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>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



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



-----

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...

Around 201 million years ago, acidification turned Earth’s oceans from cradles of life into harbingers of extinction.



New research from the <a href="https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of St Andrews</a> and the <a href="https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&amp;rls=en&amp;q=University+of+Birmingham&amp;ie=UTF-8&amp;oe=UTF-8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Birmingham</a> has confirmed for the first time that a sharp and rapid drop in ocean pH directly contributed to a major extinction event. The cause? A massive surge in atmospheric carbon dioxide.



The study represents the first full reconstruction of ancient ocean pH using boron isotopes in fossil oysters. It shows that the acidification during the Triassic-Jurassic boundary was not only severe but prolonged.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-earth-s-oceans-thrived-before-the-fall">Earth's oceans thrived before the fall</h2>



In the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earths-oceans-are-rapidly-changing-colors-matching-climate-predictions/">seas</a>, early modern corals, ichthyosaurs, ammonites, and bivalves thrived. Coral reefs flourished until the acidification triggered a "reef gap" - a period of reef absence that lasted hundreds of thousands of years. This collapse wasn’t subtle.



It reshaped marine ecosystems, reducing carbonate sedimentation and leaving many marine organisms unable to form shells or skeletons.



Using oysters from Lavernock Point, Wales, researchers detected a 0.29 unit or greater drop in ocean pH. It may have exceeded 0.41 units. This translates to more than a doubling of atmospheric CO₂, with levels climbing over 1300 ppm. For context, today’s CO₂ levels hover near 420 ppm.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-drastic-changes-fast-consequences">Drastic changes, fast consequences</h2>



The pH drop happened in tandem with a sharp decline in the carbon isotope ratio (δ¹³C), known as the "main carbon isotope excursion (CIE)."



This points to an enormous carbon release event. The study’s authors estimate that over 10,000 gigatons of carbon may have entered the system, mainly from Earth’s mantle. These emissions likely came from volcanic activity as the supercontinent Pangaea began breaking apart.



“The geological record tells us that major CO₂ release transforms the face of our planet, acidifying the ocean, and causing mass extinction. We have to act fast to avoid these outcomes in our future,” said study co-author Dr. James Rae.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-volcanoes-linked-to-ocean-acidification">Volcanoes linked to ocean acidification</h2>



Using the cGENIE Earth system model, the researchers tested scenarios with different carbon sources. The model confirmed that the likely carbon input was mantle-derived. 



The size and speed of the event eliminated methane clathrates as the dominant cause, although they may have contributed. The data also ruled out biomass burning and indicated that volcanic CO₂ and contact metamorphism played the lead roles.



Carbonate saturation dropped drastically. Marine organisms used to high-saturation <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-ocean-animals-connect-countries-and-continents/">seas</a> struggled as saturation levels fell below safe thresholds.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-initial-drop-hit-harder">Initial drop hit harder</h2>



Interestingly, the more catastrophic acidification may have happened earlier, during the “initial CIE”. Though no oyster samples span that exact interval, the data suggest that the initial event was faster and possibly two to three times more intense in terms of pH drop.



This would align with the wider collapse of carbonate sedimentation and widespread death of shell-building marine life.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-earth-s-oceans-slowly-bounce-back">Earth's oceans slowly bounce back</h2>



Despite the devastation, ocean pH eventually recovered. Around 201.28 million years ago, pH levels began to rise again. 



This rebound may have resulted from the emergence of silica-producing organisms. These organisms disrupted a process called reverse weathering.



This process had previously prolonged the high-CO₂, low-pH conditions by locking alkalinity away in clays. Its sudden stop helped restore ocean chemistry.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-history-warns-of-a-repeat">History warns of a repeat</h2>



“The mass extinction event during the Triassic-Jurassic period was over a much longer timeframe, whereas modern ocean <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ocean-acidity-crosses-dangerous-threshold-threatening-marine-life/">acidification</a> is happening at a much quicker rate," said study co-author Dr. Sarah Greene. 



"This warning from the past should give us fresh cause to step up efforts to reduce human greenhouse gas emissions that could otherwise see acidification reach or exceed levels seen during these mass extinction events."



The data show this is not an isolated case. Ocean acidification has now been confirmed in at least three of Earth’s five mass extinctions. These include the Permian–Triassic, Toarcian, and now the Triassic–Jurassic. 



According to the study, the observed pH drops in these events are strikingly similar in size to worst-case predictions for 2100 under IPCC’s RCP8.5 scenario.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-acid-oceans-could-return-to-earth">Acid oceans could return to Earth</h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/what-fossils-tell-us-about-life-after-mass-extinction/">Mass extinctions</a> don't just come from space rocks or ice ages. Earth can end its own chapters when the carbon cycle breaks down.



The Triassic–Jurassic event tells us that prolonged CO₂ release, even from natural sources, can tip the balance. It can turn oceans hostile and trigger a global loss of life.



Today, the same process is unfolding, only much faster. The past offers no comfort. It offers a clear call to action.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-61344-6" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



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



-----

Earth's last ocean crisis wiped out coral reefs - will it happen again?

Around 201 million years ago, acidification turned Earth’s oceans from...

Aging brings changes that affect how we hear and process speech, especially in noisy places. But researchers now show that older adults with long-term musical training fare better than their non-musician peers.



This study, led by Claude Alain and Yi Du, highlights how years of musical experience can shape brain function in later life. Their work introduces the “Hold-back upregulation” hypothesis and explores its neural basis using <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/lemurs-reveal-surprising-new-clues-about-healthy-aging/">brain</a> imaging.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-older-adults-struggle-with-noisy-speech">Older adults struggle with noisy speech</h2>



As we age, our cognitive and sensory abilities decline. This often leads to the brain compensating by increasing activity and communication between brain regions. But such compensation may require more mental effort and reduces processing efficiency.



This pattern, called the Posterior-Anterior Shift in Aging, shows increased frontal brain activity in older adults. Yet, the extent of this shift varies. Researchers believe <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/study-shows-psilocybin-from-magic-mushrooms-delays-aging-and-significantly-extends-lifespan/">lifestyle</a> factors like music training may influence it.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-musical-training-builds-brain-strength">Musical training builds brain strength</h2>



Cognitive reserve is built through lifelong <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/healthy-aging-how-some-people-live-past-100-years/">learning</a>. It helps the brain stay resilient against age-related decline. This includes things like multilingualism, advanced education, and especially, musical practice.



Music training requires intense coordination of sound, movement, and memory. These demands help strengthen the brain’s sensory and motor systems. The auditory dorsal stream links sound to action and plays a key role here.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-musical-training-helps-adults-hear-better">Musical training helps adults hear better</h2>



To explore the effects of musical training, the study compared three groups: 25 older musicians (OMs), 25 older non-musicians (ONMs), and 24 young non-musicians (YNMs). Each participant completed a speech-in-noise (SIN) task while undergoing fMRI scans. 



They listened to syllables such as /ba/, /da/, /pa/, and /ta/ masked by varying levels of background noise. Older musicians outperformed older non-musicians at higher signal-to-noise ratios (0 and +8 dB), though both older groups performed worse than the younger participants.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-two-paths-of-brain-aging">Two paths of brain aging</h2>



The researchers proposed two possible ways musical training might influence the aging brain. The first is called&nbsp;Bolster Compensation. This idea suggests that musical training strengthens the brain by adding extra neural resources. 



As people age and cognitive abilities decline, these extra resources could help boost brain activity during tasks, compensating for age-related losses.



The second idea is called&nbsp;Hold-Back Upregulation. This theory suggests that instead of pushing the brain to work harder, musical training helps it work more efficiently. It prevents the brain from becoming overactive in response to aging. 



As a result, the brain activity patterns of older musicians remain more similar to those of younger people. This efficient use of brain networks could explain why older musicians perform better on complex listening tasks.



The results supported the second theory. Older musicians showed more efficient brain patterns. Their connectivity strength closely resembled young non-musicians, especially in right hemisphere regions involved in speech <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-are-experimenting-with-new-approach-to-fight-and-stop-human-aging-necrosis/">processing</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mapping-the-brain-s-inner-workings">Mapping the brain's inner workings</h2>



Using advanced analyses like task-induced functional connectivity (TiFC) and inter-subject spatial correlation (ISPC), the researchers revealed more than just stronger brain links.



Older musicians’ brains did not just work better. They were organized more like young brains. Their neural activity followed similar spatial patterns and had fewer shifts in peak connectivity locations.



In one region (left precentral gyrus), non-musicians showed clear spatial drift in activity peaks, while musicians did not. This suggests that musical training preserves both structure and function.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-musical-training-during-tasks">Musical training during tasks</h2>



The study also measured resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) and found that both older musicians and non-musicians exhibited stronger RSFC compared to younger participants. 



However, this increased connectivity at rest did not correlate with their performance on speech-in-noise (SIN) tasks.



These findings suggest that it is the brain’s reorganization during active tasks - not just its resting state - that plays a key role in shaping behavior. In other words, how the brain adapts while engaged in a challenge may be more important than its baseline connectivity.



There were no differences in BOLD activation (a measure of brain region activity strength) across groups. This supports the idea that spatial organization and connection strength matter more than raw activity.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-music-builds-a-youthful-brain">Music builds a youthful brain</h2>



This work reveals how lifelong musical training may protect older adults from neural inefficiency. Instead of overactivating brain regions, trained musicians preserve a more youthful balance. This is especially true in the dorsal auditory stream.



“Just like a well-tuned instrument doesn’t need to be played louder to be heard, the brains of older musicians stay finely tuned thanks to years of training,” said Dr. Yi Du.



“A positive lifestyle helps older adults cope better with cognitive aging, and it is never too late to take up, and stick with, a rewarding hobby such as learning an instrument,” added Dr. Lei Zhang.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-research-is-needed">Further research is needed</h2>



While the evidence supports the “Hold-back upregulation” idea, the researchers caution that causality isn’t proven. They recommend future work to examine other sources of reserve such as physical fitness or multilingualism. 



Other brain tasks like memory and attention should also be studied. Still, this study adds strong support to the argument for keeping enriching hobbies throughout life. 



For older adults hoping to sharpen their minds, picking up a musical instrument might be a smart place to start.



The researchers are from the <a href="https://www.utoronto.ca" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Toronto</a>, <a href="https://www.baycrest.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Baycrest Academy</a>, and the <a href="https://english.cas.cn" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chinese Academy of Sciences</a>.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.3003247" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PLOS Biology</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



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



-----

How musical training helps the brain as we age

Aging brings changes that affect how we hear and process...

Most people don’t like snakes. Some fear them and others avoid even talking about them. Every year on July 16, the world takes a moment to pause, reconsider, and appreciate snakes.



For World Snake Day 2025, the message is clear: “Respect, Don’t Fear: Protecting Nature’s Silent Guardians.” It’s more than a catchy slogan - it’s a call to rethink everything we’ve been taught. Are snakes truly the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-species-of-tree-snake-with-completely-black-eyes-is-discovered/">villains</a> we’ve made them out to be?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-ecological-role-of-snakes">The ecological role of snakes</h2>



Snakes are natural rodent controllers, consuming large numbers of pests that threaten crops and spread disease. 



On farms and in forests, they work silently and efficiently, reducing the need for chemical pesticides. Just one snake can eat dozens of mice in a year - a small act with a big impact on food security and human health.



Snakes are also a vital food source for predators like hawks, owls, coyotes, and foxes. If snakes vanish, these animals lose a key part of their diet - and the balance begins to unravel. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/34-million-year-old-snake-fossil-hibernophis-breithaupti-changes-our-understanding-of-evolution/">Nature</a> doesn’t function well when pieces go missing.



However, it's easy to forget the important ecological role of snakes, especially when you come face to face with one. 



The reality is that most snakes aren’t dangerous. In the United States, garter snakes and corn snakes are harmless. King snakes are also harmless, and they even eat venomous snakes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-world-snake-day-2025-fear-and-myths">World Snake Day 2025: Fear and myths</h2>



Movies have affected our perception of snakes. They are often depicted as monsters or bad omens, and that image sticks with us. But in reality, snakes don’t chase people, don’t plot attacks, and they’re certainly not evil.



Venomous snakes do exist - from rattlesnakes and copperheads in North America to vipers, cobras, and kraits in Asia and Africa. 



While these snakes do pose risks, they generally avoid human contact and rarely bite unless threatened or provoked. Most bites occur when people try to handle, move, or harm them.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-humans-are-the-biggest-threat-nbsp">Humans are the biggest threat&nbsp;</h2>



Habitat loss hits snakes hard. Cities expand, forests shrink, and wetlands dry up. Roads cut through territory, and cars hit snakes crossing them. Lawns replace wild grass. Fewer places to hide means that fewer snakes survive.



Then there’s the pet trade. People catch wild snakes, stuff them into containers, and sell them online. Some die in transit, while others live in tanks that are too small, too hot, or too dry. Many do not survive these conditions for very long.



Furthermore, misinformation spreads fast. One fake video of a “deadly” snake goes viral and people panic. More snakes get killed. We don’t do this to most <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/some-birds-use-snake-skins-in-their-nests-to-deter-predators/">animals</a>, but for snakes, fear seems like justification. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-meaning-of-world-snake-day">Meaning of World Snake Day </h2>



World Snake Day isn’t about loving snakes - it’s simply about respecting them. That means giving them space, learning the facts, and stopping needless harm. 



Across the country, zoos and wildlife groups hold events this week. They show people how snakes behave, and some offer safe encounters. Others run online sessions, where you can ask a herpetologist questions. 



These events open minds and help break down fear and misconceptions, promoting a greater appreciation for the important role snakes play in ecosystems everywhere.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-changing-our-perception-of-snakes">Changing our perception of snakes</h2>



First, stop believing every snake is dangerous. Learn which ones live near you. In most U.S. states, for example, venomous snakes are rare and easy to identify. 



If you spot a snake, stay calm and give it space to move away. If it’s in your yard and you’re concerned, contact a local wildlife organization for help. Avoid using sticks, guns, or any force. 



If you know someone who still believes “the only good snake is a dead snake,” start a conversation. Sharing just one fact can be enough to change how they see snakes. You don’t have to become an expert; just stop being their enemy.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-creature-that-is-misunderstood">A creature that is misunderstood </h2>



Snakes have existed for over 100 million years. They’ve outlived dinosaurs. They’ve adapted, evolved, and survived major extinctions - but they might not survive us.



That’s the uncomfortable part of this story. We’re the problem, but we can also be the solution.



World Snake Day 2025 offers us a <a href="https://www.worldanimalprotection.org/our-campaigns/sentience/animal-awareness-days/world-snake-day/">moment</a> - not to idolize snakes or adore them without question, but to pause, gain understanding, and perhaps take steps to protect a creature that has long been misunderstood.



So next time you see a snake, remember this: it’s not out to get you. It’s just trying to live its quiet, necessary life. 



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



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



-----

World Snake Day 2025: Protecting nature’s silent guardians

Most people don’t like snakes. Some fear them and others...

From space exploration to mapping minerals from the skies, NASA’s technology doesn’t just look out toward the stars - it’s also helping scientists understand the land beneath our feet.



A new mapping effort aims to uncover critical minerals here on Earth, using the same instruments that were once pointed at Mars, the Moon, and beyond.



The search is happening right here in the American West. Scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey and NASA’s <a href="https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jet Propulsion Laboratory</a> (JPL) are leading the effort.



Their partnership is called the Geological Earth Mapping Experiment - or GEMx. It’s possibly the largest airborne spectroscopic survey ever conducted in the U.S., and it’s fueled by decades of NASA technology that was originally built for space missions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mapping-nevada-s-mars-look-alike">Mapping Nevada’s Mars look-alike</h2>



Cuprite, Nevada, looks like another planet. The hills are dry, pale, and scarred by water that once bubbled up from deep underground. Aside from a few Joshua trees, the land could pass for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/detecting-life-on-mars-a-breakthrough-in-space-research/">Mars</a>. It’s no coincidence NASA picked this spot to test its sensors.



For over 100 years, prospectors have been drawn to Cuprite’s mineral-rich terrain. More recently, scientists have been using it as a test site for technology designed to analyze minerals in rocky surfaces across the solar system.



“Sensors that&nbsp;discovered lunar water,&nbsp;charted <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/saturn-has-128-new-moons-with-odd-orbits-and-mysterious-origins/">Saturn’s moons</a>, even investigated ground zero in New York City were all tested and calibrated at Cuprite,” said Robert Green, a senior research scientist at NASA’s JPL in Southern California.



Green has been fine-tuning NASA’s instruments in this part of Nevada for decades. His latest mission? Using high-altitude <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cooling-earths-climate-with-commercial-aircraft-may-be-possible/">aircraft</a> and advanced sensors for mapping minerals in huge areas of the U.S. In particular, the search is on for mineral deposits that are vital to national security and modern technology.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mapping-minerals-from-60-000-feet">Mapping minerals from 60,000 feet</h2>



The U.S. relies on imports for 50 different critical minerals - materials like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/volcanic-white-gold-a-lithium-deposit-valued-at-1-5-trillion-has-been-discovered-in-the-u-s/">lithium</a> and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/water-and-ice-may-reveal-where-rare-earth-elements-are-hiding/">rare earth elements</a> that are used in smartphones, medical devices, and electric vehicle batteries. 



To reduce that dependency, the U.S. Geological Survey is trying to locate reliable domestic sources.



NASA’s role is in the air. Flying at 60,000 feet (18,200 meters), its aircraft carry sensors that can detect the molecular makeup of rocks on the ground. These sensors read light patterns far beyond what human eyes can see.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/e1-cuprite-spectroscopy-diptych.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/mineral-mapping_nasa-teams_cuprite-nevada-mountains_NASA_1s.webp" alt="The hills of Cuprite, Nevada, appear pink and tan to the eye (top image) but they shine with mica, gypsum, and alunite among other types of minerals when imaged spectroscopically (lower image). NASA sensors used to study Earth and other rocky worlds have been tested there. Credit: USGS/Ray Kokaly" class="wp-image-1978195"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The hills of Cuprite, Nevada, appear pink and tan to the eye (top image) but they shine with mica, gypsum, and alunite among other types of minerals when imaged spectroscopically (lower image). NASA sensors used to study Earth and other rocky worlds have been tested there. Click image to enlarge. Credit: USGS/Ray Kokaly</figcaption></figure>



Since 2023, the <a href="https://airbornescience.nasa.gov/content/Geological_Earth_Mapping_Experiment_GEMx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">GEMx</a> campaign has mapped over 190,000 square miles (492,000 square kilometers) of terrain across North America. That’s roughly the size of Spain.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-long-partnership-with-deep-roots">Long partnership with deep roots</h2>



This kind of collaboration isn’t new. NASA and the U.S. Geological Survey have worked together since the Apollo era. In the 1960s, USGS geologists created maps of the Moon to help NASA pick safe landing spots for <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/moon-landing-of-apollo-11-in-1969/">Apollo</a> astronauts.



Before astronauts ever set foot on the <a href="https://airbornescience.nasa.gov/content/Geological_Earth_Mapping_Experiment_GEMx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Moon</a>, they trained with scientists at the USGS Astrogeology Science Center in Flagstaff, Arizona. 



That legacy continues today, with training for the next generation of astronauts heading to the Moon through NASA’s Artemis program.



On the ground today, USGS geophysicist Todd Hoefen and his team collect mineral samples to match with data captured from the air. 



Their fieldwork helps confirm that what NASA’s sensors see from the sky matches the reality on the ground.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tech-behind-the-mineral-mapping">Tech behind the mineral mapping</h2>



At the heart of GEMx is a technology called imaging spectroscopy. NASA’s JPL started developing it back in the 1980s. 



The principle is simple but powerful: every molecule reflects and absorbs light in a unique way, like a fingerprint. Imaging <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/physics-and-astronomy/spectrometer" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">spectrometers</a> can detect those patterns.



The key instrument in GEMx is AVIRIS-Classic - the Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer. It’s about the size of a mini fridge and flies in planes. 



Unlike a regular camera that sees just red, green, and blue, AVIRIS sees over 200 different wavelengths, including many in the infrared spectrum.



NASA has used this technology all over the solar system. These spectrometers have studied methane lakes on Saturn’s moon Titan, scanned Pluto’s thin atmosphere, and are now on their way to Jupiter’s moon Europa to search for the building blocks of life.



“One of the cool things about NASA is that we develop technology to look out at the solar system and beyond, but we also turn around and look back down,” said Ben Phillips, a longtime NASA program manager who led GEMx until he retired in 2025.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-old-tech-meets-new">Old tech meets new</h2>



AVIRIS-<a href="https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/airborne-visible-infrared-imaging-spectrometer-aviris/">Classic</a> has flown for more than 30 years. Now, it’s flying alongside its replacement: AVIRIS-5. The new instrument began service in 2025 and is expected to continue the legacy - only with sharper eyes and more power.



Packed into a <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/centers-and-facilities/armstrong/er-2-aircraft/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA ER-2 aircraft</a>, which is essentially a high-altitude science lab in the sky, the two instruments are flying over the Western U.S. through fall 2025. 



The plane cruises at double the height of commercial jets. The pilot, Dean Neeley, wears a spacesuit due to the thin air at those altitudes.



AVIRIS-5 can zoom in on areas as small as one foot (30 centimeters) across, offering ten times the resolution and data quality of its predecessor.



“The newest generation of AVIRIS will more than live up to the original,” Green said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mineral-maps-on-the-way">Mineral maps on the way</h2>



Once the data from these flights is processed and validated, the U.S. Geological Survey will release detailed mineral maps. 



These maps could help guide future mining efforts - and reduce U.S. reliance on imported materials.



But for now, the skies over the American West are filled with quiet planes carrying space-age sensors, scanning the rocks below for a better understanding of what we’ve got - and where we still need to go.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



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



-----

NASA's flying science labs are mapping minerals and deposits from high in the sky

From space exploration to mapping minerals from the skies, NASA’s...

For years, astronomers scanning the sky with NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) have cheered each new detection of a small, rocky planet. These findings seemed to inch us closer to answering the age‑old question of whether life exists elsewhere in the cosmos. 



However, a fresh look at the data suggests many of those celebrated worlds are not the Earth‑like bodies scientists hoped for.



According to a new study led by the <a href="https://uci.edu/">University of California, Irvine</a>, the radii of more than 200 <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/exotic-worlds-tess-unveils-126-new-exoplanets/">TESS</a> planets have been systematically underestimated - sometimes by enough to bump them out of the “potentially habitable” category altogether.



“We found that hundreds of exoplanets are larger than they appear, and that shifts our understanding of exoplanets on a large scale,” said Te Han, a UC Irvine doctoral student who led the research. “This means we may have actually found fewer Earth‑like planets so far than we thought.” 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-misjudging-exoplanet-size">Misjudging exoplanet size</h2>



Conventional planet-hunting relies on the transit method. Astronomers monitor a star’s brightness and watch for the slight dip that occurs when a planet crosses the star. 



From that dimming, they infer the planet’s radius. But the technique works only if the starlight is clean - an increasingly tall order in crowded regions of the sky.



“We’re basically measuring the shadow of the planet,” explained co‑author Paul Robertson, a UC Irvine astronomy professor. 



If the telescope’s pixels collect extra light from background stars, the shadow looks shallower than it really is, making the planet seem smaller. This dilution problem worried astronomers even during NASA’s <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/massive-new-super-earth-kepler-725c-found-in-habitable-zone-around-its-star/">Kepler mission</a>. 



However, TESS, with its wide‑field cameras and larger pixels, is even more vulnerable. Most teams assumed existing software pipelines handled the issue well enough. Han decided to test that assumption.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-calculations-of-planet-density">Calculations of planet density</h2>



Digging through hundreds of peer‑reviewed papers, Han compiled measurements for single‑planet systems announced by TESS teams through late 2024. He then applied a deblending code called TGLC, which models exactly how each pixel’s light gets smeared across the detector. 



The code incorporates star positions and brightness data from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency’s</a> ultra‑precise <a href="https://irsa.ipac.caltech.edu/Missions/gaia.html">Gaia catalog</a>. When TGLC processed the light curves, the transit dips deepened, implying bigger planets.



“TESS data are contaminated, which Te's custom model corrects better than anyone else in the field,” Robertson said.



Statistical tests showed the literature had, on average, shaved about six percent off planetary radii. That may sound minor, but a radius error compounds when scientists calculate density, leading to roughly 20 percent overestimates. 



Furthermore, densities feed directly into guesses about a planet’s composition - whether it is rocky like Earth, watery, or rich in gas.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-earth-twins-reclassified">Earth twins reclassified</h2>



Before the reanalysis, astronomers believed TESS had spotted three solo exoplanets close enough to Earth’s size and composition to warrant detailed follow‑up. Han’s corrections knock all three off that list.



“Of the single‑planet systems discovered by TESS so far, only three were thought to be similar to Earth in their composition,” noted Han. “With this new finding, all of them are actually bigger than we thought.”



The revamped sizes place them in the realm of so‑called water worlds - <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/exoplanet-discovery-nasa-identifies-over-5500-distant-worlds/">planets</a> cloaked in global oceans - or even miniature Neptunes, wrapped in thick envelopes of hydrogen and helium. 



Both categories are intriguing, but neither offers the same surface conditions that make Earth habitable.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-targets-for-the-webb-telescope">New targets for the Webb Telescope</h2>



The stakes go beyond tallying Earth analogues. Space- and ground‑based observatories have limited time, and astronomers rely on planet catalogs to decide which worlds merit a closer look.



“This has important implications for our understanding of exoplanets - including prioritization for follow‑up observations with the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/webb-telescope-may-have-just-found-its-first-planet/">James Webb Space Telescope</a>, and the controversial existence of a galactic population of water worlds,” Robertson said.



A planet now revealed to be larger - and therefore puffier - may actually be a better Webb target. Its atmosphere is easier to probe, making it more suitable for detailed study. Conversely, a world once hailed as a rocky twin could drop in priority.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-exoplanet-size-revisions-ahead">More exoplanet size revisions ahead</h2>



Han’s team will revisit planets previously dismissed as too large or too low‑density to support life. Some may shrink back into the habitable zone once more precise corrections are applied; others may grow even farther from it.



Equally important, the researchers urge colleagues to treat raw TESS light curves with caution. The same lessons apply to upcoming missions, such as the <a href="https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Plato">European Space Agency’s PLATO</a>, which will also rely on wide‑field, transit‑based searches.



The study highlights an ongoing theme in exoplanet science: indirect measurements of size and other properties can mislead, and small biases ripple outward into big conclusions about life in the universe.



But there is a bright side. Astronomers now have better tools to compensate for contamination. Thanks to Gaia, they also have a stellar map precise enough to support those tools.



Every correction sharpens our cosmic census, bringing the truly Earth‑like worlds into clearer focus - even if there turn out to be fewer of them than we hoped. In the hunt for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/extreme-planets-may-be-the-place-to-look-for-extraterrestrial-life/">extraterrestrial life</a>, knowing where not to look can be just as valuable as knowing where to point the telescope next.



The study is published in <a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2041-8213/ade794">The Astrophysical Journal Letters</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



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



-----

Hundreds of exoplanets are much larger than we thought

For years, astronomers scanning the sky with NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey...

Every year, billions of birds take on epic journeys between North America’s temperate zones and the tropical forests of South America. 



While their migration patterns have been studied extensively, most of what we know comes from data collected in North America and Europe. That’s left a big gap in our understanding - especially in tropical regions.



Researchers from the <a href="https://www.uchicago.edu/en">University of Chicago</a>, working with scientists in Colombia and at universities across the United States, are now filling in those gaps. 



The team used radar data from across Colombia to see how birds behave when migrating through tropical skies. What they found is changing how we think about migration, weather, and conservation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-birds-migrate-without-weather-cues">Birds migrate without weather cues</h2>



In places like the U.S. and Canada, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/vanishing-forests-make-bird-migration-harder-across-the-corn-belt/">bird migration</a> often happens in big waves. Birds wait for just the right wind conditions - usually during cold or warm fronts - then take off by the thousands in a single night. But in Colombia, birds follow a different rhythm.



“Birds are great indicator species of environmental health, serving as bellwethers of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-biodiversity-crisis-is-actually-worse-than-we-thought/">global biodiversity</a> gain and loss," said Jacob Drucker, a doctoral student at the University of Chicago. "So understanding their migration on a global scale is extremely important.”



“But until now, our knowledge of this massive natural phenomenon has been heavily biased towards temperate latitudes in North America and Europe.”



Unlike temperate zones, Colombia doesn’t have strong seasonal wind patterns. Instead, its <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ai-can-predict-the-weather-but-what-about-extreme-events/">weather</a> is more stable. The study revealed that birds migrating over the country travel at a steadier pace. They don’t wait for perfect nights - they go when they need to.



“It turns out that wind isn't as important to birds in deciding which nights to fly in Colombia, but it plays a major role in deciding the altitude they fly,” noted Drucker.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-soaring-to-beat-the-wind">Soaring to beat the wind</h2>



The Colombian Andes offer a special case. High above the forests, winds blow southward as part of the Orinoco Low-Level Jet. 



These winds can either help or hinder birds, depending on the season. In the fall, they act as tailwinds. In the spring, they become headwinds.



“We saw birds flying as high as 3,000 meters above the Amazon to avoid headwinds. It was spectacular,” Drucker said. “When the wind weakened at lower altitudes, birds adjusted by flying lower.”



These shifts in altitude helped them conserve energy as they responded to changing wind conditions in the Andes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-migrating-birds-tracked-by-radar">Migrating birds tracked by radar</h2>



This study wouldn't have been possible without an unusual data source: Colombia’s national weather radar network. Seven years ago, 



Drucker reached out to fellow researchers with a simple idea - what if they used weather radar to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/machine-learning-may-solve-the-mystery-of-bird-movements/">track birds</a>? He teamed up with Nick Bayly from the Colombian conservation nonprofit SELVA and Alfonso Ladino, a meteorologist with ties to Colombia’s weather agency and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. 



Together, the researchers began a multi-year project to decode the tropical migration story. A major challenge was filtering out radar 'noise'. In tropical skies, there are a lot of insects - more than in temperate regions - and they can look a lot like birds on radar.



“We initially struggled to distinguish between insects and birds,” said Drucker. “There are far more insects in the tropics, creating substantial radar noise from an ornithological perspective."



"To solve this, we built a model that assumes <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/very-little-is-known-about-99-of-all-insects-on-earth/">insects</a> move passively with the wind, while birds move independently and purposefully.”



The researchers tested that model using radar data from both Colombia and Australia. It’s likely to help other scientists in future studies.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bird-safe-cities-need-rethinking">Bird-safe cities need rethinking</h2>



The study doesn’t just add to our understanding of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bird-behavior-productivity-being-directly-impacted-by-climate-change/">bird behavior</a> - it could shape how we protect birds in cities.



In cities like Chicago or Toronto, turning off lights during major migration nights can reduce bird deaths caused by building collisions. These “lights out” campaigns are carefully timed based on weather forecasts and migration patterns. But that strategy might not work in tropical cities.



“Since bird migration in Colombia isn't tied to predictable wind events, it becomes much harder to anticipate large migration nights and tell people when to turn their lights off,” Drucker said.



That means new strategies will be needed in cities like Bogotá, Medellín, and Calí. Conservation efforts in the tropics may need to focus less on timing and more on continuous solutions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-next-migration-frontier">The next migration frontier</h2>



This study is just the start. There’s still a lot to learn about how birds react to local weather and terrain as they move. For Drucker and his team, the goal is to go deeper - zooming in on finer scales to understand every twist and turn in a bird’s journey.



“We need to drill down into the granular details of how birds react to specific habitats and finer-scale weather patterns along migration routes,” he said.



By combining new technology with international teamwork, researchers are opening new ways to better understand and protect migratory birds - wherever they fly.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2024.2609">Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



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



-----

Tropical birds migrate without riding the wind

Every year, billions of birds take on epic journeys between...

Typical,Dormant,Volcano,(costa,Rica,,La,Fortuna).

Most people assume an extinct volcano lies silent forever. Yet in Bolivia, the long‑quiet <a href="https://volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=355838" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Uturuncu</a> volcano keeps rumbling, forcing scientists to rethink what “dead” really means.



A new study mapped more than 1,700 tiny earthquakes to reveal why the mountain twitches instead of blows. 



<a href="https://www.earth.ox.ac.uk/people/mike-kendall" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Professor Mike Kendall</a> of the <a href="https://www.earth.ox.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Oxford</a>, who helped lead the project, calls the work a blueprint for decoding other restless peaks.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-the-heat-hides">Where the heat hides</h2>



Beneath the Andes sits the <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms13185" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Altiplano‑Puna Volcanic Complex</a>, an underground magma lake roughly the size of Lake Superior, making it the largest known melt body in Earth’s upper crust. 



That buried ocean feeds several peaks, including Uturuncu, keeping the so‑called zombie breathing.



Satellite surveys later showed the ground over this complex rising about 0.4 inches a year while ridges around it sag, forming the famous “sombrero” pattern. 



The deformation hinted at magma or fluids on the move, but the detailed plumbing stayed invisible.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-extinct-volcano-rumblings">Extinct volcano rumblings</h2>



The project relied on seismic tomography, a scan that tracks earthquake waves as they cross different rock types. Slow zones revealed melted or fluid‑soaked rock, whereas fast lanes flagged cooler, solid crust.



“Our results show how linked geophysical and geological methods can be used to better understand volcanoes,” stated Kendall. 



Analysts stitched those velocity patches into a three‑dimensional cutaway stretching nearly nine miles deep.&nbsp;



The image traced narrow conduits climbing toward the summit, then widening into a lens of bubbly brine and semi‑molten rock about three miles below sea level. 



That lens forms the top of a hydrothermal system, a pressurized mix of hot water, gas, and crystal mush.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-liquid-gas-and-false-alarms">Liquid, gas and false alarms</h2>



Pressure swings inside the shallow lens explain why the central cone inflates while surrounding valleys sink. 



Computer models show that slight upticks in carbon dioxide or water vapor push the crust upward before venting and letting the land relax.



“Understanding the anatomy of the Uturuncu volcanic system was only possible thanks to the expertise within the research team,” added <a href="https://earthquake.ustc.edu.cn/zhjen/main.htm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Professor Haijiang Zhang</a> of the <a href="https://en.ustc.edu.cn/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Science and Technology of China</a>. 



His comment underscores how petrophysics, chemistry, and fieldwork mesh to translate motion into meaning.



The group found no large pool of eruptible magma near the crater, cutting the odds of a sudden blast. Independent coverage affirms that Uturuncu remains restless yet harmless for now.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-the-zombie-myth-began">How the zombie myth began</h2>



Geologists label a volcano extinct when no eruptions have occurred for at least 10,000 years, so Uturuncu’s 250,000‑year hiatus easily qualifies. 



Local <a href="https://minorityrights.org/communities/aymara/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Aymara communities</a>, however, have long reported wisps of sulfurous steam that seemed to challenge the textbook definition.



Seismic antennas first recorded runaway swarms in the late 1990s, and satellite radar soon confirmed a dome of uplift nearly 40 miles wide. 



Those two discoveries birthed the nickname “zombie,” suggesting a mountain that refuses to stay buried.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-global-roundup-of-extinct-volcanoes">Global roundup of extinct volcanoes</h2>



Uturuncu is hardly unique. The <a href="https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/how-many-active-volcanoes-are-there-earth" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">United States Geological Survey</a> counts about 1,350 potentially active volcanoes on land, though only 500 have erupted in recorded history.



“[The new toolkit could be deployed on] the more than 1,400 potentially active volcanoes and to the dozens of volcanoes like Uturuncu that aren’t considered active but that show signs of life,” noted co‑author <a href="https://www.engineering.cornell.edu/people/matthew-pritchard/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Matthew Pritchard</a>. 



Dozens, like Bolivia’s zombie, puff gas or shake but have not erupted since before human memory. 



When a mountain labeled extinct suddenly quakes, officials face a communication dilemma. People hear “extinct” and assume zero risk, yet geoscientists know Earth ignores such labels.



The <a href="https://www.britannica.com/event/White-Island-volcanic-eruption-of-2019" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">White Island tragedy in 2019</a> showed how even well‑monitored peaks can surprise tourists with steam‑driven blasts. 



Though Uturuncu rises in a sparsely settled zone, mining projects and regional flights still depend on realistic alerts.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-links-on-the-horizon">Climate links on the horizon</h2>



While Uturuncu lacks an ice cap, other dormant peaks may not stay quiet as the planet warms. 



A <a href="https://conf.goldschmidt.info/goldschmidt/2025/meetingapp.cgi" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">report</a> to the 2025 Goldschmidt Conference warned that retreating glaciers can lift pressure off magma chambers and spark new eruptions in formerly sleepy regions.



Changes in rainfall could play a similar role in the high Andes by flushing extra groundwater into the crust, altering pressure in the hydrothermal lens and nudging the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/axial-seamount-large-underwater-volcano-off-us-coast-will-likely-erupt-in-2025/">volcano</a>’s elastic shell.



Tomographic scans cost far less than drilling and can be repeated every few years, giving planners a real‑time gauge of subsurface shifts. 



Coupled with satellite radar and gas sniffers, they let authorities move from folk wisdom to data when deciding evacuation thresholds.



Bolivian agencies have already installed new broadband seismometers around Uturuncu, and regional airports are integrating daily deformation bulletins into flight routing software.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracking-extinct-volcanoes">Tracking extinct volcanoes</h2>



Researchers aim to extend their sensor net across the southern Altiplano to watch fluid pathways shift with rainfall and seasons. Time‑lapse tomography could track magma recharge years before it punches into the gas cap.



Meanwhile the “sombrero” bulge will keep lifting and settling, a geological chest rise mistaken by outsiders for resurrection. 



For Kendall the marvel is not whether the mountain will reawaken but how finely researchers can now eavesdrop on its breathing.



Zombies make catchy folklore, yet Uturuncu shows that geology seldom follows the script. A <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plants-and-trees-predict-volcano-eruptions-when-viewed-from-space-satellites/">volcano</a> can seem to wake without ever intending to erupt because the fluids that once built it never stop moving.



The study is published in <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2420996122" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.



-----



Like what you read?<a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/"> Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



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



-----

Can an extinct volcano come back to life? Scientists think they found out

Most people assume an extinct volcano lies silent forever. Yet...

Your heart does more than pump blood. It also broadcasts tiny timing shifts that doctors read as heart rate variability (HRV), a window into the balance of your autonomic nervous system (ANS).



A five‑month field study now suggests those shifts rise and fall with patterns in space weather.&nbsp;



"The study makes a striking correlation between people’s HRV and energetic environmental phenomena such as the electromagnetic energy from the sun, the <a href="https://www.heartmath.org/gci/gcms/live-data/gcms-magnetometer/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Schumann resonance power</a>, and energy influxes coming from outside our solar system," said Rollin McCraty of the <a href="https://www.heartmath.org/">HeartMath Institute</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-solar-storms-spikes-heart-rate">Solar storms spikes heart rate</h2>



Dr. Abdullah Alabdulgader of the <a href="https://www.hziegler.com/employers/prince-sultan-cardiac-center.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Prince Sultan Cardiac Center</a> in Saudi Arabia led weekly 72‑hour ECG sessions for sixteen healthy volunteers. 



The researchers matched each session against hourly logs of solar wind speed, sunspot counts, cosmic ray flux, and local geomagnetic indices collected by NASA and <a href="https://www.sgo.fi/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Finland’s Sodankylä Observatory</a>.



"Increase in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/silent-storms-experts-identify-the-mysterious-source-of-solar-wind/">solar wind</a> intensity was correlated with increases in heart rate, which we interpret as a biological stress response," said Dr. Alabdulgader. 



When the wind strengthened, inter‑beat intervals shortened, hinting at a sympathetic spike even on calm clinical days.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-heart-variability-during-solar-storms">Heart variability during solar storms</h2>



Heart rate variability is commonly split into high‑frequency, low‑frequency, and very‑low‑frequency bands. The Saudi team saw all three bands climb when cosmic ray counts, solar radio flux, and local Schumann resonance power went up.



Cosmic rays seemed especially potent. Total HRV power rose for almost 40 hours after particle counts peaked. A European <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17338964/">study</a> echoed this effect, linking higher cosmic rays to lower C-reactive protein, a marker of inflammation.



Geomagnetic quiet was not always benign. A U.S. analysis of 263 cities found that disturbed fields, measured by Kp and Ap indices, coincided with increased cardiovascular deaths on the same day.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-electromagnetic-fields-and-the-heart">Electromagnetic fields and the heart</h2>



Why would charged particles millions of miles away nudge heart rhythms? One possibility is that they tweak the ionosphere, altering the ultra‑low‑frequency waves that bathe Earth’s surface.



Neuroscientists first noticed in the 1950s that the <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26785376/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">primary Schumann</a> peak near 7.83 Hz matches <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3507158/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">alpha brain oscillations</a>. Modern EEG research shows brief real‑time coherence between Schumann power and cortical activity during geomagnetic spikes.



These same frequencies overlap with <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7560965/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">vagal signaling</a> that drives the high‑frequency band of HRV. The Saudi dataset supports the idea that the heart, like the brain, can phase‑lock to natural electromagnetic cues.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-calm-waves-calmer-beats">Calm waves, calmer beats</h2>



Schumann power rose during thunderstorms and quiet solar intervals alike. When this occurred, participants’ heart rates slowed and parasympathetic tone strengthened. 



These results mirrored a smaller trial in Japan that recorded lower blood pressure on strong Schumann days.



Laboratory studies show that mammals and birds align circadian genes with weak radio‑frequency fields, though precise receptors remain debated.



Magnetite nanoparticles in cardiac and neural tissue may act as primary sensors, while <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10966452/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">retinal cryptochromes</a> could relay secondary signals.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-solar-storms-impact-heart-health">Solar storms impact heart health</h2>



For most people, the effects are subtle, but population data suggest they are still significant. A global review conducted in 2023 showed that stronger overall geomagnetic fields were linked to slight increases in cardiovascular deaths. 



However, the horizontal part of the field appeared to have a protective effect - highlighting how geomagnetic exposure may influence health in complex ways.



Clinicians already use heart rate variability to flag autonomic imbalance in diabetes, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/meditation-can-rapidly-reduce-ptsd-without-revisiting-trauma/">PTSD</a>, and post‑infection fatigue. If space weather can tip that balance, wearable monitors might one day combine cardiology and heliophysics to time workouts, surgeries, or even trading floors.



Not every scientist is convinced. A National Institutes of Health panel recently referred to the current evidence as intriguing yet inconclusive, noting that lab replications with shielded chambers are still scarce.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-emergency-planning-for-space-weather">Emergency planning for space weather</h2>



If <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/massive-geomagnetic-storm-reveals-earths-technological-vulnerabilities/">geomagnetic</a> factors affect heart and nervous system activity - even subtly - then hospitals and emergency services may need to adjust staffing or readiness protocols during peak solar events.



Historical data already confirm that ER visits and psychiatric admissions spike during geomagnetic disturbances. People who are at risk from arrhythmia, hypertension, or mental illness may experience the strongest effects.



Weather forecasts increasingly include space weather alerts, but medical infrastructure hasn't caught up. 



Doctors, paramedics, and health agencies could benefit from predictive models that track these environmental stressors and inform care delivery for vulnerable groups.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-research-is-needed">Further research is needed</h2>



The Saudi volunteers were young, healthy, and living at low geomagnetic latitude. We do not yet know whether patients with arrhythmias, hypertension, or pacemakers react the same way at polar latitudes where field swings are stronger.



Dose matters too. Satellites warn of major solar storms days in advance, but subtle changes within the “quiet” range may fly below meteorological forecasts while still nudging sensitive physiology.



Finally, correlation is not causation. Although animal studies shows pulsed fields can shift heart‑rate timing, the precise chain from ionospheric disturbance to vagus nerve firing remains only partially mapped.



Future studies may include networks that monitor heart rate variability across multiple locations, along with magnetometers and possibly even <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/brain-mapping-research-mouse-neurons-revolutionary-advance/">genetic screening</a> for traits linked to magnetic sensitivity. 



In the meantime, the evidence suggests we should consider space weather as one more environmental factor that may influence heart health.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/323016904_Long-Term_Study_of_Heart_Rate_Variability_Responses_to_Changes_in_the_Solar_and_Geomagnetic_Environment" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Scientific Reports</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



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



-----

Solar storms that cause auroras may be messing with your heart

Your heart does more than pump blood. It also broadcasts...

For most of the 2000s, climate scientists could draw a fairly straight line through Earth’s rising temperature curve. The world was warming, yes, but the pace was predictable - until it wasn’t.



Sometime around 2010, the slope steepened, and over the past 15 years, the thermometer has shot up faster than many forecasts had anticipated. 



After back-to-back record-shattering years in 2023 and 2024, researchers began hunting for a hidden driver of warming and found an unexpected culprit: smog over East Asia had cleared too quickly, removing a key layer of atmospheric protection.



“When something like the anomalous, record‑breaking warmth of 2023 and 2024 happens, climate scientists start to wonder if there’s a factor we’re missing,” said co-author Robert Allen, a climatologist at the <a href="https://www.ucr.edu/">University of California, Riverside</a>. “This study was our effort to figure out what that might be.”



Allen teamed up with Bjørn Samset from <a href="https://cicero.oslo.no/en">Norway’s Center for International Climate and Environmental Research</a> and dozens of colleagues worldwide to run eight state‑of‑the‑art climate models through thousands of simulated futures. All roads pointed back to tiny, sun‑scattering particles called <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-tiny-aerosols-in-sea-spray-influence-earths-climate/">aerosols</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-from-choking-smog-to-clear-skies"><a></a>From choking smog to clear skies</h2>



Aerosols - think sulfate haze from coal smokestacks or the soot in diesel exhaust - cool the planet by reflecting sunlight and seeding bright, reflective clouds. 



East Asia, and China in particular, pumped vast quantities of these particles into the atmosphere during its early‑2000s industrial boom.



Then, in response to dire health statistics, Beijing launched an aggressive clean‑air campaign. Between 2010 and 2020, sulfur dioxide emissions, a major source of sulfate aerosols, fell by roughly 75 percent.



In human terms, the smog cleanup is an unambiguous win; <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/understanding-how-air-pollution-forms-may-help-us-prevent-it/">air pollution</a> once killed more than a million Chinese citizens each year. In climate terms, though, it removed a temporary sunshade. 



Fewer reflective particles meant more solar energy reached Earth’s surface, especially over the Northern Hemisphere. "The spike in warming aligns with a dramatic drop in aerosol pollution from China’s skies,” Samset said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-smog-reduction-drives-warming-surge">Smog reduction drives warming surge</h2>



The models suggest that East Asia’s reduced smog and clearer air added about 0.05 °C of extra warming per decade - enough to account for most of the acceleration since 2010, even after natural swings like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/el-nino-climate-shifts-date-back-250-million-years/">El Niño</a> are removed.



That figure might feel small, but in a world already teetering near 1.5 °C above pre‑industrial averages, every hundredth of a degree matters. Extreme heat waves become more frequent, glaciers melt faster, and coral reefs suffer additional <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-worlds-largest-coral-bleaching-event-is-now-underway/">bleaching</a>.



And the effects are not confined to East Asia. Atmospheric circulation spreads heat anomalies around the globe. The United States and Europe, for example, endured record‑breaking summers in 2023 partly because the planet as a whole was running warmer than usual.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cleaning-air-isn-t-enough">Cleaning air isn't enough</h2>



Allen calls the situation a cautionary tale. “Reducing air pollution has clear health benefits, but without also cutting CO2, you’re removing a layer of protection against climate change.”



In other words, focusing on smog particles while ignoring greenhouse gases is like taking off a pair of sunglasses and stepping into brighter light. The glare returns instantly because aerosols live only about a week in the lower atmosphere.



“Sulfur dioxide and sulfate aerosols have lifetimes of about a week. Once they’re removed, we’ll eventually settle back into a warming rate that’s more consistent with the long‑term trend,” Allen explained. Yet the planet must first absorb that short‑term pulse of extra heat.



Samset stresses that carbon dioxide and methane remain the main villains. “Our study focused on the recent, dramatic speedup in global warming, which is very concerning but still small compared to the overall, long‑term amount of warming from increased CO2 and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rising-methane-emissions-threaten-earths-habitability/">methane</a>.” 



Both gases linger for decades or centuries, meaning their warming power is cumulative and relentless.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-smog-cleanups-more-warming">More smog cleanups, more warming</h2>



China is not alone. India, parts of Africa, and even the United States continue to tighten air‑pollution rules.



RAMIP - the <a href="https://ramip.ncas.ac.uk/">Regional Aerosol Model Intercomparison Project</a> that supplied data for the current paper - plans to test how simultaneous clean‑ups might rewrite near‑term climate projections. Early hints suggest the global thermometer could tick upward even faster unless greenhouse‑gas cuts accelerate in parallel.



The dilemma has revived interest in geoengineering schemes that would mimic the cooling effect of aerosols by spraying reflective particles high into the stratosphere.



Allen urges extreme caution: “It’s a card we might have to play if we’re pushed into a corner,” he acknowledged, “but it comes with a host of risks, including disrupted rainfall patterns, food insecurity, and political tensions.”



Unlike accidental pollution, engineered aerosols could be difficult to govern and almost impossible to stop quickly without triggering a sudden rebound in temperatures.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-both-battles-must-be-fought">Both battles must be fought</h2>



For now, the lesson is clear. “<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-air-quality-trends-revealed-in-new-images/">Air quality</a> improvements are a no‑brainer for public health,” Allen said. “But if we want to prevent the worst impacts of climate change, we have to cut CO2 and methane too. The two must go hand in hand.”



Cleaner skies have bought East Asia healthier lungs and bluer horizons. They have also revealed, in stark relief, the heat still trapped by our greenhouse gas emissions. 



Ultimately, as the world works to end one environmental crisis, it cannot afford to ignore the other.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-025-02527-3">Communications Earth &amp; Environment</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



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



-----

China’s fight against smog has actually sped up global warming

For most of the 2000s, climate scientists could draw a...

Texas summers can turn brutal in a hurry, and when the temperature soars, your body loses water fast - often before you realize it. For athletes, firefighters, construction crews - or anyone who spends hours in the heat - spotting dehydration before it strikes is critical.



Yet today’s <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mosquitoes-bite-more-often-during-droughts-to-stay-hydrated/">hydration</a> checks usually mean poking fingers for blood, collecting urine, or lugging bulky lab gear around. None of that works when you’re running drills on a football field or climbing two flights of stairs in full turnout gear.



Engineers at the <a href="https://www.utexas.edu/">University of Texas at Austin</a> believe they have a simpler answer: a soft, sticker‑like sensor you can wear all day that quietly measures hydration in real time.



“Dehydration is a silent threat that affects millions of people every day,” said senior author Nanshu Lu, a professor at UT Austin. “Our wearable sensor provides a simple, effective way to monitor hydration levels in real time, empowering individuals to take proactive steps to stay healthy and perform at their best.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-patch-tracks-water-with-electricity">Patch tracks water with electricity</h2>



The patch relies on bioimpedance - basically, seeing how easily a faint electrical current moves through your tissue. 



Water conducts electricity well, so a well‑hydrated arm lets the current glide through, while a drier one slows it down.



Four tiny electrodes printed on the sensor send that harmless signal, then record how much resistance they meet. A built‑in transmitter beams the data to your phone, where an app translates the numbers into an easy‑to‑read hydration gauge.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-trials-show-strong-results">Trials show strong results</h2>



To prove the concept, Lu’s team ran two key experiments. In the first, volunteers took a common diuretic pill to flush water from their bodies. 



The researchers tracked water loss and hydration levels with the arm patch, then compared those readings to the gold-standard urine test. The two matched closely: as participants lost water weight, the sensor’s bioimpedance values climbed in lockstep.



Next came a 24‑hour “free‑living” trial. Subjects wore the patch while going about normal activities - walking to class, sitting at a desk, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/working-out-at-the-gym-you-may-need-to-check-the-air-quality/">hitting the gym</a>. Again, shifts in the electrical signal mirrored changes in body weight and fluid intake.



“Our experiments demonstrated that arm bioimpedance is not only sensitive to hydration changes but also aligns closely with whole‑body hydration measurements,” said lead author Matija Jankovic, a postdoctoral fellow at UT Austin.



“This means the sensor can be a reliable surrogate for tracking hydration levels, even during everyday activities like walking, working, or exercising.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-cost-of-losing-water">The cost of losing water</h2>



Water does more than quench thirst: it keeps organs humming, cools the body, cushions joints, and feeds countless biochemical reactions. 



Even mild dehydration can fog your brain and sap your strength; severe cases may trigger heatstroke, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/astronauts-kidneys-may-not-survive-a-roundtrip-to-mars/">kidney</a> stones, or heart stress.



Still, most people don’t notice they’re falling behind until headaches, dizziness, or cramps hit. A continuous monitor could sound the alarm sooner - say, when a runner loses two percent of body weight in sweat - and prompt a drink break before performance tanks.



While athletes and outdoor workers are obvious beneficiaries, the patch could also help hospital patients and older adults, who often struggle to stay hydrated.



Doctors managing kidney disease, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/living-close-to-bars-and-pubs-increases-the-risk-of-heart-failure/">heart failure</a>, or chronic dehydration could gain a noninvasive tool to watch fluid balance hour by hour instead of relying on occasional lab draws.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-from-patch-to-full-water-tracker">From patch to full water tracker</h2>



Right now, the patch tracks relative changes - basically, it tells you whether your water levels are rising or falling. Lu’s group wants to build a database of baseline values from a wide range of people so the device can eventually report absolute numbers, like “you’re down 1.5 liters.”



They’re also experimenting with new materials: breathable “e‑tattoos” that feel almost weightless, or sweat‑wicking fabrics that stick comfortably during intense workouts. 



Future trials may shift the electrodes to the forearm, thigh, or other spots to see which location gives the clearest signal.



“This is just the beginning,” Lu says. “Our goal is to make simple hydration monitoring accessible to everyone.”



If they succeed, refilling a water bottle could soon be guided not by guesswork or nagging thirst, but by a quick glance at your phone - and a smart patch quietly guarding your health in the summer sun.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2504278122">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



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



-----

Wearable sensor tells you when you need to drink water

Texas summers can turn brutal in a hurry, and when...

Close-up,Of,Antarctic,Moss,At,Fort,Point,,Antarctica

Hidden beneath East Antarctica’s thick ice lie secrets from a warmer, ancient world. For decades, scientists have speculated about what lies under this frozen continent.&nbsp;



Researchers have uncovered remnants of vast prehistoric river landscapes buried beneath East Antarctica. These hidden features could help refine predictions about the future of our planet’s <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/antarctic-sea-ice-extremes-disrupt-global-climate-systems/">ice</a> and oceans.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-plains-found-under-east-antarctica-s-ice">Plains found under East Antarctica’s ice</h2>



A team led by researchers from <a href="https://www.durham.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Durham University</a> studied radar data across a 3,500 km (2,175 mile) stretch of Antarctica, from Princess Elizabeth Land to George V Land. 



They discovered 31 flat surfaces beneath the East Antarctic Ice Sheet (EAIS). These surfaces, preserved under ice as thick as 2,500 meters (8,200 feet), appear as coherent, low-relief plains. 



The study showed that they were once part of a single fluvial landscape that formed after East Antarctica separated from Australia.



The researchers used data from four major airborne surveys. Their detailed analysis revealed gently sloping surfaces with consistent elevations, now separated by deep glacial troughs. 



These plains dip coastward and cluster around 200 to 450 meters (656 to 1,476 feet) above present sea level, once adjusted for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/antarctic-sea-ice-collapse-linked-to-a-sudden-surge-in-ocean-salt/">ice</a> unloading.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-origins-in-ancient-river-systems">Origins in ancient river systems</h2>



The scientists interpret the surfaces as remnants of ancient river plains. After the continents split, rivers eroded the land to a base level, creating a vast, seaward-sloping plain. 



These features closely resemble those along the Australian coast, which formed through similar processes.



According to the team, the plains likely developed between 80 and 34 million years ago, after the breakup and before widespread glaciation.



“Information such as the shape and geology of the newly mapped surfaces will help improve our understanding of how ice flows at the edge of East <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/what-lies-beneath-16000-feet-of-antarctic-ice-a-world-never-before-seen-by-humans/">Antarctica</a>,” said Dr. Guy Paxman.



“This, in turn, will help make it easier to predict how the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/antarctic-ice-sheet-past-present-and-future/">East Antarctic Ice Sheet</a> could affect sea levels under different levels of climate warming in the future.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-surfaces-in-east-antarctica-survived-ice">Surfaces in East Antarctica survived ice</h2>



Remarkably, these river-carved surfaces have survived beneath the ice for over 30 million years. 



They were not destroyed by glacial erosion. Instead, fast-moving ice carved deep troughs between them, leaving the flat surfaces mostly intact. These areas likely remained frozen at the base, which reduced erosion.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/antarctic-ice-sheet_underneath_topography_credit-S-Ink_1m.jpg"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/antarctic-ice-sheet_underneath_topography_credit-S-Ink_1s.webp" alt="The topography beneath the Antarctic Ice Sheet. Credit: Open-access s-ink.org repository" class="wp-image-1978129"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The topography beneath the Antarctic Ice Sheet. Click image to enlarge. Credit: Open-access s-ink.org repository</figcaption></figure>



Research shows that today's fast-flowing glaciers, such as Totten and Denman, move through these deeper troughs. 



Meanwhile, the ice above the flat surfaces is slow-moving and cold-based, further preserving the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/antarcticas-waters-are-getting-saltier-and-it-could-transform-earths-climate/">landscape</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bedrock-confirms-river-not-ice-origins">Bedrock confirms river, not ice origins</h2>



The researchers found that the surfaces cross different geological provinces, including crystalline gneisses and sedimentary rocks. 



This confirms that the surfaces did not form due to rock boundaries. They formed from river erosion, not through ice or marine processes. Their consistency in elevation and slope supports this.



Some of these surfaces now align with exposed regions like the Bunger and Vestfold Hills. These exposed features show signs of glacial scouring, but not enough to erase the original fluvial structure. 



The research suggests limited modification by ice, mostly during the Oligocene or early Miocene periods.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-influence-on-future-ice-sheet-retreat">Influence on future ice sheet retreat</h2>



These buried plains are not just ancient relics. They still shape the modern flow of the EAIS. Ice moves fastest through the troughs, not over the flat surfaces. 



The researchers argue that these plains could anchor ice during future warming events, potentially forming grounded ice rises.



“This study brings the jigsaw pieces of data together, to reveal the big picture: how these ancient surfaces formed, their role in determining the present-day flow of the ice, and their possible influence on how the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/antarctic-ice-sheet-patterns-point-to-rapid-melting-risks/">East Antarctic Ice Sheet</a> will evolve in a warming world,” noted Professor Neil Ross.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-slowing-east-antarctica-s-ice-loss">Slowing East Antarctica’s ice loss</h2>



The presence of these elevated plains buried under the ice could slow the retreat of grounding lines.



If ice shelves collapse during warming, some grounded ice might remain over these surfaces. This would reduce ice loss into the ocean. In regions like Law Dome, some surfaces already host ice rises, which help anchor and stabilize the inland ice.



However, current large-scale ice sheet models often overlook these features. Their resolution is too low to capture how these plains affect grounding-line behavior. 



The authors urge more drilling and high-resolution modeling to better understand the role of these features.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-this-could-change-sea-level-predictions">This could change sea level predictions</h2>



East Antarctica holds about 90 percent of Antarctica’s ice. If this ice sheet melted, it would raise sea levels by 52 meters (171 feet). Improving how we model its behavior is essential. 



These hidden landscapes offer a new constraint on where ice will likely remain stable.



The study's detailed data on elevation, slope, and bedrock composition provide critical insights. They help scientists to project more accurately the responses of the EAIS to future climate change.



The findings highlight the value of geophysical surveys in revealing what lies beneath the ice and how it might shape our future.



The research appears in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41561-025-01734-z" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Geoscience</a> and is supported by institutions in the U.K., Germany, China, and Australia. 



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



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



-----

Vast river landscapes discovered beneath Antarctica's thick ice sheet

Hidden beneath East Antarctica’s thick ice lie secrets from a...

Even before babies can smile, they already show signs of recognizing kindness. A recent study reveals that five-day-old newborn can distinguish between helpful and harmful social behavior. They show a preference for the helpful.



“These babies have almost no experience with the social world, and yet they’re already picking up on friendly versus unfriendly interactions, on helping versus hindering," said Dr. Kiley Hamlin of the <a href="https://www.ubc.ca" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of British Columbia</a>. "That could be telling us something really important about human nature.” 



The study, co-led by Dr. Alessandra Geraci from the <a href="https://www.unict.it/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Catania</a>, examined how newborns responded to basic social actions like approaching or helping. Their co-authors were Luca Surian and Lucia Gabriella Tina.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-watching-animated-balls-with-meaning">Watching animated balls with meaning</h2>



Researchers showed the newborns looping animations. In one, a ball (Agent A) tried climbing a hill. In one version, a second ball (Agent B) helped push it up and in another, it shoved Agent A down. Infants looked longer at the helping scene.



Another video set showed one ball moving toward another (approach) versus away (avoidance). Again, babies spent more time watching the friendly interaction.



These videos used faceless gray balls. The movements were smooth, repeated, and high contrast. This design suited newborn vision. Control videos had similar motions but lacked <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/gut-bacteria-influence-our-social-behavior-and-sense-of-fairness/">social meaning</a>. Babies didn’t show a preference there.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-babies-chose-kindness">Babies chose kindness</h2>



What makes this finding powerful is the age of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/singing-to-babies-significantly-improves-their-mood-and-overall-well-being-study-confirms/">infants</a>. Just five days old, they have minimal life experience. The research team ruled out learned behavior by designing scenarios with novel agents and controlled movements. Babies preferred prosocial acts only when the scenes implied social intent.



In&nbsp;Experiment 1, infants watched approach versus avoidance. They preferred approach, but only when both agents appeared socially animated. In the non-social version, where one agent was inert, babies showed no preference.



In&nbsp;Experiment 2, the team tested helping versus hindering on a hill. Babies again looked longer at the helping scene, but only under the social condition.



In&nbsp;Experiment 3, the results replicated. Seventy-eight percent of newborns looked longer at helping interactions. The researchers concluded that newborns show a spontaneous preference for simple forms of prosocial behavior.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-newborns-responded-to-intent">Newborns responded to intent</h2>



Newborns have already shown a preference for faces, eye contact, and crying sounds, but this study goes further. 



The research suggests that newborns can process types of social interaction by recognizing when one agent acts supportively toward another.



The study rules out simple motion as the cause. Babies didn’t respond similarly to random or one-sided movements. They responded to interaction. They noticed when one character acted for or against another.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-noticing-basic-social-cues">Noticing basic social cues</h2>



The researchers caution that this may not mean newborns have a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/online-avatars-sway-our-morals-through-social-influence/">moral sense</a>. Their preferences might reflect social alignment rather than moral judgment. 



For instance, a baby might like characters that move toward others, not because they're “good,” but because they seem socially engaged.



Still, this spontaneous attention to friendly interactions supports the idea that key elements of our moral sense begin early. Not learned, nor taught. It's present from the start.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-babies-spots-kindness-early">Babies spots kindness early</h2>



How do newborns, so inexperienced, process social cues? The answer may lie in the visual brain. Recent neuroscience suggests that parts of the visual system are tuned to social interaction. 



Regions like the extrastriate body area (EBA) and the posterior superior temporal sulcus (pSTS) respond to actions like helping or chasing.



These brain systems might allow infants to quickly pick up on social meaning from movement alone. They don’t need language. They don’t even need faces.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-humans-may-be-born-kind">Humans may be born kind</h2>



“These findings go significantly beyond past work in lending support to claims that humans are in possession of unlearned mechanisms for detecting and evaluating key features of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/are-babies-born-with-morals-scientists-think-they-found-out/">sociomoral</a> world,” the authors write.



While it’s still unclear whether these early social preferences are truly moral, the results provide a strong starting point. Even in the first days of life, babies aren’t passive. They’re watching. And they’re rooting for the good guys.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-61517-3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



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



-----

Babies can recognize kindness just days after birth

Even before babies can smile, they already show signs of...

<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.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



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



-----

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.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



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



-----

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>



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



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



-----

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.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.earth.com/author/eralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



-----

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>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



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



-----

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



---



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



---



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;



---



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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="LvS8v8bp9z-2564889-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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



---



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;



---



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="uV9Lh2fQbV-1760058-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="qjvhBOBnY8-2426650-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="oL4FnPTGCV-2384527-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="0879czfG3k-1785905-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="6HyfrAJTBI-1831843-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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

Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="QIoVYJqRBi-2434608-12187" type="single"]</div>



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)



---



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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="JbW4VsY53O-1632195-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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...

News coming your way