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...

We talk a lot about plastic pollution. We picture oceans full of bottles and fish swimming through bags. But plastic isn't just an environmental problem - it's becoming a health problem too. And most people don’t know it.



A new Lancet Health Policy review calls for change by highlighting how plastics harm people - not just the planet. The authors argue that human health must be a central focus as the UN finalizes its global plastics treaty.



The review also introduces a new <a href="https://www.unep.org/inc-plastic-pollution/session-5.2">project</a>, the Lancet Countdown on Health and Plastics, which will track how plastic affects our bodies at every stage of its life.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-health-risks-start-at-the-factory">Health risks start at the factory</h2>



Plastic starts causing harm long before it reaches <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/landfills-emit-exorbitant-amount-methane-into-atmosphere/">landfills</a>. The damage begins during production. Plastics are not just an environmental issue - they are a profound public health concern.



Factories release dangerous particles and chemicals like PM2.5, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur dioxide. These float into the air and settle into the lungs of workers and nearby residents. Many people breathe these every day without knowing.



One of the biggest issues is that no one is sure what’s in all this plastic. Many of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plastic-dust-is-making-indoor-air-more-polluted-than-outside/">chemicals</a> used don’t show up in public records. Scientists don’t know what they do to the human body. That’s a big issue when plastic use is growing fast and shows no sign of slowing down.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-plastic-s-toxic-second-life">Plastic’s toxic second life</h2>



When a plastic bag or bottle is tossed out, it often doesn’t get recycled. In many places, it’s burned in open fires. Around 57 percent of unmanaged plastic waste ends up this way, releasing harmful smoke and adding to air pollution in low- and middle-income countries.



Burning plastic releases toxic smoke. People nearby breathe that in, especially children and older adults. This kind of exposure builds up over time. It can trigger lung diseases, heart problems, and more.



Plastic also becomes a disease carrier. Mosquitoes lay eggs in containers, and harmful microbes grow on plastic surfaces. Both spread illness. Add poor waste systems, and the problem gets worse quickly. You’re not just dealing with garbage - you’re dealing with public health emergencies.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-microplastic-exposure-is-a-health-concern">Microplastic exposure is a health concern</h2>



Microplastics are plastic bits smaller than a grain of rice. You can’t see them, but they’re almost everywhere - in food, water, and even inside people.



“Microplastics have been reported in human tissues and body fluids, and while further research is needed to understand the relationship with potential health impacts, a precautionary approach is warranted,” the authors note.



That means we shouldn't wait for perfect proof. If <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-think-their-biotech-breakthrough-could-end-plastic-waste-forever/">microplastics</a> are showing up in blood or organs, we should act now. Waiting could mean letting the problem grow.



Researchers are racing to find out what microplastics do inside the body. Do they inflame tissues? Do they mess with hormones? No one knows for sure yet. But early signs say we should take this seriously.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracking-the-health-impacts-of-plastic">Tracking the health impacts of plastic</h2>



To make sense of the data, the&nbsp;Lancet&nbsp;team has launched a tracking system: the Lancet Countdown on Health and Plastics.



The Lancet Countdown on Health and Plastics, inspired by the Health and Climate Change Countdown, will track key indicators showing how plastics and their chemicals affect <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/drinking-from-plastic-bottles-raises-your-blood-pressure/">human health</a> throughout their entire life cycle.



In short, it will follow how plastic affects people from factory to trash heap. The first full report comes out in 2026. Until then, the team will collect health data linked to plastic exposure, use, and waste. They want to give world leaders a tool to act - not just guess.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-plastic-treaty-must-protect-human-health">Plastic treaty must protect human health</h2>



We’re close to having a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plastic-treaty-is-a-historic-opportunity-to-stop-a-human-health-crisis/">global agreement</a> on plastic, but it won’t be effective if it overlooks human health. 



The message is clear. Plastic isn’t just a beach problem. It’s in our food, our lungs, and maybe even our bloodstream. The new treaty must address plastic like the emergency it is.



"Plastics are a grave, growing, and under-recognized danger to human and planetary health," the experts wrote.



"Plastics cause disease and death from infancy to old age and are responsible for health-related economic losses exceeding US$1·5 trillion annually. These impacts fall disproportionately upon low-income and at-risk populations."



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(25)01447-3/abstract" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Lancet</a>.



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Plastic pollution is harming our health, not just the planet

We talk a lot about plastic pollution. We picture oceans...

Recently, a team of mycologists dug up much more than a few tasty fungi. By combining genome sequencing with old-fashioned fieldwork - plus a pack of truffle-sniffing dogs - the team has reshaped the evolutionary story of some of North America’s most coveted culinary delicacies. They also identified three brand-new species.



The study, led by the <a href="https://www.ufl.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Florida</a>, clarifies which truffles belong where on the Morchellaceae family tree. The research also reveals that the legendary Oregon black truffle is not the European species it was long presumed to be.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-genetically-distinct-truffle-species">Genetically distinct truffle species </h2>



For decades, chefs and foragers alike assumed the dark, fragrant tuber prized in Pacific Northwest kitchens was Leucangium carthusianum, a species first described in Europe.



Yet when pandemic shutdowns kept graduate student Benjamin Lemmond out of his greenhouse experiments, Professor Matthew Smith of <a href="https://ifas.ufl.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences</a> handed him a very different project. 



Lemmond was tasked with sifting through hundreds of dried truffle specimens borrowed from <a href="https://oregonstate.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Oregon State University</a> and museums across Europe and Asia.



“Our paper confirms what a lot of people had suspected: the North American truffle species is genetically very distinct from its European relatives,” Lemmond said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-beloved-truffle-species-renamed">Beloved truffle species renamed</h2>



DNA comparisons from Poland, Greece, Italy, France, and Japan showed a clear split. To give the Pacific Northwest lineage its own identity, the team proposed a new scientific name, Leucangium cascadiense, honoring the Cascadia bioregion that stretches from California to British Columbia.



The reclassification matters far beyond the herb-infused butter of gourmet kitchens. “Understanding the fundamental biology, and<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plant-life-cycles-predicting-the-impacts-of-climate-change/"> life cycle</a> of this truffle is really important,” Lemmond explained.



“It’s a very valuable commodity, and this knowledge might help us to cultivate the truffle in the future. It also supports long-term conservation and management.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-forest-dogs-find-fungal-clues">Forest dogs find fungal clues</h2>



Most high-end truffles are mycorrhizal: they form an intimate underground partnership with tree roots, exchanging minerals and sugars. Mycologists assumed L. cascadiense did the same with young Douglas firs, but no one had demonstrated it.



Lemmond headed north armed with fluorescent dyes, DNA test kits, and a pair of canine collaborators named Cricket and Rye. 



The dogs located truffles buried as deep as ten inches in the leaf litter. Microscopic staining showed the fungus threading between root cells, while DNA sequencing confirmed the Douglas fir partnership.



“The truffle fungi surround the whole root, but the fungus is healthy, and the plant is healthy,” Smith said. “The two trade <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/excess-nutrients-are-creating-ocean-dead-zones/">nutrients</a> back and forth.”



That symbiosis, now confirmed, opens the door to experimental cultivation - potentially transforming a product that can fetch $800 a pound in peak season.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ancient-forests-hide-unknown-truffles">Ancient forests hide unknown truffles</h2>



While sorting genetic data, the researchers stumbled on a pale, wart-speckled specimen from the southern Appalachian Mountains. Analysis revealed it belonged to a lineage entirely separate from other known truffles.



They named it Imaia kuwohiensis after Kuwohi, the Cherokee name for the Smoky Mountains’ highest peak. Its habitat - high-elevation spruce-fir forests - faces its own threats, making the discovery a potential rallying point for conservation.



Then came an unexpected alert from iNaturalist: a Leucangium truffle growing under eastern hemlocks in Oneida County, New York. It was thousands of miles east of any previously recorded relative.



Dense external hairs and a smooth surface distinguished it instantly. DNA sealed the case, and Leucangium oneidaense entered the taxonomy.



“It was the first time anyone had ever reported a Leucangium species in the United States, east of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rocky-mountain-snow-contains-toxic-metals-from-faraway-mining/">Rocky Mountains</a>,” Lemmond said. A second find in Massachusetts, just before publication, hints that New England’s forests may hide a larger population.



“It was great timing, and it suggests there are still a lot of undiscovered truffles out there,” he added.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-naming-fungi-protects-ecosystems">Naming fungi protects ecosystems</h2>



Beyond gourmet intrigue, the study underscores how modern genomics and citizen science converge to rewrite natural history. Accurate species names guide sustainable harvesting, inform land management plans, and illuminate the ecological webs that support foods.



The pandemic-era shift to archives led to unexpected breakthroughs from stranded students and resourceful professors.



From Oregon’s <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/douglas-fir-trees-will-suffer-from-drier-air/">Douglas fir</a> stands to the eastern hemlock groves of Oneida County, three new species now carry scientific passports of their own.



And in kitchens from Portland to Providence, chefs grating those fragrant truffles can savor a fresh backstory. Their prized flavor owes its existence to Cascadian forests, cooperative fungi, and a research team determined to see the forest - and the truffles - for what they truly are.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/wfbi/pimj/pre-prints/content-persoonia55art2;jsessionid=1m8sb40jesb4f.x-ic-live-01" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Persoonia</a>.



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Three new truffle species discovered in North American forests

Recently, a team of mycologists dug up much more than...

A baby star is lighting up more than just its corner of space - it’s also revealing the raw ingredients that could eventually form life.



Astronomers have detected 17 complex organic molecules in the planet-forming disc around a young star called V883 Orionis. Among them are ethylene glycol and glycolonitrile - two molecules long suspected but never before seen in this kind of environment.



These findings come from a team at the <a href="https://www.mpia.de/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Max Planck Institute for Astronomy</a> (MPIA), using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) in Chile. 



The study offers new insight into how life’s chemistry might emerge well before <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-planets-form-its-much-more-complicated-than-we-thought/">planets fully form</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-star-stirs-up-organic-soup">Star stirs up organic soup</h2>



V883 Orionis isn’t an ordinary young star. It’s in the middle of a growth spurt, pulling in gas and blasting out intense energy. 



The outburst temporarily heats its surrounding disc of dust and ice, releasing complex molecules that frozen grains usually trap. These molecules become visible to astronomers using tools like ALMA, which can detect the radio signals they emit.



"Complex molecules, including ethylene glycol and glycolonitrile, radiate at radio frequencies," said MPIA scientist Kamber Schwarz. "ALMA is perfectly suited to detect those signals." 



The detected molecules include precursors to amino acids like glycine and alanine, and even adenine, one of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/did-the-building-blocks-of-life-replicate-on-their-own/">building blocks</a> of DNA. Ethylene glycol - the same compound used in antifreeze - also plays a role in prebiotic chemistry.



"We recently found ethylene glycol could form by UV irradiation of ethanolamine, a molecule that was recently discovered in space," said Tushar Suhasaria, co-author and head of MPIA's Origins of Life Lab.



 "This finding supports the idea that ethylene glycol could form in those environments, but also in later stages of molecular evolution, where UV irradiation is dominant."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-origins-of-life-friendly-chemistry">Origins of life-friendly chemistry</h2>



Scientists have long wondered when and where life-friendly chemistry begins - and whether it starts before a star fully forms. 



For a while, the assumption was that dramatic transitions - like the shift from a <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/celestial-fireworks-surround-a-protostar/">protostar</a> to a fully formed star - would wipe out fragile organic molecules.



That led to a theory called the “reset” model, where any life-forming compounds would have to rebuild from scratch in newly forming planetary discs. But new evidence from V883 Orionis challenges that idea.



"Our finding points to a straight line of chemical enrichment and increasing complexity between interstellar clouds and fully evolved <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/six-planet-system-hd110067-discovered-that-moves-in-perfect-mathematical-harmony/">planetary systems</a>," said Abubakar Fadul of MPIA.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-star-formation-doesn-t-erase-life">Star formation doesn’t erase life</h2>



Instead of being erased, complex molecules may survive early star formation and carry over into planet-forming regions.



"Now it appears the opposite is true," explained Schwarz. "Our results suggest that protoplanetary discs inherit complex molecules from earlier stages, and the formation of complex molecules can continue during the protoplanetary disc stage."



That would mean the seeds of biology - like amino acids, sugars, and nucleobases - are not just possible in one solar system but likely common across the universe.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-stars-trigger-molecule-release">How stars trigger molecule release</h2>



The chemistry behind these molecules starts small and cold. Dust grains in space act like tiny laboratories, where atoms and simple molecules stick to icy surfaces and gradually become more complex. These ice-bound compounds are nearly impossible to detect - unless something heats them up.



That’s where young stars like V883 Orionis come in. When the star pulls in more gas, it emits powerful radiation that warms even the outer parts of its disc.



"These outbursts are strong enough to heat the surrounding disc as far as otherwise icy environments, releasing the chemicals we have detected," said Fadul.



The heating process is similar to what happens with comets in our own <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/jupiters-past-how-the-young-gas-giant-shaped-our-solar-system/">Solar System</a>. As they approach the Sun, their icy surfaces vaporize, forming visible tails and releasing trapped organic molecules.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-search-for-life-s-chemistry-isn-t-over">The search for life’s chemistry isn’t over</h2>



The MPIA team knows there’s more to uncover. Though this discovery is major, their spectral data still holds mysteries.



"While this result is exciting, we still haven't disentangled all the signatures we found in our spectra," said Schwarz. "Higher resolution data will confirm the detections of ethylene glycol and glycolonitrile - and maybe even reveal more complex chemicals we simply haven't identified yet."



"Perhaps we also need to look at other regions of the electromagnetic spectrum to find even more evolved molecules," noted Fadul. "Who knows what else we might discover?"



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-universe-favors-life-s-chemistry">Universe favors life’s chemistry</h2>



Finding these complex organic molecules in a young star’s disc reinforces a bigger idea: the universe might have wired itself chemically for life from the start.



If molecules like these are common in planet-forming regions, then life-friendly chemistry could be happening everywhere - and not just by chance.



This doesn’t mean we’ve found life, or even direct evidence of it. But it does mean the starting materials are out there, hiding in the ice, waiting for a star to wake them up.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2041-8213/adec6e">The Astrophysical Journal Letters</a>.



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Life’s building blocks found in a baby star’s planet-forming disc

A baby star is lighting up more than just its...

On Canada’s Pacific coast, something unusual has been unfolding beneath the water’s surface. Mass die-offs of farmed oysters, once dismissed as side effects of warming seas or pollution, now appear linked to a mysterious new virus. 



The newly discovered virus emerged from British Columbia's Pacific oyster farms. During a mass mortality event in 2020, scientists identified a previously unknown pathogen.



This finding adds another layer to the complex mystery behind recurring oyster die-offs. 



“We’ve recently seen annual mass die-offs in B.C. and elsewhere of Pacific oysters, the most widely farmed shellfish worldwide. Often, we don’t know the cause," said Dr. Kevin Zhong, lead author from the University of British Columbia's <a href="https://www.eoas.ubc.ca">Department of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences</a>.



Pacific oysters generated around $16 million in B.C. in 2023. Yet, the industry faces ongoing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/previously-overlooked-viruses-may-secretly-shape-bacterial-populations/">risks</a> from pathogens and rising sea temperatures. In many cases, scientists cannot pinpoint the exact reason behind the deaths.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-virus-found-in-oyster-farms">New virus found in oyster farms</h2>



The researchers gathered 33 oysters from two affected farms and 26 wild oysters from nearby coastal areas. RNA tests revealed a novel virus - Pacific Oyster Nidovirus 1 (PONV1) - in 20 of the dead farmed oysters. Wild oysters, however, showed no signs of the virus.



“This discovery highlights how little we know about viruses <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/covid-virus-spread-too-quickly-for-bats-alone-to-be-responsible/">infecting</a> invertebrates in general and oysters in particular,” said Dr. Curtis Suttle, senior author and UBC professor. “It’s important to investigate mass die-offs in oysters to determine what causes disease."



"Similar to humans, disease and death are not caused by a single factor, but prevention is not possible until the causes are known.”



The virus appears strongly linked to oyster mortality. However, researchers caution that other stressors may contribute as well.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-record-breaking-genome">A record-breaking genome</h2>



PONV1 has one of the largest RNA genomes found so far. It’s only the second known nidovirus in bivalves. Other nidoviruses infect many species, including humans. The virus that causes COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, also belongs to this group.



“The extraordinarily large genome of this virus makes it particularly fascinating as it pushes the known boundaries of how big RNA <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/what-makes-a-virus-capable-of-causing-a-pandemic/">virus</a> genomes can get," Dr. Zhong said.



A larger genome may allow the virus to encode more genes or protein domains, potentially expanding or enhancing its ability to interact with hosts. 



"This discovery offers a rare window into the possible evolutionary mechanisms that enable genome expansion in RNA viruses,” he said. 



This oversized genome gives researchers clues about how viruses evolve. PONV1 may hold answers about genetic flexibility and host adaptation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scientists-name-viral-giant">Scientists name viral giant</h2>



By searching global databases, the team identified 15 similar <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/arctic-warming-may-fuel-the-spread-of-diseases-by-unleashing-frozen-viruses/">viruses</a> in oysters from Europe and Asia. These strains appear widespread but are not linked to die-offs.



The newly discovered virus, PONV1, stands out because its genetic structure is unlike that of any known virus in its group. 



After analyzing its RNA sequence, researchers found that it differed significantly from other known nidoviruses. This level of genetic difference was so great that the team concluded it didn’t fit within any existing virus family.



As a result, the scientists proposed creating an entirely new family of viruses to accommodate it. They named this new family&nbsp;Megarnaviridae, which means “large RNA viruses.” The name reflects the unusually large genome carried by the virus - one of the biggest ever recorded in RNA viruses.



To further define this discovery, the team suggested a scientific name for PONV1:&nbsp;Megarnavirus gigas. The term&nbsp;gigascomes from Latin and means “giant,” referring again to the virus’s large genetic size. So,&nbsp;Megarnavirus gigas&nbsp;translates to “large RNA virus giant,” highlighting both its uniqueness and its size.



“Fortunately, the virus does not infect humans. It seems specific to oysters,” said Dr. Suttle.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-virus-raises-warning-about-oyster-trade">Virus raises warning about oyster trade</h2>



B.C. oyster growers often import juvenile oysters, or spat, from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/master-switch-controls-the-timing-of-fish-egg-hatching/">hatcheries</a> both domestically and overseas. This practice might carry hidden pathogens.



The discovery of the virus is a reminder that growers should use an abundance of caution when moving oyster spat internationally and nationally, as we still know very little about what causes disease in oysters. New pathogens may be introduced when spat are imported.



"Ultimately, developing rapid tests for detecting potential pathogens is essential for safely importing oyster seed, and identifying the causes of disease and mortality,” Dr. Suttle said.



This research supports better monitoring systems. With early testing, the industry can reduce the spread of unknown viruses.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-turning-point-for-aquaculture">A turning point for aquaculture</h2>



The team stressed that the discovery is not cause for panic. Instead, it opens the door to more informed oyster health management.



“This research is not a cause for alarm,” said Dr. Suttle. “Rather, this is a meaningful step forward in advancing our understanding of oyster health and supporting the long-term sustainability of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/90-percent-of-the-worlds-aquaculture-faces-substantial-risk-from-human-induced-environmental-changes/">shellfish aquaculture</a>.”



With more study, experts hope to understand the virus’s exact role. The goal is to improve disease prevention and ensure safe, thriving oyster farms worldwide.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2426923122" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.



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Mysterious oyster deaths linked to newly discovered virus

On Canada’s Pacific coast, something unusual has been unfolding beneath...

Fast food in hospitals sounds like a contradiction, but in many U.S. medical centers, it’s still on the menu. Walk through the food court and you’ll see signs for fried chicken, burgers, and pizza - foods known to fuel the very health problems hospitals are meant to treat.



A new poll and report from the <a href="https://www.pcrm.org/">Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine</a>, a nonprofit backed by 17,000 doctors, finds that many Americans don’t believe fast food belongs in hospitals.



The poll, conducted in early July 2025, surveyed 2,202 U.S. adults. Over half (52%) said fast food shouldn’t be sold in hospitals. Nearly 6 in 10 said hospitals shouldn’t make money from it, and 85% agreed these foods don't support good health.



The same report revealed that Chick-fil-A is operating in at least 20 hospitals or medical centers across the country. That data comes from the fast-food chain’s own website.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-counts-as-fast-food-really">What counts as fast food, really?</h2>



Fast food isn’t just about speed. It’s a category of food known for being heavily processed, high in saturated fat, sugar, and sodium, and low in fiber and nutrients. 



Fast food options include fried chicken sandwiches, cheeseburgers, pizza, fries, soda, and milkshakes - staples of chains like Chick-fil-A, McDonald’s, Wendy’s, and others.



These meals are designed for convenience, not nutrition. They often come packed with calories and additives, and they’re rarely made from whole, unprocessed ingredients. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-foods-of-convenience">Foods of convenience </h2>



Even the “healthier” options, like grilled chicken sandwiches or salads, can come with high-fat dressings, processed meats, or refined grains.



The issue isn’t just indulgence - it’s habit. Many people eat fast food multiple times a week, and for some hospital visitors or staff working long shifts, these meals are the only options available. 



That’s where the problem grows. What’s convenient in the moment may be contributing to long-term health issues that land people in hospitals in the first place.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fried-chicken-versus-chickpeas">Fried chicken versus chickpeas</h2>



“While many people consider chicken to be a healthier option than red meat, consuming chicken can increase cholesterol just as much as eating red meat,” said Anna Herby, nutrition education specialist for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. 



“Hospital staff, visitors, and patients would benefit by choosing more chickpeas and other plant-based foods instead of chicken.”



This isn’t just a personal opinion - it’s based on research. Eating chicken has been tied to higher cancer risk. Fried chicken, in particular, has been linked to heart disease.



One study earlier this year showed that eating just 300 grams of poultry per week - roughly a large chicken breast - was associated with increased risk of gastrointestinal cancers and higher all-cause mortality.



Another study, published in The BMJ, found that women who ate fried chicken once or more a day had a 13% higher risk of death from any cause and a 12% higher risk of death from heart disease compared to those who avoided fried food entirely.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hidden-health-effects-of-fast-food">Hidden health effects of fast food</h2>



Fast food isn’t just tied to heart disease and cancer - its effects reach much further, often in ways that aren’t immediately obvious.



Regular fast food consumption is strongly tied to obesity, a condition that increases the risk of nearly every major chronic illness. 



These meals are energy-dense but nutritionally poor, delivering lots of calories with little actual nourishment. That makes it easy to overeat and hard to feel full.



Fast food is also a major contributor to type 2 diabetes. High levels of refined carbs and added sugars can spike blood sugar and insulin, leading to insulin resistance over time. Even a seemingly small meal - a muffin, a sweetened coffee - can contain more sugar than a can of soda.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-liver-and-brain-health">Liver and brain health</h2>



There are also effects on the liver. Diets heavy in trans fats and sugar can cause non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, now increasingly common even in kids and teens.



And then there’s mental health. Studies have linked high consumption of fried and processed foods with increased rates of depression and anxiety. 



The nutrients we don’t get from fast food - like omega-3s, fiber, and key vitamins - play a big role in brain health. Fast food isn’t just a quick meal. It can quietly affect nearly every system in the body.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-time-to-lead-by-example">Time to lead by example</h2>



This issue is not new. In 2017, the American Medical Association urged hospitals to offer plant-based meals and stop serving processed meats like chicken nuggets. The goal is to make food part of the solution, not the problem.



“Hospitals should set an example by ensuring that their restaurants serve more menu items that are cholesterol-free, low in saturated fat, and high in fiber-rich vegetables, grains, beans, and fruit,” said Dr. Herby. 



“Meals like these have been shown to help prevent or improve the chronic diseases that bring people to the hospital.”



Public support is already there. The majority of Americans agree: fast food doesn’t belong in a place that’s supposed to promote health. 



As research continues to highlight the risks of meat-heavy, fried diets, many are calling for hospitals to make the same shift they ask of their patients.



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Fast food in hospitals? Most agree it doesn't belong

Fast food in hospitals sounds like a contradiction, but in...

Forest ecologists have known for decades that mixing many kinds of trees generally makes woodlands healthier and more resilient. Yet field studies have not always agreed on how strongly that diversity effect shows up in different climates.



A globe-spanning analysis led by the <a href="https://umich.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Michigan</a> now clarifies the picture: <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/humans-can-accurately-perceive-biodiversity-through-the-senses/">biodiversity</a> gives trees a noticeable growth boost almost everywhere, but the advantage is far larger in forests that receive plenty of rain.



“Diversity matters everywhere we look. But in our experiments, we see it matters more in the wetter climates,” said Peter Reich, director of the <a href="https://seas.umich.edu/globalchangebiology" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Institute for Global Change Biology</a> at Michigan and senior author of the new study.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-forest-trials-across-continents">Forest trials across continents</h2>



The project tapped the Tree Diversity Network, a consortium of long-term “outdoor laboratories” where researchers plant seedlings in carefully designed mixtures and monitor them year after year.



For this paper, the team drew on 15 sites spread from temperate Minnesota to subtropical China and Mediterranean Spain. In all, they followed about 100,000 individual <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/trees-are-part-of-the-climate-solution-but-not-the-whole-answer/">trees</a> representing nearly 130 species.



At each site, the scientists recorded which species surrounded every single trunk rather than averaging diversity across a whole plot. That fine-scale approach revealed subtle neighborhood effects that previous broad-brush analyses missed.



"We find a tree growth boost in diverse tree neighborhoods with different species and functional traits - for example, specific leaf area and wood density," explained postdoctoral fellow Liting Zheng, first author of the paper.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wet-forests-gain-the-most">Wet forests gain the most</h2>



When the team compared growth rates across climates, a clear pattern emerged. 



In forests where annual precipitation is high - places ranging from the Upper Midwest and New England to parts of northern Europe - individuals growing in species-rich neighborhoods gained substantially more wood each year. 



Their counterparts surrounded by just one or two species saw much lower growth. The effect weakened, and in some cases disappeared, in drier sites where water limits productivity.



The implication for restoration projects is straightforward. “If you’re thinking of restoring or regrowing, it makes a lot of sense to plant diverse trees, especially in wetter areas,” Reich said.



That “wet” label is broader than many people assume; by the study’s criterion, Michigan’s hardwood forests qualify just as much as a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-amazon-rainforest-is-approaching-widespread-collapse/">rainforest</a> in Panama.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-extreme-weather-dulls-the-effect">Extreme weather dulls the effect</h2>



The researchers also compared wet and dry years within the same forests. Surprisingly, the diversity benefits all but vanished during unusually rainy years at already-wet forest sites. To Reich, that nuance matters for land-management planning.



“Diversity appears to be better suited for the average condition, which matters for management," he said.



"There’s thinking that biodiversity is really going to help you when you have those extreme years … but in our data this was not the case.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mixing-species-boosts-growth">Mixing species boosts growth</h2>



Ecologists offer several explanations for the wetter-is-better pattern. In moist climates, light and nutrients - rather than water - limit growth.



Different species often excel at capturing those resources at different heights or seasons, so mixing them lets stands use sunlight and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-soil-day-2024-protecting-our-planets-lifeline/">soil</a> nutrients more completely. Where rain is scarce, however, all species are constrained by the same shortage, leaving less room for “complementarity” to operate.



Those mechanics have immediate relevance for climate-smart forestry. Fast-growing stands sequester more carbon; stable stands resist pests and windthrow.



Knowing where extra species will pay the biggest dividends helps agencies and private owners target limited replanting budgets. It also highlights the risk of losing diversity in humid regions, as invasive pests, shifting land use, or single-species plantations simplify forests.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-watching-forests-over-time">Watching forests over time</h2>



Because the experimental plantings are young - between four and 14 years old - the authors caution against extrapolating to century-old forests without more data. Still, Reich sees no obvious reason why the basic pattern would reverse as canopies mature.



The team plans to keep monitoring the same plots for decades, turning today’s snapshot into a moving picture of forest dynamics.



Meanwhile the message for managers is already clear. Where <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rainfall-is-increasingly-unpredictable-due-to-climate-change/">rainfall</a> is generous, every extra species in a planting plan represents not just a hedge against future uncertainty but an immediate gain in wood volume and ecological function.



In drier zones, diversity remains valuable for reasons such as disease resistance and wildlife habitat, but the growth payoff will likely be smaller.



“This provides a more nuanced insight into how biodiversity works in different environments,” Reich concluded. 



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-025-02805-5" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Ecology &amp; Evolution</a>.



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Tree growth thrives on diversity - especially in wet forests

Forest ecologists have known for decades that mixing many kinds...

On the surface, the 106,000-acre Avon Park Air Force Range in central Florida seems an unlikely refuge for endangered wildlife, including woodpeckers. The U.S. Air Force uses the property for bombing practice, artillery training, and low-level flight runs.



Yet tucked between target zones and drop sites lies one of the largest remaining swaths of longleaf pine savanna in the state - a habitat that now shelters more than forty at-risk species.



Thanks to an unusual partnership among the military, federal biologists, and academic researchers, this living laboratory has just yielded some of the clearest evidence yet that carefully planned animal “translocations” can pull struggling populations back from the brink.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-moving-endangered-woodpeckers">Moving endangered woodpeckers</h2>



A team led by <a href="https://msu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Michigan State University</a> (MSU) conservation biologists reported that moving endangered red-cockaded woodpeckers from healthier forests into Avon Park did far more than provide a short-term boost. 



Over two decades, newcomers and their offspring boosted numbers, improved genetics, and outperformed locals in nesting and survival.



This is a rare success story scientists seldom get to document in such detail. MSU graduate student Alex Lewanski, the paper’s first author, spent years analyzing banding records, nesting logs, and genetic samples collected since 1998.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-need-for-a-genetic-rescue"><a></a>The need for a genetic rescue</h2>



Once common from Texas to the Carolinas, red-cockaded woodpeckers depend on mature longleaf pines peppered with natural cavities.



Logging, fire suppression, and development have reduced the bird’s range to just three percent of its original habitat. Small, isolated colonies face a double threat: fewer mates and the gradual erosion of genetic diversity needed to adapt.



Avon Park’s savannas - more than 35,000 acres of open <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/what-gives-pine-trees-fresh-scent/">pine</a> and wiregrass - offered prime real estate, but only a tiny remnant population of endangered woodpeckers survived there in the 1990s.



Beginning in 1998, field crews from nearby <a href="https://www.archbold-station.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Archbold Biological Station</a>, working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Air Force land managers, captured juvenile birds in six larger populations. The birds were released, in pairs, into vacant Avon Park territories.



By 2016, the team had translocated 54 individuals - each fitted with color leg bands for lifetime tracking.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-watching-the-bird-colony-grow">Watching the bird colony grow</h2>



Because the range is a federally protected “Sentinel Landscape,” researchers could monitor the birds with unusual intensity. They mapped cavity trees, checked nests weekly, and recorded every fledgling’s parents.



Over time, they also collected feathers and genetic material, building pedigrees that now extend across three woodpecker generations.



Lewanski and senior author Sarah Fitzpatrick, an assistant professor at MSU, combined those field notes with the genetic analyses to ask a suite of questions. Did the imported birds survive, pair with locals or other transplants, produce offspring that lived longer or had more young, and how did the influx affect the colony’s overall genetic health?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stronger-birds-stronger-colony">Stronger birds, stronger colony</h2>



The answers were striking. Roughly seventy percent of the moved birds survived to breed - remarkable for a species with high juvenile mortality. Many paired with native adults, injecting new genetic combinations into the population.



Translocated birds tended to nest for more years than locally hatched ones, adding measurably to annual fledgling counts. Over 25 years, the Avon Park colony grew steadily, with pedigree data showing a matching decline in inbreeding levels.



“The only reason these populations are still around is because of collaborations and long-term investment in these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-is-the-largest-threat-to-u-s-endangered-species/">imperiled species</a>,” Lewanski said. He credits coordinated burning programs that restore open pine structure and the military’s commitment to conservation buffers around training zones.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lessons-for-working-landscapes"><a></a>Lessons for working landscapes</h2>



The findings echo earlier MSU work demonstrating that gene flow - moving individuals or their sperm and eggs between isolated groups - can jump-start recovery in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fish-are-quietly-battling-climate-change-on-the-seabed/">fish</a>, amphibians, and plants. 



In woodpeckers, the benefits are magnified because suitable habitat is so rare and fragmented.



“It has the potential to act as an important component of managing many imperiled species,” Lewanski said. He pointed to Florida scrub jays and gopher tortoises as candidates for relocation into protected military bases or private ranches in federal incentive programs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-predicting-rescue-with-data">Predicting rescue with data</h2>



Fitzpatrick added that emerging DNA technologies will soon let managers gauge genetic rescue needs without decades of cavity-tree checks. 



Portable sequencers and landscape-scale genome surveys can flag rising inbreeding long before it hurts reproduction, guiding when and where to move birds.



Genomic analysis combined with on-site monitoring could offer tailor-made strategies for managers attempting translocations. It could also help build data dashboards that integrate burn schedules, nest counts, and genetic risk scores.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-blueprint-beyond-the-bombing-range"><a></a>A blueprint beyond the bombing range</h2>



As <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/birds-adapt-their-survival-strategies-to-climate-change/">climate change</a>, urban sprawl and timber markets continue to carve up southeastern pine ecosystems, the Avon Park study offers rare optimism. 



It shows that even tiny remnant populations on “working” lands - not just pristine refuges - can rebound if managers pair habitat stewardship with strategic translocations.



Endangered red-cockaded woodpeckers once filled 90 million acres of longleaf pine with the calls of noisy social clans. Its recovery at a bombing range suggests that, with the right mix of science and partnerships, extinction isn’t inevitable.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2410946122" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.



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Endangered woodpeckers found an unlikely refuge at a military base

On the surface, the 106,000-acre Avon Park Air Force Range...

Why do young children struggle to grasp the emotions behind adult facial expressions? A study led by Xie Wanze of Peking University and Professor Seth Pollak from the University of Wisconsin sheds light on this developmental shift. 



The research reveals that between the ages of 5 and 10, children begin to move beyond instinctive reactions to facial cues and start relying more on learned understanding to interpret <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/animal-characters-boost-social-and-emotional-skills-in-children/">emotions</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-kids-use-more-than-faces">Kids use more than faces</h2>



Interpreting facial emotions is essential for social <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/experts-identify-the-simple-emotion-that-gives-life-meaning-and-its-not-happiness/">connection</a>, but children often misread them. Earlier studies suggested that kids gradually move from simple positive or negative assessments to nuanced emotion recognition. 



But this new study shows that children don’t rely solely on visual cues. Instead, their developing brains combine perceptual data with conceptual insights shaped by culture, language, and experience. 



Even young children start to build emotional concepts through stories, labels, and social situations.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-testing-brain-and-behavior">Testing brain and behavior</h2>



The researchers used a three-part experiment on children aged 5 to 10. First, they measured spontaneous brain responses using a visual EEG task. Even the youngest group could distinguish different emotional expressions - happiness, anger, sadness, and fear. 



Their brains reacted more strongly to shifts between these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/social-stress-harms-the-brains-of-low-status-fish/">emotions</a>, confirming early discrimination ability.



Second, a conceptual word-emotion rating task revealed that older children showed clearer, more complex emotional associations. 



They viewed happiness as increasingly distinct from negative emotions and began grouping negative emotions like anger and fear more closely.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-children-s-brains-process-emotions">How children’s brains process emotions</h2>



The team found that perceptual and conceptual abilities both contribute to emotion judgment, but not equally. Younger kids rely more on what they see. As they grow, they shift toward what they’ve learned. 



This aligns with the theory of constructed emotion, which proposes that emotional understanding relies more on concepts than raw feelings over time.



The study used Representational Similarity Analysis and statistical modeling to track this transition. 



The analysis revealed that conceptual knowledge predicts emotional accuracy better in older children and adults. In contrast, perceptual discrimination plays a stronger role in younger kids.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-behavior-shows-emotion-growth">Behavior shows emotion growth</h2>



In behavior-based sorting and matching tasks, younger children showed clear struggles. They often sorted emotions broadly - positive vs. negative - without grasping nuances. 



Older children were more precise, identifying subtle differences between similar expressions like fear and anger.



Interestingly, these two tasks revealed different strengths. The sorting task depended more on labels and categories. The matching task leaned on visual cues. This shows how children’s emotion understanding may vary based on how they are asked to respond.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-children-s-emotions-become-more-complex">Children’s emotions become more complex </h2>



As children grow, they not only get better at telling faces apart but also begin to understand emotional complexity. 



With age, children grasp that anger and fear may share traits or appear together in certain situations. This reflects a maturing emotional framework where emotions are not just labels but dynamic states tied to context and culture.



Children learn that the same expression may mean different things in different situations. This flexibility marks the rise of true emotional reasoning.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-helping-children-understand-emotions">Helping children understand emotions</h2>



This research has practical value. It suggests that helping children grow emotionally means more than showing them faces. 



Teaching emotional language, using stories, and helping them understand context can build strong conceptual knowledge.



Children who gain these tools are more likely to manage emotions, understand others, and thrive in social settings. The study supports using both visual and conceptual strategies in emotional education, tailored to age and developmental stage.



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



The study from <a href="https://english.pku.edu.cn" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Peking University</a> and <a href="https://www.wisc.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Wisconsin</a> reminds us that emotion understanding is not fixed. It evolves through exposure, language, and thought. While a child may first recognize a smile, they later learn that not every smile means happiness.



As one grows older, it becomes clear that knowing how someone feels takes more than just looking – it requires thinking. This research shows how that journey unfolds, step by step, in every child’s mind, shaped by experience, culture, language, and social learning. 



Over time, children learn that emotions are not fixed or universal - they depend on situations, relationships, and context. What begins as a simple reaction to a face slowly becomes a deeper understanding of human feelings and how they work in real life.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-62210-1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications</a>.



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How children learn to read emotions as they grow older

Why do young children struggle to grasp the emotions behind...

The first thing every textbook says about solar power is that light knocks electrons loose. But inside ultrathin chips just a few atoms thick, those electrons face a complex landscape of heat, boundaries, and materials that defy the rules of ordinary semiconductors.



Now, thanks to Ming Liu and Ruoxue Yan at UC Riverside’s <a href="https://www.engr.ucr.edu/">Bourns College of Engineering</a>, scientists can finally watch that chaotic electron dance play out in three dimensions.



The team's new imaging technique reveals exactly where those electrons go - and how much their journey is driven by heat, not just light.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-competing-currents-in-solar-chips">Competing currents in solar chips</h2>



The photovoltaic effect converts photons into current by freeing electrons inside a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/physicists-succeed-in-converting-light-into-a-supersolid-that-flows-like-a-liquid/">semiconductor</a>. Those electrons drift toward metal contacts, creating the power that runs a rooftop array.



An equally important process - the photothermoelectric effect - occurs when light heats the charge carriers themselves, causing them to rush toward cooler regions instead of the nearest wire. In single-layer molybdenum disulfide, that heat-driven push can dominate.



“Before now, we knew both effects were happening, but we couldn’t see how much each one contributed or how they were spatially distributed,” said Liu.



Because the two effects pull charges in opposite directions, device engineers struggle to know which one dominates in a given pixel or junction.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-electricity-really-forms">Where electricity really forms</h2>



Liu’s team used a special microscope that focuses laser light through a tiny tip, narrowing the beam to just a few billionths of a meter. 



The researchers scanned this tip across the surface of an ultrathin chip made of metal and a light-sensitive material to see where and how electricity was being generated.



By moving the tip closer and farther from the surface and analyzing how the signal changed, they could separate two different types of current. The sharp changes came from the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/solar-panels-are-1000-times-more-powerful-with-new-tech-breakthrough/">photovoltaic effec</a>t, while the slower, more stable ones came from heat-driven movement.



The final map showed a narrow line of photovoltaic current near the edge where the metal and semiconductor met. But the heat-driven current reached much farther into the chip, spreading over an area much wider than scientists expected.



This goes against the conventional wisdom. The observation explains why earlier devices sometimes delivered less power than their simulated band diagrams predicted.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-thin-layer-redirects-solar-heat">Thin layer redirects solar heat</h2>



To see if they could control how heat moves through the chip, the team added an extra layer just a few atoms thick. This hexagonal boron nitride layer spread heat sideways, preventing it from building up in one spot.



That smoother heat flow lined up better with parts of the chip that respond strongly to temperature changes. As a result, the chip produced even more electric current from heat than before.



In the covered region, the photothermoelectric current more than tripled, even though the absolute temperature rise fell. The uncovered half, by contrast, showed a skinny hot spot and a much weaker signal.



Because the boron nitride sheet is only a few atoms thick, it barely alters the device’s <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/invisible-electric-field-discovered-surrounding-earth-nasa-says-its-as-crucial-as-gravity/">electric field</a>. The boost therefore comes almost entirely from thermal routing, a design knob that traditional photodiodes have ignored.



“The idea that we can fine-tune a photodetector’s performance using heat flow is really exciting,” Liu said. With the microscope acting as both thermometer and ammeter, designers can now visualize the effect of every added layer.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-heat-joins-the-solar-toolbox">Heat joins the solar toolbox</h2>



Being able to untangle heat-driven and photon-driven currents at the nanoscale gives researchers a rare chance to rethink how they build optoelectronic circuits.



Engineers can now match material properties with specific effects, boosting sensitivity in detectors or minimizing waste in energy-harvesting systems.



For example, engineers building <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-camera-technology-lets-us-see-colors-of-the-world-through-the-eyes-of-animals/">infrared cameras</a> or medical sensors could boost heat-based current by adding materials that spread heat more evenly.



But in other cases - like in tiny quantum devices - designers might want to keep the heat more focused to get sharper results in specific areas.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-better-solar-from-heat-maps">Better solar from heat maps</h2>



Smartphones rely on nanoscale photodetectors to translate laser pulses in fiber-optic cables into data. As channels shrink, the heat generated by absorbed light becomes harder to dump, so balancing photovoltaic and photothermoelectric forces grows critical.



Solar researchers, meanwhile, are hunting <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-solar-panels-rain/">hybrid panels</a> that harvest both light and heat. Mapping where the two currents help or hinder each other could guide better device layouts. That, in turn, might squeeze a few extra percentage points of efficiency from ultrathin cells.



Ultrathin materials could be used to make flexible, see-through sensors for things like health trackers or self-driving cars. 



The new microscope technique reveals how tiny flaws - like cracks or rough edges - impact a material’s ability to generate electricity, helping engineers catch issues early in the manufacturing process.



Finally, the study hints at basic science questions: Why do depleted regions in 2D materials stretch so far, and how does that length scale with carrier density? 



The answers may improve models of quantum-scale thermoelectric devices or lead to smarter algorithms for managing hot carriers in materials like perovskites.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adv7614" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science Advances</a>.



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Heat meets light: A new way to supercharge solar power

The first thing every textbook says about solar power is...

In the story of conservation, certain characters steal the spotlight. We celebrate the survival of endangered animals, restore their habitats, and marvel at their recovery.



But hidden beneath these victories is a quieter, almost invisible loss - one that rarely earns public attention or sympathy. This is the story of the kākāpō and the silent extinction of the parasites that once lived alongside it.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-vanishing-kakapo-parasites">Vanishing kākāpō parasites</h2>



Researchers from the University of Adelaide, Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research, and the <a href="https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Auckland</a> have uncovered a surprising shift in the lives of New Zealand’s kākāpō parrots. Over 80 percent of the parasites found in their droppings before the 1990s have disappeared. 



Using ancient DNA and microscopic analysis, the team studied feces dating back more than 1,500 years. 



The researchers discovered that nine of the 16 <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/common-parasite-may-be-affecting-your-brain-without-symptoms/">parasite</a> types vanished before the 1990s, the same period when the birds began full-population management. Another four species disappeared after this conservation work began.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-parasites-disappear-with-their-hosts">Parasites disappear with their hosts</h2>



"Despite their sometimes negative portrayal, parasites are increasingly appreciated for their ecological importance," said the <a href="https://www.adelaide.edu.au" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Adelaide</a>'s Dr. Jamie Wood. These organisms are among the most successful and widespread lifeforms on Earth.



Parasites are not always harmful invaders. Many play subtle yet vital roles in ecosystems. They help train host immune systems, regulate disease, and sometimes outcompete more dangerous parasites.



Almost every free-living animal harbors parasites, making them one of the most widespread life forms. Yet this close connection creates a risk. 



Parasites depend heavily on specific host <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/parasitic-snails-are-sneaking-inside-sea-cucumbers/">species</a> to survive and reproduce. If the host population declines - due to disease, habitat loss, or conservation interference - the parasites may also disappear.



These losses often go unnoticed, yet they could have lasting effects on host health and ecological balance. When parasites vanish, we may lose not just pests, but essential contributors to the natural world.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-parasites-may-vanish-before-their-hosts">Parasites may vanish before their hosts</h2>



This study focuses on the concept of&nbsp;co-extinction, a process where one species disappears because it depends entirely on another species that is going extinct.



In this case, the dependent species is a&nbsp;parasite, and the host is the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-discover-rare-marine-parasite-that-inhabits-black-corals/">species</a> it lives on. If the host population declines or dies out, the parasite often can't survive. But the key point here is that&nbsp;parasites may vanish even before the host does.



"Predictive models indicate that parasites may go extinct before their hosts during the coextinction process as opportunities to transmit between host individuals diminish," said Dr. Wood.



Even if the host species is saved later through conservation efforts,&nbsp;its lost parasites might never come back. This has unknown consequences. 



Parasites are hard to study, because they’re rarely recorded before they disappear. By the time scientists realize they’re gone, it's too late to learn about what role they played.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wider-implications-for-biodiversity">Wider implications for biodiversity</h2>



The study highlights that parasite extinctions might happen more often than previously thought. 



"Our new research indicates that parasite extinctions may be far more prevalent than previous estimates suggest, with unknown impacts on their hosts and their ecosystems," noted Dr. Wood.



Study lead author Alexander Boast from Manaaki Whenua–Landcare Research was taken aback by the findings. 



"The level of parasite loss in kākāpō was greater than we had expected, and very few parasite species were found in both ancient and modern kākāpō populations," said Boast.



"Thus, it seems that endangered species everywhere may possess fractions of their original parasite communities."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-protecting-kakapo-parasites-from-extinction">Protecting kākāpō parasites from extinction</h2>



As biodiversity declines, the loss of less visible species like parasites may also increase. 



"Global rates of climate change, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-confirm-first-case-of-rare-parasite-in-pigs-posing-health-risks/">ecosystem</a> modification, and biodiversity decline continue to rise, which means there is an increasingly urgent need to recognize and understand the downstream impacts on dependent species, such as parasites, mutualists, or predators," said Dr. Wood.



"Documenting parasite extinction, how quickly it can unfold, and estimating the number of presently threatened parasites are key first steps toward a 'global parasite conservation plan' and supporting informed predictions for past, present, and future parasite losses."



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/abstract/S0960-9822(25)00875-9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Current Biology</a>.



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Ancient bird droppings reveal massive parasite extinction

In the story of conservation, certain characters steal the spotlight....

More than a decade after a mysterious marine epidemic began wiping out sea stars, scientists have finally identified the cause. 



Published in Nature Ecology &amp; Evolution, the new study reveals that the devastating disease - known as sea star wasting disease (SSWD) - is caused by a strain of Vibrio pectenicida. 



This marks a major breakthrough in understanding the largest documented <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/terrifying-sea-stars-could-be-the-key-to-kelp-forest-recovery/">marine</a> epidemic in the wild.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unmasking-the-killer">Unmasking the killer</h2>



Sea star wasting disease has killed billions of sea stars along the Pacific coast, affecting over 20 species from Alaska to Mexico. 



Researchers from the Hakai Institute, the University of British Columbia (<a href="https://www.ubc.ca" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UBC</a>), and the <a href="https://www.washington.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Washington</a> set out to investigate, working with partners including The Nature Conservancy and the U.S. Geological Survey.



After four years of testing, the experts found that the culprit was V. pectenicida strain FHCF-3. Once inside the sea star, this strain causes lesions, arm loss, and tissue breakdown. The sea star can die in as little as two weeks.



“When we looked at the coelomic fluid between exposed and healthy sea stars, there was basically one thing different: Vibrio,” said Alyssa Gehman, senior author and marine disease ecologist at the <a href="https://hakai.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hakai Institute</a> and UBC. “We all had chills. We thought, That’s it. We have it. That’s what causes wasting.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sea-star-loss-disrupts-ocean-balance">Sea star loss disrupts ocean balance</h2>



The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sunflower-sea-stars-are-nearly-extinct-but-scientists-are-growing-them/">loss</a> of sea stars, especially sunflower sea stars (Pycnopodia helianthoides), has reshaped coastal ecosystems. Over 90 percent of these giant sea stars are gone. 



“When we lose billions of sea stars, that really shifts the ecological dynamics,” said Melanie Prentice, first author and evolutionary ecologist at Hakai and UBC. 



“In the absence of sunflower stars, sea urchin populations increase, which means the loss of kelp forests, and that has broad implications for all the other marine <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sea-otter-populations-thrive-when-sea-stars-vanish-from-an-area-but-why/">species</a> and humans that rely on them.”



Gehman explained that after the sunflower sea stars disappeared, sea urchin populations exploded. Without predators to keep them in check, the urchins quickly devoured vast areas of kelp forest.



"Until this event, we didn’t really grasp the importance of the link between sunflower sea stars and kelp. We knew sunflower sea stars ate urchins. We didn’t know how much they mattered until they all died," said Gehman.



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



Kelp forests are vital marine habitats. They support fisheries, attract tourists, shelter wildlife, and hold cultural value for coastal First Nations and tribal <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/deep-sea-life-is-more-connected-than-we-ever-realized/">communities</a>. They also store carbon and protect coasts from storms.



“Understanding what led to the loss of the sunflower sea star is a key step in recovering this species and all the benefits that kelp forest ecosystems provide,” noted Jono Wilson of <a href="https://www.nature.org/en-us/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Nature Conservancy</a>’s California chapter.



The research shows the importance of knowing what you're fighting. According to Prentice, it is incredibly hard to work on solutions without knowing what the pathogen is." 



“Getting this information makes management and recovery possible. Now all these doors are opened up to us, so we can start doing a lot more work to understand the drivers of disease and the roles played by different species," said Prentice.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lab-tests-confirm-the-bacteria">Lab tests confirm the bacteria</h2>



The research team didn’t stop with detection. Amy M. Chan, a marine microbiologist at UBC, cultured the bacteria from infected sea stars. They then injected it into healthy ones. The rapid deaths confirmed&nbsp;V. pectenicida&nbsp;FHCF-3 as the cause of SSWD.



The team now wants to explore why this bacterium became such a threat. One possible answer is warmer oceans. Many Vibrio strains grow faster in warm water, and SSWD outbreaks often follow temperature spikes.



“Those patterns of Vibrio in general suggest that we really should look down that road to see how temperature dependence matters,” said Gehman.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-recovery-for-sea-stars">Recovery for sea stars</h2>



Now that scientists know the cause, they are ready to act. They aim to test for the disease, track outbreaks, and breed resistant sea stars. They are also exploring reintroduction into the wild.



“Now that we found the causative agent of disease, it makes me more hopeful that we might actually be able to do something for sunflower sea stars,” said Gehman. 



“We can be really targeted in how we work with them, and I think that’s going to help us move a lot faster and to try to tackle sea star wasting disease.”



According to Prentice, there is a parallel with the human experience of going through the COVID-19 pandemic, and how much COVID tests really changed the way we interacted.



"Now that we know what causes sea star wasting disease, we can develop a test to screen samples, and that will tell us which animals we can move around and what areas are best for reintroduction."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-future-for-sea-stars">The future for sea stars</h2>



“This finding opens up exciting avenues to pursue and expands the network of researchers able to develop solutions for recovery of the species," said Wilson. 



"We are now actively pursuing studies looking at genetic associations with disease resistance, captive breeding of the animals, and experimental outplanting to understand the most effective strategies and locations to reintroduce sunflower sea stars into the wild."



The death toll has been staggering. But with this breakthrough, the tide may turn. The future of sunflower sea stars (and the kelp forests they protect) could depend on what comes next.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-025-02797-2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Ecology &amp; Evolution</a>.



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Cause of death for billions of sea stars finally identified

More than a decade after a mysterious marine epidemic began...

There’s a massive planet out there, far beyond our solar system, that’s speeding around its star so fast it completes an entire orbit in just 16 hours. It’s 870 light-years away and on a one-way path toward destruction.



Researchers from <a href="https://www.mq.edu.au/">Macquarie University</a> have tracked the slow-motion fall of this planet - TOI-2109b - and confirmed that it’s spiraling closer to its star.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-planet-death-spiral-begins">A planet death spiral begins</h2>



TOI-2109b is what astronomers call an “ultra-hot Jupiter.” It’s nearly five times the mass of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/jupiters-past-how-the-young-gas-giant-shaped-our-solar-system/">Jupiter</a> and almost twice its size. But what really sets it apart is how close it orbits its star - even closer than <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/is-there-life-on-mercury-possibly-in-the-planets-craters-study-reveals/">Mercury</a> orbits our Sun.



“Just to put it into context - Mercury's mass is almost 6,000 times smaller than Jupiter's, but it still takes 88 days to orbit our Sun," said Dr. Jaime Alvarado-Montes, a Macquarie research fellow who led the study.



"For a huge gas giant such as TOI-2109b to fully orbit in 16 hours - it tells us that this is a planet located super close to its star.” 



It’s the fastest orbit of any hot Jupiter ever found. And that speed is part of what’s sealing its fate.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-closing-in-on-its-star">Closing in on its star</h2>



Using 14 years of data from NASA’s TESS mission, ESA’s CHEOPS satellite, and ground-based telescopes, the team found that the planet’s <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/unusual-planet-discovered-in-an-orbit-that-has-never-been-seen-before/">orbit</a> is shrinking and unstable.



By running the numbers through different models and comparing with direct observations, the team concluded that TOI-2109b’s orbital period is decreasing. 



In the next three years alone, it could shorten by at least 10 seconds. That doesn’t sound like much - but in the world of orbital mechanics, it’s huge.



“This planet and its interesting situation could help us figure out some mysterious astronomical phenomena that so far we really don't have much evidence to explain,” said Dr. Alvarado-Montes. “It could tell us the story of many other <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rare-six-planet-star-system-moves-in-strange-perfect-synchrony/">solar systems</a>.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-planets-don-t-live-forever">Planets don’t live forever</h2>



Planets don’t live forever. But the way they die isn’t always clear - and it rarely looks the same twice. Some may be ejected from their solar systems entirely, flung into deep space after chaotic interactions with other planets. 



Others might slowly spiral into their stars, especially if they orbit too close. And some get torn apart by gravity, stripped by radiation, or collide with other objects. Most of what we know about planetary death comes from simulations and theories.



Actual observations are rare, because the timescales are usually huge - far longer than a human lifetime. That’s what makes TOI-2109b so important. It offers a chance to catch a planet in the act of dying, rather than piecing together what happened long after it’s gone.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ripped-swallowed-or-stripped">Ripped, swallowed, or stripped</h2>



Scientists see three possible endings for TOI-2109b. One, the star’s crushing gravity could pull it apart. Two, the star might swallow it whole as it spirals inward. Or three, it could have its outer gas layers stripped away by intense radiation, leaving behind a dense, rocky core.



That third outcome is especially interesting. If TOI-2109b ends up as a bare core, it could help explain the origins of some rocky planets found in other systems. 



These stripped-down worlds might be the fossil remains of gas giants that got too close to their stars. The idea changes how we think about <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/planet-formation-new-insights-mechanics-physics/">planetary life cycles</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-warning-from-deep-space">A warning from deep space</h2>



TOI-2109b may be 870 light-years away, but what happens to it could reshape how we think about other worlds - including our own.



If <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/giant-gas-planets-are-cosmic-wrecking-balls-that-wreak-havoc-in-habitable-zones/">gas giants</a> can be torn apart or stripped down by their stars, it might explain why we find small, rocky planets in places where they shouldn't exist. Maybe they’re just the hardened cores of giants that got too close.



Each orbit brings new clues. And the closer TOI-2109b drifts to its star, the more clearly we’ll see how violent - and unpredictable - planetary evolution can be.



The team isn’t done watching. In fact, the next few years could be the most revealing yet. They’ll keep tracking the orbit for signs that one of the planet’s three possible fates is beginning. It’s not often astronomers get to witness a planet mid-collapse.



TOI-2109b is giving us a rare look at a planet in real-time crisis - and it’s changing what we thought we knew about the life and death of worlds.



Image credit: NASA/CXC/M. Weiss



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-4357/ade057">The Astrophysical Journal</a>.



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Death spiral of giant planet could explain rocky world origins

There’s a massive planet out there, far beyond our solar...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Y4eLFNYrKE
</div></figure>



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



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



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



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



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



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Worms dominated seas before dinosaurs

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



The full study was published in the journal Current Biology.



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Earth's oldest forest found in the United States

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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The environmental problem we actually solved

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

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

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







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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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What to plant in your garden in mid-July

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

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

<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...

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="X0f6OHYoI4-2310561-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="JRaP49ISmm-2357509-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="e4ZG0Jawp3-2374785-12187" type="single"]</div>



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

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

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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

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