Once upon a time, you went to a florist for a bouquet. Now you can grab one next to the spinach, at the pharmacy counter, even by the chips at a gas station. As fresh flowers have spilled out of specialty shops and into everyday retail, their place in our lives - and who’s buying them - has changed fast.



Researchers at the <a href="https://www.caes.uga.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Georgia</a> College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences wanted to know what, exactly, is going on. 



They teamed up across horticulture and agricultural economics to look not just at what people buy, but why they buy it, how often, and what those habits reveal about the modern consumer.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-flowers-move-beyond-florists">Flowers move beyond florists</h2>



Drawing on a nationally representative survey of more than 8,500 people, the team found remarkable variety rather than a single archetype. Using marketing-style cluster analysis, they identified 13 distinct kinds of flower buyers.



Some are the classic date-night crowd: heavy on roses, big on Valentine’s Day. Others show up once a year for anniversaries and otherwise keep their wallets shut. 



A growing slice is buying flowers solely for themselves - home-use-only shoppers who treat stems like candles or throw pillows, a mood boost for the living room. 



And then there’s the “everything” group: people who purchase for all kinds of occasions and tend to spend the most overall.



Ask people what flowers mean and the responses span the spectrum. Word clouds from open-ended answers lit up with “beauty” and “smell,” but also “expensive” and “waste.”



Even so, buyers describe tangible upsides. Those who’d purchased flowers in the past year were more likely to report feeling better at home and at work - <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/simple-and-self-guided-nature-program-quickly-improves-mood-and-reduces-stress/">improved mood</a>, less stress, higher morale. The effect was strongest among recent purchasers.



As agricultural economist Ben Campbell put it, “there’s a perceived benefit of buying flowers - whether it’s real or not. People feel they’re getting something valuable from the experience.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-covid-changed-how-we-buy-flowers">Covid changed how we buy flowers</h2>



Behind the scenes, the cut-flower supply chain is both global and intricate. Imports - especially roses from Colombia - still dominate U.S. shelves. But the domestic picture has shifted in surprising ways.



When <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/covid-19-lockdowns-weakened-our-immune-systems/">COVID-19</a> hit, weddings and funerals vanished overnight. Growers plowed under fields. Florists closed their doors. 



And then, stuck at home, people started buying flowers anyway - to brighten kitchen tables and Zoom backgrounds, to mark time when weeks blurred together. Grocery stores and even convenience stores leaned into the demand.



“It became almost like therapy,” said Julie Campbell, the study’s lead author and a horticulture professor. “The habit stuck around.”



That collective turn inward sparked new growth outdoors. From 2017 to 2022, open-field flower acreage in the U.S. more than doubled. 



Much of that expansion came from small and mid-sized farms growing stems that don’t ship well - zinnias, dahlias, snapdragons - varieties that explode with color but wilt on long-haul flights.



Rather than compete with mass-produced roses from the Andes, these growers staked out a complementary niche: seasonal, local, and often more diverse.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-local-farms-find-their-niche">Local farms find their niche</h2>



Today’s bouquets are often a collage of origins. One sleeve might hold Ecuadorian roses, California ranunculus, and Georgia-grown <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/urban-wildflowers-may-be-harming-bees/">wildflowers</a>, all in the same mix.



Consumers seem comfortable with that blend, and many are learning to read seasonality the way they do with produce: peonies in late spring, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sunflower-family-tree-explains-evolution-of-flower-symmetry/">sunflowers</a> in midsummer, chrysanthemums in fall.



For domestic growers, that seasonality is an advantage. It allows them to sell what travels poorly and tell a fresher story - field to vase instead of farm to table. For retailers, it’s an opportunity to meet shoppers where they already are.



The UGA study suggests that people inclined to toss a bouquet in the cart also value other small home upgrades. In other words, flowers are converging with the broader “home as haven” mindset that accelerated during the pandemic and never really retreated.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-flowers-are-no-longer-just-gifts">Flowers are no longer just gifts</h2>



If there’s one throughline in the data, it’s diversity of intent. Flowers are still gifts, of course, but self-purchase is no longer niche. 



The “everything” buyers - those who grab stems for birthdays, apologies, Tuesdays, and everything in between - anchor the market, yet the once-a-year romantics and the treat-yourself crowd matter too.



That mix is why bouquets now show up in so many retail formats. A pharmacy endcap might catch the anniversary buyer; a grocery display might tempt the self-care shopper who wants tulips with their tomatoes.



It also helps explain the emotional payoffs respondents described. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/flower-quality-is-a-critical-driver-of-bee-abundance/">Fresh flowers</a> are a fast, visible change in a room and an affordable luxury compared to furniture or renovations. 



That hit of beauty, scent, and novelty can feel outsize relative to the spend, which reinforces repeat purchases.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-the-industry-goes-next"><a></a>Where the industry goes next</h2>



Policy and logistics will continue to shape the landscape - trade agreements, air freight costs, and climate impacts all ripple into what appears in the bucket by the checkout. But the UGA team’s work points to a few practical implications now.



Retailers can segment more intelligently, tailoring assortments and messaging to different buyer types rather than assuming a single use case. 



Growers can lean into their strengths - distinctive, local, and seasonal - without trying to displace imports that excel at year-round volume. 



And marketers can speak to well-being without overpromising: flowers won’t solve life’s problems, but they routinely make spaces feel better, and people notice.



Perhaps the biggest takeaway is the simplest: Americans are still buying flowers - and not just to hand to someone else.



Whether it’s a dozen <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-do-delicate-roses-have-such-harsh-prickles/">roses</a> flown in from Colombia or a handful of dahlias clipped from a nearby farm, fresh stems have become an everyday indulgence. 



They sit by the sink, brighten a desk, bookend the produce aisle, and remind us, in small ways, why bringing a bit of the outside in still resonates.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.ashs.org/view/journals/horttech/35/3/article-p286.xml" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">HortTechnology</a>.



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Why more people are buying flowers for everyday therapy

Once upon a time, you went to a florist for a bouquet. Now you can grab one next to the spinach, at the pharmacy counter, even by the chips at a gas station. As fresh flowers have spilled out of specialty shops and into everyday retail, their place in our lives - and who’s buying them - has changed fast. Researchers at the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences wanted to know what, exactly, is going on. They teamed up across horticulture and agricultural...

The hallucinogenic compound psilocybin, found in approximately 200 species of mushrooms such as the liberty cap (Psilocybe semilanceata), has been known and utilized by our ancestors for thousands of years.&nbsp;



Recently, there has been a resurgence of interest in psilocybin's potential therapeutic applications, particularly in the fields of mental health and addiction treatment.



Researchers Himanshu Khandelia and Ali Asghar Hakami Zanjani from the Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy at the <a href="https://www.sdu.dk/en">University of Southern Denmark</a> are among those who believe psilocybin could transform how we treat conditions like severe depression and substance <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/many-older-americans-show-signs-of-food-addiction/">addiction</a>.&nbsp;



Khandelia's curiosity was initially sparked by a podcast discussing the use of psilocybin for smoking cessation. Since psilocybin mushrooms are abundant in Denmark, it was easy for the researchers to begin their investigations.



Khandelia and Zanjani are particularly interested in understanding the molecular processes that occur when psilocybin is ingested, metabolized into psilocin, and enters the brain. Previous research has indicated that psilocin binds to serotonin receptors in the brain.&nbsp;



Zanjani elaborated on this, stating, "We show that psilocin binds stronger than serotonin to a 5-HT2AR serotonin receptor. This knowledge can be used if you want to design a drug that acts like psilocybin."



While neither Khandelia nor Zanjani are neuroscientists or pharmacologists, their focus is on studying and describing the molecular interactions between psilocin and brain cells, specifically how it penetrates cell membranes and binds to receptors.&nbsp;



Khandelia expressed hope that their research could be utilized by society, perhaps inspiring others to develop molecules for medical treatments, such as those for depression.



The pair plans to continue their work in this area, with their next step being to investigate the mechanism by which compound-receptor binding triggers psychoactive responses.



The landscape for psilocybin research has improved significantly in recent years, with growing interest in its potential for treating conditions like depression, addiction, anorexia, and PTSD. Since the 1960s, many countries had imposed strict bans on researching hallucinogenic substances like psilocybin and LSD.&nbsp;



Before that, Swiss chemist Albert Hoffman had isolated psilocybin and psilocin from the P. mexicana mushroom in 1959, and the pharmaceutical company he worked for sold pure psilocybin for medical use.



However, by the late 1960s, many countries tightened legislation on psychoactive substances, which significantly hindered research on psilocybin and similar compounds. Fortunately, in recent years, countries like the United States, England, and Denmark have reentered the research field with a more cautious approach.



As psilocybin research progresses, it is crucial to acknowledge the potential side effects, such as hallucinations and feelings of disconnection from reality, that can occur whether the substance is ingested as a mushroom or in a medically prescribed tablet.&nbsp;



Zanjani highlights the need for caution when exploring psilocybin as a treatment option, ensuring that the benefits outweigh the potential risks.



"Research shows that you experience something different. It is a form of hallucination. The characteristic is that patients may get a whole new perspective on their situation: for example, a terminally ill cancer patient may lose their fear of dying soon and instead experience acceptance of their life situation. Such sessions should take place in safe and guiding settings led by trained therapists. Today, no one would recommend just eating some mushrooms at home in their own living room."



The experts have recently published their findings in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bbapap.2023.140914">Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Proteins and Proteomics</a>. The article is the third in a series on the same topic from the two researchers (Interaction of psychedelic tryptamine derivatives with a lipid bilayer and Magic mushroom extracts in lipid membranes).&nbsp;



The newest study's co-authors are Teresa Quynh Tram Nguyen and Luise Jacobsen. The work is supported by the Lundbeck Foundation and the Novo Nordisk Foundation.



<h2 id="h-more-about-the-benefits-of-psilocybin-therapy">More about the benefits of psilocybin therapy</h2>



Psilocybin therapy is a novel approach to mental health treatment that involves the use of psilocybin, a naturally occurring psychedelic compound found in certain species of mushrooms, often referred to as "magic mushrooms."&nbsp;



The therapy takes place in a controlled clinical setting under the supervision of trained therapists. Psilocybin therapy has gained significant attention in recent years due to its potential benefits for various mental health conditions. Here is a more in-depth look at the therapy and its potential applications:



<h3 id="h-treatment-process">Treatment process</h3>



Psilocybin therapy typically involves a series of sessions, which include preparatory meetings, psilocybin-assisted therapy sessions, and integration sessions. During the preparatory meetings, the therapist and the patient build rapport and discuss the patient's expectations and goals for the therapy.&nbsp;



The actual psilocybin-assisted therapy sessions involve the administration of a controlled dose of psilocybin, during which the patient experiences a psychedelic trip that can last several hours. The therapist provides support and guidance throughout this experience.&nbsp;



Finally, in the integration sessions, the patient and therapist work together to process and reflect on the insights gained during the psychedelic experience and develop strategies for incorporating these insights into daily life.



<h3 id="h-set-and-setting">Set and setting</h3>



A crucial aspect of psilocybin therapy is the emphasis on "set" (the patient's mindset) and "setting" (the therapeutic environment). The therapist ensures that the patient feels safe and supported, and the environment is comfortable and conducive to introspection and personal growth.



<h3 id="h-mechanism-of-action">Mechanism of action</h3>



Psilocybin is thought to work by binding to serotonin receptors in the brain, particularly the 5-HT2A receptor. This binding can lead to changes in neural connectivity and promote neuroplasticity, which may contribute to the lasting therapeutic effects of the treatment.&nbsp;



The psychedelic experience itself can also lead to profound psychological insights, which can help patients address the underlying issues contributing to their mental health symptoms.



<h3 id="h-potential-benefits">Potential benefits</h3>



Psilocybin therapy has shown promise in treating a variety of mental health conditions, including treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and addiction.&nbsp;



Many patients report lasting improvements in their mental health following psilocybin therapy, often after just a few sessions. Additionally, psilocybin therapy has demonstrated benefits in improving psychological well-being, emotional regulation, and interpersonal relationships.



<h3 id="h-research-and-legality">Research and legality</h3>



While psilocybin therapy is still considered an experimental treatment and is not yet widely available, numerous clinical trials are underway to further investigate its efficacy and safety. Some jurisdictions, such as the city of Denver and the state of Oregon in the United States, have taken steps toward decriminalizing or legalizing psilocybin for therapeutic use.&nbsp;



As research continues to demonstrate the potential benefits of psilocybin therapy, it is likely that more regions will consider legalizing or decriminalizing the substance for therapeutic purposes.



It is important to emphasize that psilocybin therapy should only be conducted under the supervision of trained professionals in a controlled clinical setting. Self-administration of psilocybin without appropriate guidance can be dangerous and is not recommended.



—-



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Scientists learn why psilocybin mushrooms make you hallucinate

The hallucinogenic compound psilocybin, found in approximately 200 species of...

Just like animals, a variety of plant species are now struggling to adapt and survive on a human-dominated planet. Unfortunately, although they are easier and cheaper to protect than animals and play a crucial role in our food, fuel, and medical systems, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rare-plants-are-facing-extinction-in-the-scottish-mountains/">plants</a> are often overlooked in conservation efforts.&nbsp;



Currently, an estimated 21 to 48 percent of vascular plant species – which include flowering plants and trees – are at risk of extinction due to land use change and unsustainable harvesting practices.&nbsp;



However, according to a new study published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tplants.2023.03.019">Trends in Plant Sciences</a>, it would potentially be possible to prevent the extinction of all 382,000 known plant species by training more plant experts, constructing an online “meta herbarium,” and creating “micro-reserves” (small pieces of protected land designed to get around spatial constraints).



“There is no technical reason why any known plant species should go extinct,” said study author Richard T. Corlett, a plant ecologist at the <a href="http://m.extbg.cas.cn/">Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden</a> in Yunnan, China. “If zero extinction is potentially achievable for plants, a less ambitious target would be inexcusable.”



According to Corlett, conservation plans can take many forms. For instance, they can be carried out either in a plant’s natural habitat – such as in the form of a natural reserve – or in curated environments like botanical gardens. Sometimes, a combination could work best, such as coupling a micro-reserve with a supply of frozen seeds to fall back on if needed.



“Conservation of self-sustaining wild populations in protected areas is the ideal. This allows continued evolution in response to ongoing environmental change (such as climate change, and new pests and diseases) and the continued support of mutualists, herbivores, and pathogens, some of which may face extinction without their only plant hosts,” Corlett explained.



However, a significant roadblock in plant conservation is the lack of trained specialists that could identify and study plant species that are currently invisible to science and conservation planning. Scientists believe that such species are abundant in the tropics, with many of them undergoing “dark extinctions,” which occur when species disappear without us even knowing that they existed.&nbsp;



Another barrier in preventing plant extinctions is information access. Since at present, the most reliable species records come from plant specimens and are difficult to use from a distance, building an online “meta herbarium” where scientists all over the world could link digitized records from herbarium specimens with photographs, status assessments, recovery plans, and links to other online resources would be of great help in boosting conservation efforts.&nbsp;



While such an online database would allow facile and rapid access to information needed to conserve all plant species, building it will require collaboration at the individual, national, and global levels.



“There are some major areas that need more research, but most of what is needed is not novelty but a lot more of the same: more people, more space, more funding, more monitoring, and more of the local interventions that work,” Corlett concluded.



<h2 id="h-importance-of-plants-to-humanity-and-the-environment">Importance of plants to humanity and the environment</h2>



Plants play a crucial role in the lives of humans and the environment for various reasons. They have been essential to our survival and well-being throughout history, and continue to provide countless benefits today. Some of the most important aspects of plants' significance include:



<h3>Oxygen production</h3>



Through the process of photosynthesis, plants convert carbon dioxide (CO2) into oxygen (O2). This oxygen is vital for the survival of all aerobic organisms, including humans.



<h3>Carbon sequestration</h3>



Plants absorb and store atmospheric CO2, which helps to mitigate the effects of climate change by reducing the overall amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.



<h3>Food source</h3>



Plants form the base of the food chain for most ecosystems, providing sustenance for various organisms, including humans. Fruits, vegetables, grains, and other plant-based foods are essential components of a healthy diet.



<h3>Medicinal uses</h3>



Many plants have medicinal properties that have been used for centuries to treat various ailments. Over 25% of modern medicines are derived from plants or plant compounds.



<h3>Ecosystem support</h3>



Plants create habitats for diverse flora and fauna. They provide food, shelter, and breeding grounds for countless species, promoting biodiversity and ecological stability.



<h3>Soil conservation</h3>



Plants help to prevent soil erosion and maintain soil fertility through their root systems. They also contribute to nutrient cycling by decomposing and releasing nutrients back into the soil.



<h3>Climate regulation</h3>



Plants help to regulate local and global climates by absorbing and reflecting sunlight, providing shade, and releasing water vapor through transpiration. This process cools the surrounding environment and influences precipitation patterns.



<h3>Cultural significance</h3>



Plants have been an integral part of human culture for thousands of years, used in rituals, ceremonies, and art. They also serve as symbols and inspiration for various aspects of life.



<h3>Economic value</h3>



Plants are essential for various industries, such as agriculture, forestry, and horticulture. They provide valuable resources like timber, fiber, and raw materials for the production of numerous products.



<h3>Aesthetic and recreational value</h3>



Plants provide natural beauty and recreational opportunities, which can positively impact mental health and well-being. Green spaces, such as parks, gardens, and forests, offer places for relaxation, exercise, and social interaction.



In summary, plants play a vital role in sustaining life on Earth, providing essential resources and services for both humans and the environment. Protecting and conserving plant life is crucial for maintaining the delicate balance of our ecosystems and ensuring a sustainable future for all.



<h2>How climate change is impacting plants</h2>



Climate change, driven primarily by increasing levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, is having significant impacts on plants and ecosystems around the world. Some of the key ways climate change is affecting plant life include:



<h3>Changes in phenology</h3>



Phenology refers to the timing of seasonal events in the life cycles of plants, such as flowering, leafing, and fruiting. As temperatures rise, many plants are experiencing earlier spring growth and delayed autumn senescence. These shifts can lead to mismatches between plants and their pollinators or other species that rely on them, disrupting ecosystem dynamics.



<h3>Range shifts</h3>



As climate conditions change, the suitable habitat for many plant species is shifting, often towards higher elevations or latitudes. This can lead to the decline of some species in their traditional range, while others may expand into new areas. Range shifts can also result in novel plant communities and interactions between species that have not previously coexisted.



<h3>Biotic interactions</h3>



Climate change can alter the relationships between plants and other organisms, such as herbivores, pathogens, and mutualists. Warmer temperatures and changes in precipitation can increase the prevalence of pests and diseases, while also affecting the abundance and distribution of beneficial species like pollinators.



<h3>Drought and water stress</h3>



Changes in precipitation patterns and increased evaporation due to higher temperatures can lead to more frequent and severe droughts. This can cause significant stress for plants, reducing growth, reproduction, and survival, particularly for species adapted to moist conditions.



<h3>Heat stress</h3>



Increased temperatures can result in heat stress for many plant species, potentially causing damage to cellular structures, impairing photosynthesis, and reducing overall productivity. Some plants may be able to adapt to higher temperatures, while others may experience declines in growth and reproduction.



<h3>Increased CO2 levels</h3>



Elevated atmospheric CO2 concentrations can stimulate photosynthesis and increase water-use efficiency in some plants, leading to increased growth. However, this "CO2 fertilization effect" may be offset by other factors, such as nutrient limitations, heat stress, and changes in precipitation.



<h3>Ocean acidification</h3>



As CO2 dissolves in seawater, it causes a decrease in pH, making the ocean more acidic. This process, known as ocean acidification, can have negative impacts on marine plants, particularly calcifying organisms like corals and some species of algae, which rely on calcium carbonate to build their structures.



<h3>Extreme weather events</h3>



Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, such as storms, floods, and heatwaves. These events can cause widespread damage to plant communities, disrupt ecosystem processes, and lead to increased mortality.



<h3>Loss of biodiversity</h3>



The combined effects of climate change on plants can lead to local extinctions and overall declines in biodiversity. This loss of plant diversity can have cascading effects on the ecosystems they support, reducing ecosystem resilience and stability.



In conclusion, climate change is having profound impacts on plant life worldwide, with consequences for ecosystems and the services they provide to humanity. Addressing climate change through mitigation and adaptation strategies is essential to protect plants and the vital roles they play in sustaining life on Earth.



—



By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer



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All plants on Earth could be saved from extinction

Just like animals, a variety of plant species are now...

New research from the <a href="https://www.colorado.edu/">University of Colorado Boulder</a> has revealed that cancer patients who use <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/patients-with-chronic-pain-are-turning-to-cannabis-for-relief/">cannabis</a> to alleviate their symptoms not only experience less pain and improved sleep, but also exhibit an unexpected benefit: clearer thinking.&nbsp;



The findings, published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.37349/emed.2023.00138">Exploration in Medicine</a>, represent a significant development in understanding the potential benefits of over-the-counter cannabis for relieving cancer symptoms and chemotherapy side-effects.



"When you're in a lot of pain, it's hard to think. We found that when patients' pain levels came down after using cannabis for a while, their cognition got better," explained study senior author Professor Angela Bryan.



This small yet groundbreaking study is among the first to investigate the impact of cannabis purchased at dispensaries rather than government-supplied or synthetic cannabis.



In recent years, a growing number of cancer patients have turned to cannabis as a legal option for managing symptoms in most states. Survey data indicates that up to 40 percent of U.S. cancer patients use cannabis; however, only a third of doctors feel comfortable advising patients on its use.&nbsp;



<h2 id="h-how-the-study-was-done">How the study was done</h2>



The complexity of studying cannabis is due in part to federal law, which prohibits university researchers from possessing or distributing cannabis for research unless it's government-issued or of pharmaceutical grade.&nbsp;



Consequently, previous studies have predominantly focused on prescription products like nabilone or dronabinol (typically prescribed for nausea) or government cannabis strains that tend to be less potent and lack the variety of over-the-counter offerings.



To overcome these limitations, Bryan and her research team collaborated with oncologists at the CU Anschutz Medical Campus, observing 25 cancer patients who used cannabis over a two-week period.&nbsp;



After assessing the participants' pain levels, sleep patterns, and cognition in a baseline appointment, they were instructed to purchase an edible product of their choice from a dispensary.&nbsp;



The choices were surprisingly diverse, spanning 18 brands, with options such as chocolates, gummies, tinctures, pills, and baked goods, and containing various ratios of THC and CBD at a wide range of potencies.



The range of products chosen by the participants highlights the willingness of people to try different options in search of relief, but a lack of data leaves them without guidance on which product works best for their needs.&nbsp;



“This tells us that people are open to trying whatever they think might be useful, but there's just not much data out there to guide them on what works best for what,” said Bryan.



The researchers behind the study went to great lengths to collect accurate data, using a "mobile laboratory" (a Dodge Sprinter van, sometimes referred to as the "cannavan") to conduct physical and cognitive assessments at each patient's home. This allowed the researchers to test the patients before and after using cannabis in their own homes, minimizing external factors that could affect the results.



<h2 id="h-what-the-researchers-discovered">What the researchers discovered</h2>



In the short term, the study found that cannabis use provided significant pain relief within an hour, but also impaired patients' cognition and made them feel "high" (with higher THC content resulting in a stronger high).&nbsp;



However, after two weeks of consistent use at the patients' chosen frequency, a different pattern emerged. Participants reported improvements in pain, sleep quality, and cognitive function, with some objective measures of cognitive function, such as reaction times, also showing improvement.



Professor Bryan expressed surprise at the results. "We thought we might see some problems with cognitive function," she said, noting that both cannabis and chemotherapy have previously been associated with impaired thinking. "But people actually felt like they were thinking more clearly."&nbsp;



The researchers also found that the more a patient's pain subsided, the more their cognition seemed to improve. Additionally, those who ingested more CBD, a known anti-inflammatory, reported bigger improvements in sleep quality and pain intensity.



While the findings are preliminary and larger controlled studies are needed, they raise an intriguing possibility: while certain forms and dosages of cannabis for pain relief may impair thinking in the short term, some regimens could potentially improve cognition in the long run by reducing pain.&nbsp;



<h2 id="h-personal-experience-included-in-the-study">Personal experience included in the study</h2>



Professor Bryan, who had been studying cancer prevention for years and had just begun researching medicinal cannabis use when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2017, personally used cannabis to help ease her pain after surgery and chemotherapy.



"The doctors were so supportive of what I wanted to do, but they had no idea what to tell me," she said. "There was just no data."&nbsp;



Concerned about using opioids, Bryan created her own custom regimen of more potent THC-heavy products when the pain was intense and she could sacrifice some mental sharpness, and milder, CBD-heavy products to keep the pain manageable. She was not pain-free but managed to avoid using opiates during her treatment.



"I was extremely lucky because I had some knowledge about this. Most patients don't," she said. Bryan hopes that her research and future studies will help people make better-informed decisions about using cannabis to manage the symptoms of cancer and its treatments.



As the field of cannabis research continues to expand, these findings provide a valuable insight into the potential benefits of over-the-counter cannabis for cancer patients, and may serve as a foundation for future studies on this topic.



<h2 id="h-more-about-cannabis-and-pain-relief">More about cannabis and pain relief</h2>



Cannabis has long been used for its pain-relieving properties, and with the growing acceptance and legalization of medicinal cannabis in many parts of the world, research into its therapeutic effects has increased. The two primary active compounds in cannabis, THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol), have been shown to have varying effects on pain management.



THC is the psychoactive compound responsible for the "high" experienced when using cannabis. It binds to CB1 receptors in the brain, which are part of the endocannabinoid system, a complex cell-signaling system that plays a role in regulating various physiological processes, including pain perception.&nbsp;



By binding to these receptors, THC can modulate pain signals and provide relief from different types of pain, such as neuropathic pain (associated with nerve damage) and inflammatory pain.



CBD, on the other hand, is a non-psychoactive compound that does not produce a "high." It is believed to have anti-inflammatory, analgesic (pain-relieving), and neuroprotective properties.&nbsp;



CBD interacts with various receptors in the endocannabinoid system and other neurotransmitter systems, such as serotonin and vanilloid receptors, to modulate pain perception. Research has shown that CBD can be effective in managing conditions like arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and neuropathic pain.



Combining THC and CBD in varying ratios can offer different therapeutic effects, depending on the type and intensity of pain. Some studies suggest that the combination of THC and CBD can provide greater pain relief than either compound alone, due to a phenomenon called the "entourage effect."&nbsp;



This concept proposes that the various compounds in cannabis work together synergistically to enhance their therapeutic effects.



It's important to note that the ideal ratio of THC and CBD for pain relief can vary from person to person, and the optimal dosage depends on factors such as the individual's tolerance, the severity of the pain, and the specific condition being treated. Medical professionals and researchers are still working to determine the most effective formulations and dosages for different types of pain.



In conclusion, cannabis has shown promise as an alternative or supplementary treatment for pain relief in various conditions. However, more research is needed to establish standardized guidelines for its use and to fully understand the long-term effects of cannabis-based therapies.&nbsp;



Always consult a healthcare professional before using cannabis for pain management, as they can help determine the most appropriate treatment plan based on individual needs and circumstances.



—-



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Cannabis may be a highly effective treatment for cancer patients

New research from the University of Colorado Boulder has revealed...

Amidst the chaos of ever-changing diet trends, determining which ones genuinely promote heart health can be a daunting task. But now, a recent scientific statement published in the American Heart Association journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001146">Circulation</a>, offers valuable insight and guidance.



The researchers evaluated the heart-healthy elements of ten popular diets, revealing that while many align closely with the <a href="https://www.heart.org/">American Heart Association</a>'s dietary guidance, some fall short.



Dr. Christopher D. Gardner is the chair of the writing committee for the new scientific statement and a professor of Medicine at Stanford University. He noted that the multitude of diets and the misinformation surrounding them have reached unprecedented levels.



"The public - and even many health care professionals - may rightfully be confused about heart-healthy eating, and they may feel that they don’t have the time or the training to evaluate the different diets. We hope this statement serves as a tool for clinicians and the public to understand which diets promote good cardiometabolic health,” said Dr. Gardner.



The term "cardiometabolic health" refers to a group of factors that affect metabolism - the body's processes for breaking down nutrients in food and building and repairing tissues to maintain normal function - and the risk of heart and vascular disease. These factors encompass blood glucose, cholesterol and other lipids, blood pressure, and body weight. Abnormal levels of one factor can increase the risk for heart disease, but when multiple factors are abnormal, the risk of heart disease is compounded, often leading to more severe disease.



The statement evaluates the alignment of popular dietary patterns with the American Heart Association's Dietary Guidance. This guidance includes ten key features of a dietary pattern designed to improve cardiometabolic health, with a focus on limiting unhealthy fats and reducing the intake of excess carbohydrates.&nbsp;



The study is the first of its kind to analyze how closely popular dietary patterns conform to these features. Importantly, the guidance is designed to be adaptable to individual budgets, personal tastes, and cultural preferences.



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



The experts reviewed the defining characteristics of several long-term dietary patterns, which were grouped by similarity into ten categories:&nbsp;



<ol>
<li>DASH-style</li>



<li>Mediterranean-style</li>



<li>Vegetarian-style/Pescatarian</li>



<li>Vegetarian-style/Ovo/Lacto</li>



<li>Vegetarian-style/Vegan&nbsp;</li>



<li>Low-fat&nbsp;</li>



<li>Very low-fat&nbsp;</li>



<li>Low-carbohydrate</li>



<li>Paleolithic</li>



<li>Very low-carbohydrate/ketogenic diets</li>
</ol>



Each diet was assessed against nine of the ten features of the American Heart Association's guidance for a heart-healthy eating pattern. The defining features of the diets were assigned points based on their alignment with the Association's guidance.



<h2 id="h-results-of-the-analysis">Results of the analysis&nbsp;</h2>



<h3 id="h-tier-1-comprised-the-highest-rated-eating-plans-with-scores-surpassing-85">Tier 1 comprised the highest-rated eating plans with scores surpassing 85</h3>



Among the top performers were the DASH-style eating pattern, which earned a perfect score by meeting all the AHA's guidance. These top-tier diets are flexible, offering a broad array of healthy foods, low in salt, added sugar, alcohol, tropical oils, and processed foods. They're rich in non-starchy vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and legumes. Protein sources in these patterns tend to be mostly plant-based, supplemented with fish, seafood, lean poultry and meats, and low-fat or fat-free dairy products.



The Mediterranean-style diet also received high marks, though it fell slightly short of the DASH pattern as it doesn't explicitly address added salt and includes moderate alcohol consumption. Vegetarian-style diets, including Pescatarian and those that incorporate eggs and dairy, also ranked highly.&nbsp;



“If implemented as intended, the top-tier dietary patterns align best with the American Heart Association’s guidance and may be adapted to respect cultural practices, food preferences and budgets to enable people to always eat this way, for the long term," said Dr. Gardner.



<h3 id="h-tier-2-with-scores-between-75-and-85-included-vegan-and-low-fat-diets">Tier 2, with scores between 75 and 85, included Vegan and low-fat diets</h3>



These diets also emphasize consumption of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, and nuts while limiting alcohol and added sugars. However, the restrictions in the vegan eating pattern may make it challenging to follow long-term, potentially increasing the risk of vitamin B-12 deficiency, leading to anemia.&nbsp;



Low-fat diets often treat all fats equally, whereas the AHA guidance recommends replacing saturated fat with healthier fats. Those following a low-fat diet may risk overconsuming less healthy carbohydrates, but these factors can be mitigated with proper counseling and education.



<h3 id="h-tier-3-with-scores-between-55-and-74-included-very-low-fat-and-low-carb-diets">Tier 3, with scores between 55 and 74, included very low-fat and low-carb diets</h3>



Although some people may be drawn to very low-fat diets due to their potential to slow the progression of fatty artery buildup, and while healthy low-carb diets have been shown to affect weight loss, blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol similarly to healthy low-fat diets, these patterns do restrict food groups emphasized in the AHA's guidance.&nbsp;



Very low-fat diets may lead to deficiencies of vitamin B-12, essential fatty acids, and protein, while low-carb diets often result in decreased fiber intake and increased saturated fat consumption. The statement suggests that loosening restrictions on certain food groups may promote long-term adherence and heart health.



<h3 id="h-tier-4-with-scores-less-than-55-included-paleolithic-and-very-low-carb-ketogenic-diets">Tier 4, with scores less than 55, included Paleolithic and very low-carb/Ketogenic diets</h3>



These diets, often followed for weight loss, align poorly with the AHA's guidance. Despite their emphasis on consuming non-starchy vegetables, nuts, and fish, and minimizing alcohol and added sugar, these diets restrict fruits, whole grains, and legumes, leading to reduced fiber intake. Additionally, they are high in fat without limiting saturated fat, which is linked to the development of cardiovascular disease.



“There really isn’t any way to follow the Tier 4 diets as intended and still be aligned with the American Heart Association’s Dietary Guidance,” said Dr. Gardner. “They are highly restrictive and difficult for most people to stick with long term. While there will likely be short-term benefits and substantial weight loss, it isn’t sustainable. A diet that’s effective at helping an individual maintain weight loss goals, from a practical perspective, needs to be sustainable.”



<h2 id="h-more-tips-for-healthy-eating">More tips for healthy eating</h2>



Maintaining a balanced diet is essential for promoting good health and well-being. Here are some additional tips for healthy eating:



<h3 id="h-eat-a-variety-of-foods">Eat a Variety of Foods</h3>



No single food contains all the essential nutrients needed by the body. Therefore, consuming a wide range of different foods including fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, and dairy (or dairy alternatives) is key to maintaining good health.



<h3 id="h-stay-hydrated">Stay Hydrated</h3>



Water plays a vital role in nearly every bodily function. Aim to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. However, needs can vary based on activity level, age, and climate.



<h3 id="h-control-portion-sizes">Control Portion Sizes</h3>



Pay attention to portion sizes to avoid overeating. Even healthy foods can lead to weight gain when consumed in excessive amounts.



<h3 id="h-limit-added-sugars">Limit Added Sugars</h3>



Foods and drinks with added sugars can contribute to weight gain and tooth decay. Try to limit consumption of these products and opt for natural sugars found in fruits and vegetables instead.



<h3 id="h-eat-regular-meals">Eat Regular Meals</h3>



Skipping meals, especially breakfast, can lead to out-of-control hunger, often resulting in helpless overeating. Regular meals help maintain energy levels and control appetite.



<h3 id="h-consume-healthy-fats">Consume Healthy Fats</h3>



Not all fats are bad. Unsaturated fats, like those found in avocados, nuts, seeds, and fish, are beneficial for heart health.



<h3 id="h-limit-salt-intake">Limit Salt Intake</h3>



High sodium intake can lead to high blood pressure, which increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. Aim to consume no more than 2,300 mg of sodium per day, which is about one teaspoon of salt.



<h3 id="h-plan-your-meals">Plan Your Meals&nbsp;</h3>



Planning meals ahead of time can help ensure a balanced diet and avoid last-minute unhealthy food choices.



<h3 id="h-include-fiber-in-your-diet">Include Fiber in Your Diet</h3>



Dietary fiber can help maintain a healthy weight and lower the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and some types of cancer. Good sources include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes.



<h3 id="h-read-food-labels">Read Food Labels&nbsp;</h3>



Understanding food labels can help you make healthier choices. Check for ingredients, serving sizes, and nutrient information.



Remember, a healthy diet is most effective when combined with regular physical activity. Always consult with a healthcare professional or dietitian if you need specific dietary advice or have any health concerns.



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Scientists break down the best heart-healthy diets

Amidst the chaos of ever-changing diet trends, determining which ones...

Fungi communicate in a way that is still a bit of a mystery to scientists, yet incredibly important to ecosystems. Several species of fungi play an important role in the ecological sustenance of forest <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/non-native-trees-have-enormous-value-in-urban-areas/">trees</a>. 



For instance, ectomycorrhizal fungi – commonly found on oak, pine, and birch trees – form a sheath around the outside regions of tree roots, while their mycelial body develops into vast underground networks absorbing crucial nutrients from the soil and transferring them to the trees.



Various studies have examined the possibility of electrical signal transfer between fungi and across trees via these mycelial networks, and hypothesized that fungi generate electrical signals in response to external stimuli to communicate with each other and coordinate growth and other behaviors. Some scientists have argued that these signals can even be used to help transfer nutrients to plants and trees.&nbsp;



However, the current scientific evidence for these hypotheses remains sparse, and most of the previous studies have been limited to the laboratory, thus failing to properly recreate what happens in the wild.



To address these shortcomings, a team of researchers led by <a href="http://www.tohoku.ac.jp/en/">Tohoku University</a> in Japan has conducted a field study in which they examined the behavior of small, tan-colored ectomycorrhizal fungi known as&nbsp;Laccaria bicolor in the wild. By attaching electrodes to six fungi in a cluster, they discovered that the electrical signals emitted by these fungi increased after rainfall.



“In the beginning, the mushrooms exhibited less electrical potential, and we boiled this down to the lack of precipitation,” said study lead author Yu Fukasawa, an assistant professor of Forest Microbial Ecology at Tohoku. “However, the electrical potential began to fluctuate after raining, sometimes going over 100 mV.”



The scientists managed to correlate the way fungi communicate through these electrical fluctuations with precipitation and temperature, and causality analysis revealed that the post-rain electric potential showed signal transport among fungi, which was particularly strong between spatially close mushrooms and exhibited clear directionality.



“Our preliminary results bring a call for studies on fungal electrical potentials in a more ecological context under field conditions,” the authors concluded.



<h2 id="h-more-about-how-fungi-communicate">More about how fungi communicate</h2>



Fungi, being an incredibly diverse group of organisms, have evolved various methods of communication with each other. Some of the main ways they communicate include chemical signaling, electrical signaling, and through physical connections called mycelial networks.



<h3>Chemical signaling</h3>



Fungi communicate by releasing chemical signals called pheromones and extracellular signaling molecules. These molecules are used to communicate with other fungi and organisms in their environment. In response to these signals, fungi can change their growth patterns, initiate sexual reproduction, or activate defense mechanisms. Quorum sensing is a common chemical communication strategy used by fungi, where they release and detect signaling molecules to monitor their population density and coordinate collective behaviors.



<h3>Fungi communicate through electrical signaling</h3>



Recent research has shown that some fungi can generate and transmit electrical signals similar to those found in animal nerve cells. This type of communication is not yet fully understood, but it's believed to help fungi coordinate their growth, respond to environmental changes, and interact with other organisms.



<h3>Mycelial networks</h3>



The mycelium is the vegetative part of a fungus, consisting of a network of thread-like structures called hyphae. Mycelial networks can connect individual fungi and act as a communication and resource-sharing system. Through these networks, fungi communicate, exchange nutrients, water, and signaling molecules, allowing them to coordinate their growth, reproduction, and defense strategies.



Mycorrhizal associations, which are symbiotic relationships between fungi and plant roots, provide another example of fungal communication. In these associations, fungi help plants absorb nutrients and water, while plants provide fungi with sugars produced during photosynthesis. 



This exchange of resources and signaling molecules helps both organisms to thrive and adapt to their environment.



While research into fungal communication is still in its early stages, the discoveries made so far provide fascinating insights into the complex interactions that govern fungal behavior and ecology.



<h2>More about Fungi</h2>



Fungi are a diverse group of eukaryotic organisms that include yeasts, molds, and mushrooms. They are distinct from plants, animals, and bacteria, and form their own kingdom, the Fungi kingdom. 



Fungi play essential roles in various ecosystems as decomposers, symbionts, and even pathogens. Fungi communicate through a network of chemical and electrical signals. Here are some key features and aspects of fungi:



<h3>Structure</h3>



Fungal cells have a rigid cell wall made of chitin, a polysaccharide also found in the exoskeletons of insects and crustaceans. Most fungi grow as filamentous structures called hyphae, which together form a larger network called mycelium. Some fungi, like yeasts, grow as single-celled organisms.



<h3>Reproduction</h3>



Fungi reproduce both sexually and asexually. Asexual reproduction occurs through spore formation, budding, or fragmentation of the mycelium. Sexual reproduction typically involves the fusion of specialized cells called gametes, which can result in the production of genetically diverse spores.



<h3>Nutrition</h3>



Fungi are heterotrophic organisms, meaning they obtain nutrients by absorbing organic compounds from other organisms. Most fungi are saprophytic decomposers, breaking down dead organic material and recycling nutrients in the ecosystem. Some form symbiotic relationships with other organisms, such as mycorrhizal associations with plant roots or lichens formed between fungi and algae. There are also parasitic fungi that can infect plants, animals, and even humans.



<h3>Ecological roles</h3>



Fungi are crucial in maintaining ecosystem balance as decomposers, nutrient cyclers, and mutualistic symbionts. They help break down complex organic materials like cellulose and lignin in plant matter, making nutrients available for other organisms. Fungi also form symbiotic relationships with plants, enhancing their nutrient uptake and providing protection from pathogens.



<h3>Economic and medical importance</h3>



Fungi have numerous applications in food production, medicine, and biotechnology. They are used in the production of bread, beer, cheese, and various fermented foods. Some fungi, like the Penicillium species, produce antibiotics that are critical in treating bacterial infections. However, fungi can also cause diseases in plants, animals, and humans, and spoil food and other products.



<h3>Biodiversity</h3>



There are an estimated 2.2 to 3.8 million fungal species, but only about 120,000 have been formally described. Fungi can be found in diverse habitats, from terrestrial ecosystems like forests and grasslands to aquatic environments and even extreme environments like deserts and polar regions.



Our understanding of the fungal world is still growing, with new species and their ecological roles being discovered regularly. As research continues, the importance of fungi in maintaining the health and balance of ecosystems becomes increasingly apparent.



The research findings are published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.funeco.2023.101229">Fungal Ecology</a>.



—



By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer



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Fungi communicate and engage in more “conversations” after rainfall

Fungi communicate in a way that is still a bit...

Arbor Day: A celebration of trees and their unrivaled importance to the Earth

Hey there, tree-huggers and nature lovers! Today we're going to...

While ecological memory stored in a landscape can usually help ecosystems recover from disturbances such as fires or disease outbreaks, when climate change significantly alters these disturbance patterns – as it happens today - such coping strategies may fail. For instance, ecological memories stored in the warming Arctic may soon be overwritten by new ones, with unforeseen consequences for this region’s capacity to adapt to rapid climate change.



To investigate these issues in interior Alaska during a potentially transformative period for the Arctic’s boreal <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-is-shifting-the-earths-coldest-forest-northward/">forests</a>, a team of over 40 scientists led by the <a href="https://nau.edu/">Northern Arizona University</a> (NAU) has recently been awarded a $9.6 million grant from the <a href="https://www.nsf.gov/">National Science Foundation</a>.&nbsp;



This six-year-long project will be part of the <a href="https://lternet.edu/site/bonanza-creek-lter/">Bonanza Creek Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) Program</a>, an initiative aiming to improve our understanding of the long-term consequences of changing climate and disturbance regimes in the Alaskan boreal forest.



“We’ve seen how dramatic changes to fire and permafrost in the boreal forest caused by climate warming have already disrupted the way these ecosystems have stabilized themselves for millennia,” said principal investigator Michelle Mack, a professor of Biology at NAU. “Over the next six years, we are going to observe how those legacies and disruptions are shaping the forest’s future and the future for communities who depend on the boreal forest.”



To better understand how human activity has shaped the history of these forests, the scientists will collaborate with Alaska Native tribes to develop research questions that are relevant to their communities and take into account the Natives’ role today in managing Alaskan ecosystems.&nbsp;



Building upon decades of data collected through the Bonanza Creek LTER program, the experts will focus on a network of sites across interior Alaska, investigating topics such as how fires affect successional trajectories, how soil microbes are responding to climate warming, how permafrost thaw is changing the hydrological patterns of the region, and how the aspen leaf miner insect and plant pathogens such as the aspen running canker may determine the ability of aspen to thrive and reproduce.



An example of a previous discovery of the Bonanza Creek team that could be used as a starting point in this new project is that increasingly frequent and severe wildfires in Alaska’s boreal forests have caused faster-growing deciduous trees like paper birch and trembling aspen to colonize areas where slower-growing but more flammable black spruce once dominated. Over the next six years, the researchers plan to monitor a wider variety of forest plots that have burned at different times to clarify how these forests are currently re-growing and changing and what roles fires play in these processes.



“Our work at Bonanza Creek LTER has shown us how uncertain the future of the Arctic boreal forest is. The next stage is for this really talented team to map out what kinds of futures are possible, probable, and how humans will play a role in shaping them,” Mack concluded.



—



By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer



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How does climate change alter Alaska’s boreal forest?

While ecological memory stored in a landscape can usually help...

A team of researchers led by <a href="https://www.ncl.ac.uk/">Newcastle University</a> in the United Kingdom has found that a plant-based compound purified from a traditional Chinese herb called Astralagus - which has been used for thousands of years for its medicinal purposes - could significantly improve the health outcomes of individuals who previously experienced a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/heart-attacks-young-women/">heart attack</a>.&nbsp;



The medication, known as TA-65®, is produced by the pharmaceutical company <a href="https://www.tasciences.com/">T.A. Sciences</a>. Unlike current cardiovascular treatments, TA-65® appears to efficiently reduce inflammation without negatively impacting immunity.&nbsp;



In fact, when given to older patients for over a year after their heart attack, TA-65® significantly increased lymphocytes, thus improving immunity. Moreover, patients treated with this drug experienced less complications, or problems such as chest or joint pain, following the heart attack.



“It has become widely recognized that inflammation plays a key role in the formation, progression, and rupture of a coronary plaque, which induces heart attack, but, importantly, it is also a major risk factor for further complications. Reducing inflammation is, therefore, considered a key treatment target following a heart attack for patients and our study showed that TA-65® reduced inflammation by up to 62 percent,” said senior author Ioakim Spyridopoulos, a professor of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Gerontology at Newcastle.



“While some potent anti-inflammatory drugs have been shown to improve outcomes after heart attacks, they result in suppression of the immune system and increase the risk of severe infections. In our study, the widely available drug TA-65® was shown to reduce inflammation but also appears to improve immunity by increasing a patient’s immune cells.”



The researchers - including experts from the <a href="https://www.southtees.nhs.uk/hospitals/james-cook/">James Cook University Hospital</a> - conducted a randomized controlled pilot study in which 90 patients aged 65 or older were given either a placebo drug or TA-65®. The participants had blood measurements taken at baseline, six months, and a year and were reviewed regularly in the clinic for potential side effects.



The investigation revealed that those who received TA-65® - a patented, plant-based compound that helps maintain or rebuild telomeres – had 30 percent fewer side effects, such as fevers or new medical problems, than those given the placebo, while showing reduced inflammation and improved immunity.



The scientists plan to conduct a follow up study with a larger cohort, while also examining whether TA-65® can reduce adverse cardiac events, such as more heart attacks or even death. “If we can show that TA-65® improves the clinical outcomes of patients who have suffered a heart attack, on top of modern treatment options, it will become an important addition to patients’ medical care,” Spyridopoulos concluded.



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11357-023-00794-6">GeroScience</a>.



—



By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer



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Chinese herb improves health of heart attack patients

A team of researchers led by Newcastle University in the...

In a new study published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-05941-9">Nature</a>, researchers have analyzed data from hundreds of plots in Canada’s <a href="https://nfi.nfis.org/en/">National Forest Inventory</a> (NFI). The goal was to clarify the relationship between tree diversity and changes in carbon and nitrogen storage in soils from natural <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/northern-forests-are-being-transformed-by-global-warming/">forests</a>. The experts found that preserving the diversity of forests potentially increases the accumulation of these two substances in the soil, helping to sustain soil fertility and mitigate climate change.



Forest soils play a major role in sequestering carbon extracted from atmospheric CO2 during photosynthesis, storing at least three times more carbon as living plants do. At the same time, nitrogen is an essential nutrient driving carbon assimilation and plant growth in forests.&nbsp;



Although a variety of biodiversity-manipulation experiments have already suggested that higher tree diversity can lead to a larger accumulation of carbon and nitrogen in forest soils, this is the first study to provide evidence of a similar outcome in natural forests.



The researchers analyzed organic soil horizon samples from 361 plots and mineral soil horizon samples from 245 plots covering much of Canada’s landmass, and hosting a variety of fir, maple, pine, spruce, hemlock, cedar, and other tree species.&nbsp;



Then, by comparing data from two NFI sample-plot censuses – one from 2000-2006 and another from 2008-2017 – the experts calculated changes in soil carbon and nitrogen storage over time and assessed the relation between these changes and tree diversity, which was quantified as a combination of tree richness (the number of tree species in a sample plot), species evenness (a measure of the relative abundance of tree species), and functional diversity (the various functional traits of tree species within a community).



The analysis revealed that increasing species evenness from its minimum to its maximum value enhanced carbon storage in the organic soil layer by 30 percent and nitrogen storage by 42 percent, while increasing the functional diversity of trees to its maximum value enhanced carbon storage in the soil mineral layer by 32 percent and nitrogen storage by 50 percent.



“Our study, for the first time, shows the sustained benefits of tree diversity in storing soil carbon and nitrogen in natural forests,” said study lead author Xinli Chen, a postdoctoral fellow in Forest Ecology at the <a href="https://www.ualberta.ca/index.html">University of Alberta</a> in Canada.



“A greater diversity of species translates into a mixture of different types of trees with different ways of acquiring and storing biomass—both in live trunks, roots, branches and leaves and in newly dead and decaying plant detritus on and in the soil,” added co-author Peter Reich, the director of the <a href="https://seas.umich.edu/globalchangebiology">Institute for Global Change Biology</a> (IGCB) at the University of Michigan.



These findings suggest that promoting tree diversity not only increases productivity but can also help mitigating climate change and reducing soil degradation, thus highlighting the importance of biodiversity conservation in forests and guiding efforts to use forests for carbon and nitrogen sequestration.



—



By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer



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Tree diversity increases carbon storage in forest soils

In a new study published in the journal Nature, researchers...

The Amazon rainforest, often referred to as the "lungs of the Earth," plays a vital role in the global carbon cycle by absorbing and storing large amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This critical ecosystem service helps regulate the Earth's climate and mitigate the impacts of climate change. However, the rainforest's ability to store <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/kelp-forests-are-losing-their-capacity-to-trap-carbon/">carbon</a> is under threat due to various factors, including deforestation, climate change, and increasing incidents of drought.



A recent study involving 80 scientists from Europe and South America has shed light on how different regions within the Amazon rainforest are likely to respond to drier conditions brought about by climate change.&nbsp;



The study, led by Dr. Julia Tavares and Professor David Galbraith of the <a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/">University of Leeds</a>, reveals that trees in the western and southern Amazon face the greatest risk of dying due to drought. The death of these trees, and consequently the loss of their ability to store carbon, could have significant implications for the global carbon cycle and climate change mitigation efforts.



Historically, scientific investigations have focused on the central-eastern region of the forest, which is the least vulnerable to drought. This means that the potential impacts of drought on the entire Amazon rainforest may have been underestimated. The current study offers the first comprehensive assessment of how different regions of the Amazon might respond to an increasingly warm and dry climate.



Professor Galbraith highlighted the importance of understanding the stress limits that the Amazon forest can endure:&nbsp; “Our study provides new insights into the limits of forest resistance to one major stressor - drought.”



The Amazon is not a single, homogenous forest. It is composed of numerous forest regions that span various climate zones, ranging from extremely wet to very dry. Dr. Tavares explained that the research aimed to examine how these diverse forest ecosystems were coping with the stresses they faced.



Published in the scientific journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-05971-3">Nature</a>, the study's findings remove a "major knowledge bottleneck of how climate change will impact this critical ecosystem."&nbsp;



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



The research team, known as the "tree doctors," collected measurements and samples from 11 separate sites across the western, central-eastern, and southern Amazon – covering Brazil, Peru, and Bolivia – over the course of a year. This comprehensive data set allowed the scientists to evaluate the drought resistance of 540 individual trees across 129 species.



Despite the southern part of the Amazon Forest demonstrating the greatest degree of adaptation to cope with drought, the study revealed that trees in this region still faced the highest risk of dying due to drought. This increased vulnerability is likely a result of rapid climate change and disruption to rainfall patterns caused by deforestation, which have pushed trees to the limits of their adaptability.



Conversely, tree species in the wettest parts of the Amazon Forest exhibited the lowest levels of adaptation to drought, yet were considered the safest in terms of future climate change risks. This is because these areas have not yet been significantly impacted by changes in rainfall.



The researchers emphasize that their findings should be used to update and refine existing models on how the Amazon may be impacted by drier conditions, as previous studies may have underestimated the vulnerability of certain forest regions to climate change. With a more nuanced understanding of the Amazon rainforest's response to drought, scientists and policymakers can better assess the potential consequences of climate change and develop targeted strategies to preserve this vital ecosystem.



<h2 id="h-more-about-carbon-storage-in-the-amazon-rainforest">More about carbon storage in the Amazon rainforest&nbsp;</h2>



Carbon storage in the Amazon rainforest plays a significant role in regulating global climate. The vast expanse of the Amazon, covering approximately 6.7 million square kilometers, is home to an estimated 390 billion individual trees belonging to over 16,000 species. These trees absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere and store it in their biomass through the process of photosynthesis.



The Amazon rainforest is responsible for storing an estimated 76 to 96 billion metric tons of carbon, making it one of the largest terrestrial carbon sinks on the planet. This carbon storage capacity helps offset human-induced greenhouse gas emissions, thereby mitigating the impacts of climate change. Furthermore, the vastness and diversity of the Amazon contribute to the stability of weather patterns, influencing precipitation and temperature.



However, this vital ecosystem service is under threat from various factors. Deforestation, often driven by logging, agriculture, and infrastructure development, directly results in the loss of trees and, consequently, their ability to store carbon. When trees are cut down or burned, the stored carbon is released back into the atmosphere, contributing to increased greenhouse gas concentrations and exacerbating climate change.



Climate change and drought also pose significant threats to the Amazon's carbon storage capacity. As temperatures rise and rainfall patterns change, some regions within the rainforest become drier, increasing the likelihood of tree mortality. The recent study led by Dr. Julia Tavares and Professor David Galbraith revealed that trees in the western and southern Amazon face the highest risk of dying due to drought. This could lead to a decrease in the forest's ability to absorb and store carbon, further accelerating climate change.



To preserve the Amazon's carbon storage capacity, it is crucial to implement targeted conservation strategies, such as sustainable forest management, reforestation efforts, and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, enhancing our understanding of the Amazon rainforest's response to climate change and drought will help inform policies and actions to maintain its health and resilience.



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The Amazon rainforest and the looming threat of drought

The Amazon rainforest, often referred to as the "lungs of...

Across the tropical regions of the world, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/californias-forests-are-losing-their-ability-to-recover/">forests</a> face a myriad of challenges brought on by global change. One such challenge is the combined impact of increased lightning frequency and the prevalence of woody vines known as lianas.&nbsp;



In a new study supported by the <a href="https://www.nsf.gov/">National Science Foundation</a>, researchers have investigated the potential impacts of this phenomenon. The experts found that the "one-two punch" of lightning and lianas is causing higher mortality rates among smaller trees. This could ultimately alter the composition of tropical forests and reduce their capacity to store carbon.



Matt Kane, a program director in NSF's Division of Environmental Biology, highlighted the importance of understanding the consequences of ecological disturbances driven by climate change. "Knowing the short- and long-term effects of lightning strikes is helping improve scientific understanding and sustainability of tropical forest ecosystems."



Tropical forests are subject to approximately 35-67 million lightning strikes each year, with a growing trend toward more frequent strikes. Lead author Evan Gora, a scientist at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, noted that "lightning is a major cause of tree death and forest disturbance, yet it has been understudied as an agent of change."&nbsp;



Gora and his team set out to determine why certain lightning strikes cause more tree deaths than others, and found that lianas play a crucial role. Lianas are long-stemmed, woody vines that are prevalent in tropical forests. These plants compete for sunlight by climbing trees and extending into their canopies.&nbsp;



The researchers discovered a positive correlation between liana density and the number of trees killed or damaged by lightning. Their research suggests that this is because lianas are highly conductive and serve as a conduit for electrical current to flow from large trees to smaller ones.



"Large trees are more likely to be struck by lightning. When lianas are in the canopy, they amplify the effects of lightning strikes, resulting in more severe damage to neighboring trees," said Gora. He explained that "by physically connecting trees that would otherwise be separated, lianas act like jumper cables, delivering deadly electrical current to smaller understory trees that would otherwise survive a lightning strike."



<h2 id="h-how-the-research-was-conducted">How the research was conducted</h2>



The study was conducted in a lowland forest on Barro Colorado Island, Panama, which is the only tropical forest where lightning impacts have been systematically quantified. Researchers estimate that lightning is responsible for the death of more than 16 percent of tree biomass annually on the island, including 40-50 percent of the largest trees.



To investigate the role of lianas in lightning disturbance severity, the team used a novel lightning detection system. They conducted surveys on 78 lightning strikes in areas with mapped liana presence and monitored 1,921 trees that had sustained visible lightning damage. Tree conditions were assessed within four months of the lightning strike and up to four times within the following 23 months.&nbsp;



The findings of this study shed light on the complex relationships between lightning, lianas, and tropical forests, as well as the potential implications for forest ecosystems as a whole. The research is published in the journal <a href="https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/14698137">New Phytologist</a>.



<h2 id="h-tropical-forests-face-multiple-threats">Tropical forests face multiple threats</h2>



Tropical forests, which are some of the most biodiverse and ecologically significant ecosystems on Earth, face a variety of challenges and threats. These issues not only jeopardize the health and stability of these forests but also have global implications for climate change and biodiversity conservation. Some of the key issues faced by tropical forests include:



<h3 id="h-deforestation">Deforestation</h3>



Large-scale clearing of tropical forests for agriculture, logging, infrastructure development, and mining is a major threat to these ecosystems. Deforestation results in habitat loss, fragmentation, and degradation, which can lead to a decline in biodiversity and disrupted ecosystem functioning.



<h3 id="h-climate-change">Climate change</h3>



Rising temperatures, changes in precipitation patterns, and more frequent and severe weather events due to climate change pose significant challenges for tropical forests. These changes can affect forest structure, composition, and function, as well as increase the risk of wildfires, pest outbreaks, and disease.



<h3 id="h-invasive-species">Invasive species</h3>



Non-native species can be introduced to tropical forests intentionally or accidentally, and they can have severe ecological impacts. Invasive species can outcompete native species for resources, disrupt ecosystem processes, and even lead to the extinction of native species.



<h3 id="h-over-exploitation">Over-exploitation&nbsp;</h3>



Over-harvesting of timber, fuelwood, and non-timber forest products can lead to forest degradation and a decline in biodiversity. Unsustainable hunting and poaching can also threaten wildlife populations and disrupt ecological balance.



<h3 id="h-pollution">Pollution</h3>



Air, water, and soil pollution from industrial and agricultural activities can have detrimental effects on tropical forests. Contaminants can harm plants and animals, disrupt nutrient cycling, and affect overall forest health.



<h3 id="h-disease-and-pests">Disease and pests</h3>



Pests and diseases can cause significant damage to tropical forests, especially when exacerbated by climate change and habitat disturbance. These threats can result in the decline of specific tree species, which in turn can affect the overall structure and function of the forest ecosystem.



<h3 id="h-land-use-change">Land-use change</h3>



Changing land-use patterns, such as urbanization and agricultural expansion, can lead to the conversion of tropical forests into other land uses. This process contributes to habitat loss and fragmentation, as well as increased human-wildlife conflict.



To address these challenges, it is vital to implement effective conservation strategies, promote sustainable land-use practices, and raise awareness about the importance of tropical forests. This will help protect these valuable ecosystems and the numerous species that depend on them, while also mitigating the impacts of climate change and preserving vital ecosystem services for future generations.



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Woody vines amplify the effects of lightning in tropical forests

Across the tropical regions of the world, forests face a...

Scientists previously believed that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/eating-chili-peppers-could-save-your-life/">chili peppers</a> - Capsiceae, a group within the nightshade (Solanaceae) family – originated in South America about 15 million years ago. However, a team of botanists and paleontologists led by the <a href="https://www.colorado.edu/">University of Colorado Boulder</a> has recently discovered several fossil chili peppers in museum collections gathered from the Green River Formation (a geological treasure trove spanning northwestern Colorado and southwestern Wyoming). The discovery suggests that these plants were present in North America at least 50 million years ago.&nbsp;



The nightshade family comprises over 3,000 species from nearly 100 different genera, including the chili pepper. Like the tomato, the chili pepper is technically a fruit because it has seeds on the inside. While the researchers cannot be sure of the ancient chili’s shape or color, it was probably smaller compared to its modern counterparts, but may have still been quite spicy.&nbsp;



The experts identified the fossils by the unique shape of their calyx teeth – the spikes on the end of the fruiting stems which hold on to the peppers. “The world has maybe 300,000 plant species. The only plants with that kind of calyx is this group of 80 or 90 species,” said senior author Stacey Smith, an associate professor of Evolutionary Biology at CU Boulder.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Low-Res_First-CU-fossil-side-1-v2.JPG.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1917184"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">CU Boulder’s Rocío Deanna and Abel Campos identified this chili pepper fossil in the CU Boulder Museum of Natural History collections by the unique shape of its calyx teeth: spikes on the end of the fruiting stem that hold on to the pepper. Image Credit: R. Deanna</figcaption></figure>



According to Smith and her colleagues, these fossils originated in the Eocene period, between 34 and 56 million years ago, when carbon dioxide levels were twice as high as today and palm trees grew as far north as Alaska.&nbsp;



While scientists have previously assumed that chili peppers and other plants from the nightshade family originated in South America about 10 to 15 million years ago, and then dispersed over land and water to other continents, this new discovery suggests that various plants from the nightshade family – including chili peppers - may have existed in North America 40 to 50 million years ago.



The researchers believe that fruit-eating birds – which roamed the Earth as early as 60 million years ago – may have carried seeds and plants in their migrations around the world in their guts, stuck to their feathers, or in mud on their feet, thus helping to distribute them from continent to continent. However, since birds depended on such plants for sustenance, the relationship between the two groups of organisms was likely mutual.&nbsp;



Although further research is needed to clarify whether the nightshade family has started in North America instead of South America, and then dispersed in the other direction, this study clearly shows that some species belonging to this family, such as the chili pepper, are much older than previously thought.



“These chili peppers, a species that we thought arose in an evolutionary blink of an eye, have been around for a super long time. We’re still coming to grips with this new timeline,” Smith concluded.



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/nph.18904">New Phytologist</a>.



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By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer



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Chili peppers may have existed in North America 50 million years ago

Scientists previously believed that chili peppers - Capsiceae, a group...

<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=2E0mn5mTvhQ
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">'Death Star' moon Mimas conceals a 15-million-year-old ocean that scientists never expected.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hidden-waters-beneath-ancient-craters">Hidden waters beneath ancient craters</h2>



Scientists have made a startling discovery that challenges everything we thought we knew about <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/saturn-moon-mimas-has-remarkably-young-ocean/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Saturn's moon Mimas</a>. Beneath the heavily cratered surface that earned it the nickname "Death Star" lies a global ocean that formed just 5 to 15 million years ago—a remarkably young age by cosmic standards.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cassini-data-reveals-orbital-secrets">Cassini data reveals orbital secrets</h2>



The discovery, led by Dr. Valéry Lainey of the <a href="https://observatoiredeparis.psl.eu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Observatoire de Paris</a>, emerged from careful analysis of <a href="https://www.nasa.gov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA</a>'s Cassini spacecraft data. By studying subtle irregularities in Mimas's orbit around Saturn, researchers detected the gravitational signature of liquid water hidden 20 to 30 kilometers beneath the moon's icy shell.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-an-unlikely-ocean-world">An unlikely ocean world</h2>



At only 400 kilometers in diameter, Mimas seemed like the least likely candidate to harbor a subsurface ocean. Unlike other ocean moons such as Europa and Enceladus, which show clear surface signs of internal activity, Mimas displays no obvious hints of the liquid water beneath its ancient, crater-scarred exterior.



"Mimas is a small moon, and its heavily cratered surface gave no hint of the hidden ocean beneath," explained Dr. Nick Cooper from <a href="https://www.qmul.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Queen Mary University of London</a>, a study co-author.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-for-astrobiology">Implications for astrobiology</h2>



The ocean's recent formation makes Mimas a prime target for studying how oceans develop and potentially support life. This discovery adds another member to the exclusive club of ocean worlds in our solar system, each offering unique insights into the conditions necessary for habitability.



The research, published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a> journal, demonstrates how advanced orbital analysis can reveal hidden features of celestial bodies, opening new possibilities for understanding ocean formation throughout the cosmos.



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Scientists discover unexpected young ocean on Saturn's cratered moon Mimas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2E0mn5mTvhQ 'Death Star' moon Mimas conceals a 15-million-year-old ocean that...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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Worms dominated seas before dinosaurs

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



The full study was published in the journal Current Biology.



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Earth's oldest forest found in the United States

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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The environmental problem we actually solved

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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What to plant in your garden in mid-July

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Wildlife tunnels save millions of amphibians

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

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



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



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https://youtu.be/Ug657J67iEo?si=w96YjGMsg939LD_3
</div></figure>



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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...

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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

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