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 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. Yellowstone, aspens, and elk In the 1920s, people eliminated wolves in Yellowstone. At the time, with limited scientific knowledge, managers believed it was the right...

A large international study reports that Covid-19 is linked with signs of older blood vessels months after infection, and the signal is strongest in women. The analysis points to a measurable change in how the body’s largest arteries behave, not just a vague sense of fatigue or brain fog.



The work ties prior infection to a higher risk profile that clinicians already know how to measure and manage. It strengthens the case for checking the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pandemic-stress-may-have-aged-your-brain-even-without-infection/">health</a> of central arteries in people with persistent post-covid symptoms.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-covid-causes-early-aging-of-arteries">Covid causes early aging of arteries</h2>



Rosa Maria Bruno of <a href="https://u-paris.fr/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Paris Cité University</a> led the <a href="https://www.arterysociety.org/our-activities-2/cartesian-2/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CARTESIAN</a> consortium, which tested whether infection is associated with accelerated vascular aging captured by study in adults.&nbsp;



“COVID-19 is associated with early vascular aging in the long term, especially in women,” wrote Bruno and her collaborators.



The team enrolled 2,390 people across 34 centers in 16 countries between September 2020 and February 2022. Participants were assessed about six months after infection for those exposed.



The individuals were grouped as never infected, infected without hospitalization, hospitalized on general wards, or admitted to intensive <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/covid-vaccine-strategy-paid-off-and-its-still-saving-lives/">care</a>. This design allowed the researchers to compare arterial measures across clear clinical strata.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-measuring-vascular-age">Measuring vascular age </h2>



Aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) is a standard noninvasive marker of arterial stiffness, and higher values predict cardiovascular events beyond traditional risk factors. Clinicians use it because faster pressure waves mean stiffer, less compliant aortas.



The study tracked how quickly a pressure wave moved from the carotid to the femoral artery using validated devices, with reference ranges based on age and blood pressure. This standardization helps ensure that different centers share a common understanding of what counts as “higher than expected.”



SARS-CoV-2 uses angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) to enter cells, which provides a plausible entry point for vascular effects. Injury to the endothelium has been documented in Covid-19 and long Covid, aligning biology with the observed stiffness signal.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-covid-19-effects-on-women-s-arteries">Covid-19 effects on women’s arteries</h2>



Even after accounting for factors like age, smoking, or blood pressure, women who had Covid-19 showed stiffer arteries than women who had never been infected. The effect became stronger the more severe their illness had been.



For women who recovered at home, their arteries looked about half a step older than expected. Those who had been hospitalized showed a slightly bigger shift, and women who ended up in intensive care showed the largest jump of all. 



Men, on the other hand, did not show the same pattern compared with men who had not been infected.



To put it in perspective, the increase seen in women who had mild <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/preparing-for-the-next-pandemic-lessons-about-viral-transmission/">cases</a> was similar to adding about five years of wear and tear to their blood vessels. In the most severe cases, the change looked closer to seven or eight years. That kind of shift can make a real difference for long-term heart health.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-are-the-impacts-stronger-in-women">Why are the impacts stronger in women?</h2>



Females often mount stronger innate and adaptive immune responses than males, and those differences have been tied to divergent Covid-19 outcomes. A more robust response can help early, yet it may sustain inflammation that lingers.



Large U.S. cohort work has also linked female sex to a higher risk of long Covid, especially in midlife, independent of other risk factors. This echoes the study’s finding that persistent symptoms and arterial stiffness track together in women.



Those converging lines do not prove cause and effect. They do point to a consistent story that clinicians can use while research fills in the gaps.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-changed-over-12-months">What changed over 12 months</h2>



In participants who returned for a second visit about a year later, PWV stabilized or even declined in those with prior infection, while it crept up in controls as you would expect with normal aging. That suggests parts of the stiffness signal may ease over time.



An <a href="https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/advance-article/doi/10.1093/eurheartj/ehaf590/8236451" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">editorial</a> described the pattern as “an accelerated yet partially reversible clock.” That framing fits the longitudinal data without overselling certainty.



Vaccination at the first visit was associated with lower PWV among infected women, a signal still present at 12 months, though confounding cannot be ruled out in observational data. This finding supports, but does not by itself prove, a protective vascular effect.



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



PWV is quick to measure, repeatable, and already used in preventive cardiology. It adds signals beyond standard clinic numbers, which makes it useful when <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-the-covid-19-virus-travels-deep-inside-our-lungs/">symptoms</a> linger but routine labs look fine.



For women with prior Covid infection and ongoing symptoms, especially in midlife, a vascular checkup can inform tighter blood pressure control, lipid management, and exercise planning. It also gives patients and clinicians a shared, objective marker to follow over time.



The study is published in the <a href="https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/advance-article/doi/10.1093/eurheartj/ehaf430/8236450?login=false" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">European Heart Journal</a>.



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Covid-19 leaves a lasting impact on women’s arteries

A large international study reports that Covid-19 is linked with...

Heat defined the summer of 2024, a harsh reminder of our changing climate. In the West African city of Kayes, temperatures soared past 119 degrees Fahrenheit in April. 



People couldn't escape the brutal heat. Air conditioners strained electrical grids. Hospitals filled with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/extreme-heat-and-humidity-sharply-raise-heart-risks/">heat</a>-related illnesses. This wasn't just a bad week of weather. It was part of a dangerous trend that's reshaping life across an entire continent. 



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/deadly-heat-waves-in-europe-can-be-predicted-by-melting-sea-ice/">Heat waves</a> are becoming Africa's new normal. These prolonged periods of abnormally hot weather now hit harder, last longer, and happen more often than they did just decades ago. 



The change is so dramatic that scientists are calling it a complete transformation of African climate patterns.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-africa-s-heat-waves-changed">How Africa's heat waves changed</h2>



New research reveals just how much things have changed. The research team examined heat wave patterns using large-ensemble computer models that could separate different contributing factors. They looked at daytime, nighttime, and compound <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/humid-heat-days-are-a-growing-threat-to-public-health/">heat</a> waves that combine both.



Between 1950 and 1979, Africa experienced relatively mild heat waves that occurred roughly once every three to eight years. During this earlier period, natural factors dominated the climate system. 



About 80% of heat wave activity came from natural causes like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earths-orbit-may-trigger-massive-volcanic-eruptions/">volcanic eruptions</a> and normal weather variations. Sulfate aerosols - tiny particles released by volcanic eruptions and some human activities - actually helped cool the planet by making clouds reflect more sunlight back to space.



Fast forward to recent decades, and the picture looks completely different. From 1985 to 2014, heat waves started showing up every two years or less. They lasted up to three times longer than before. 



By this period, human influences had taken over. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/greenhouse-gas-emissions-reach-another-all-time-high/">Greenhouse gas emissions</a> from burning coal, oil, and gas trapped more heat in the atmosphere. Black carbon emissions - essentially soot from incomplete combustion - absorbed sunlight and added to the warming effect.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-human-driven-heat-waves-in-africa">Human-driven heat waves in Africa</h2>



The researchers found that only 30% of recent heat wave activity could be blamed on natural causes. The rest comes directly from human actions. 



The team also found a strong connection between <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earth-is-on-pace-to-surpass-1-5c-global-temperature-increase-for-second-year-in-a-row/">heat</a> wave frequency and near-surface air temperatures. This relationship makes sense because both are influenced by similar factors like air circulation patterns and how energy moves between the Earth's surface and atmosphere.



"Raising awareness of heat waves is critical to saving human life," said Akintomide Afolayan Akinsanola, head of the Climate Research Lab and assistant professor of Earth and environmental sciences in the UIC College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. 



"In a developing continent like Africa, where the capacity for adaptive infrastructure is relatively low, heat waves can have greater consequences."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-africa-suffers-more-from-heat">Why Africa suffers more from heat</h2>



Africa sits in a particularly vulnerable position as our planet warms. The continent lacks the extensive air conditioning, emergency cooling centers, and heat-warning systems that help protect people in wealthier regions. Many communities depend on outdoor work and lack access to reliable electricity for cooling.



The human cost is already mounting. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/state-of-the-climate-2024-record-heat-and-rising-seas/">Heat</a>-related illnesses kill about 5,600 people annually in the United States - a country with extensive cooling infrastructure and emergency services. Some experts predict that Nigeria alone could see heat-related deaths rise to 23,000 or even 43,000 per year by the end of this century.



The most vulnerable people - infants, older adults, and those with existing health conditions - face the greatest risks. But heat waves don't just threaten individual health. They damage entire ecosystems, reduce crop yields, and overwhelm energy systems when people desperately need power for cooling.



"I was surprised to see that these changes were consistent across the African subregions, not just a specific isolated area," said Vishal Bobde, a doctoral student in Akinsanola's lab and the study's first author.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ripple-effects-of-extreme-heat">Ripple effects of extreme heat</h2>



Heat waves create a cascade of problems that extend far beyond uncomfortable temperatures. When crops fail due to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/extreme-heat-is-pushing-parts-of-earth-beyond-human-survival/">extreme heat</a>, food prices rise and communities face shortages. 



Energy systems struggle to meet cooling demands, leading to blackouts that make the heat even more dangerous.



These climate pressures can force people to leave their homes in search of cooler, more livable areas. Large-scale migration puts stress on destination communities and can create conflicts over resources. The researchers warn that these effects don't stay contained within Africa's borders.



"The impacts are wide-ranging, from productivity to food shortage to energy," said Akinsanola, who is jointly appointed at the Environmental Science Division of Argonne National Laboratory. 



"Remember that the African population is close to 2 billion. Heat waves can lead to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/drought-kills-trees-faster-than-previously-thought/">drought</a>, trigger migration and spark conflicts, thereby impacting regional, continental and even global stability."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-looking-toward-heat-solutions">Looking toward heat solutions</h2>



Scientists hope their findings will help African communities, governments, and international organizations develop better strategies for dealing with heat waves. 



This includes creating early warning systems that can alert people when dangerous heat is approaching, and improving what researchers call "heat-risk literacy" - helping people understand and respond to heat dangers.



"While Africa contributes a relatively small share of global greenhouse gas emissions, climate change is a global issue that is intensifying heat waves everywhere. Addressing this requires global cooperation to aggressively reduce emissions and build adaptive capacity," said Kayode Ayegbusi, co-first author and UIC doctoral student in Akinsanola's lab.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-preparing-for-a-hotter-future">Preparing for a hotter future</h2>



The research team plans to investigate how future heat wave patterns might change depending on whether the world meets the goals set in the 2015 Paris Agreement. This international treaty aims to limit global temperature increases and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.



Understanding these climate patterns represents just the first step. The real challenge lies in translating scientific knowledge into practical solutions that can protect vulnerable communities from an increasingly hostile climate.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-025-02578-6">Communications Earth &amp; Environment</a>.



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Africa’s heat waves are getting hotter, longer, and deadlier

Heat defined the summer of 2024, a harsh reminder of...

Flyers may soon help unlock one of the most mysterious regions of Earth’s atmosphere. Between 30 and 60 miles above our heads lies the mesosphere - a stretch of sky too high for planes and weather balloons, too low for satellites, and nearly impossible to reach with current tools. 



Yet inside this no-man’s land sits valuable data that could sharpen weather forecasts and strengthen climate models.



Now, a group of scientists from the Harvard John A. Paulson <a href="https://seas.harvard.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">School of Engineering and Applied Sciences</a> and the University of Chicago may have found a way in.



Their new study introduces an ultra-light flying device that can lift itself into this thin, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-may-amplify-the-impacts-of-geomagnetic-storms/">upper atmosphere</a> using only sunlight.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lightweight-flyers-lifted-by-sunlight">Lightweight flyers lifted by sunlight</h2>



The secret behind these floating flyers is a little-known physics trick called photophoresis.



“We are studying this strange physics mechanism called photophoresis and its ability to levitate very lightweight objects when you shine light on them,” said Ben Schafer, the lead author of the study.



Photophoresis happens when gas molecules bounce harder off the warm side of an object than the cool side. That creates a tiny push. In most environments, the force is too weak to notice. But in very low-pressure <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/international-space-station-observes-something-unknown-55-miles-above-earth/">conditions</a> - like those in the mesosphere - that small push can turn into a steady lift.



The research team built ultra-thin structures from ceramic alumina and coated one side with a thin chromium layer to absorb sunlight. When exposed to light, the temperature difference between the two sides generates a lift strong enough to counter <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/theory-gravity-exists-without-mass-so-dark-matter-does-not-exist/">gravity</a>.



“This phenomenon is usually so weak relative to the size and weight of the object it’s acting on that we usually don’t notice it,” Schafer explained. “However, we are able to make our structures so lightweight that the photophoretic force is bigger than their weight, so they fly.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-breakthroughs-in-technology">Breakthroughs in technology </h2>



The idea for these light-powered devices started over a decade ago. David Keith, now at the <a href="https://www.uchicago.edu/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Chicago</a>, had been exploring ways photophoretic particles might be used in climate engineering. 



That sparked a collaboration with Schafer and Joost Vlassak, a materials engineering expert with deep knowledge in nanofabrication.



Recent breakthroughs in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nanotech-material-graphene-passes-human-safety-tests/">nanotech</a> made it all possible. Scientists can now build featherweight structures with precise control over material thickness and shape.



“We developed a nanofabrication process that can be scaled to tens of centimeters,” said Vlassak. “These devices are quite resilient and have unusual mechanical behavior for sandwich structures. We are currently working on methods to incorporate functional payloads into the devices.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sunlight-powered-flyers-in-the-atmosphere">Sunlight-powered flyers in the atmosphere</h2>



To see if the theory would hold up, the team designed and built their devices in the lab. They placed them inside a low-pressure chamber, designed by Schafer and Harvard postdoctoral fellow Jong-hyoung Kim, to simulate conditions found in the upper atmosphere.



“This paper is both theoretical and experimental in the sense that we reimagined how this force is calculated on real devices and then validated those forces by applying measurements to real-world conditions,” Schafer said.



In one key experiment, a structure just one centimeter wide was able to float at a pressure of 26.7 Pascals when exposed to light at 55% the intensity of sunlight. That’s about what you'd experience 60 kilometers above Earth.



“This is the first time anyone has shown that you can build larger photophoretic structures and actually make them fly in the atmosphere,” Keith said. “It opens up an entirely new class of device: one that’s passive, sunlight-powered, and uniquely suited to explore our upper atmosphere. Later they might fly on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-plan-terraform-mars-nanoparticles-would-make-it-habitable-for-humans/">Mars</a> or other planets.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-ways-to-study-the-mesosphere">New ways to study the mesosphere </h2>



These devices could open up entirely new ways to monitor and study the mesosphere. With small sensors attached, they could collect data like wind speed, temperature, and pressure - information that’s hard to come by today, but critical for accurate forecasting and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/exxons-climate-predictions-were-remarkably-accurate-but-ignored/">climate predictions</a>.



Fleets of flyers in the mesosphere could also be used for emergency communication networks or defense, acting like near-Earth satellites but without the high cost or lag time.



And since the atmosphere on Mars shares similar characteristics with our mesosphere, these devices could even help in future planetary missions. The team is now working on building communication payloads that will let the devices send back data in real time.



“I think what makes this research fun is that the technology could be used to explore an entirely unexplored region of the atmosphere. Previously, nothing could sustainably fly up there,” Schafer said. “It’s a bit like the Wild West in terms of applied physics."



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09281-8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a>.



Image Credit: Ben Schafer and Jong-hyoung Kim



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Sunlight-powered flyers could unlock secrets of Earth's atmosphere

Flyers may soon help unlock one of the most mysterious...

A short, self-guided program built around everyday contact with nature reports meaningful gains in mood and stress after just four weeks. It is simple by design and aimed at adults with low wellbeing who want help they can start today.



The approach is called Roots and Shoots. It pairs at-home reflections with brief outdoor <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-nature-conservation-day-2025-a-healthy-future-for-all/">activities</a> near where people live, adding light digital support for those who want it.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nature-helps-improve-mental-health">Nature helps improve mental health</h2>



The study was led by <a href="https://experts.exeter.ac.uk/24356-matt-owens" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dr. Matt Owens</a> at the University of Exeter, with Clinical Psychologist <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/scientific-contributions/Hannah-L-I-Bunce-2217974973" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dr. Hannah L. I. Bunce</a>, co-founders of the <a href="https://www.rowantree.uk/about" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ROWAN</a> nature and mental health research group.



Researchers across psychology, public health, and ecology have <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31355340/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">linked</a> time in natural settings with improved attention, mood, and stress biology, forming a coherent picture of benefits to mental health. 



<a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1807504116" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Evidence</a> extends across the life course, with large cohort work suggesting childhood access to greenspace predicts a lower risk of several psychiatric disorders in adulthood.



The adult intervention literature has moved from anecdotes to trials. 



A comprehensive <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34646931/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">review</a> finds nature-based interventions such as green exercise, gardening, and forest therapy improve mental health outcomes in adults, often with practical sessions of 20 to 90 minutes several times per week.



Prescribed contact with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earth-day-2025-what-were-really-fighting-for/">nature</a>, from park walks to blue space visits, has also shown benefits for symptoms of depression and blood pressure in randomized and quasi-experimental <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/piis2542-5196%2823%2900025-6/fulltext" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">studies</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nature-program-activities">Nature program activities</h2>



<a href="https://rootsandshoots.org/resources/roots-shoots-formula-toolkit/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Roots and Shoots is a printed guidebook</a> organized into six short sections that unfold over four weeks. It introduces the science of nature and wellbeing, then leads people through simple tracking of time in nature, mood, and values-based actions.



Core tools include a habit wheel for building small, repeatable moments <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nature-has-its-own-internet-and-were-only-beginning-to-understand-it/">outdoors</a>, a coping tool to swap unhelpful routines for neutral ones, and a honeycomb challenge to notice different kinds of nature contact. 



Brief meditations and breathing exercises are available online, supporting practice when getting outside is hard.



The study used a randomised controlled trial design. Adults with low wellbeing were assigned either to start the program or to a waitlist control and completed measures at baseline, two weeks, and four weeks.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nature-program-results">Nature program results</h2>



On the primary <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-environment-day-the-critical-role-of-nature-in-human-well-being/">outcome of wellbeing</a>, the intervention group improved more than the waitlist group across four weeks, with a large effect size by the study end. The design was remote and light touch, yet the signal was clear. 



Eighty-two percent of program completers made reliable improvements in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mutual-relationships-with-nature-offer-hope-for-a-sustainable-future/">wellbeing</a>, and 59 percent met the threshold for clinically significant change. None showed deterioration.



Average scores on anxiety and depression started in the clinical range and shifted below caseness by week four.



Effects were medium for anxiety and small for depressive symptoms. Engagement and acceptability were high. Ninety four percent of those who finished said they would recommend the guidebook to a friend.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-practicing-the-program-daily">Practicing the program daily</h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-nature-heals-outdoor-activities-greatly-improve-mental-health/">Nature time</a> is not treated as a luxury. It is framed as a small, daily behavior that can sit alongside existing routines and responsibilities.



The psychological ingredients are familiar and low cost. People practice mindfulness, track mood, write briefly, and connect actions to values that matter to them.



The program avoids all-or-nothing goals. It welcomes brief, nearby, and accessible encounters with trees, water, or sky, and includes virtual nature options when needed.



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



Self-help options can play a useful role when services are stretched and stigma or logistics make formal care harder to access. They also give people a way to start while they wait for more intensive support if needed.



Mental health problems <a href="https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/sites/default/files/2022-06/MHF-Investing-in-Prevention-Report-Summary.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cost</a> the UK economy an estimated 118 billion pounds per year, about 5 percent of GDP, which makes low-cost, scalable options worth testing carefully. 



A month-long guidebook that people can complete without appointments or travel is inexpensive to deliver at scale.



The team emphasizes that a booklet is not a substitute for clinical care in crisis. It is an early step that can help many people feel and function better while easing pressure on services.



Health systems increasingly look for stepped care and preventive options. If confirmed in larger trials, a short nature guide could sit at step 1 or step 2 and augment therapy as homework after higher-intensity care.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nature-program-in-science">Nature program in science</h2>



“We have developed a self-help package that uses principles from both clinical psychology and nature research to empower individuals to spend more time in nature, rediscover their relationship with natural environments and improve their wellbeing,” said Dr. Owens.



Several streams of evidence propose why nature contact helps. Attention restoration, stress recovery, and social connection are all plausible, testable mechanisms.



Recent reviews point to dose and variety as practical levers. Short, regular sessions in green or blue spaces appear better than rare marathons, and mixing settings may matter as much as time logged.



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/living-near-major-roads-increases-dementia-risk/">Urban living</a> need not be a barrier. Street trees, pocket parks, and canal paths can be enough to practice the habits described in the guide, especially when paired with brief indoor or virtual nature for consistency.



The structure here is the quiet shift. A light-touch plan that invites repeated, low-effort contact with nearby nature can build momentum without demanding free afternoons or long travel.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-next-steps-for-this-nature-program">Next steps for this nature program</h2>



This was a pilot, so the next step is a larger, fully powered trial that tests durability, mechanisms, and who benefits most. Duration is an open question, since many participants said they would welcome a longer version.



Precision also matters. Some people may respond most to habit building outdoors, while others change more through mindfulness or values work.



The study is published in <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/15/8/1096" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Behavioral Sciences</a>.



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Simple and self-guided nature program quickly improves mood and reduces stress

A short, self-guided program built around everyday contact with nature...

Forests from the Amazon lowlands to the high Andes are failing to adjust quickly enough to rising temperatures. Populations are not moving upslope at the pace of climate change, and entire communities are not reorganizing to match the new normal.



The gap threatens <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tree-plantations-have-hidden-impacts-on-tropical-biodiversity/">tropical biodiversity</a> and the ecosystem services people rely on - from climate regulation to pollination.



“These forests are simply not keeping up with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tropical-forests-are-struggling-to-keep-pace-with-climate-change/">climate change</a>,” said lead author William Farfan-Rios of <a href="https://www.wfu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wake Forest University</a>. “The result is a growing climatic debt that threatens the integrity and functioning of the most diverse forests on Earth.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-four-decades-of-first-monitoring">Four decades of first monitoring</h2>



The study draws on more than four decades of forest monitoring in Peru and Bolivia. Researchers tracked over 66,000 trees spanning about 2,500 species across 66 permanent plots. 



Those plots run from a few hundred feet above sea level in the Amazon to more than 12,000 feet in the Andes.



The team expected to see warm-adapted species becoming more common over time. Ecologists call that shift thermophilization. Instead, they found little to no evidence that communities are warming in step with the climate along the elevation gradient.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-growing-climatic-debt"><a></a>A growing climatic debt</h2>



The analysis shows that the rate at which warm-adapted forests replace cool-adapted ones is far slower than the regional rate of warming.



That mismatch is the “climatic debt” - the amount of change that should have occurred to keep pace with rising temperatures but has not.



If the debt keeps growing, forests will edge closer to thresholds from which they may not recover. The risk is highest where species live near their thermal limits and have limited options for movement.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cloud-forests-show-most-change">Cloud forests show most change</h2>



Mid-elevation forests near the cloud base at roughly 3,900 to 6,600 feet showed the strongest signs of reshuffling. The signal there is driven largely by higher death rates among cool-adapted trees. Mortality is doing more of the work than the arrival of new warm-adapted species.



By contrast, the lowland Amazon plots showed no consistent directional change. That stability may appear resilient in the short term - but it also signals vulnerability. As heat and drought intensify, communities with few hotter-adapted species waiting in the wings may struggle to cope.



Higher in the Andes, many communities remain effectively stuck. Populations are not moving uphill quickly enough to keep within their historical climate envelopes.



Tropical forests in the Andes-Amazon harbor the planet’s highest concentration of life. They store vast amounts of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/carbon-storage-mystery-emerges-in-the-southern-ocean/">carbon</a> and generate rainfall. They support <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pollinators-face-extinction-risk-due-to-climate-change/">pollinators</a> and seed dispersers that keep the system running.



If tree communities fail to adjust, the carbon sink will weaken. Habitats shrink or vanish. The odds of ecosystem collapse rise, especially in cloud forests where drought and heat push trees past their limits.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-time-reveals-forest-shifts">Time reveals forest shifts</h2>



“You have to be there for long periods of time to understand how these forests change,” said co-author Miles Silman, chair of conservation biology at Wake Forest.



“If we lose these climate observatories, these natural labs, we blind ourselves to our future. What we found is that forests are changing, but they’re not changing in the ways that make them resilient to climate change.”



Trees can adapt over millennia. But individuals die quickly, and new trees recruit and grow slowly. Dispersal adds another constraint.



“They also need the full complement of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/forests-at-risk-as-seed-spreading-animals-disappear/">animal dispersers</a> and pollinators to help expand their range - and loss of habitat is shrinking their ranks,” Silman explained.



“If you look at the magnitude of changes happening in the Andes-Amazon, the forest communities likely are not going to keep up. That’s why research like this is important.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-tropical-constraint"><a></a>The tropical constraint</h2>



The results align with a growing pattern: tropical species often have narrow heat tolerances and already live close to their maximum temperatures.



Unlike in temperate systems, there may be few hotter-adapted taxa ready to move in as heat rises. In the lowlands, there is literally nowhere cooler upslope to go.



In the Andes, topography offers ladders for movement. But climbing those ladders requires time, intact habitat, and healthy animal partners to carry seeds. Fragmentation and defaunation remove those rungs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-forests-can-t-keep-up">Forests can’t keep up</h2>



Protecting continuous elevational forests gives species a path to track their climates. Safeguarding pollinators and seed dispersers keeps the engine of range expansion running. Reducing local stressors - selective logging, fire, and overhunting - buys time.



Still, cutting <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/greenhouse-gas-emissions-reach-another-all-time-high/">greenhouse gas emissions</a> remains the decisive lever. Slower warming reduces the debt and gives forest communities a chance to catch up.



The study’s core message is simple yet sobering: the world’s richest forests are changing, but not quickly enough in the directions that would make them safer. Thermophilization is lagging far behind warming, and mortality - rather than recruitment - is driving most of the turnover. 



Cloud forests are showing strain, and although the Amazon lowlands are quiet for now, that quiet may not last. “These forests are simply not keeping up with climate change,” Farfan-Rios concluded.



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World’s most diverse forests are failing to adapt to climate change

Forests from the Amazon lowlands to the high Andes are...

Aerial,View,Of,A,Suburban,Intersection,With,Green,Grass,And

Human land use has removed a quarter of the carbon that would otherwise sit in vegetation and the top 12 inches of soil. That equates to roughly 344 billion metric tons of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earth-is-just-three-years-away-from-dangerous-carbon-milestone/">carbon</a>.



With pasture expansion, cropland expansion, and forest management determined to be the leading drivers, the analysis shows popular dynamic global vegetation models miss roughly 37 percent of this deficit on average.



The <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590332225002180" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">estimate</a> comes from a high resolution global map built by combining Earth observations, historical land use records, and machine learning.



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



The work was led by <a href="https://www.geo.lmu.de/geographie/en/people/contact-page/raphael-ganzenmueller-61da7c76.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Raphael Ganzenmüller</a> with colleagues at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (<a href="https://www.geo.lmu.de/geographie/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LMU</a>). 



Vegetation and soils hold carbon that moves between land, ocean, and air, and together they store more carbon than the atmosphere at any time, which shapes temperature and risk.



Scientists track terrestrial carbon <a href="https://essd.copernicus.org/articles/15/5301/2023/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stocks</a> in living biomass and in soil organic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/carbon-burps-from-earths-past-warn-of-ocean-trouble-ahead/">carbon</a> (SOC). 



SOC is commonly assessed in the top 0 to 12 inches because that layer responds most to tillage, drainage, and erosion, and is mapped globally by national efforts coordinated through FAO’s <a href="https://www.fao.org/soils-portal/data-hub/soil-maps-and-databases/global-soil-organic-carbon-map-gsocmap/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">GSOCmap</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-measuring-carbon-losses">Measuring carbon losses</h2>



The researchers estimated a terrestrial <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/forest-carbon-credits-are-failing-so-what-needs-to-change/">carbon</a> deficit by comparing today’s actual carbon stocks with potential stocks under current climate if land had not been directly altered by people. 



That contrast shows how much carbon landscapes have lost through clearing, grazing, cropping, and intensive forest use.



They trained models on areas with very low human influence as well as protected lands, then predicted potential vegetation and SOC at roughly 0.6 mile resolution. 



That lets them attribute losses to specific land uses and benchmark the results against widely used simulation models.



“Our study reveals the far-reaching human impact on the global carbon cycle. Our study provides important insights for climate policy,” said <a href="https://www.cas.lmu.de/en/people-at-cas/details/julia-pongratz-ba7ba916.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Julia Pongratz</a>, Professor of Physical Geography and Land Use Systems at LMU.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-the-deficit-of-carbon-matters">Why the deficit of carbon matters</h2>



The new map quantifies depletion, not annual emissions. It shows how much carbon is missing from land relative to what could be stored if ecosystems were intact under today’s conditions.



That stock gap matters because it sets the ceiling for restoration, informs where protection avoids the largest additional <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-solutions-are-failing-but-they-can-still-be-fixed/">losses</a>, and clarifies how much headroom exists for land-based carbon removal without harming food or fiber production.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-models-missed-so-much">Why models missed so much</h2>



Most process models treat environmental changes and land use in ways that can produce conceptually inconsistent budgets.



Several recent <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39198386/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">studies</a> show models often allocate too much to the natural land sink while undercounting land-use emissions, especially where degradation has erased sinks. That mismatch propagates into remaining carbon budget estimates and risk assessments.



By anchoring estimates in observation-based carbon densities and using consistent assumptions about potential stocks, the new work reduces those inconsistencies. 



It provides a constraint that modelers can use to re-tune land processes and improve verification of land carbon projects.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-carbon-disappeared-from-land">Where carbon disappeared from land</h2>



Pasture expansion dominates the global deficit because it replaces woody vegetation and suppresses regrowth. 



Croplands follow because conversion reduces biomass and, under many systems, lowers SOC through disturbance and removal of residues.



Modern <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-22702-2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reconstructions</a> that blend satellites with national statistics show how fast land use has shifted, with roughly one third of the planet’s land area affected since 1960.



This is driven largely by agricultural expansion in the global South and management transitions elsewhere. The new deficit map lines up with those patterns.



Independent <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-39338-z" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">evidence</a> also shows that land conversion for crop production typically causes large SOC losses, and many forest management practices reduce soil carbon, especially where repeated disturbance limits recovery. 



That tracks with the study’s finding that vegetation losses dominate but soils contribute a substantial share in several temperate and boreal regions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-this-means-for-policy">What this means for policy</h2>



The deficit highlights two levers with different timelines. Vegetation carbon can rebound in years to decades when pressure eases and trees return. Soil carbon often recovers more slowly and can plateau if management does not change.



For policy, this means protection of high carbon landscapes prevents further drawdown while targeted restoration can rebuild stocks where the potential is high and competing demands are limited. 



It also means crediting systems need to separate genuine stock recovery from merely avoiding ongoing losses.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-practical-path-forward">The practical path forward</h2>



The map is a screening tool, not a prescription. It points to regions where restoring vegetation or rebuilding SOC is physically plausible under today’s climate, and where the same actions would yield small gains.



It also helps evaluate land carbon projects more honestly by comparing outcomes against the appropriate potential baseline instead of against degraded starting points. That makes additionality, permanence, and leakage tests more concrete.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-limits-of-carbon-estimates">Limits of carbon estimates</h2>



Potential stocks were trained on low influence and protected areas, which are imperfect analogs for pre-alteration ecosystems in long-settled regions. Some sparsely documented areas still carry higher uncertainty.



Even so, the estimate sets a useful lower bound on what people have already removed from land. It clarifies why relying on models alone can be risky when budgets are tight and timelines short.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-to-watch-next">What to watch next</h2>



Expect model intercomparison projects to incorporate these observation-based constraints and report revised land sinks and land-use emissions. 



In addition, national inventories need to cross-check their land carbon accounting against high resolution maps that use the same underlying datasets.



Finally, project developers must use these maps to justify where not to intervene as much as where to act.



When done well, the biggest wins will blend conservation, restoration, and smarter management rather than chase a single metric.



The study is published in <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590332225002180" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">One Earth</a>.



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Human land use has removed billions of tons of carbon sequestration

Human land use has removed a quarter of the carbon...

An international team of researchers is looking for answers behind the mystery of Gigantopithecus blacki, a giant prehistoric primate that once lived in what is now southern China.



The species is known from its teeth and mandibles found in cave sites.



The fossils suggest it was the largest primate ever, with estimates of its size ranging from about 1.8 to 3 meters in height (5.9 to 9.8 feet) and weighing around 250 kilograms (551 pounds).



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-in-search-of-gigantopithecus-blacki">In search of Gigantopithecus blacki</h2>



Gigantopithecus blacki roamed and ruled the wilderness of southern China during the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/prehistoric-kangaroos-changed-their-diets-to-survive-climate-change/">Pleistocene epoch</a>, roughly 2 million to 300,000 years ago.



Its demise is enigmatic considering that it was one of the few Asian great apes to go extinct in the last 2.6 million years, whereas others, including orangutan, survived until the present.



The cause of the disappearance of Gigantopithecus blacki remains unresolved, but new findings could shed light on primate resilience and the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tracing-the-disappearance-of-north-americas-megafauna/">fate of megafauna</a> in this region.



G. blacki - a very distant human ancestor - went extinct <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/two-species-of-human-ancestors-literally-crossed-paths-1-5-million-years-ago/">before humans arrived</a> in the region. The cause of this extinction has been a burning question among scientists.



The experts report that these primates were unable to adapt their behavior and food preferences to survive shifting environmental conditions.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-an-enigma-in-paleontology">An enigma in paleontology</h2>



The story of Gigantopithcus blacki is an enigma in paleontology. 



"How could such a mighty creature go extinct at a time when other primates were adapting and surviving?" questioned the study's co-lead author Professor Yingqi Zhang, from the Institute of Vertebrate Palaeontology and Palaeoanthropology (<a href="http://english.ivpp.cas.cn/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">IVPP</a>).



"The unresolved cause of its disappearance has become the Holy Grail in this discipline. The IVPP has been excavating for G. blacki evidence in this region for over 10 years but without solid dating and a consistent environmental analysis, the cause of its extinction had eluded us," Zhang continued.



The researchers analyzed new evidence from a large-scale project conducted in 22 cave sites spread across the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guangxi" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Guangxi Province</a> in southern China.



“It’s a major feat to present a defined cause for the extinction of a species," said study co-lead author Professor Kira Westaway, a geochronologist at <a href="https://www.mq.edu.au/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Macquarie University</a>. 



"But establishing the exact time when a species disappears from the fossil record gives us a target time frame for an environmental reconstruction and behavior assessment. Without robust dating, you are simply looking for clues in the wrong places," Westaway concluded.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-the-research-was-conducted-nbsp">How the research was conducted&nbsp;</h2>



The team used multiple techniques to date the collected samples. Researchers at <a href="https://www.scu.edu.au/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Southern Cross University</a> analyzed Gigantopithcus blacki teeth to gain a better understanding of the apes’ behavior. 



Experts at Australian National University (<a href="https://www.anu.edu.au/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ANU</a>) and <a href="https://www.flinders.edu.au/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Flinders University</a> studied the pollen and fossil bearing sediments in the cave where the primates once thrived.



“By direct-dating the fossil remains, we confirmed their age aligns with the luminescence sequence in the sediments where they were found, giving us a comprehensive and reliable chronology for the extinction of G. blacki,” explained study co-author and Southern Cross University Professor Renaud Joannes-Boyau.



Based on their detailed analyses, the researchers were able to establish the environmental conditions leading up to when G. blacki went extinct. 



They also modeled the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/baboons-may-offer-clues-to-early-human-social-evolution/">primate's behavior</a> using trace element and dental microwear textural analysis (DMTA) of the teeth.



"Teeth provide a staggering insight into the behavior of the species indicating stress, diversity of food sources, and repeated behaviors,” said Professor Joannes-Boyau.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-the-scientists-learned">What the scientists learned</h2>



The experts determined that Gigantopithecus blacki went extinct between 295,000 and 215,000 years ago, which is much earlier than previously thought. 



Up until this time, these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pierolapithecus-catalaunicus-recreating-face-of-an-ancient-human-ancestor/">ancient primates</a> flourished in a rich and diverse forest.



Fossilized teeth and jawbones reveal that G. blacki had powerful jaws and massive molars. Those features suggest it was a specialized plant-eater, most likely thriving on a diet of bamboo, fruits, and other tough vegetation. 



Its size and teeth point to an animal adapted to grinding through fibrous plants rather than hunting or eating meat.



Researchers believe its reliance on forest habitats made it vulnerable as climates shifted and forests receded. 



As grasslands spread and bamboo thinned, this giant ape likely struggled to find enough food, especially with competition from other species. 



As a result, the giant primates grew reliant on a less nutritious back up food source. 



With less energy from their food, the apes would have ultimately became less mobile, had a reduced geographic range for foraging, and faced chronic stress and dwindling numbers.



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



G. blacki was the ultimate specialist, compared to the more agile adapters like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-orangutan-day-2025-turning-awareness-into-action/">orangutans</a>, and this ultimately led to its demise.



With the threat of a sixth mass extinction event looming over us, there is an urgent need to understand why species go extinct.



Exploring the reasons for past unresolved extinctions gives us a good starting point to understand primate resilience and the fate of other large animals, in the past and future.



The full study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06900-0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a>. 



Image Credit: Garcia/Joannes-Boyau (Southern Cross University)



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Searching for answers behind the extinction of the largest primate that ever lived

An international team of researchers is looking for answers behind...

The body’s cells adapt their shape to seal wounds and other openings. This repair process depends on the curvature of the gap and the arrangement of the cell’s internal structures.



Epithelial cells form protective linings across body surfaces. They shield against physical injury, microbes, and dehydration while also helping absorb nutrients, expel waste, and produce hormones and enzymes.



Recent research highlights how the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) inside these cells reorganizes. When gaps curve outward, the ER takes tubular shapes. When gaps curve inward, the ER flattens into sheet-like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hemifusome-newly-discovered-organelle-inside-human-cells-with-immense-potential/">structures</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cell-movement-shapes-wound-healing">Cell movement shapes wound healing</h2>



The study shows that different forces direct these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-did-the-first-cells-life-form-on-earth-scientists-think-they-finally-figured-it-out/">changes</a>. The forces are linked to the type of movement cells use.



Convex gaps trigger crawling movements where cells spread broad extensions. Concave gaps instead rely on purse-string contractions, where cells tighten and draw edges together. 



This dynamic reshaping of the endoplasmic reticulum ensures epithelial cells adapt effectively to their environment.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mechanisms-underlying-wound-closure">Mechanisms underlying wound closure</h2>



The researchers used micro-patterned cell layers and advanced imaging to track ER organization. They found that ER geometry is not static but highly responsive to mechanical <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-cells-sense-exercise-a-new-path-to-health-and-energy/">signals</a>. This responsiveness allows cells to coordinate how they close gaps.



“Wound healing is an important response to injury. Our study opens new avenues for exploring the mechanisms underlying epithelial gap closure and their broader implications for health and disease by identifying a new role of the ER in this process,” noted Dr. Simran Rawal from the <a href="https://www.tifr.res.in" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tata Institute of Fundamental Research</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-cells-repair-and-fight-disease">How cells repair and fight disease</h2>



Mathematical modeling confirmed that mechanical cues alone can explain these ER transitions. The models showed how ER reshaping influences both crawling and purse-string <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/loxcode-tech-uses-dna-barcodes-to-track-how-cells-build-different-body-parts/">movements</a>, supporting efficient wound closure.



“The ER's role in cell movement is not just a fascinating scientific discovery but also a potential game-changer for various medical treatments and therapies," said Dr. Pradeep Keshavanarayana.



"Using mathematical models to understand how cells repair themselves may lead to better treatments for wounds, new methods for regenerating damaged tissues, or an improved grasp of how cancer cells spread - leading to new strategies to prevent or slow down metastasis." 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-link-between-organelles-and-healing">Link between organelles and healing</h2>



Professor Fabian Spill from the <a href="https://www.birmingham.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Birmingham</a> noted that the project is a great example of a fruitful interdisciplinary collaboration. 



"We previously studied endothelial monolayers, which are the cells that line blood vessels, and investigated how mechanical and geometrical features regulate gaps in the monolayer that can cause leakiness,” said Spill. 



The experiments showed a novel, unexpected link between organelle and cell shape and monolayer behavior, he added. 



"The combination of these beautiful experiments by Simran and collaborators with the mathematical model developed by Pradeep led to the identification of a new, organelle-mediated mechanism of sensing mechanics and geometry.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cells-convert-mechanical-signals">Cells convert mechanical signals</h2>



The study also highlights mechanotransduction, where cells convert mechanical signals into biochemical responses. The ER acts as a central sensor during this process.



“This study started with the discovery made by Simran, who observed the ER's central role in mechanotransduction - the process by which cells convert mechanical stimuli from their environment into biochemical signals,” said study co-author Professor Tamal Das.



He pointed out that mechanotransduction is fundamental to several physiological functions, including touch, hearing, and balance, and has been studied in the context of collective cell migration.



"Our collaboration shaped the theoretical framework and deepened our understanding of the underlying mechanisms. Together, our experiments and modeling reveal a novel role for the ER in this process," said Professor Das.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-improving-future-therapies">Improving future therapies</h2>



According to the researchers, these findings expand our understanding of how organelles guide collective cell movement. 



Since epithelial migration is central to wound healing, cancer invasion, and tissue regeneration, this research could influence future therapies.



The ER’s ability to reorganize in response to forces makes it a vital player in maintaining tissue integrity and ensuring proper cellular function. 



The combined use of experimental observations and mathematical models demonstrates how cellular architecture is deeply connected to health, disease, wound repair, and overall body stability - highlighting its critical role in both healing and long-term survival.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41556-025-01729-3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Cell Biology</a>.



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How cells change shape to heal wounds

The body’s cells adapt their shape to seal wounds and...

When puberty or childbirth happens early, it can affect health for life. Buck Institute researchers found that girls who start menstruating before age 11 or women who give birth before 21 face higher risks. Their chances of developing type 2 diabetes, obesity, or heart failure nearly double. 



The risk of serious metabolic problems can even quadruple. On the other hand, women who experience puberty or childbirth later often live longer and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pregnancy-risks-rise-with-heat-and-smoke-exposure/">age</a> more slowly. They also show lower rates of diseases like Alzheimer’s.



Study senior author Dr. Pankaj Kapahi, a professor at the <a href="https://www.buckinstitute.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Buck Institute</a>, believes this matters for everyday healthcare.



“Even though women are routinely asked about their menstrual and childbirth history when they receive medical care, this information has rarely factored into the care they receive outside of OB/GYN,” said Dr. Kapahi. 



"These risk factors, whether positive or negative, clearly have significant influence on a variety of age-related diseases and should be considered in the larger context of overall health.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-puberty-and-childbirth-linked-to-aging">Puberty and childbirth linked to aging</h2>



The team studied genetic data from almost 200,000 women in the UK Biobank. They found more than 150 genetic markers linked to reproductive timing. 



Many of these markers fall into pathways that control growth and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/forever-chemicals-can-alter-an-unborn-babys-immune-system/">aging</a>. These pathways regulate how the body handles energy, nutrients, and stress.



“Many of these markers are involved in well-known longevity pathways, such as IGF-1, growth hormone, AMPK and mTOR signaling, key regulators of metabolism and aging,” noted Yifan Xiang, MD, the postdoctoral fellow who led the work.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-early-childbirth-speeds-aging">Early childbirth speeds aging</h2>



Evolution cares most about survival and reproduction. That focus comes with tradeoffs. 



“Our study provides some of the strongest human evidence for this theory. We show that genetic factors favoring early reproduction come with the significant cost later in life including accelerated <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ancient-secrets-of-a-modern-miracle-how-pregnancy-evolved/">aging</a> and disease," noted Dr. Kapahi. 



"It makes sense that the very factors that help enhance survival of the offspring may lead to detrimental consequences for the mother."



This supports the antagonistic pleiotropy theory. Traits that help early in life can become harmful with age. 



Another idea, the disposable soma theory, also fits here. It suggests the body uses resources for reproduction at the expense of repair. Over time, that choice speeds up aging.



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



Body Mass Index (BMI) plays a big role in this process. Women with early puberty or childbirth tend to have higher BMI later. That extra weight then drives up the risk for diabetes, heart failure, and even cancer. 



"One can envisage that enhancing the ability to absorb nutrients would benefit the offspring but if nutrients are plentiful then it can enhance the risk of obesity and diabetes," said Dr. Kapahi.



This pattern makes sense in the context of history. In times of food scarcity, storing energy meant survival. In today’s world, with food everywhere, the same trait can backfire.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-timing-should-guide-healthcare">Timing should guide healthcare</h2>



The research shows that reproductive timing should matter in medical care. Early puberty or childbirth could serve as a signal for earlier screenings and lifestyle support. 



Dr. Kapahi noted that girls in the US are starting menstruation earlier - about three months sooner per decade since the 1970s. No single cause explains this, but obesity may play a part.



Current research methods may also need to adapt. Many experiments use virgin female mice as models, which may not reflect real-world patterns of aging in women who reproduce.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-genetic-tradeoffs-shape-future-health">Genetic tradeoffs shape future health</h2>



“If evolution has shaped us to prioritize early reproduction at the cost of aging, how can we leverage this knowledge to extend healthspan in modern society?"



"While we cannot change our genetic inheritance, understanding these genetic tradeoffs empowers us to make informed choices about <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/doctors-warn-that-pregnancy-risks-double-for-women-aged-45-and-up/">health</a>, lifestyle and medical care,” said Dr. Kapahi.



The study also points to genetic pathways that might one day be targeted to improve health for mothers and children alike. What helped us survive in the past may harm us now, but awareness gives us tools to act differently.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://elifesciences.org/articles/102447" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">eLife</a>.



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Early puberty linked to higher long-term aging risks

When puberty or childbirth happens early, it can affect health...

When we think about space, we often picture rockets, astronauts, and distant planets. But some of the most important discoveries are happening at the cellular level. 



Scientists are studying how our cells respond to space - especially to changes in gravity - and what that could mean for future missions and for health here on Earth.



Much of this work is being done aboard the International Space Station (<a href="https://www.nasa.gov/international-space-station/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ISS</a>), where researchers are running cell-based experiments to better understand how space affects living systems. 



These studies are already yielding insights into bone loss, muscle atrophy, heart disease, and more.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-studying-cells-in-space">Studying cells in space</h2>



Scientists have been leading several recent investigations in collaboration with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). Their focus is how cells detect and respond to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/theory-gravity-exists-without-mass-so-dark-matter-does-not-exist/">gravity</a> - or the lack of it.



In one investigation, Cell Gravisensing, researchers explored the inner workings of animal cells to understand how they sense gravitational changes. This process is still a mystery, but the potential payoff is big. 



If we understand how cells detect gravity, we might be able to develop treatments for muscle and bone loss that happen both in space and on Earth.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-heart-cells-react-fast-in-space">Heart cells react fast in space</h2>



Some <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/zero-gravity-takes-a-hidden-toll-on-astronauts-health/">astronauts</a> experience noticeable changes in their cardiovascular systems during <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/long-space-missions-in-microgravity-take-a-toll-on-astronauts-eyes/">space missions</a>. Blood volume drops. The heart pumps less. 



A previous study called STaARS Bioscience-3 looked into this. After just three days in orbit, blood vessel cells showed changes in the expression of over 11,000 genes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-brain-cells-in-space-microgravity">Brain cells in space microgravity</h2>



Another experiment, STaARS BioScience-4, focused on neural stem cells - the kind that eventually become part of the brain and spinal cord. 



Researchers observed that in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/astronauts-are-surprisingly-good-at-flying-in-space/">microgravity</a>, these cells produced and consumed energy differently. They also broke down more cellular components, possibly to adapt to the new environment.



The study emphasized a key issue for long missions: energy. “The finding also highlights the importance of providing astronauts with sufficient energy for cognitive and physiological function on future missions,” the authors note.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-goldfish-scales-show-bone-changes">Goldfish scales show bone changes</h2>



Goldfish might seem like an odd choice for space research, but their scales are surprisingly useful. They contain many of the same proteins, minerals, and cell types found in human bone. 



The JAXA Fish Scales investigation exposed goldfish scales to simulated and real microgravity, as well as triple Earth gravity.



The outcome? Goldfish scales can be used as a model to understand how human bones react to space conditions. That could be a big help in developing countermeasures for astronauts and for people suffering from bone diseases.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mouse-cells-and-radiation">Mouse cells and radiation</h2>



Rodents are also proving valuable in space biology. In the Stem Cells experiment, scientists studied how embryonic mouse stem cells responded to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/extended-spaceflight-can-affect-the-human-brain/">spaceflight</a>. Some cells were left unaltered, while others were mutated to be more sensitive to radiation.



There were no chromosomal differences in the unaltered cells between space and ground samples. But in the mutated cells, researchers found more DNA abnormalities. 



“The work could enhance the understanding of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/3d-printed-hydrogels-developed-to-protect-astronauts-from-space-radiation/">radiation</a> effects on human cancer and improve risk assessment for long-duration missions to the Moon and Mars,” said the researchers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-heart-muscle-adapts-quickly">Heart muscle adapts quickly</h2>



In another related study, tissue samples from the Rodent Research-1 (RR-1) mission were analyzed using data from NASA’s GeneLab. The team discovered that the heart muscle can adjust to the stress of space in just 30 days. 



Genetic changes suggested that this adaptation could help the body survive in space - and might even inform treatment for heart disease on Earth.



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



Space is more than a destination. It’s a laboratory that pushes the limits of science in ways we can’t achieve on Earth. The unique environment of microgravity lets researchers see how cells, organs, and even entire systems behave under stress. 



Experiments aboard the ISS not only prepare us for longer missions to the Moon and Mars, but also spark new ideas for treating diseases, extending healthy lifespans, and improving life on our own planet.



Space reminds us that discovery doesn’t just happen out there among the stars - it also happens inside us, one cell at a time.



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How space changes our cells: Insights from the ISS

When we think about space, we often picture rockets, astronauts,...

Jake Johnson traces his veterinary research motivation to a simple concept with sweeping consequences. The idea is that animal, human, and environmental health are inseparable, and knowledge gains power when it crosses borders.



Johnson was captivated early by the <a href="https://provost.ncsu.edu/global-one-health-academy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">One Health Initiative</a>, which shows how discoveries in veterinary medicine can inform human health and ecosystem resilience. Sharing those insights can improve outcomes far beyond a single patient.



A cardiology resident at North Carolina State University’s <a href="https://cvm.ncsu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">College of Veterinary Medicine</a>, Johnson focuses his work on translating cutting-edge cardiology into tools that clinicians can actually use.



He prioritizes education and access for veterinary students and general practitioners who may not have specialized training or high-end equipment. He also designs studies with practical take-home value.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-building-on-earlier-projects"><a></a>Building on earlier projects</h2>



Johnson’s current efforts build on early projects, including a case report describing an unusual form of feline <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/living-close-to-bars-and-pubs-increases-the-risk-of-heart-failure/">heart failure</a> and how imaging choices can change clinical decisions.



The through-line is the same: bridging the gap between advanced knowledge and the constraints of real clinics. 



He sees research as the engine that turns individual, hard-won insights into shareable methods. Others can then deploy these methods in emergencies or resource-limited settings.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cocaine-toxicosis-in-dogs">Cocaine toxicosis in dogs</h2>



One strand of his work tackles <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-cocaine-tricks-and-hijacks-the-brain/">cocaine</a> toxicosis in dogs. Much of the available data comes from controlled laboratory studies or from human medicine, and neither dataset perfectly reflects the chaos of a real-world veterinary emergency.



Animal exposures are often uncertain - owners may not know what a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dogs-are-evolving-to-fit-the-modern-lives-of-humans/">dog</a> picked up, or may hesitate to say - so clinicians must act on incomplete information. 



That uncertainty is exactly why better case documentation and practical protocols matter.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-dog-cocaine-case">The dog cocaine case </h2>



A small dog was experiencing collapse episodes accompanied by severe bradycardia. Due to concerns about possible illicit substance ingestion, clinicians performed a urine drug screen. 



The test returned positive for cocaine and was later confirmed by an external laboratory. For Johnson, the case demonstrates the importance of pairing clinical signs with targeted toxicology testing when exposure is a possibility.



The case also highlights the need to build a literature that helps practitioners decide what to test, when, and why.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-preventing-exposure-before-emergencies">Preventing exposure before emergencies</h2>



Dogs are opportunistic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dogs-followed-the-first-farmers-through-the-americas/">scavengers</a>. Owners can cut risk by keeping pets leashed, watching for attempts to pick up unfamiliar items, and - when needed - using a basket muzzle during walks.



Reliable “leave it” and “drop it” cues can be lifesaving if a dog encounters dangerous substances. 



And when exposure is suspected - or a pet is simply “not quite right” - immediate veterinary care is prudent, because minutes and hours often determine outcomes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-case-reports-that-save-lives">Case reports that save lives</h2>



In veterinary medicine, case reports serve an essential role. They capture the unusual and the emergent - the very scenarios large trials miss. 



They also preserve the details future clinicians will look for when seconds matter. Over time, those reports seed better triage pathways, monitoring checklists, and treatment protocols.



A persistent misconception hampers care: that veterinarians will judge or report owners who admit a pet may have ingested illicit drugs.



However, according to Johnson, clinicians need accurate histories to save lives, not to assign blame. Honest, specific information - what, when, and how much - enables tailored treatment and closer monitoring for predictable complications.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-research-priorities-to-advance-care">Research priorities to advance care</h2>



Looking ahead, Johnson’s agenda centers on access. He calls for studies that simplify imaging so it can be performed with standard equipment. 



He also advocates for cost-effective screening strategies that identify high-risk patients without expensive panels, along with pragmatic educational interventions that convert subspecialty knowledge into routine practice.



Johnson also pushes for comparative trials of lower-cost treatment protocols that achieve similar outcomes, structured training so general practitioners can perform basic specialty procedures, and wider use of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/telemedicine-helps-address-the-ongoing-mental-health-crisis/">telemedicine</a> to bring specialist guidance into rural and resource-limited clinics in real time.



The goal is to ensure that a dog in a small town has access to lifesaving options just as reliably as one treated in a metropolitan referral hospital.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-open-science-in-veterinary-care">Open science in veterinary care</h2>



Information only helps if people can access it. Removing paywalls and sharing protocols lets students and clinicians learn and apply cardiology principles with the tools they have, not just the tools they wish they had.



In Johnson’s model, publishing is a starting line, not a finish line - the real success is a colleague using that knowledge to stabilize a patient they might otherwise have lost.



Across topics - from toxicosis to cardiology education - the constant is a One Health sensibility coupled with a practical streak. 



Johnson’s work aims to move advanced concepts out of the seminar room and into exam rooms, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/air-pollution-linked-to-a-surge-in-hospital-emergency-visits/">ERs</a>, and farmyards, where they can change outcomes today while building a stronger evidence base for tomorrow.



The case report of the dog ingesting cocaine is published in the journal <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2025.1622850/full" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Frontiers in Veterinary Science</a>.



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How a "my dog ate cocaine" incident is changing veterinary care

Jake Johnson traces his veterinary research motivation to a simple...

A planet that orbits a star nearby to us once seemed like a good candidate for being Earth-like. It’s rocky, similar in size to Earth, and lies in a zone where surface water could theoretically exist. But new findings suggest this exoplanet doesn’t have an atmosphere anything like ours.



The latest data comes from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope and focuses on TRAPPIST-1 d, a planet that is 40 light-years away in the TRAPPIST-1 <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/exoplanets/trappist1/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">system</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ruling-out-a-potential-earth-twin">Ruling out a potential Earth twin</h2>



Caroline Piaulet-Ghorayeb, lead author of the study, is a scientist at the <a href="https://www.uchicago.edu/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Chicago</a> and the Trottier Institute for Research on Exoplanets (IREx) at Université de Montréal.



“Ultimately, we want to know if something like the environment we enjoy on Earth can exist elsewhere, and under what conditions,” said Piaulet-Ghorayeb.



"While NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope is giving us the ability to explore this question in Earth-sized planets for the first time, at this point we can rule out TRAPPIST-1 d from a list of potential Earth twins or cousins."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-trappist-1-d-looked-promising">Why TRAPPIST-1 d looked promising</h2>



The TRAPPIST-1 system gained attention in 2017 for hosting seven Earth-sized, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rocky-planets-a-new-target-in-the-search-for-extraterrestrial-life/">rocky planets</a>. It's the largest group of Earth-sized worlds ever found orbiting a single star. The star at the center is a red dwarf - cooler and smaller than our Sun - which shifts the "habitable zone" much closer in.



TRAPPIST-1 d is the third planet from its star and sits near the edge of this temperate zone. But “near” is relative: it orbits at just 2% of the Earth-Sun distance. A year there lasts only four Earth days.



Despite that tight orbit, its location seemed promising for having liquid water - and maybe an atmosphere. 



But when researchers used the Webb telescope’s NIRSpec instrument to scan for signs of key molecules, they found no water vapor, methane, or carbon dioxide.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lack-of-a-detectable-atmosphere">Lack of a detectable atmosphere</h2>



“There are a few potential reasons why we don’t detect an atmosphere around TRAPPIST-1 d. It could have an extremely thin atmosphere that is difficult to detect, somewhat like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mars-glaciers-revealed-to-be-nearly-pure-ice/">Mars</a>," Piaulet-Ghorayeb said.



She explained that the planet could also have very thick, high-altitude clouds that block our detection of specific atmospheric signatures - similar to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/venus-secret-past-may-have-implications-for-earths-future/">Venus</a>. It's also possible that TRAPPIST-1 d is a barren rock, with no atmosphere at all.



The researchers aren’t ready to draw final conclusions. But one thing is clear: TRAPPIST-1 d doesn’t have an atmosphere that looks like Earth’s.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-life-near-a-red-dwarf">Life near a red dwarf </h2>



TRAPPIST-1, the star at the center of this system, may not be a great neighbor for planets hoping to hold onto their atmospheres. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/planets-orbiting-red-dwarf-stars-may-not-be-habitable-ultraviolet-uv-radiation/">Red dwarfs</a> are known for intense, high-energy flares that can blast nearby planets with radiation.



These flares can strip atmospheres away - especially from planets orbiting close in, like TRAPPIST-1 d.



Scientific interest in these kinds of stars remains high. Red dwarfs are the most common type of star in the galaxy. If a planet can hold onto an atmosphere here, there’s a chance it could do so anywhere.



“Webb’s sensitive infrared instruments are allowing us to delve into the atmospheres of these smaller, colder planets for the first time,” explained study co-author Björn Benneke of IREx at the Université de Montréal.



“We’re really just getting started using Webb to look for atmospheres on Earth-sized planets, and to define the line between planets that can hold onto an atmosphere, and those that cannot.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-eyes-on-the-outer-planets">Eyes on the outer planets</h2>



While planet d didn’t pan out as a strong Earth analog, the story isn’t over. Webb is still collecting data on the outer planets in the system - TRAPPIST-1 e, f, g, and h. 



These planets are farther from the radiation blasts of their host star, which might give them a better chance of retaining an atmosphere.



But that distance also makes it harder to detect atmospheric signatures, even with the Webb telescope’s precision.



“All hope is not lost for atmospheres around the TRAPPIST-1 planets,” Piaulet-Ghorayeb said. “While we didn’t find a big, bold atmospheric signature for planet d, there is still potential for the outer planets to be holding onto a lot of water and other atmospheric components.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-one-step-closer-to-the-big-question">One step closer to the big question</h2>



NASA sees this work as laying the foundation for something much bigger: understanding which <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/habitable-zone-planets-support-life/">planets could support life</a>.



“As NASA leads the way in searching for life outside our solar system, one of the most important avenues we can pursue is understanding which planets retain their atmospheres, and why,” said Shawn Domagal-Goldman, acting director of the Astrophysics Division at NASA Headquarters in Washington. 



“NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has pushed our capabilities for studying exoplanet atmospheres further than ever before, beyond extreme worlds to some rocky planets – allowing us to begin confirming theories about the kind of planets that may be potentially <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/super-earth-discovered-in-the-habitable-zone-of-its-star/">habitable</a>."



Domagal-Goldman noted that this important groundwork will position upcoming missions, like NASA’s Habitable Worlds Observatory, to answer a universal question: Are we alone?



TRAPPIST-1 d may not be an Earth twin. But it's helping scientists understand what makes a planet capable - or incapable - of sustaining an atmosphere. And in the search for life beyond our solar system, that’s a crucial piece of the puzzle.



Information from a NASA online <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/missions/webb/webb-narrows-atmospheric-possibilities-for-earth-sized-exoplanet-trappist-1-d/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">press release</a>.



Image Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, Joseph Olmsted (STScI)



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Can red dwarf planets support life? Webb investigates TRAPPIST-1

A planet that orbits a star nearby to us once...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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Worms dominated seas before dinosaurs

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



The full study was published in the journal Current Biology.



-----



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Earth's oldest forest found in the United States

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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The environmental problem we actually solved

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

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

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







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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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What to plant in your garden in mid-July

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Wildlife tunnels save millions of amphibians

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="0ynNMYkMKa-2340414-12187" type="single"]</div>



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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="G9bUoxcjr4-2511624-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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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



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Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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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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