The sight of a whale shark, the largest fish alive today, leaves most people humbled. Its slow, graceful movements and gentle nature often make them symbols of the ocean’s mystery. Yet behind this serene image lies a struggle for survival.



Populations have fallen sharply, and their biology makes recovery slow. The findings of a new study from Indonesian waters not only reveal the scale of human impacts but also highlight why protecting whale sharks is vital for ocean health.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-whale-shark-decline-accelerates">Whale shark decline accelerates</h2>



Over the last 75 years, global whale shark numbers have dropped by more than half. In the Indo-Pacific, declines are even steeper. 



Hunting, habitat disruption, and entanglements push whale sharks closer to extinction. Because they take up to 30 years to mature, populations rebound very slowly. 



Large-bodied species like whale sharks face unique risks in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/silent-invasion-how-microplastics-are-disrupting-land-ecosystems/">ecosystems</a> since they grow slowly, reproduce late, and invest heavily in fewer offspring. 



The researchers noted that the disappearance of such giants can ripple through marine systems.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-injuries-trace-back-to-people">Injuries trace back to people</h2>



In the Bird’s Head Seascape of West Papua, the research team found 62 percent of whale sharks bore scars or wounds, mostly from human actions.



“We found that scars and injuries were mainly from anthropogenic causes, such as collisions with ‘bagans’ - traditional fishing platforms with lift nets - and whale shark-watching tour boats,” said Dr. Edy Setyawan of the <a href="https://www.elasmobranchinstitute.id" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elasmobranch Institute Indonesia</a>.



“Relatively harmless minor abrasions were the most common. Serious injuries from natural causes such as predator attacks, or from boat propellers were much less common."



Patterns in ecology show that when human activities concentrate near feeding or breeding grounds, injury rates increase significantly. 



According to the study, direct human pressures such as vessel strikes and fishing gear interactions remain among the greatest global threats to megafauna. Whale sharks are no exception.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-following-the-gentle-giants">Following the gentle giants</h2>



Between 2010 and 2023, the scientists tracked whale sharks across Cenderawasih Bay, Kaimana, Raja Ampat, and Fakfak. This biodiversity hotspot hosts 26 marine protected areas. Using the distinctive spot patterns of each shark, the researchers identified 268 individuals.



Nearly all sightings occurred near bagans, where whale sharks fed on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ocean-warming-threatens-the-global-fish-supply/">baitfish</a> like anchovies and sprats. Most were juvenile males, four to five meters long. More than half were resighted, including one young male recorded 34 times over three years.



From an ecological lens, these observations support a classic theory: young individuals often use coastal waters rich in food, while adults migrate offshore into deeper, less accessible habitats.



Such ontogenetic shifts are common across marine megafauna and are essential for population survival.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-injuries-reshape-populations">Injuries reshape populations</h2>



Of 206 sharks with scars, over 80 percent carried human-caused injuries. Serious wounds, including lacerations and blunt trauma, were rare but concerning. More often, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/whale-sharks-move-into-dangerous-territory-as-the-climate-warms/">sharks</a> bore superficial abrasions from rubbing against fishing gear and boats.



Studies across marine ecology emphasize that while minor wounds may not kill, cumulative injuries reduce overall fitness.



Injured animals often change behavior, avoid key feeding zones, or expend more energy healing. Over time, this shapes population dynamics.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-female-whale-sharks-live-in-deep-seas">Female whale sharks live in deep seas</h2>



A lingering question is the absence of females and older individuals, since previous studies show that adult whale sharks - especially females - prefer the deep ocean where they feed on prey like krill and schooling fish.



By contrast, younger males remain near shore in shallow, plankton-rich waters that help them grow quickly.



“Our own satellite tracking data also show that females and adults frequently use deep sea features such as canyons and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/seamounts-are-gathering-hubs-for-ocean-predators/">seamounts</a>,” said study co-author Mochamad Iqbal Herwata Putra.



Ecological theory explains this pattern: sexual segregation often arises in large marine vertebrates, with males and females exploiting different ecological niches to reduce competition and improve survival chances. This strategy is a driver of population resilience across species.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tourism-brings-dangers-to-whale-sharks">Tourism brings dangers to whale sharks</h2>



Staying near coasts, whale sharks offer strong potential for ecotourism. 



“Whale sharks in Cenderawasih Bay and Triton Bay (Kaimana) had high rates of residency and resighting, indicating that they should be viewed as valuable tourism assets for local communities and governments,” said Dr. Mark Erdmann of Rewild.



However, unmanaged <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/animals-change-their-daily-schedules-when-tourists-are-watching/">wildlife tourism</a> can create a risky cycle: attraction leads to proximity, which heightens disturbance and injury risk.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-small-changes-big-impact">Small changes, big impact</h2>



The researchers recommend small but effective changes, such as modifying fishing platforms to remove sharp edges.



“We aim to work with the management authorities of the marine protected areas to develop regulations to require slight modifications to the bagans, including the removal of any sharp edges from boat outriggers and net frames," said Erdmann. "We believe those changes will greatly reduce scarring of whale sharks in the region."



Ecological models highlight that even minor adjustments in human practices can dramatically reduce stress on threatened populations. 



Protecting whale sharks is more than conserving one species. It safeguards a keystone component of marine food webs, maintains ecosystem balance, and secures benefits for communities who depend on healthy seas.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/marine-science/articles/10.3389/fmars.2025.1607027/full" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Frontiers in Marine Science</a>.



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Whale sharks are literally scarred by human activity

The sight of a whale shark, the largest fish alive today, leaves most people humbled. Its slow, graceful movements and gentle nature often make them symbols of the ocean’s mystery. Yet behind this serene image lies a struggle for survival. Populations have fallen sharply, and their biology makes recovery slow. The findings of a new study from Indonesian waters not only reveal the scale of human impacts but also highlight why protecting whale sharks is vital for ocean health. Whale shark decline accelerates Over the last 75...

A new wave of mental health research may come from an unexpected source - tiny pond-dwelling worms. While they lack the complexity of mammalian brains, these creatures share surprising similarities in how they respond to certain drugs.



Scientists are now exploring whether these simple animals could take on a big role in developing treatments for serious <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/even-simplest-organisms-like-worms-have-unique-personalities/">mental illnesses</a>, all while sparing countless mice and rats from laboratory testing.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-worms-aid-mental-health-research">Worms aid mental health research</h2>



Scientists from the <a href="https://www.reading.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Reading</a> have discovered that harmless flatworms called planaria could help develop treatments for conditions like schizophrenia. 



These small creatures respond to psychiatric medicines in ways similar to mice and rats. When given haloperidol, a drug used for mental health conditions, the worms became far less active, much like rodents do.



Past research has used planaria to explore epilepsy treatments and drug addiction, as they can show withdrawal symptoms. 



The new study suggests the worms could be used to test medicines for schizophrenia and hallucinations. A <a href="https://news.liverpool.ac.uk/2024/11/26/researchers-warn-360000-patients-in-the-uk-risk-being-trapped-on-antipsychotics/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2024 study</a> found that one in 69 UK adults uses anti-psychotic medication long-term.



"This finding adds to growing evidence that tiny flatworms like planaria could play a valuable role in how we study the brain. They display certain responses to psychiatric drugs that resemble those seen in mammals, but using them involves far fewer ethical concerns," noted Professor Vitaliy Khutoryanskiy, who led the study.



"Close to a million mice and rats are used in UK research each year, but using planaria instead could potentially cut those numbers and still give us the answers we need to develop better treatments for people with serious <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mental-health-crisis-half-of-the-worlds-population-will-be-affected-by-age-75/">mental health</a> conditions. It's good for science and it’s good for animal welfare."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-replacing-lab-rodents">Replacing lab rodents</h2>



Haloperidol works by calming overactive brain activity in people whose thoughts are racing or confused. Scientists often use animals, but now also study worms, to see how this drug affects the brain and to design better mental health treatments. 



UK government data shows that in 2023, 882,000 mice and 144,060 rats were used in research. A 2016 study found that rodent use in neuroscience had increased from 20% in the 1980s to over 50% by the 2010s. 



Even with growing efforts to make research more ethical, rodents remain the main test subjects. Planaria could reduce their numbers significantly.



The research explored how cyclodextrins - ring-shaped sugar molecules - can change the way haloperidol behaves in water. Types like hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin and methyl-β-cyclodextrin boosted haloperidol’s solubility up to nearly 20 times compared to its natural level. 



This works because cyclodextrins can trap haloperidol molecules inside their cavities. However, when trapped, the drug entered the worms less easily, showing that strong binding can limit delivery.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sugars-change-drug-behavior">Sugars change drug behavior</h2>



Analyses confirmed that haloperidol and these cyclodextrins form stable 1:1 inclusion complexes in worms. 



Advanced methods like nuclear magnetic resonance and thermal studies revealed that one aromatic ring of haloperidol sits inside the sugar ring’s cavity, offering insights for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-to-maximize-the-mental-health-benefits-of-exercise/">mental health</a> research.



These complexes exist in an amorphous state, meaning the drug loses its crystal form. While this can help with dissolving the drug, it may also affect how quickly it becomes available in living systems.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-impact-on-mobility-tests">Impact on mobility tests</h2>



The study measured how the worms moved in different solutions. Pure haloperidol reduced their mobility in a dose-dependent way, mimicking the catalepsy seen in mammals. 



Cyclodextrin complexes caused a smaller drop in movement, likely because the drug was held too tightly. Interestingly, pure cyclodextrins also slowed the worms slightly.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-worms-teach-mental-health-science">Worms teach mental health science</h2>



The findings from this research have already made their way into the classroom at the University of Reading, influencing how future scientists are trained. 



In undergraduate pharmacology courses, students are now introduced to the effects of haloperidol on planaria as part of their practical learning.



By observing how these simple organisms respond to the drug, students gain a deeper understanding of both the medicine’s action and the broader principles of neuropharmacology.



This early exposure to innovative and ethical research methods offers more than just technical knowledge. It encourages young scientists to think critically about alternatives to traditional animal testing, showing them that valuable results can come from models that reduce harm to higher animals. 



Such hands-on experience not only builds practical skills but also shapes attitudes, potentially inspiring the next generation to develop humane, efficient, and impactful approaches to studying treatments for mental health <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/exercise-reduces-depression-and-anxiety-in-children-and-teens-with-mental-health-issues/">conditions</a>.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11095-025-03909-0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pharmaceutical Research</a>.



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Tiny worms could change how we test mental health drugs

A new wave of mental health research may come from...

On August 12, 2025, researchers studying weaver ants announced a finding many have long wished to see in teamwork: individual effort increasing as the group grows. 



The effect showed up in simple pulling tasks that mimic how these ants build their leaf nests.



The finding runs against the usual story in human teams, where added hands often mean less effort per person. 



Here, the average contribution per <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-many-ants-live-on-earth-at-any-point-in-time-total-number-is-astounding/">ant</a> climbed with team size, and the group pulled more efficiently than a stack of single workers could deliver.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ants-work-harder-in-bigger-teams">Ants work harder in bigger teams</h2>



“Each individual <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/paleontologists-found-the-oldest-ant-species-on-earth-113-million-years-old-with-scythe-like-jaws/">ant</a> almost doubled their pulling force as team size increased - they actually got better at working together as the group got bigger,” said study lead author Madelyne Stewardson of <a href="https://www.mq.edu.au/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Macquarie University</a>.



To test this, the researchers coaxed colonies to form living chains and tug an artificial leaf connected to a force meter, letting them measure output from teams of different lengths.



The result pushes back on the Ringelmann effect, a well known drop in individual effort as group size grows. This effect was first discussed in rope-pulling studies and formalized in social psychology in 1979. 



Decades of work have shown that social loafing happens across many tasks and settings.



A large meta-analysis later confirmed this pattern across 78 studies, noting strong roles for evaluation, expectations, and meaning in whether people keep trying hard in groups.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pulling-and-anchoring-boost-force">Pulling and anchoring boost force</h2>



The authors describe a force ratchet inside the ant chain, a division of labor where front ants pull while others act as anchors that resist sliding and store elastic energy in the system. This arrangement converts short, local efforts into a larger, steadier team force.



Physical details help this work. Ant attachment pads and friction hairs can switch between stick and slip under shear, producing strong grip when pulled and easier release when pushed, a well documented feature of climbing pads in insects.



In weaver ants specifically, dense tarsal hair arrays and the soft pads called <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4641605/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">arolia</a> generate friction and adhesion that scale with load and sliding, boosting traction in long chains that stay put while the front keeps hauling.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-weaver-ants-could-inspire-robots">Weaver ants could inspire robots</h2>



Engineers have aimed for the same mix of scalability and robustness in swarm robotics, where many simple robots coordinate through local rules rather than central control. 



Swarms can be flexible, but coordination losses often blunt the gains you would expect from larger teams.



Recent reviews of collective transport highlight the challenge, showing how controller design and contact mechanics limit how well multi-robot groups combine forces on one object. 



The ant strategy offers a practical blueprint: assign distinct roles that turn a delicate, shear-sensitive grip into stored force, then convert that force into movement with no wasted effort.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-bigger-picture-for-biology">The bigger picture for biology</h2>



Weaver ants, Oecophylla smaragdina, are famous for aerial nests made by pulling leaves together and gluing edges with silk produced by larvae, a behavior documented across colonies that span several trees. 



The species ranges across the Old World tropics, where large colonies build many leaf chambers and dominate tree canopies.



The force ratchet result adds a missing piece to that toolkit. Chains that both pull and lock down can stabilize leaf edges against recoil, then let other workers stitch the seam. That way, mechanics and behavior line up with the materials at hand and the job to be done.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-weaver-ants-without-leaders">Weaver ants without leaders</h2>



Work on weaver <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/when-you-give-caffeine-to-ants-many-interesting-things-happen/">ants</a> has already shown that groups can coordinate direction without leaders during cooperative transport, relying on local cues and the forces that pass through the object being moved. 



The new findings complement that picture by showing how teams scale force while maintaining control.



Together, these studies point to a consistent theme: simple rules at the individual level can yield precise, scalable performance at the group level when the physics of contact, friction, and elasticity are on your side. That alignment is what multi-robot teams often lack.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-weaver-ants-and-swarm-robotics">Weaver ants and swarm robotics</h2>



It will be interesting to see robots tested with ant-like roles, with some units pulling while others lock and store force through controlled shear against the ground or the payload. 



The authors’ description of a force ratchet suggests algorithms that manage who anchors and who pulls, and when to hand off - all while exploiting shear-sensitive contact.



These concepts are ready for lab testing, pitting straightforward linear output against ant-style scaling in teams of legged or wheeled <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/robotic-insects-may-be-the-future-of-farming-and-plant-pollination/">robots</a>. 



If successful, the method could benefit logistics, disaster response, and any situation where numerous small agents need to move something larger than any one of them.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S096098222500939X" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Current Biology</a>.



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Weaver ants could inspire robots that work like a dream team

On August 12, 2025, researchers studying weaver ants announced a...

Young aspen trees in Yellowstone are doing something they have not done in almost 100 years. Rather than sprouting and being eaten back to nubs by elk and bison, they're actually growing into tall, adult forest trees rising up towards the canopy.



This matters more than it might seem, because it shows what happens when a missing piece of an ecosystem returns.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-yellowstone-aspens-and-elk">Yellowstone, aspens, and elk</h2>



In the 1920s, people <a href="https://www.yellowstone.org/wolf-project/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">eliminated wolves in Yellowstone</a>. At the time, with limited scientific knowledge, managers believed it was the right thing to do.



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/from-wolves-to-dogs-did-domestication-begin-without-human-help/">Without wolves</a>, elk herds grew very large. Elk love to eat aspen shoots - the tender young growth is highly palatable to them.



For roughly 70 years, elk browsed aspen sprouts down to stub height, and the trees couldn't grow. 



If you had walked through Yellowstone in the 1980s, you would have seen many tiny aspen shoots covering the ground, but almost no young trees gaining height. 



The forest's regeneration was stalled. Old trees died, and no new ones replaced them.



In 1995 and 1996, park managers reintroduced wolves into the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/yellowstone-supervolcano-eruption-study-sparks-new-debate-on-where-and-when-it-will-erupt/">Yellowstone Park ecosystem</a>. Scientists hoped and wondered whether this would change anything for the trees.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-aspen-matter-to-yellowstone">Why aspen matter to Yellowstone</h2>



Aspen groves provide habitat for many species. Birds nest in them. Beavers eat the bark and use the wood for dams. Butterflies and moths lay eggs on the leaves. 



Their canopy admits enough light for wildflowers and shrubs to grow beneath. When it rains, aspen groves hold water in the soil better than some other forest types.



In short, when aspen return, dozens of other species benefit. More trees support more insects, which in turn support more birds, enriching the ecosystem.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-checking-the-trees-three-decades-later">Checking the trees three decades later</h2>



<a href="https://fwcs.oregonstate.edu/users/luke-painter" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Luke Painter</a>, an ecologist at <a href="https://oregonstate.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Oregon State University</a>, sought clear answers. His team returned to 87 aspen stands across Yellowstone that scientists had previously surveyed. 



They measured thousands of young trees, looked for bite marks, and counted how many stems were tall enough that elk could no longer reach the tips.



About a third of these stands now have many tall young aspens pushing toward the canopy. 



"About 26 of the 87 aspen stands we examined had large numbers of tall saplings throughout, a remarkable change from the 1990s when surveys found none at all," Painter said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-wolves-matter-to-yellowstone-aspens">Why wolves matter to Yellowstone aspens</h2>



Breaking it all down, the conclusions of this study are pretty simple. 



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wolves-move-pups-across-mountains-to-adapt-to-climate-pressure/">Wolves hunt elk</a>. When wolves came back, two things happened. First, elk numbers declined from unusually high levels. Second, elk changed their behavior. They spent less time in the same areas feeding.



With fewer elk and shorter feeding bouts, more aspen shoots survived long enough to exceed the browsing zone - about six to seven feet high. 



Once a sapling reaches that height, elk cannot easily reach the growing tip. The tree continues to grow.



"The reintroduction of large carnivores has initiated a recovery process that had been shut down for decades," Painter explained.



Scientists call this a <a href="https://www.nature.com/scitable/knowledge/library/trophic-cascades-across-diverse-plant-ecosystems-80060347/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">trophic cascade</a> - when adding or removing one species causes changes that ripple through the whole system.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-some-places-recover-others-don-t">Some places recover, others don't</h2>



Unfortunately, not every aspen stand has recovered yet. Some valleys still have many short, heavily browsed shoots, because it's not only elk eating them anymore. 



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/yellowstones-iconic-bison-have-merged-into-a-single-herd/">Bison herds have grown</a>, and bison browse on aspen as well. They are strong enough to break young trees. 



"Increasing numbers of bison may be emerging as a new constraint to aspen in some areas," Painter confirmed.



Additionally, winter snow depth varies; droughts stress trees; bears and mountain lions also hunt elk; and hunting outside the park influences elk distribution. 



All of these factors interact, which is why some sites show strong recovery, others show moderate recovery, and a few have changed very little.



The key pattern is that places with many tall saplings experience little browsing, and aspen groves that remain popular eating grounds today stay short. 



This fact is the strongest indication that tree recovery is linked directly to wolf presence, not solely to weather or soil conditions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-proof-in-the-measurements">Proof in the measurements</h2>



Painter's team did not rely on casual observation. They used the same methods as earlier researchers, measuring the same plots. 



They counted recruitment - when young trees surpass browsing height and begin progressing toward maturity. This measure is crucial. Sprouts are insufficient if they never grow; without recruitment, the forest cannot replace itself.



The results are robust. After being stalled for most of a century, Yellowstone's aspens are increasing in height. In recovering stands today, you will see saplings - six, eight, or ten feet tall - that were not present in the 1990s.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-future-of-yellowstone-s-aspens">The future of Yellowstone's aspens</h2>



"This is a remarkable case of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/giant-viruses-found-in-yellowstones-hot-springs-may-be-near-the-root-of-all-life-on-earth/">ecological restoration</a>," Painter concluded. "Wolf reintroduction is yielding long-term ecological changes contributing to increased biodiversity and habitat diversity."



Trees grow slowly, so even with wolves restored, it will take decades for these young aspens to form a full-grown forest. 



Some areas might never fully recover if bison numbers continue to rise or if the climate becomes too hot and dry.



Thanks to the work of Painter and his team, scientists are now certain that restoring the Yellowstone predator has restarted aspen forest regeneration. Not everywhere and not perfectly, but enough to be measured, creating hope for the future.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378112725004499?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Forest Ecology and Management</a>.



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Yellowstone's aspen trees are growing again thanks to the reintroduction of wolves

Young aspen trees in Yellowstone are doing something they have...

Adult honeybees often carry viruses without any obvious signs, yet new research shows those infections are not harmless. A recent study reports that one common virus slows flight while another speeds it up, reshaping what a normal day in the air looks like for a forager.



The findings are important because flight is the most energetically costly activity for a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/when-bees-arrive-late-flowers-may-vanish/">bee</a> and is essential for transporting food back to the colony.



The work comes from a research team led by Michelle L. Flenniken at <a href="https://www.montana.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Montana State University</a>, in collaboration with lead author Naomi G. Kaku. 



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



Researchers used flight performance as a clean readout of health, not because it is flashy, but because it is fundamental. 



The study followed adult Apis mellifera three days after controlled infection to capture effects before other stressors muddy the waters.



Flight mills recorded distance, duration, and speed for 240 bees from multiple <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/heat-and-pollution-are-changing-the-buzz-of-bees/">colonies</a>. Tested individuals flew up to about 3.46 miles before exhaustion, offering a robust window into how infection changes real work capacity.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-testing-common-bee-viruses">Testing common bee viruses</h2>



The team focused on two iflaviruses that many beekeepers already know by name, deformed wing virus and sacbrood virus. Both belong to a family of positive strand RNA viruses that are widespread in bees and other insects.



Each <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bees-have-unique-personalities-that-determine-whether-they-sting/">bee</a> was either mock treated or inoculated, then flown on a miniaturized tether system that allowed accurate speed and distance tracking. 



The setup minimized confounders and produced directly comparable flight metrics across groups.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-bee-viruses-change-flight">How bee viruses change flight</h2>



The pattern was clear. Bees with high deformed wing virus loads flew 49 percent shorter distances than uninfected bees, while those with high sacbrood virus loads flew 53 percent farther.



Average and peak speeds shifted too. Peak speeds dropped with heavy deformed wing virus, and rose with heavier sacbrood virus, even though total flight time did not change in a meaningful way.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-co-infections-play-out">How co-infections play out</h2>



When both viruses were present at moderate levels, their opposing effects nearly canceled out, leaving flight distance close to baseline. 



The canceling effect hides trouble because sacbrood virus is lethal to larvae and does not become a net positive at the colony scale.



The authors kept the analysis tight with linear mixed models that explained a large share of variation by accounting for virus load, bee weight, and equipment <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/native-bee-species-face-extinction-due-to-honey-bee-competition/">effects</a>. That modeling choice matters when the goal is to separate signal from noise in behavior data.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bee-brain-chemistry-link">Bee brain chemistry link</h2>



One line of evidence points to octopamine, a core invertebrate neuromodulator often described as the insect fight or flight signal. 



It ramps metabolic activity and neuromuscular transmission through the octopamine beta 2 receptor, and that receptor’s biology has been mapped for decades.



Sacbrood virus was associated with higher expression of the octopamine beta 2 receptor, and adding octopamine to bees infected with deformed wing virus countered the flight deficit.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-other-factors-in-bee-viruses">Other factors in bee viruses</h2>



Viruses do not act alone. The ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor amplifies and transmits deformed wing virus and alters its population dynamics, which can raise virulence in managed colonies.



Across the United States, beekeeper surveys continue to report heavy losses that stress pollination services and business survival, with annual losses often near 40 percent over recent years.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-infections-cause-behavior-changes">Infections cause behavior changes </h2>



A related virus influences behavior through a different mechanism. Kakugo virus, a close relative of deformed wing virus, has been associated with aggressive guard behavior in worker bees, as shown in peer-reviewed studies examining infected brains.



The new flight results extend this theme, showing that covert infections can reshape core tasks without visible symptoms. That makes detection and interpretation harder in the field.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bee-viruses-and-crops">Bee viruses and crops</h2>



Flight sets the radius for collecting nectar and pollen, and it governs how many trips a forager can complete on a good day. If many foragers fly shorter ranges or at lower peak speeds, colonies risk falling behind on calories even when flowers are available.



That risk scales up to farms that rely on pollination, so subtle changes at the level of an individual bee can nudge crop outcomes. It is a classic case where biology and economics share the same line in the ledger.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-practical-takeaways-for-now">Practical takeaways for now</h2>



The study does not argue that sacbrood virus is beneficial because its larval toll remains severe. It does show that looking only for dead brood or deformed wings misses important adult performance costs that trace back to infection chemistry.



Better virus monitoring, steady mite control, and realistic expectations about “asymptomatic” adults will help align management with what the data say today. The mechanistic octopamine link gives physiology a seat at the table for future interventions.



“This study has organismal, colony, and ecosystem level implications,” wrote Kaku. The next wave of research will test how different diets, temperatures, and co-stressors interact with virus loads to shape flight and foraging. 



Future studies will also investigate how frequently co-infections obscure risk in real-world apiaries, where multiple pathogens coexist.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adw8382" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science Advances</a>.



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Hidden bee viruses change how far and fast they fly

Adult honeybees often carry viruses without any obvious signs, yet...

In the frozen expanse of the Arctic, a quiet force has shaped life for millennia. Reindeer have grazed the tundra since the Ice Age, enduring blizzards, migrations that span thousands of kilometers, and dramatic swings in climate. 



Reindeer are more than just a species of the far north; they are cultural pillars, ecological engineers, and an irreplaceable part of human history in these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/arctic-climate-will-permanently-change-by-2050-scientists-warn/">regions</a>.



From sustaining Indigenous communities to maintaining the delicate balance of Arctic plant life, reindeer have long been a thread connecting people, wildlife, and the land. Yet today, that thread is fraying. 



Modern climate change is accelerating faster than anything they have faced before, and the question is no longer whether they will be affected - but how severely.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-arctic-reindeer-face-major-decline">Arctic reindeer face major decline</h2>



Researchers warn that climate change could trigger reindeer population declines at a rate unmatched in 21,000 years. 



Known as caribou in North America, these Ice Age survivors have adapted to the Arctic’s extreme <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/metallic-beads-in-arctic-mud-suggest-a-comet-slammed-into-earth-relatively-recently/">conditions</a>, shaping ecosystems and sustaining Indigenous communities.



Yet, despite their resilience, climate change and other human pressures have reduced global numbers by nearly two-thirds in just three decades.



An international team from the University of Adelaide and <a href="https://www.ku.dk/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Copenhagen</a> analyzed reindeer population and range changes over 21 millennia. 



The team combined fossil evidence, ancient DNA, and advanced computer models to uncover how reindeer responded to past rapid warming events and what the future might hold.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-past-survival-may-not-work-now">Past survival may not work now</h2>



“Using fossils, ancient DNA and computer models, we reconstructed changes in the abundance and distribution of reindeer over the past 21,000 years at resolutions never done before, and we directly compared these to future predictions,” said lead investigator Dr. Elisabetta Canteri from the <a href="https://www.adelaide.edu.au" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Adelaide</a>.



The results showed that reindeer survived earlier abrupt warming periods thanks to ecological versatility, high mobility, strong population densities, and the ability to persist in small refuges when <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/arctic-fjords-show-signs-of-struggle-in-a-warming-world/">conditions</a> worsened. 



However, these traits will likely not protect reindeer in the Arctic against the pace and scale of current and future warming.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-biggest-losses-in-north-america">Biggest losses in North America</h2>



“Our forecasts show that these North American caribou populations are most at risk from climate warming, with declines of up to 80 percent likely by 2100 unless there are major cuts to greenhouse gas emissions and increased investment in wildlife management and conservation,” said Professor Damien Fordham.



In fact, the study projects an 84% population drop and a 71% range loss in North America by 2100 under a high-emissions scenario. Even with moderate <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/arctic-meltdown-is-accelerating-global-warming-already-changing-earth-in-unimaginable-ways/">emissions</a> cuts, populations could shrink by 42% and ranges by 21 percent. 



Some herds have already suffered extreme losses - the George River herd declined by 99% in under 30 years, while the Mulchatna herd fell by 95% over a similar period.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-arctic-reindeer-loss-will-harm-nature">Arctic reindeer loss will harm nature</h2>



Reindeer and caribou maintain Arctic plant diversity by grazing selectively, preventing certain plants from dominating. 



“A reduction in tundra plant diversity resulting from the loss of reindeer and caribou will have many cascading effects, including reduction of carbon storage in Arctic soils,” noted Professor Eric Post.



Losing these herbivores could also speed up Arctic warming by releasing stored carbon, altering soil nutrients, and changing surface reflectivity. 



This may open the door for invasive species and increase the risk of diseases spreading in the far north.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-regional-differences-in-vulnerability">Regional differences in vulnerability</h2>



While Asia may see local declines - especially at the southern edges of current ranges - some northern regions such as the Taimyr Peninsula might experience population increases due to newly available habitats. 



Greenland could also see range expansions as melting ice exposes suitable land. In contrast, Europe has historically hosted smaller reindeer populations, which have fluctuated sharply during past climate swings.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-well-being-of-arctic-reindeer">Well-being of Arctic reindeer</h2>



The research shows that without urgent reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and greater investment in conservation, current declines will likely accelerate. 



Protecting these herds is critical not only for biodiversity and climate stability, but also for the cultural, economic, and emotional well-being of Arctic communities that depend on them.



“For thousands of years, the well-being of our own species has benefitted directly from healthy reindeer and caribou populations. Now more than ever we need to ensure their well-being in turn," said Professor Post.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adu0175" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science Advances</a>.



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Arctic reindeer populations are declining faster than ever before

In the frozen expanse of the Arctic, a quiet force...

Cats that develop dementia may play an important role in helping scientists better understand Alzheimer’s disease in humans. 



According to new research from the <a href="https://www.ed.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Edinburgh,</a> the brains of these cats show many of the same <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dementia-is-a-growing-global-health-crisis-with-a-staggering-cost/">changes</a> seen in people living with Alzheimer’s.



One of the most significant similarities is the build-up of harmful proteins, such as amyloid-beta, inside the brain. These proteins can collect around and within synapses - the tiny structures that carry signals between nerve cells - and interfere with their function. 



Over time, this damage disrupts communication between brain cells, which can lead to problems with memory, thinking, and behavior, just as it does in human patients.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-dementia-appears-in-cats">How dementia appears in cats</h2>



Older cats that develop cognitive dysfunction often begin to show noticeable changes in their behaviour. One common sign is that they start meowing more frequently, and this increase in vocalisation is often most pronounced at night. 



They may also appear disoriented or confused, sometimes seeming unsure of familiar surroundings.



Many cats alter the way they interact with their owners, either becoming unusually needy or, in some cases, more withdrawn. Some may even forget long-established litter box habits, leading to accidents around the home. 



Their normal sleep-wake patterns can also become disrupted, with restlessness at night and increased sleeping during the day. These behavioral changes strongly resemble the symptoms observed in people with Alzheimer’s disease.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cognitive-decline-in-cats">Cognitive decline in cats </h2>



To investigate what might be happening in the brain, researchers examined samples from three groups of cats - young animals, older animals without dementia, and older animals diagnosed with dementia. 



When they compared these brains, the experts found that the older and dementia-affected cats both had deposits of amyloid-beta within their synapses.



Synapses are the critical junctions that allow nerve cells to pass electrical and chemical messages to one another, enabling normal thought, memory, and learning. 



When amyloid-beta builds up in these areas, it can interfere with signal transmission. This kind of disruption can quickly impair memory and thinking abilities, contributing to the cognitive decline seen in both cats and humans.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-happens-inside-the-brain">What happens inside the brain</h2>



The study revealed more than just protein build-up. In areas with amyloid-beta, the brain’s support cells - microglia and astrocytes - became more active. These cells help maintain the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/risk-of-dementia-is-much-higher-than-previously-thought/">brain</a>, but in this case, they were swallowing synapses. 



This process, called synaptic pruning, is normal when the brain is still developing. Later in life, too much pruning can cause lasting memory loss.



Microglia were especially aggressive near amyloid-beta plaques. They often took in synapses already containing the protein. 



Astrocytes did this too, though less often. In cats with dementia, the amount of amyloid-beta was closely linked to how many synapses were being removed. That link wasn’t as clear in healthy older cats.



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



Most Alzheimer’s research uses rodents, but rodents don’t naturally get dementia. Cats do. That makes them a more realistic model for testing new treatments and understanding the disease’s progression in real life.



“Dementia is a devastating disease - whether it affects humans, cats, or dogs. Our findings highlight the striking similarities between feline dementia and Alzheimer’s disease in people,” noted Dr. Robert McGeachan from the University of Edinburgh’s Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies. 



"This opens the door to exploring whether promising new treatments for human Alzheimer’s disease could also help our aging pets." 



"Because cats naturally develop these brain <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/one-particular-sleep-stage-slow-wave-deep-is-most-important-for-preventing-dementia/">changes</a>, they may also offer a more accurate model of the disease than traditional laboratory animals, ultimately benefiting both species and their caregivers.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-benefits-of-cat-dementia-research">Benefits of cat dementia research</h2>



Professor Danièlle Gunn-Moore, Personal Chair of Feline Medicine at the <a href="https://vet.ed.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies</a>, noted that feline dementia is very distressing for the cat and for its person. 



"It is by undertaking studies like this that we will understand how best to treat them. This will be wonderful for the cats, their owners, people with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/where-you-live-may-affect-your-dementia-risk/">Alzheimer’s</a> and their loved ones," said Gunn-Moore. "Feline dementia is the perfect natural model for Alzheimer’s, everyone benefits."



The study strengthens the idea that the same harmful processes in humans can appear in cats - and that both species could benefit from the same future treatments.



The research is published in the <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ejn.70180" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">European Journal of Neuroscience</a>.



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Cats with dementia have brain changes strikingly similar to humans

Cats that develop dementia may play an important role in...

A biology team pitched their tents one night inside Thailand's Kaeng Krachan National Park. While checking rocks near camp, the group lifted a flat slab and met a tiny brown scorpion, Scorpiops krachana, staring back with a startling array of eight bright eyes.



Scorpiops krachan, a species new to science, was formally described and submitted for review on March 6, 2024 by zoologist Wasin Nawanetiwong and colleagues from <a href="https://www.chula.ac.th/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chulalongkorn University</a> and partner institutions.



The team's account appears in an open access journal and details three males and one female found during that expedition.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sizing-up-scorpiops-krachan">Sizing up Scorpiops krachan</h2>



Males reach just over one inch from head to tail,” noted Nawanetiwong at the end of the description. Adults top out between 0.85 and 1.06 inches from head to stinger, placing the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/giant-species-joro-spiders-has-invaded-the-united-states-heres-what-to-look-for/">species</a> among the smallest members of its subgenus. “



Color divides the sexes. Females wear a deeper chocolate shell, whereas males look more tan, a point co author Natapot Warrit emphasized when cataloging the specimens.



Like other Euscorpiops relatives, Scorpiops krachan carries elongated pedipalps ending in slim, straight claws and sports a distinctive map of sensory <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/trichobothria" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">trichobothria</a> along the pincers. These touch sensitive hairs help the animal judge air currents and target prey in near total darkness.



Field measurements show that its slender claws still snap shut with surprising speed, allowing the animal to hold prey larger than its own body. 



That combination of light frame and firm grip likely compensates for the reduced reach of its short tail.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-rainforest-laboratory">A rainforest laboratory</h2>



Kaeng Krachan sits along the Tenasserim Range near Thailand’s western border and became part of the Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex World Heritage Site in 2021. 



<a href="https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1461/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UNESCO</a> lists at least 459 animal species in the complex, including 48 endemic animals and 81 considered rare.



Inside this lush mosaic, the scorpion preferred transitional patches where secondary forest blends into older growth. Researchers found all four individuals under a single rock resting on moist leaf litter beside a seasonal stream.



Daytime highs in the area can crest 95°F, but thick canopy keeps the forest floor humid and cool enough for small arachnids. Night temperatures drop into the 70s, giving the nocturnal hunter a predictable window for activity.



The same micro stream supports frogs, crickets, and small beetles, giving the Scorpiops krachana <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fossil-reveals-the-first-ancestors-of-scorpions-and-spiders/">scorpion</a> buffet line of soft bodied prey. 



Seasonal flooding rearranges the leaf litter, so a well chosen rock can double as both hunting platform and storm shelter.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scorpiops-krachana-uses-ambush">Scorpiops krachana uses ambush</h2>



Most scorpions are classic ambush predators, remaining motionless until vibrations betray a meal on foot. The <a href="https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Scorpionidae/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Animal Diversity Web</a> notes that many species use this sit and wait tactic rather than roaming in search of prey.



Scorpiops krachana fits that profile. Warrit’s field notes describe the animals crouched against stone, claws half open, waiting for wandering insects.



Because the new scorpion is so small, its stinger likely subdues prey quickly to avoid dangerous struggles. 



The researchers suggest that the venom dose may be tuned for tiny arthropods and could pose little risk to humans, though no toxicity tests have yet been run.



Researchers suspect S. krachan measures ground vibrations through slit sensilla on its feet, a trick that lets it judge prey size before striking. 



By remaining still, the scorpion also conserves the limited energy budget typical of miniaturized arachnids.



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



Scorpion heads normally carry a single pair of median eyes flanked by two to five pairs of lateral eyes. S. krachan maxes out the arrangement with eight total, a configuration that may sharpen depth perception during its stationary hunts.



Vision, however, does not stop at the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/unexpected-find-inside-the-eye-of-a-tiny-wasp-megaphragma-viggianii/">eyes</a>. Researchers have proposed that a scorpion’s entire shell acts like one huge light sensor, fluorescing under ultraviolet light and guiding the animal toward shelter in moonlight.



If that hypothesis holds, Scorpiops krachana may combine eight optical windows with a full body alarm system to spot threats and prey at night. 



Such redundancy makes sense for a creature that never ranges far from the underside of a single stone.



Microscopic sections reveal that each lateral eye contains photoreceptors tuned to green wavelengths, the same color produced when the exoskeleton fluoresces. That spectral match supports the idea that the body’s glow channels useful light back toward the eyes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-endemism-and-the-conservation-question">Endemism and the conservation question</h2>



“This new taxon may represent one endemic element for the scorpion fauna of Thailand,” wrote Nawanetiwong, stressing the species’ narrow range. 



A short walk beyond the find site, habitat shifts from intact forest to farmland, underscoring that vulnerability.



The park itself has faced scrutiny over land rights and planned dam expansions, any of which could alter microhabitats critical for leaf litter specialists. Small invertebrates like Scorpiops krachana seldom drive policy, yet their presence often signals healthy soil and water cycles.



Documenting hyper local <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/myloplus-sauron-new-species-of-vegetarian-piranha-with-human-like-teeth/">species</a> therefore gives conservationists concrete measures of ecosystem change. Each new entry on the checklist argues for leaving at least a slice of forest undisturbed.



Local guides already promote night walks to spot glowing scorpions, so park managers may leverage the discovery for eco tourism, provided visitors stick to trails and resist turning every stone. 



Responsible tourism could turn the tiny arachnid into an ambassador for forest protection.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scorpiops-krachan-s-in-its-family-tree">Scorpiops krachan's in its family tree</h2>



The find raises the number of described Euscorpiops species in Thailand to thirteen and nudges the global Scorpiops tally past 115. 



Taxonomists continue to debate relationships within the group, but the new morphology data provide fresh clues for sorting the family tree.



Future surveys in the park’s limestone caves and higher ridges could uncover close cousins, much as recent work in nearby provinces has done. 



Each related species enriches understanding of how geography, climate, and isolation shape body size and hunting style.



Genetic sequencing of the <a href="https://www.genecards.org/cgi-bin/carddisp.pl?gene=MT-CO1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I gene</a> is underway, which should clarify whether S. krachan split from its nearest relative during Pleistocene rainforest contractions. Those data will feed into a broader phylogeny covering more than 200 Asian scorpion species.



From a single overturned rock, scientists gained another piece of Southeast Asia’s intricate biodiversity puzzle, reminding us how much life hides in plain sight.



The study is published in <a href="https://zookeys.pensoft.net/article/113398/element/8/2655//" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ZooKeys</a>.



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Researchers were camping when they discovered a tiny but dangerous new animal species

A biology team pitched their tents one night inside Thailand's...

Tropical bird populations have fallen hard in recent decades. A new analysis reports that human-driven heat extremes cut tropical bird abundance by 25 to 38 percent between 1950 and 2020 when compared to a world without warming.



The effects ripple far beyond any single forest. Tropical forests hold the largest share of the world’s bird diversity, with research indicating that about 72 percent of bird <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/birds-are-struggling-to-keep-pace-with-a-warming-climate/">species</a> live in these ecosystems.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tropical-bird-declining-numbers">Tropical bird declining numbers</h2>



To investigate, Maximilian Kotz worked with colleagues at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (<a href="https://www.bsc.es/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BSC</a>) and the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (<a href="https://www.pik-potsdam.de/en/home" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PIK</a>), alongside James E. M. Watson and Tatsuya Amano at the University of Queensland (<a href="https://www.uq.edu.au/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UQ</a>).



The team coupled long term bird population records from the <a href="https://www.livingplanetindex.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Living Planet Index</a> with daily weather records to test how temperature spikes and rainfall shifts affect annual changes in abundance. 



The researchers used ERA5, a global reanalysis that blends observations and models to reconstruct historical weather, to ensure consistent daily data across decades.



They analyzed the data to determine how much of the extreme heat exposure could be traced directly to human-driven warming. "As far as we are aware, this is the first animal climate attribution study,” said Kotz. 



Across the tropics, the frequency of dangerously hot days has surged. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/birds-may-be-using-quantum-physics-for-migration/">Birds</a> there now experience roughly ten times as many extreme heat days as they did several decades ago - a shift that lines up with the observed declines.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-heat-kills-tropical-birds">Heat kills tropical birds</h2>



Birds maintain high body temperatures and have tight thermal limits. When air temperatures spike, the path to hyperthermia is short, and the main emergency response is evaporative cooling through rapid breathing and related behaviors that trade water for heat loss.



That trade-off gets riskier as hot periods lengthen. Evidence shows that humidity pushes bodies toward lethal overheating faster, shrinking the margin for survival during hot spells in warm climates.



Heat stress also carries delayed costs. Birds that avoid immediate mortality can leave the breeding season lighter and less fit, which reduces nesting success and the number of young that reach independence.



These mechanisms line up with the new estimates. The analysis found that short bursts of extreme heat, not just small changes in seasonal averages, were the strongest predictors of reduced annual growth in tropical bird <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hundreds-of-bird-species-could-vanish-in-the-next-century/">populations</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tropical-birds-in-protected-areas">Tropical birds in protected areas</h2>



For years, biologists reported declines in seemingly intact tropical forests without a clear culprit. In central Amazonia, long term sampling reveals large falls in ground and near ground birds since the early 1980s, even in undisturbed sites.



In Panama’s protected Barro Colorado Island, a century of data shows a persistent erosion of tropical bird diversity. This trend cannot be chalked up to recent habitat destruction within the reserve.



These records are consistent with the new study’s estimates. The magnitude of decline in some intact sites resembles the size of the heat-attributed reductions reported for tropical populations overall.



The link does not claim a single cause for every place. It shows that the intensification of heat extremes is a powerful driver in regions where most birds already live near their thermal limits.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-heat-damage-beats-other-threats">Heat damage beats other threats</h2>



Disentangling climate from direct human pressures has been hard. Here, the attribution framework indicates that in the observed tropical populations, the cumulative impact of heat extremes driven by climate change has been larger than direct human pressures across the same time window.



That does not minimize the damage from land clearing, logging, or mining. It highlights a second, already active threat that operates even when forests still stand.



The method distinguishes between average warming and extremes. The signal points to spikes of heat as the primary stressor for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/birds-are-declining-fastest-where-they-were-once-common/">bird</a> abundance in lower latitude regions.



This finding matters for planning and forecasting. Management that only tracks mean temperatures will understate the risk posed by a cluster of very hot days to small, localized populations.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-protecting-tropical-birds-from-heat">Protecting tropical birds from heat</h2>



The IPCC’s latest assessment demonstrates that climate change is already a major risk to ecosystems and biodiversity, with escalating losses expected without rapid emissions cuts and stronger adaptation.



Reducing greenhouse gas emissions will blunt the rise in extreme heat that the new analysis identifies as the main driver of tropical bird declines. That is the foundation for any long term recovery of abundance in the hottest regions.



Ultimately, protecting tropical birds means preserving the forests they depend on and reducing the heat they cannot escape.



“On the conservation side, this work tells us that in addition to protected areas and stopping deforestation, we urgently need to look into strategies for species who are more vulnerable to heat extremes to maximize their adaptation potential," said Amano. 



"That might mean ex-situ conservation work, so working with some populations in other locations."



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-025-02811-7" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Ecology &amp; Evolution</a>.



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Tropical bird populations are rapidly shrinking - and now scientists know why

Tropical bird populations have fallen hard in recent decades. A...

A newly identified species of ancient whale reveals how the first baleen relatives hunted, sensed their world, and grew.&nbsp;The compact predator, named Janjucetus dullardi, lived about 26 million years ago and combined big forward-facing eyes with slicing teeth. 



The discovery offers a rare window into the early evolution of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/baleen-whales-cannot-escape-human-noise/">baleen whales</a>, long before they became filter-feeding giants.



Scientists at <a href="https://museumsvictoria.com.au/research-institute/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Museums Victoria’s Research Institute</a> have described the species from a partial skull found near Jan Juc on Wadawurrung Country along Victoria’s Surf Coast. 



The fossil was discovered in 2019 by local resident Ross Dullard, who donated it to the museum; the species name honors his find.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-small-predator-with-slicing-teeth">Small predator with slicing teeth</h2>



Janjucetus dullardi was little more than two meters long. It looked nothing like the gentle titans that glide through oceans today. With a short snout, large forward-looking eyes, and razor-sharp, slicing teeth, it likely chased agile prey in warm, shallow seas.



The animal belongs to mammalodontids. These are early whale relatives restricted to the Oligocene, roughly 30 to 23 million years ago. This is the third mammalodontid from Victoria and only the fourth known worldwide.&nbsp;



Unlike most finds, this specimen preserves both well-formed teeth and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/inner-ears-of-neanderthals-reveals-catastrophic-population-event-during-their-evolution/">inner ear</a> structures. Those features are crucial for decoding how early whales fed, heard, moved, and behaved.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ancient-specimen-and-whale-evolution">Ancient specimen and whale evolution </h2>



The fossil is a partial skull with ear bones and teeth. Its journey began on a winter beach walk in June 2019. Recognizing its importance, Dullard turned it over to the museum, where specialists carefully prepared and studied it.



“This kind of public discovery and its reporting to the museum is vital,” said senior author Erich Fitzgerald, a curator of vertebrate palaeontology at Museums Victoria Research Institute.&nbsp;



“Ross’ discovery has unlocked an entire chapter of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/baleen-whales-rewriting-the-evolutionary-history-of-the-largest-animals-ever/">whale evolution</a> we’ve never seen before. It’s a reminder that world-changing fossils can be found in your own backyard.”



MicroCT scans mapped the internal passages of the ear region, including the cochlea. Those delicate structures help scientists infer hearing range and sound processing.&nbsp;



In predators, hearing cues support navigation, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/some-hawks-evolved-super-hearing-abilities-to-locate-prey/">prey detection</a>, and communication. Here, they add new data on how early baleen relatives sensed their environment.



“This fossil opens a window into how ancient whales grew and changed, and how evolution shaped their bodies as they adapted to life in the sea,” Fitzgerald said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shark-like-cousin-of-baleen-whales">Shark-like cousin of baleen whales</h2>



The study identifies the specimen as a juvenile, just over two meters long. Its anatomy points to fast, visually guided hunting rather than <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/early-jawless-fish-rhinopteraspis-dunensis-filter-feeders/">filter feeding</a>. The big eyes suggest high reliance on sight. The slicing dentition indicates grasping and cutting prey.



“It’s essentially a little whale with big eyes and a mouth full of sharp, slicing teeth,” said lead author Ruairidh Duncan, a PhD student at the Museums Victoria Research Institute and Monash University.&nbsp;



“Imagine the shark-like version of a baleen whale - small and deceptively cute, but definitely not harmless.’



Because the inner ear is preserved in detail, researchers can test ideas about how these early whales tracked sound and balanced during quick maneuvers. 



Teeth plus ear anatomy in one juvenile skull is rare. Together, they allow fine-grained comparisons with other early whales and with living baleen species.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ancient-whales-in-warm-oceans">Ancient whales in warm oceans</h2>



The fossil comes from the Jan Juc Formation, deposited during a time of global warmth and rising seas. Southern Australia is emerging as a key stage for early whale evolution. Repeated discoveries from this coast are building a picture of experimentation and transition in whale anatomy.



“This region was once a cradle for some of the most unusual whales in history, and we’re only just beginning to uncover their stories,” Fitzgerald said.



The setting matters for today as well. Ancient whales that thrived in warmer oceans provide clues to how marine life responds when seas heat up. Anatomy, behavior, and distribution can all shift. Fossils like Janjucetus dullardi help calibrate those responses across deep time.



“We’re entering a new phase of discovery,” Fitzgerald said. “This region is rewriting the story of how whales came to rule the oceans, with some surprising plot twists!”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-contributions-to-evolutionary-research">Contributions to evolutionary research </h2>



Each new specimen can reframe long-standing evolutionary <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/luca-last-universal-common-ancestor-progenitor-all-life-on-earth/">questions</a>, especially when it preserves rarely seen structures.



“The findings demonstrate the power of our collections to unlock stories that change the way we understand life on Earth,” said Lynley Crosswell, the CEO and Director of Museums Victoria.&nbsp;



“Thanks to the generosity of the public and the expertise of our scientists, Museums Victoria Research Institute is making globally significant contributions to evolutionary research. Discoveries like Janjucetus dullardi remind us that our collections are not just about the past - they’re shaping the future of science.”



Teams continue to survey Victoria’s coastline. They are also re-examining older specimens in the Museums Victoria State Collection with fresh tools and questions. The expectation is simple.



More fossils are out there. Some are already sitting in drawers. Together, they promise to sharpen the narrative of how small, sharp-toothed hunters gave rise to the largest animals that have ever lived.



The study is published in the <a href="https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/article/204/4/zlaf090/8231955" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society</a>.



Image Credit: Artwork by Ruairidh Duncan. Source - Museums Victoria



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Ancient whale with razor-sharp teeth discovered in Australia

A newly identified species of ancient whale reveals how the...

After years of digging across Africa, scientists have built a clearer picture of life just before Earth’s worst die-off. New fossils reveal bustling ecosystems in southern Pangea, from burrowers to tusked plant-eaters to saber-toothed hunters. 



The fossils show which species thrived before the “Great Dying” and hint at why so many vanished. A team led by researchers at the <a href="https://www.washington.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Washington</a> and the <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/ujvp20/45/sup1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Field Museum</a> pulled together this record in a 14-paper collection. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-new-perspective-on-mass-extinctions">A new perspective on mass extinctions </h2>



The research spans more than 15 years of field seasons and lab study, and it focuses on the late Permian, which ran from 299 to 252 million years ago.



Christian Sidor is a UW professor of biology and curator of vertebrate paleontology at the UW Burke Museum of Natural History &amp; Culture.



“This mass extinction was nothing short of a cataclysm for life on Earth, and changed the course of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/discovery-evolution-not-random-gene-families-pangenome-influence-called-revolutionary/">evolution</a>,” said Sidor. "But we lack a comprehensive view of which species survived, which didn’t, and why."



"The fossils we have collected in Tanzania and Zambia will give us a more global perspective on this unprecedented period in our planet’s natural history.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fossil-hunt-across-southern-pangea">Fossil hunt across southern Pangea</h2>



The study centers on three basins rich in fossils and extinction records in southern Africa: the Ruhuhu Basin in southern Tanzania, the Luangwa Basin in eastern Zambia, and the Mid-Zambezi Basin in southern Zambia.



Most specimens came from month-long expeditions over the past 17 years. Others were museum pieces collected decades ago and newly analyzed.



“These parts of Zambia and Tanzania contain absolutely beautiful fossils from the Permian,” Sidor said. “They are giving us an unprecedented view of life on land leading up to the mass extinction.”



Fieldwork began in 2007. The team, which included students and postdoctoral researchers, made five trips to the Ruhuhu Basin and four to the Mid-Zambezi and Luangwa basins. The work was conducted in partnership with the Tanzanian and Zambian governments.



Crews hiked between distant sites, stayed in villages, and sometimes camped under the stars. One night, they awoke to the ground quaking from a nearby elephant herd. All collected fossils will return to Tanzania and Zambia after study.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fossils-challenging-old-extinction-records">Fossils challenging old extinction records</h2>



The Permian Period closed the Paleozoic Era. During this time, life that first evolved in the oceans spread onto land and built complex food webs. By the late Permian, amphibian and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/reptile-ancestors-appeared-40-million-years-earlier-than-we-thought/">reptile-like animals</a> roamed environments from early forests to arid valleys.



The end-Permian extinction, whose cause is still debated, shattered many of those ecosystems. It cleared the slate for the Mesozoic, which produced <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/where-did-dinosaurs-come-from-missing-fossils-hold-the-secret/">dinosaurs</a> and, later, the first birds, flowering plants, and mammals.



For decades, much of what scientists knew about this transition came from fossil discoveries in South Africa’s Karoo Basin, which preserves a near-continuous record across the extinction boundary.



Since the 1930s, however, researchers have recognized that Tanzania and Zambia also preserve superb sequences from this interval.



The new series builds on earlier work, including a 2018 synthesis of post-Permian life from the Ruhuhu and Luangwa basins, by pushing deeper into the Permian layers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-final-flourishing-before-collapse">Final flourishing before collapse</h2>



The papers describe several new species of dicynodonts - small, burrowing, herbivorous synapsids with beak-like snouts. Many had a pair of small tusks that likely helped with digging. By the time the crisis hit, dicynodonts dominated plant-eating niches on land.



The team also reports multiple new <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/therapsids-worlds-oldest-ancestor-of-mammals-discovered-so-far-had-saber-teeth/">gorgonopsians</a> - large, saber-toothed predators that stalked the same landscapes. In addition, they identify a new temnospondyl, a hefty, salamander-like amphibian that lived in rivers and swamps.



Together, these animals map the food webs across southern Pangea in the final Permian chapters. They also allow direct comparison with South Africa’s fossil record.



That comparison is crucial for testing which lineages were widespread and which were local, and for tracking who faded and who endured.



“The number of specimens we’ve found in Zambia and Tanzania is so high, and their condition is so exquisite, that we can make species-level comparisons to what paleontologists have found in South Africa,” Sidor explained.



“I know of no better place on Earth for obtaining such detailed information about this time period, or for making such precise conclusions and comparisons.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-matching-fossil-timelines-worldwide">Matching fossil timelines worldwide</h2>



By putting multiple regions side by side, researchers can test patterns of survival and collapse rather than rely on a single archive. The African basins now offer parallel timelines bracketing the end-Permian horizon. 



With that, scientists can probe whether communities unraveled in the same way everywhere, or if stress hit different places differently.



“We can now compare two different geographic regions of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/australia-north-america-supercontinent/">Pangea</a> and see what was going on both before and after the end-Permian mass extinction,” Sidor said. “We can really start to ask questions about who survived and who didn’t.”



The answers could reveal how ecosystems respond when pushed to the brink. They may also show which traits help lineages ride out cascading shocks. 



That fossil evidence sharpens the narrative of Earth’s greatest extinction and the long recovery that followed. It also deepens our view of the world the dinosaurs inherited and reshaped.



The research is published in the <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/ujvp20/45/sup1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology</a>.



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Life was thriving before Earth’s greatest mass extinction

After years of digging across Africa, scientists have built a...

On August 13, the world turns its gaze to one of nature’s most misunderstood creatures - the wolf. For centuries, wolves have been hunted, feared, and driven from their lands.



However, wolves are not just <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wolves-move-pups-across-mountains-to-adapt-to-climate-pressure/">predators</a> - they play a crucial role in balancing and maintaining ecosystems. In the mid-90s, wolves <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wolves-are-rebuilding-forests-and-restoring-ecosystem-balance-in-yellowstone/">returned to Yellowstone</a>. Elk numbers decreased, grazing pressure was reduced, and vegetation began to recover.



A 20-year study at 25 streamside sites shows just how dramatic the change has been - willow crown volume increased by 1,500 percent. “Our findings emphasize the power of predators as ecosystem architects,” said William Ripple of <a href="https://oregonstate.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Oregon State University</a>.



With fewer elk browsing, willows, aspens, and berry shrubs flourished. Birds, beavers, and insects benefited. This chain reaction is called a <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989425000290">trophic cascade</a>, and the one at Yellowstone is among the strongest recorded anywhere.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-when-wolves-disappear">When wolves disappear</h2>



By the early 1930s, wolves had been wiped out across most of the American West. Hunting, trapping, and government predator-control programs had removed wolves from the landscapes they had shaped for thousands of years.



Without wolves to keep herbivore numbers in check, elk herds grew quickly and stayed in one place for longer. They grazed young plants relentlessly, stripping away willows, aspens, and other vegetation along rivers and streams.



These riparian zones - the green ribbons of life beside waterways - began to shrink and lose diversity. Without healthy plants to anchor the soil, banks eroded. Insects, birds, and mammals that depended on that habitat declined. 



Forest edges also suffered. Young trees couldn’t survive heavy browsing and, over time, forests became thinner and less able to support <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-no-those-are-definitely-not-resurrected-dire-wolves-grey-wolf-genes/">wildlife</a>.



Robert Beschta of Oregon State University calls this a “<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/gray-wolves-are-a-crucial-component-of-the-american-west/">shifting baseline</a>.” It happens when we forget, or never knew, what a healthy ecosystem once looked like. Each generation grows up seeing a degraded landscape and assumes it’s normal. 



That false sense of normal can mislead conservation planning, because decisions are made without understanding the richness that has already been lost.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-human-pressures-on-wolves">Human pressures on wolves</h2>



Even in protected areas, wolves face human threats. They cross park boundaries and enter hunting zones.



A recent study examined decades of data from five U.S. parks. When a human killed one wolf, the chance that the pack survived the year dropped by 27 percent. Reproduction fell by 22 percent. Losing a pack leader hit even harder - survival odds dropped <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wolf-packs-are-less-likely-to-stick-together-after-human-impacts/">73 percent</a>, reproduction nearly halved.



In Voyageurs National Park, half of all wolf deaths are human-caused, often by poaching. Packs here spend more time outside park limits, which increases risk.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-global-picture">The global picture</h2>



The <a href="https://www.awf.org/wildlife-conservation/ethiopian-wolf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ethiopian wolf</a> is now one of the rarest <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/gray-wolves-are-a-crucial-component-of-the-american-west/">carnivores</a> in the world, with only about 500 individuals remaining in the wild. 



The wolves survive in small, isolated pockets high in the mountains of Ethiopia, where they depend on rodents for food. These habitats are shrinking as farmland expands. Diseases carried by domestic dogs, such as rabies and distemper, also threaten entire packs in a single outbreak.



<a href="https://wolf.org/wolf-info/factsvsfiction/theindianwolf/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Indian wolves</a> are in a slightly better position but still face serious risks. Their numbers are estimated between 2,000 and 3,000, and most live outside official wildlife reserves. This means they share the land with farmers and herders, which often leads to conflict when livestock are taken. Retaliatory killings remain common.



For both species, habitat loss, direct persecution, and weak legal protection keep populations small and fragmented. Without stronger safeguards, better disease control, and community involvement in conservation, these wolves could slip even closer to extinction.



International Wolf Day is not just symbolic. It’s a reminder that predator loss affects forests and rivers, and every species that depends on them. 



Protecting wolves means healthier ecosystems. The science is clear. When wolves return, balance returns with them.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-action-on-international-wolf-day">Action on International Wolf Day </h2>



There are many ways to make a difference for wolves, no matter where you live. You can support conservation groups through donations, symbolic wolf adoptions, or volunteering your skills. Share accurate information online and in your community to challenge old myths that paint wolves as dangerous pests.



Attend local talks, school programs, or online events that mark International Wolf Day. These events often raise funds, recruit supporters, and connect people who care about wildlife. Contact policymakers to push for stronger laws that protect wolves from hunting, trapping, and habitat destruction.



If you live near wolf habitats, support coexistence programs that help farmers and herders protect livestock without killing predators.



Simple measures like guard animals, fencing, and better herding practices reduce conflict. Every action - big or small - helps keep wolf populations stable and the ecosystems they support healthy.



Details of the study were published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989425000290" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Global Ecology and Conservation</a>.



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International Wolf Day 2025: Honoring the vital role of predators

On August 13, the world turns its gaze to one...

casa-prefabricada-alternativa-vivienda-tradicional-espana-menos-

One of the most smuggled mammals on Earth, the shy pangolin, just yielded a surprise: scientists say a hidden lineage living in the Indo Burma mountains split from the Chinese pangolin millions of years ago, meaning the genus may hold a ninth species.



Genetic clues trace that split to roughly 3.4 million years ago, according to a new analysis of 41 pangolin genomes led by researchers at the <a href="https://zsi.gov.in/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Zoological Survey of India</a>.



In <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/pangolin-scale-seizures-all-time-high-2019" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2019</a> authorities intercepted 128 tons of pangolin scales worldwide, a haul equal to thousands of animals and a record that underlined relentless demand. 



Officials warn that any unnamed lineage could slip through legal gaps if trade rules are not tightened.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-genetic-clues-under-pangolin-scales">Genetic clues under pangolin scales</h2>



“Genomic analyses reveal that it diverged from the Chinese pangolin around 3.4 million years ago, indicating a long independent evolutionary history,” explained <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Mukesh-Thakur-5" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mukesh Thakur</a> of the Zoological Survey of India. 



His team relied on mitochondrial DNA from seizures and museum skins, a method ideal for pinpointing hidden branches in heavily <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/experts-are-using-forensic-science-to-fight-wildlife-trafficking/">trafficked</a> groups.



Comparing the gene maps produced a 3.8 percent barcode gap, large enough under the phylogenetic species concept to justify the name Manis indoburmanica. 



Subtle cranial measurements and an olive brown scale tint added further weight, yet the authors concede that more skulls and full nuclear genomes are still needed to close the case.



A 2023 <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37748052" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">study</a> spotted another cryptic Asian pangolin line in Hong Kong seizures, showing how genetic sleuthing keeps rewriting the family tree. 



Together these papers suggest that Southeast Asia’s rugged frontiers fostered pangolin diversification that official lists have yet to catch.



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



Names steer money, laws, and fieldwork, so mislabeling can cost a species its final chance. Wildlife officers on the front line need a label they recognize before they can decide whether to release, prosecute, or rehabilitate an animal.



“The discovery is exciting, but the pressures of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pangolins-in-west-africa-are-hunted-for-meat-not-medicine/">illegal trade</a> mean the pangolin is effectively already endangered,” warned James Toone, pangolin campaign leader at the Environmental Investigation Agency (<a href="https://eia-international.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EIA</a>). 



He points out that if M. indoburmanica remains outside formal listings, traffickers could claim their cargo is a non listed taxon.



Taxonomists also debate whether an 1836 name, Manis aurita, should take precedence over the new one, illustrating how museum drawers and Latin grammar can influence enforcement on the ground. 



Until that debate ends, border inspectors may face yet another gray area in an already murky marketplace.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pangolins-and-global-trafficking">Pangolins and global trafficking</h2>



Last November Indonesian police seized 1.2 tons of pangolin scales, enough to strip nearly 5,900 animals and valued at about $1.3 million on the black market. 



The haul, like many before it, was headed for ports that funnel wildlife products into East Asia’s traditional medicine trade.



Conservation groups say Asian populations are now so depleted that smugglers have turned to African species, pushing all eight named pangolins toward either endangered or critically endangered status. 



With each seizure measured in tons rather than ounces, forensic labs increasingly rely on rapid genetic barcoding to tell Chinese, Sunda, Indian, and now Indo Burmese scales apart.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-missing-pieces-to-the-puzzle">Missing pieces to the puzzle</h2>



Skeletal measurements of ear to snout length, scale ridge counts, and body mass are still scarce for the Indo-Burmese pangolin. 



Researchers have launched field surveys in Arunachal Pradesh and northern Myanmar to find <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-pangolin-day-project-launched-to-save-the-elusive-mammal/">living animals</a> before logging and farms erase their habitat.



Nuclear DNA, which tracks both parents, is being sequenced to confirm whether there is any gene flow with neighboring Chinese or Indian pangolins. 



Those data will settle whether the lineage is ancient and isolated or simply a divergent regional population.



Finally, a historical literature review is under way to locate every early pangolin mention that might match the Indo Burmese form. Taxonomy moves slowly, but without this detective work lawmakers cannot draft airtight protections.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-comes-next-for-protection">What comes next for protection</h2>



Advocates urge governments to fast track the new name into national wildlife acts and to submit a proposal for full <a href="https://www.fws.gov/press-release/2016-09/cites-unites-change-fate-pangolins" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CITES Appendix I</a> coverage at the next conference of parties. 



Expanding rural patrols along known trafficking routes through India’s Siliguri Corridor and Myanmar’s border towns could also plug immediate leaks.



Longer term, researchers hope to satellite tag any rescued individuals to map home ranges, breeding sites, and seasonal movements. 



Those maps would help local communities balance forest use with the needs of an elusive ant eater that prefers to live alone and under cover.



The Indo Burmese pangolin’s debut reminds us that even in 2025, large mammals can still hide in plain sight when politics, night habits, and the illegal wildlife trade collide. 



Whether the ninth pangolin gains its own place in the law, or vanishes before we finish the paperwork, now depends on how quickly science, policy, and policing meet on the same page.



The study is published in <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s42991-024-00475-7" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mammalian Biology</a>.



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One of the most trafficked animals in the world might be two different species

One of the most smuggled mammals on Earth, the shy...

<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...

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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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</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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https://youtu.be/XYgiPzmNBTU?si=eFYY7gPHU1JznLvU
</div></figure>



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Wildlife tunnels save millions of amphibians

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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

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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?

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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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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