide because so many of the hives died, in both treated and untreated fields.

Wild bees were also weakened by the insecticide, the study found. One neonicotinoid brand seemed to be more harmful to both wild bees and honeybees.

Europe banned neonicotinoids in 2013 and researchers needed a special exemption for the study. Another study also cites problems with neonicotinoids in Canada.

Although the studies reveal neonicotinoids harm bees, they still may not quite be the leading cause of bee losses, <a href="https://www.umd.edu/">University of Maryland</a> entomologist Dennis vanEngelsdorp, who wasn't involved in the study, told AP.

"The problem remains complex, like cancer," vanEngelsdorp said.

Neonicotinoids makers Bayer and Syngenta, which make neonicotinoids, funded the European study but had no control over the results or the published paper, Pywell added.

Company officials pointed to the results in Germany and the lack of harm to hives there.

"The study shows that when hives are healthy and relatively disease free and when bees have access to diverse forage, neonics do not pose a danger to colony health," Bayer spokesman Jeffrey Donald told AP.

Syngenta's Peter Campbell, head of research collaborations, said the study "strongly suggests the effects of neonicotinoids are a product of interacting factors."

--

By: <a href="mailto:dbeasley@earth.com">David Beasley, </a><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_SCI_BEES_PESTICIDE?SITE=AP&amp;SECTION=HOME&amp;TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&amp;CTIME=2017-06-29-14-41-42">AP</a>

Study: Honeybee hives weakened by common pesticides

The largest field study to date concludes that widely used...

Without even realizing it, most of us are probably experts at reading dogs. Unlike cats, who are typically enigmatic, unpredictable and just generally shady, dogs are fairly easy to understand. Here are some basic behaviors and actions to remind you of what your dog is trying to communicate.

<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/shutterstock_401908480.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-717804" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/shutterstock_401908480-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a>

If your dog approaches you with a ‘play bow,’ with front legs flat against the ground and hind legs standing straight, it is an invitation to play.

<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/shutterstock_337520018.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-717805" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/shutterstock_337520018-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a>

When a dog rolls onto his back, presenting his stomach, it is either a sign of passive resistance to a perceived threat, a request for some love in the form of a belly rub, or an indication of feeling secure and comfortable in his surroundings. 

<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/shutterstock_518607346.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-717806" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/shutterstock_518607346-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a>

A dog who freezes mid-action, like while eating or gnawing on a chew toy, is signaling that he would like some space while he works on whatever he’s doing. Maybe give him a few minutes.

<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/shutterstock_93775996.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-717807" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/shutterstock_93775996-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a>

If your dog brings you his chew toy or a ball, it is often assumed that he wants to play or ‘go fetch.’ However, he is more likely presenting you with a gift for you to enjoy. He is be letting you know that he loves you enough to share his favorite toy with you.

<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/shutterstock_171435101.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-717808" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/shutterstock_171435101-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" /></a>

Leaning against your body with his body is his idea of cuddling. Similarly, if your dog prefers sleeping with you in your bed, you are his favorite. 

<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/shutterstock_358343798.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-717809" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/shutterstock_358343798-300x188.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="188" /></a>

If your dog stares calmly at you when you leave for work in the morning, he’s not guilt tripping you. He’s actually communicating that he trusts you enough to come back safely. And if they tackle you when you get home, your dog considers you BAE.

<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/shutterstock_224192899.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-717810" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/shutterstock_224192899-300x212.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="212" /></a>

When your dogs sniffs your hard to reach crevices, he’s trying to get a sense of your emotional well-being through the apocrine glands located in your nether regions and armpits. That’s also what they’re doing when they sniff other dogs’ butts.

Digging holes in the yard or chewing up shoes are often indicators that they would like more attention from you. If your stuff is getting chewed up more than anyone else’s in the house, the dog most likely feels most attached to you.

And then there are the physical signals.

Eye contact is another very useful way to read what your canine is looking to communicate. Bright, constant eye contact is essentially a proclamation of love. Dilated pupils and exposed whites of the eyes mean the dog is scared or sensing danger. If your dog is avoiding eye contact with you, it means he is uncomfortable or feeling guilty about something he knows he did wrong.

If his tongue is hanging loosely from his open mouth, he is essentially smiling and probably wants to play. If he is flicking his tongue at you it often means he knows he messed up and he’s sorry. His tongue pulled back into his mouth with his teeth exposed means he is sensing aggression and ready to fight.

A<a href="http://moderndogmagazine.com/articles/what-my-dog-trying-tell-me/15185"> tail</a> tucked tightly between his legs indicates extreme fear. A low, fast wagging tail is like a nervous smile. A high, slow wagging tail probably means he is trying to manipulate you into giving him something you don’t want to give. Slow wagging in general means the dog is cautious. A mid-level, fast wag where the tail hits the body reveals excited anticipation. A<a href="http://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(13)01143-3"> Current Biology</a> article asserts that wagging his tail to the right is a sign of positive feelings, while wagging to the left is understood to indicate negative feelings.

If the dog’s ears are raised, he is either confident and relaxed or intently listening. Ears back mean he is fearful or submitting.

Stanley Coren has examined what dogs are communicating with the sounds they make and posted those results in<a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/canine-corner/201103/what-are-dogs-trying-say-when-they-bark"> Psychology Today</a>. Low pitched growls tend to mean, “stay away.” High pitched sounds are often invitations to play or signs of excitement. Faster and more frequent sounds also usually indicate excitement. Two to four barks with pauses in between essentially say, “Hey guys, something is off. Come check this out.” Lower pitched continuous barking mixed with growling says, “Danger is approaching. Get ready to fight!” Constant barking with pauses in between each one says, “I’m lonely. Come pay attention to me.” And the stutter bark in the play bow means, you guessed it, “COME PLAY!!!”

--

By <a href="mailto:rarnold@earth.com">Darryl Joseph</a>, <a href="http://earth.com/staff">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

A guide to understanding what your dog means

Without even realizing it, most of us are probably experts...

A new look at a disregarded discovery is giving researchers insight into an ancient Swiss reptile. The well-preserved remains of the Swiss reptile, Eusaurosphargis dalsassoi, were reconstructed by scientists to reveal a creature that looked like a mythical dragon with bony-plated armor.

Eusaurosphargis dalsassoi was first described 14 years ago using a sample that was broken and only partially preserved. Most aspects of the appearance and lives of the ancient creatures remained unknown. 

The sample used for the current study was a well-preserved fossil recovered 15 years ago near the easternmost canton of Switzerland known as Grisons. The 241-million-year-old fossil was found in a calcareous deposit among fish and marine reptiles, and was mistakenly identified as a fish. 

Over a decade after the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/teeth-fossils-prehistoric-dentistry/">fossil</a> was first found, scientists finally pieced together the fascinating image of this ancient reptile. The skeleton of the Eusaurosphargis dalsassoi that was assembled by the team stood approximately 20 centimeters long with a well-developed armor of osteoderms. 

The researchers were surprised how much the reptile looked like girdled lizards, or Cordylidae. Some of the more strongly-armored girdled lizard species may have served as the basis for the creation of mythical dragons due to their appearance. 

The Eusaurosphargis dalsassoi also closely resembled small, scaly reptiles found today in the desert of southern Africa. Torsten Scheyer, a paleontologist at the <a href="http://www.uzh.ch/en.html">University of Zurich</a>, led the Swiss-British team in the study. 

"This is a case of convergent development as the extinct species is not closely related to today's African lizards,” explained Scheyer.

Genetic analysis of the specimen revealed that the reptiles were most closely related to various marine reptiles including ichthyosaurs, or “fish lizards.” However, the skeleton showed no signs of fins or flippers which would indicate that the species dwelled in the sea. 

The scientists believe the Eusaurosphargis dalsassoi resided on beach islands in shallow waters like its marine relatives, and that the remains of this particular creature washed into the water and settled into the sea basin after it died around 241 million years ago.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a>

Source: <a href="http://www.uzh.ch/en.html">University of Zurich</a>

Image Credit: Beat Scheffold, Paleontological Institute and Museum, University of Zurich

Ancient Swiss reptile fossil resembles mythical dragons

A new look at a disregarded discovery is giving researchers...

A centuries-old fish trap constructed of rock walls has been discovered by archeologists on Alaska’s Kodiak Island, the <a href="https://www.kodiakdailymirror.com/">Kodiak Daily Mirror</a> reported.

At high tide, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tapeworm-salmon-sushi/">salmon</a> could swim into the stream, and would be stranded in one two corrals when the tide receded, said Patrick Saltonstall, curator of archaeology at <a href="https://www.alutiiqmuseum.org/">Alutiiq Museum</a> in Kodiak. 

Although similar fish traps have been found in Kodiak streams, Saltonstall said this is the first  ocean trap he has seen. 

"They're pretty big piles,” he said. “They're like four or five feet across. They're stacked."  

Over the years, the trap has deteriorated, likely from tides, so that it is no longer able to catch fish.

"The walls have gotten too low and they're too many gaps," said Saltonstall.

He estimated that the trap was likely used about 500 years ago and would have had to be maintained, probably by several families or a village.

A survey of the area is being conducted with <a href="https://www.nps.gov/">National Park Service</a> grants as part of a two-year Afognak Native Corp. effort to map important cultural sites. It has identified other historical sites including fox farms and an abandoned gold mine.

--

By: <a href="mailto:dbeasley@earth.com">David Beasley, </a><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="https://www.kodiakdailymirror.com/">Kodiak Daily Mirror</a>,<a href="http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_PREHISTORIC_FISH_TRAP_ALASKA?SITE=AP&amp;SECTION=HOME&amp;TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&amp;CTIME=2017-06-28-19-06-15"> AP</a>

Archeologists find 500-year-old fish trap in Alaska

A centuries-old fish trap constructed of rock walls has been...

Animal obesity levels have been steadily growing in America, and the numbers are still climbing. According to a new study, one out of every three pets in the United States is overweight. 

The research was published in the 2017 State of Pet Health report issued by <a href="https://www.banfield.com/home">Banfield Pet Hospital</a>. The report says the “alarming levels” of pet obesity reflect a 169 percent increase in obese <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cats-domesticated-10000-years/">cats</a> and 158 percent increase in obese dogs over the last 10 years.

The study evaluated 2.5 million dogs and 500,000 cats at pet hospitals in various regions of the country last year. The findings of the study indicate that owners of overweight pets will spend 17 percent more on healthcare and 25 percent more on medications over the next four years. 

According to <a href="https://press8.petinsurance.com/articles/2016/december/nationwide-data-reveals-pet-obesity-on-the-rise-for-sixth-straight-year">Nationwide</a>, the largest provider of pet healthcare, 20 percent of pet insurance claims in 2015 were due to obesity-related conditions at a cost of over 60 million dollars. The most common obesity-related illness in cats is bladder and urinary tract disease, while overweight dogs suffer most frequently from arthritis. 

Other common diseases for both cats and dogs that are caused by obesity include diabetes, liver disease, and heart failure. Dr. Kirk Breuninger is a veterinary research associate at Banfield Pet Hospital. He points out that over 20 diseases are linked to excess weight in pets. 

Experts agree that one of the main causes of animal obesity is that pet owners are unaware of the ideal weight for their pets and are uninformed of their nutritional needs. Additional causes of pet of obesity are lack of exercise and overfeeding.

Dr. Breuninger says that some animal breeds are prone to obesity, such as Maine Coons and Labrador Retrievers. He explains that thyroid conditions or intestinal worms may also contribute to extra weight in pets. 

Dr. Breuninger suggests that animal owners determine a healthy weight for their pet with a veterinarian. A proper diet and exercise plan should also be established to maintain the ideal weight. Some easy ways to keep pets on a healthy track include limiting treats and human food, monitoring calories, and sticking to an exercise schedule.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Source: <a href="https://www.banfield.com/home">Banfield Pet Hospital</a>

One-third of American pets are overweight, with numbers climbing

Animal obesity levels have been steadily growing in America, and...

Higher sea temperatures may compromise the health of California sea lions, according to a new study.

Researchers from Mexico's <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autonomous_university">Autonomous University</a> compared body condition and immune competence of 61 California sea lion pups born in during 2014 and 2015, when sea surface temperatures were high, compared to those born 2013, when sea surface <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mother-pearl-record-ancient-ocean-temperatures/">temperatures</a> were normal.

Data included blood levels of glucose, a marker of malnutrition, and IgG and IgA immunoglobulins, two different types of antibodies. In addition, the researchers tested pup responses to an immune challenge: injections of phytohemagglutinin, a plant-derived compound that stimulates division of immune system cells called T lymphocytes.

The researchers found that blood glucose was 15 percent lower in pups born when sea surface temperatures were high, suggesting that they were in early stages of starvation. 

The pups also had markedly lower levels of two immunoglobulins and were unable to respond to the immune challenge. 

The study, published in the journal <a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosone/">PLOS ONE</a>, suggests that atypical climatic conditions may limit energetic reserves and compromise the immune response in California sea lion pups,  potentially leading to high death rates, the authors said.

The entire northeastern Pacific ecosystem could likewise be vulnerable to high sea surface temperatures, according to the study.

During 2014 and 2015, sea surface temperatures on the Pacific Coast of North America were 2 to 5 degrees celsius higher than normal. High sea surface temperatures decrease primary productivity and ultimately the availability of prey for marine mammals. 

California sea lions are likely to be particularly vulnerable to prey declines because they typically forage within 100 kilometers of their breeding sites, the study said. Prey declines could force them to extend foraging trips and eat lower value prey, which could affect pregnant and lactating females as well as pups.

--

By: <a href="mailto:dbeasley@earth.com">David Beasley, </a><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosone/">PLOS ONE</a>

Sea lions suffer from higher ocean temperatures

Higher sea temperatures may compromise the health of California sea...

In 2014, Ornithologist Miguel A. Gomez Garza was visiting a secluded part of the Yucatan Peninsula when he noticed parrots with color patterns that stood out as unique. The bird expert's discovery has led to the validation of a new parrot species, the Blue-winged Amazon.

A genetic evaluation revealed that the species evolved from A. albifrons, or the White-fronted parrot, around 120,000 years ago. At this time, the Blue-winged Amazon parrots had developed features that distinguished them from their ancestors. 

The most distinctive feature of the Blue-winged Amazon is it loud, repetitive call. The duration of syllables used for its vocalization is significantly longer than those of other Amazon parrot species.  Sharp sounds made by the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/genes-determine-music-songbirds/">birds</a> are more similar to the call of Accipiters than to those of other parrots. 

While the new species is named for its blue covert feathers, an exclusive green crown truly sets it apart from other Amazon parrots. Blue-winged Amazon parrots live in small flocks that typically consist of 12 or less individuals. Mates and their offspring usually stick together, and have unique family features. 

The Blue-winged Amazon lives in the same area of the Yucatan Peninsula as the White-fronted Amazon and the Yucatan Amazon, but it does not crossbreed with them. All members of the genus Amazona are herbivores that eat seeds, fruit, flowers, and leaves.

The description of the newly-named Amazona gomezgarzai is published today in the open-access journal <a href="https://peerj.com/">PeerJ</a>. The classification of the Blue-winged Amazon as a new species is based on its shape, color pattern, call, and behavior. The study highlights the similarities and differences of these features compared to other Amazon parrot species. 

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Source: <a href="https://peerj.com/">PeerJ</a>

Image Credit: Tony Silva

New Yucatan parrot species named the Blue-winged Amazon

In 2014, Ornithologist Miguel A. Gomez Garza was visiting a...

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Y4eLFNYrKE
</div></figure>



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



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



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



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



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



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Worms dominated seas before dinosaurs

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

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow3JH03PqEQ
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">New York is the site of the world's oldest forest.</figcaption></figure>



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



The full study was published in the journal Current Biology.



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Earth's oldest forest found in the United States

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

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prrq8Ql81zk
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Acid rain and a crisis solved.</figcaption></figure>



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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The environmental problem we actually solved

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

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

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







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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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What to plant in your garden in mid-July

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Wildlife tunnels save millions of amphibians

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

[sendtonews key="qjvhBOBnY8-2426650-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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

Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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

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