<p>Mammals are not only good at hearing sounds, they are especially tuned to voices. A new cross-species study compared humans, dogs, and pigs and mapped how fast the brain flags a voice, then sorts out whether it belongs to one of our own.</p>



<p>The researchers recorded tiny pulses of brain activity while participants listened to people, dogs, and pigs, plus everyday noises. The animals were awake, relaxed, and unmedicated, and the sessions used gentle scalp sensors, not implants.</p>



<p>A team from <a href="https://www.elte.hu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eötvös Loránd University</a> (ELU) focused on two questions that cut to the heart of social hearing in mammals. </p>



<p>The first was whether the brain treats vocal sounds as a distinct category, separate from other noises. The second was whether it goes a step further, recognizing and highlighting voices that belong to members of the same species - a process known as conspecific recognition.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracking-brain-signals-to-sound">Tracking brain signals to sound</h2>



<p>The setup used non-invasive EEG sensors to track the brain’s fast electrical responses to sound. The signal components the team examined are called event-related potentials, and they are well suited for timing how processing unfolds.</p>



<p>Participants heard short clips such as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/laughter-makes-the-stress-of-life-feel-less-overwhelming/">laughs</a>, barks, and grunts, alongside non vocal noises like traffic or a closing door. </p>



<p>The recordings let the researchers compare voice versus non-voice processing, then compare same species voices to all other sounds.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-two-step-brain-response">Two-step brain response</h2>



<p>In humans and pigs, the brain marked any voice very quickly, within about 0.2 seconds after the sound began. </p>



<p>Later, after roughly 0.3 seconds and beyond, all three species showed a second step that tagged same species voices as a special category.</p>



<p>“These patterns were very similar despite the large evolutionary distance between the three species, pointing to shared neural mechanisms that likely predate the divergence of their lineages some 90 million years ago,” said Boglárka Morvai, the study's lead author.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dogs-pigs-and-people">Dogs, pigs, and people</h2>



<p>Dogs did not show the early “any voice” signal as clearly as humans and pigs, even though they live closely with people. </p>



<p>They did show the later step that marked dog sounds as different from other sounds, which matches the idea that same species calls matter most for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/gut-bacteria-influence-our-social-behavior-and-sense-of-fairness/">social behavior.</a></p>



<p>Pigs showed both steps and did so on a similar time course to people. That pattern strengthens the case that the early voice flag is a general feature of mammal hearing, not a quirk of primates.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-voice-areas-in-mammals">Voice areas in mammals</h2>



<p>For two decades, brain imaging in humans has found voice sensitive regions in the superior temporal cortex, often called temporal voice areas. </p>



<p>A comprehensive review outlines how these regions support recognition of who is speaking, what they feel, and how the voice changes over time.</p>



<p>Dogs have their own voice sensitive patches too, and they align in function with human areas when both species listen to vocal sounds.</p>



<p> A comparative paper showed that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/lost-in-translation-how-we-misread-our-dogs-emotions/">dog</a> and human brains both devote cortex to processing voices, including sensitivity to emotional tone.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-speed-of-voice-detection">Speed of voice detection</h2>



<p>Past EEG work in people has reported early differences between voice and non-voice sounds on the order of a fifth of a second. </p>



<p>One open access article found effects emerging around 0.164 seconds and peaking near 0.2 seconds on frontotemporal sensors.</p>



<p>These timings line up with the early “any voice” response reported in the recent study. The later same species effect fits with known windows for categorical decisions in auditory cognition.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pig-brains-and-voices">Pig brains and voices</h2>



<p>Pigs are increasingly used in neuroscience because their brains share organizational features with ours. </p>



<p>Recent physiology work has mapped clear auditory event-related responses in healthy piglets using scalp EEG, strengthening their value as a model species.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Finding the early voice flag in pigs suggests that this quick detection step is not limited to primates or carnivores. It likely reflects a basic property of mammalian hearing tuned by social life.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-evolutionary-roots-of-voice">Evolutionary roots of voice</h2>



<p>The two-step pattern, first voice detection, then same species sorting, makes evolutionary sense. Fast detection buys time to orient toward a biologically relevant sound, then a later pass adds the social label needed to decide how to react.</p>



<p>If distantly related species share both steps, the underlying circuitry likely traces back to a common ancestor. That is consistent with decades of work showing conserved organization for voice and affect processing across mammals.</p>



<p>All recordings relied on cooperative, awake participation. Dogs and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/selective-breeding-has-dramatically-sped-up-the-evolution-of-pigs/">pigs</a> were measured in calm settings, often near their owners, and no training or sedation was required for them to rest while the sensors recorded.</p>



<p>The protocol emphasizes trust and low stress, which improves data quality and respects the welfare of companion animals. The approach also allows direct comparisons with human EEG.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sorting-same-species-voices">Sorting same-species voices</h2>



<p>Same-species voices carry information about identity, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/experts-identify-the-simple-emotion-that-gives-life-meaning-and-its-not-happiness/">emotion</a>, age, and intent. That richer meaning calls for more processing than a quick voice versus non-voice flag.</p>



<p>The later timing suggests a categorical decision process in which the brain checks acoustic features against learned templates for its own kind. </p>



<p>In humans, that machinery feeds into language, but it operates in social mammals that do not use speech.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-of-voice-studies">Future of voice studies</h2>



<p>Future studies can add more species and test a wider range of calls to see how acoustic structure shapes the early and late steps. Portable EEG could expand testing into natural settings where animals communicate most.</p>



<p>Combining EEG with imaging can also map the timing onto brain regions, tying the fast electrical signatures to specific circuits. That could clarify how the two steps interact during real world social listening.</p>



<p>Better models of voice processing can guide assistive tech for people with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/drugs-may-be-available-to-prevent-hearing-loss/">hearing</a> or language challenges. They can also inform animal welfare by helping us detect stress or need from vocal cues in pets and livestock.</p>



<p>Cross species designs like this one keep us honest about what is uniquely human and what is widely shared. That distinction matters for both neuroscience and ethics.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1053811925003581?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>NeuroImage</em></a>.</p>



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Mammals share ancient brain mechanisms for voice recognition

Mammals are not only good at hearing sounds, they are especially tuned to voices. A new cross-species study compared humans, dogs, and pigs and mapped how fast the brain flags a voice, then sorts out whether it belongs to one of our own. The researchers recorded tiny pulses of brain activity while participants listened to people, dogs, and pigs, plus everyday noises. The animals were awake, relaxed, and unmedicated, and the sessions used gentle scalp sensors, not implants. A team from Eötvös Loránd University (ELU) focused on...

<p>If an extraterrestrial civilization went hunting for human-made signals, the best time to listen would be during lineups between Earth and other planets. The best places to look would be solar systems oriented edge-on to us, within a few dozen light-years.</p>



<p>That’s the message from a new analysis of our strongest, most persistent transmissions into deep space. The study was led by researchers at <a href="https://www.psu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Penn State</a> and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.</p>



<p>The experts mapped 20 years of human deep-space communications to show when and where they would be most detectable by observers beyond the solar system. The findings could improve our own search strategies for technosignatures.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-detecting-extraterrestrial-communications">Detecting extraterrestrial communications</h2>



<p>“Humans are predominantly communicating with the spacecraft and probes we have sent to study other planets like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mars-captured-in-true-color-like-youve-never-seen-the-red-planet-before/">Mars</a>,” said lead author Pinchen Fan, a graduate student in astronomy and astrophysics at Penn State.</p>



<p>Because Mars does not fully block transmissions, a distant spacecraft or planet aligned with Earth and another Solar System body could detect the spillover.</p>



<p>“This suggests that we should look for alignment of planets outside of our solar system when searching for extraterrestrial communications,” she said.</p>



<p>SETI scientists sift the sky for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/searching-for-technosignatures-from-intelligent-life-in-the-cosmos/">technosignatures</a> - signs of past or present technology - as evidence of intelligent life.</p>



<p>“Researchers often search the universe for signs of past or present technology, called technosignatures, as evidence of intelligent life,” Fan said. </p>



<p>“Considering the direction and frequency of our most common signals gives insights into where we should be looking to improve our chances of detecting alien technosignatures.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracking-decades-of-space-transmissions">Tracking decades of space transmissions</h2>



<p>The team analyzed public logs from NASA’s Deep Space Network (<a href="https://www.nasa.gov/communicating-with-missions/dsn/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">DSN</a>). This trio of powerful antenna complexes in California, Spain, and Australia that uplinks commands and downlinks data to and from interplanetary spacecraft and space telescopes.</p>



<p>The researchers matched each DSN transmission to the targets’ positions, reconstructing the timing and directionality of Earth’s most potent radio beams.</p>



<p>“NASA's Deep Space Network provides the crucial link between Earth and its interplanetary missions like the New Horizons spacecraft and the James Webb Space Telescope,” said co-author Joseph Lazio, a project scientist at <a href="https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">JPL</a>.</p>



<p>“It sends some of humanity's strongest and most persistent <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-detect-more-than-20-mysterious-radio-signals-from-space/">radio signals</a> into space, and the public logs of its transmissions allowed our team to establish the temporal and spatial patterns of those transmissions for the past 20 years.”</p>



<p>Most of those beams point toward Mars missions. Others target spacecraft elsewhere in the Solar System and observatories parked at the Sun–Earth Lagrange points. These are gravitational sweet spots where telescopes like the JWST hover in a stable alignment as seen from Earth.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-earth-signals-during-planetary-alignments">Earth signals during planetary alignments </h2>



<p>Because the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/interstellar-tunnel-cosmic-channel-discovered-connects-our-solar-system-to-other-stars/">Solar System</a> is essentially flat - think planets tracing paths on a dinner plate - DSN transmissions hug Earth’s orbital plane, with the vast majority within five degrees of it. Eavesdroppers are most likely to catch our signals when Earth aligns with another planet.</p>



<p>”Based on data from the last 20 years, we found that if an extraterrestrial intelligence were in a location that could observe the alignment of Earth and Mars, there’s a 77 percent chance that they would be in the path of one of our transmissions,” Fan said.</p>



<p>“If they could view an alignment with another solar-system planet, there is a 12 percent chance they would be in the path of our transmissions.”</p>



<p>In practical terms, an average DSN signal would be detectable with Earth-class radio telescopes out to roughly 23 light-years, the team calculated. Focusing on edge-on star systems and timing observations with planetary alignments could greatly improve success odds.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-using-earth-s-signals-as-a-guide">Using Earth’s signals as a guide</h2>



<p>Astronomers already watch exoplanets during transits, when a world crosses its star and dims it from our perspective. That same planetary alignment is when spillover from another civilization’s interplanetary chatter would most likely pass our line of sight.</p>



<p>“However, because we are only starting to detect a lot of exoplanets in the last decade or two, we do not know many systems with two or more transiting exoplanets,” Fan said.</p>



<p>“With the upcoming launch of NASA's <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nasas-roman-space-telescope-hopes-to-solve-the-dark-matter-mystery/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope</a>, we expect to detect a hundreds of thousands previously undetected exoplanets, so our potential search area should increase greatly.”</p>



<p>The team noted that this alignment-first strategy also applies to searches for optical technosignatures. Future spacefaring societies may prefer <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/lasers-make-quantum-materials-reveal-their-hidden-properties/">lasers</a> for deep-space links, which spill less than radio beams. These signals would still be most detectable along the transmitter’s line to its target.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-searching-for-alien-signals">Searching for alien signals</h2>



<p>“Humans are pretty early in our spacefaring journey," said Professor Jason Wright, the director of the Penn State Extraterrestrial Intelligence Center and co-author of the study. "As we reach further into our Solar System, our transmissions to other planets will only increase.” </p>



<p>The next step is to identify nearby star systems that match those criteria, focusing on planetary alignments, and estimate how often any given system would have been swept by Earth’s beams over the past two decades.</p>



<p>In a field where vast search spaces collide with limited telescope time, aiming at the cosmic equivalents of our own “Mars call” geometry could be the efficiency gain that finally turns a faint whisper into a first hello.</p>



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Planetary alignments may hold the key to detecting alien life

If an extraterrestrial civilization went hunting for human-made signals, the...

<p>Moisture isn’t just a background player in the atmosphere. New research shows it can make one kind of atmospheric block dig in and linger while weakening another. </p>



<p>The study helps explain why some heat waves, cold spells, droughts, and flood patterns persist for days or weeks - and why some climate models have predicted fewer blocking events as the planet warms.</p>



<p>The research was led by Zhaoyu Liu, a Ph.D. student in the Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences at <a href="https://www.eaps.purdue.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Purdue University</a>. Lei Wang, an assistant professor who conceived the idea and served as corresponding author, set the study in motion.</p>



<p>Their paper reframes a decades-old assumption about a “dry” atmosphere and replaces it with a moisture-aware view of how atmospheric blocks evolve.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-when-the-jet-stream-stops">When the jet stream stops</h2>



<p>Atmospheric blocking occurs when large-scale pressure patterns stall the normal west-to-east flow. Ridge blocks are bulging domes of high pressure that shove the jet stream north and often anchor <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/africas-heat-waves-are-getting-hotter-longer-and-deadlier/">heat waves</a>.</p>



<p>Dipole blocks pair a high and low side by side, locking contrasting weather in place. In both cases, persistence is the problem. The longer the block, the greater the impacts.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dry-theories-miss-moisture">Dry theories miss moisture</h2>



<p>“Since the beginning of modern meteorology (around the 1940s), most classical theories for atmospheric blocking were developed based on the assumption that we are living in a completely dry world,” Wang said.</p>



<p>“Obviously, that assumption was helpful for simplifying the processes to its essence, but a completely dry assumption is not the case in the real atmosphere.”</p>



<p>In reality, moist air rises, condenses, and releases latent heat. That “diabatic” heating changes pressure patterns, feeds certain waves, and can either reinforce or erode a block. The question has been how - and whether the answer differs by block type.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-moisture-s-split-role-in-the-atmosphere">Moisture’s split role in the atmosphere</h2>



<p>The team shows that the atmosphere’s moisture doesn’t act uniformly. It amplifies some blocks and damps others.</p>



<p>“We find that while moisture-induced diabatic heating is conducive to the persistence of ridge blocks, it exerts a surprising damping effect that significantly weakens the amplitude of dipole blocks,” Wang said.</p>



<p>That split personality helps untangle a climate-model puzzle. As the air warms, it can hold more moisture. If moisture makes ridges tougher but softens dipoles, then the balance of blocking behaviors can shift.</p>



<p>Some models have projected fewer total blocks in a warmer <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/looking-to-earths-ancient-climate-to-predict-our-future/">climate</a>. The new mechanism shows how a moister atmosphere could, paradoxically, reduce the strength or number of dipole blocks even as it props up ridges.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-physics-of-blocking">The physics of blocking</h2>



<p>To move beyond patterns and into causes, the researchers leaned on the geopotential height tendency equation. This is a backbone of atmospheric dynamics and links heating and motion to changes in pressure surfaces aloft.</p>



<p>With it, they offered a physical interpretation for how latent heat released by condensation can reinforce high-pressure domes while sapping the seesawing strength of adjacent high–low pairs. </p>



<p>The result is a clearer mechanistic bridge from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/clouds-are-shrinking-and-making-the-earth-hotter/">clouds</a> and rain to the fate of stalled weather regimes.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-road-rules-meet-weather">Road rules meet weather</h2>



<p>Wang compares blocked flows to congestion on a highway. “Without considering moisture, yes, blocks can happen,” Wang said.</p>



<p>“However, the role of moisture is just like the road condition at the time of the traffic jam. Sometimes, if the blocks are of different shapes (such as trough or dipole), they may exert an influence to reduce the strength of the blocks.”</p>



<p>In other words, depending on the configuration, moisture can act like a slick surface that loosens the jam. Or, for ridge blocks, it can be the sticky pavement that slows everything down.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-moisture-improves-forecasts">Moisture improves forecasts</h2>



<p>“Blocking events usually lead to extreme weather events, such as heat waves or cold spells or <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/drought-triggers-early-autumn-by-forcing-leaves-to-fall/">droughts</a>,” Wang said.</p>



<p>“Recognizing and unraveling these distinct roles of diabatic heating for different types of blocks will help us to better predict the evolution of blocking events.”</p>



<p>That prospect matters most on the subseasonal-to-seasonal timescales - two to eight weeks ahead&nbsp; where forecast skill is notoriously thin and societal stakes are high.</p>



<p>Improved treatment of moisture-block interactions can help forecasters anticipate whether a ridge will lock down and intensify a heat wave, or whether a dipole configuration will fade sooner than expected. </p>



<p>This insight can also help climate modelers diagnose why different models disagree on blocking trends and adjust physics accordingly.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-wetter-view-of-extremes">A wetter view of extremes</h2>



<p>Wang’s group studies large-scale dynamics on Earth and other planets, with a particular eye on blocks and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/extreme-weather-is-pushing-nature-toward-a-breaking-point/">extreme weather</a>. The goal is to close the forecast gap on events that cause outsized damage but remain hard to predict. </p>



<p>This study’s message is both simple and actionable: moisture matters, and it matters differently depending on the shape of the block.</p>



<p>That insight updates a foundational theory without discarding its elegance. It takes the clean “dry-world” framework of classic meteorology and adds the messy ingredient that nature never leaves out. </p>



<p>In doing so, it offers a path to sharper warnings for the high-impact spells that define our weather memories - when heat lingers, rain won’t quit, or cold air refuses to budge.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-60811-4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Nature Communications</em></a><em>.</em></p>



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Moisture in the atmosphere causes extreme weather to last longer

Moisture isn’t just a background player in the atmosphere. New...

<p>For decades, young quaking aspen struggled to grow beyond waist high in Yellowstone. Elk snipped off tender shoots year after year, and the forest’s understory stayed bare.</p>



<p>That pattern is finally changing as a new wave of young trees pushes upward toward the canopy. The shift is not subtle either, and it carries lessons about predators, plants, and how ecosystems reset after long pressure.</p>



<p>Wolves came back to <a href="https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/nature/upload/2023-Wolf-Report-final_web.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Yellowstone</a> in 1995 and, over time, elk behavior and distribution shifted, with winter counts showing most elk north of the park boundary and fewer inside where aspen stands are concentrated. </p>



<p>The new study was led by <a href="https://fwcs.oregonstate.edu/users/luke-painter" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Luke E. Painter</a>, an ecologist at Oregon State University (<a href="https://oregonstate.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">OSU</a>).</p>



<p>Ecologists call this a <a href="https://trophiccascades.forestry.oregonstate.edu/sites/default/files/Beschta2023_foodwebs.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">trophic cascade</a>, the indirect, systemwide effects that follow the loss or return of an apex predator, and Yellowstone has become a clear test case for that idea.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-measuring-wolves-impact-on-aspens">Measuring wolves impact on aspens</h2>



<p>Across 87 aspen stands, researchers documented, in 2020 to 2021, the first new overstory cohort since the 1940s, with 43 percent of stands now containing young trees about 2 to 4 inches in DBH (Diameter at Breast Height).</p>



<p>That's an average of 1,460 stems per hectare, about 590 per acre, and a 152 fold jump in sapling and young tree density relative to the late 1990s.</p>



<p>Height matters here because trees taller than roughly 6.6 feet are far less likely to be clipped, and lower browsing rates lined up with more saplings making it above that escape height.</p>



<p>Field teams combined random plots with stand wide checks to avoid missing scattered pockets of tall saplings. </p>



<p>That approach captured places where a few sheltered stems, sometimes protected by fallen logs, had finally slipped past the nibbling zone.</p>



<p>Earlier work had hinted at this turn, showing young aspen getting taller in the late 2000s as herbivory eased in parts of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/yellowstone-aspen-trees-are-growing-again-thanks-to-reintroduction-of-wolves/">Northern Range</a> and aspen began to rebound.</p>



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



<p><a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/rm/pubs_rm/rm_gtr119.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Aspen</a> stands act like biodiversity magnets, supporting shrubs, wildflowers, birds, insects, and mammals, including beavers that use aspen for food and building.</p>



<p>Their open canopy lets more light reach the ground, which boosts understory growth and, in turn, the wildlife that depends on it.</p>



<p>The picture is not uniform across the landscape, and one reason is bison. <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ece3.10369" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Research</a> shows bison can physically break young aspen and flatten progress in sites they frequent, creating a local bottleneck on tree recruitment even where elk pressure has dropped.</p>



<p>“The reintroduction of large carnivores has initiated a recovery process that had been shut down for decades,” said Painter. </p>



<p>Some stands now bristle with tall saplings, while others still lag as browsers concentrate or as woody debris barriers shift and decay.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-broader-ripple-effects">Broader ripple effects</h2>



<p>The resurgence of aspen in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/yellowstone-supervolcano-eruption-study-sparks-new-debate-on-where-and-when-it-will-erupt/">Yellowstone</a> is not happening in isolation. Stands that have regained height are also improving conditions for riparian zones, with more shade over streams helping regulate water temperatures that support aquatic species. </p>



<p>Insects tied to willow and cottonwood habitats are benefiting as well, creating more food sources for fish, amphibians, and birds.</p>



<p>Scientists note that these indirect benefits can extend far beyond the immediate forest edges. As more diverse vegetation takes hold, soil stability improves, reducing erosion during heavy rains and spring runoff. </p>



<p>This interconnected chain of changes underscores how apex predator restoration can set off physical and biological adjustments that reshape entire landscapes.</p>



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



<p>If browsing stays moderate and fire continues to reset patches of conifers, aspen coverage could keep expanding in more places. </p>



<p>Warmer, drier summers and bison pressure may counter that expansion in others, so the future likely holds a mix of thriving and stubborn stands.</p>



<p>Either way, the northern range is no longer locked in the old pattern of elderly aspen with empty understories. Young trees are finally stepping up to replace the fading overstory.</p>



<p>The study is published in <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378112725004499" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Forest Ecology and Management</em></a>.</p>



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The return of wolves revives trees that had not grown for 80 years

For decades, young quaking aspen struggled to grow beyond waist...

<p>Botanists have formally described a new parasitic plant from the Canary Islands, <em>Orobanche andryalae</em>, after two decades of field work and very patient verification.</p>



<p>It is a tiny member of the <a href="https://phytokeys.pensoft.net/article/141300/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">broomrape group</a> that taps the roots of other plants for water and nutrients, then blooms with understated charm on harsh volcanic ground. It took time, care, and a steady hand to show it really was something new.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-orobanche-andryalae-is-different"><em>Orobanche andryalae</em> is different</h2>



<p>Broomrapes are <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/holoparasite" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">holoparasites</a>, plants that lack green leaves and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/newly-discovered-fairy-lantern-species-thismia-aliasii-cant-photosynthesize/">do not photosynthesize</a>, so they attach to hosts underground and siphon resources quietly until they flower. </p>



<p>That life strategy, effective yet discreet, helps explain why species can be missed or misnamed for years.</p>



<p>The species stands out by a distinctive set of floral traits, including a markedly cernuous, or nodding, corolla and a high point where the filaments attach inside the flower, features that hold steady even when cultivated.</p>



<p>It grows on thermophilous, or heat loving, volcanic substrates and shows a tight association with Andryala species as hosts, a combination recorded in northern Lanzarote, northwest <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-camera-technology-vtt-captures-the-most-detailed-images-ever-taken-of-the-sun/">Tenerife</a>, and the Jandía area of Fuerteventura.</p>



<p>The authors also provide an identification key for the Canary Islands’ broomrapes, a practical step that will reduce future mix ups in this tricky genus.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-from-field-notes-to-greenhouse-proof">From field notes to greenhouse proof</h2>



<p>Researchers watched <em>Orobanche andryalae</em> in the wild for 23 years, logging five plants at a population near Yé and about 40 near Haría on Lanzarote between 2020 and 2022, which helped map its patchy presence and year to year swings.</p>



<p>They then <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-manage-to-grow-plants-from-ancient-seeds-that-are-2000-years-old/">raised the parasite from seed</a> on its host at the University of Oxford Botanic Garden to confirm that the key traits remain constant in cultivation, an important check when field conditions can blur the picture.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-identification-took-so-long">Why identification took so long</h2>



<p><em>Orobanche andryalae</em> sits in a cluster of small flowered species where fine details of floral shape and hair patterns matter, and where different names have historically been applied to similar faces. </p>



<p>Taxonomists have long flagged that this subsection is hard to resolve with morphology alone, especially when pressed herbarium specimens lose color and nuance.</p>



<p>Past <a href="https://www.biology.ox.ac.uk/publication/41327/europe-pubmed-central" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">research</a> on broomrape biology shows why confusion arises. Local lineages can evolve to prefer particular hosts, which leads to look alike plants with different genetic backstories.</p>



<p>Experimental work has also documented host specific races in <em>Orobanche minor</em>, a close relative, offering a useful model for how host choice can shape divergence in parasitic plants.</p>



<p>In that context, the authors’ combined approach, blending stable floral characters, host identity, and ecology, makes the case for species status without waiting on a perfect phylogeny. The careful cultivation step further strengthens it, because it shows the defining traits are not just environmental artifacts.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-protecting-orobanche-andryalae">Protecting <em>Orobanche andryalae</em></h2>



<p>Based on today’s records, the species occurs in few localities and in low numbers, so the authors recommend treating it as “Data Deficient” until long term surveys reveal more, a cautious call that respects limited data while flagging potential concern.</p>



<p><a href="https://treatment.plazi.org/GgServer/html/9D4999B2BB8A52749E9914F6898766F1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Orobanche</em></a> seed banks can, however, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-wollemi-pine-from-the-jurassic-period-is-the-most-protected-tree-on-earth/">remain viable for decades</a>. Apparent absences may hide dormant populations that can reappear when conditions swing in their favor.</p>



<p>The main host, <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/270066891_Andryala_perezii_Asteraceae_a_New_Species_from_the_Canary_Islands" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Andryala perezii</em></a>, is locally common within a narrow range on Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, which hints that more parasite sites may be found as surveys intensify and as botanists check associated Asteraceae more closely.</p>



<p>Seed ecology studies in related broomrapes indicate that prolonged viability is plausible, which bolsters the case for multi-year monitoring before firm threat assessments are made.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-parasitic-plants-in-the-spotlight">Parasitic plants in the spotlight</h2>



<p>Taxonomy can feel like naming for naming’s sake, yet here it unlocks clear signals for conservation, survey priorities, and basic biology. </p>



<p>A stable name tied to diagnostic traits lets land managers, herbaria, and local botanists speak the same language when they report new finds.</p>



<p>It also puts a spotlight on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/some-orchids-turn-parasitic-when-conditions-allow/">parasitic plants</a>, a group that quietly shapes plant communities by redistributing resources underground. </p>



<p>That influence is often overlooked because the action happens at the root, out of sight and away from casual paths.</p>



<p>Finally, this story shows why patience matters in field botany. Twenty three years is a long haul, yet this timescale fits a plant that can vanish for seasons, return in small bursts, and test how carefully we look.</p>



<p>The study is published in <a href="https://phytokeys.pensoft.net/article/141300/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>PhytoKeys</em></a>.</p>



<p>-----</p>



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Leafless and mysterious parasitic plant survives by stealing water from other plants

Botanists have formally described a new parasitic plant from the...

<p>Apollo 17 carried home a sealed tube of lunar soil in 1972. More than five decades later, that core has finally been opened and analyzed, and it is changing what scientists think about how a major lunar landslide moved and settled.</p>



<p>The deposit in question is the Light Mantle, a bright streak in <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/static/history/alsj//a17/a17.ppintro.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Taurus-Littrow Valley</a> at the base of the South Massif. It is the only extraterrestrial landslide ever sampled on-site, and it runs roughly 3.1 miles along the valley floor.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-old-lunar-soil-informs-new-missions">Old lunar soil informs new missions</h2>



<p>“This research is a way of continuing the legacy of the Apollo missions more than 50 years later, providing a bridge to the planned Artemis program,” said Dr. Giulia Magnarini at the Natural History Museum (<a href="https://www.nhm.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NHM</a>) in London who led the work.</p>



<p>NASA set up the Apollo Next Generation Sample Analysis program, or <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/lunar-science/programs/angsa/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ANGSA</a>, to learn how to handle and study old cores as a rehearsal for new ones that Artemis will return. </p>



<p>The program treated the newly opened <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mysterious-rocks-may-unlock-secrets-of-the-moons-magnetic-history/">Apollo cores</a> as a low-cost sample return mission to test tools, workflows, and cross team coordination.</p>



<p>Before any dissection, the tube was scanned at the University of Texas High Resolution X-ray computed tomography facility (<a href="https://www.ctlab.geo.utexas.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UTCT</a>). Images were taken at a 12.9-micrometer voxel size to preserve context and guide the lab work.</p>



<p>Those scans are a non-destructive way to see the internal structure and to protect fragile textures until scientists know what to cut and what to leave intact.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-apollo-soil-shows-granular-flow">Apollo soil shows granular flow</h2>



<p>The team reports two <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/chinese-scientists-have-harvested-water-from-lunar-soil/">signature features</a> of this lunar soil sample. First, the upper roughly two inches of the core is missing larger fragments. This is a clue that the shallow layer was reworked by the lunar surface environment after the landslide stopped.</p>



<p>Second, many particles show a rind of ultrafine grains wrapped around a central chip, forming what geologists call clast cortex aggregates. </p>



<p>That texture shows granular flow, with grains rolling and sliding past each other instead of moving as one block.</p>



<p>Independent work on the same tube’s finest dust backs up the idea of an altered skin at the top of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-device-turns-moon-dirt-into-water-and-oxygen-for-lunar-bases/">deposit</a>. </p>



<p>Researchers found the highest concentration of space-weathering products in the upper few inches. This marked a distinct surface-modified layer overlying more uniform material below.</p>



<p>Together, those lines of evidence tighten the case that the Light Mantle did not just slump once and sit unchanged. Grains slid downslope in a rich flow, and the airless environment later churned and peppered the surface zone.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-light-mantle-preserved-in-lunar-core">Light Mantle preserved in lunar core</h2>



<p>The Light <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sunken-worlds-discovered-under-the-pacific-ocean-in-earths-mantle/">Mantle</a> sits at the foot of a massif that rises about 1.4 miles above the valley floor. That relief explains how debris traveled over 3 miles across a low slope without water or air for lubrication.</p>



<p><a href="https://www.nasa.gov/mission/apollo-17/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Apollo 17</a> also made history for a different reason. Geologist <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/former-astronaut-harrison-schmitt/">Harrison Schmitt</a> became the first scientist to walk on the Moon. It's a decision that paid off in field notes, sample choices, and careful documentation still used today.</p>



<p>The mission returned about 243 pounds of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/meteorite-from-the-moon-tells-a-detailed-story-about-lunar-volcanoes/">lunar rock</a> and soil, the largest haul of any Apollo crew. Among those samples was a double drive tube that reached down roughly 28 inches at Station 3, the very core section later opened for this study.</p>



<p>That tube preserved both the upper skin and deeper layers of the landslide deposit in one vertical slice. It gave the team a way to compare shallow, weathered material with the less modified section below in a single continuous record.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/apollo-17_sealed-lunar-sample_new-study_NASA_1m.jpg"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/apollo-17_sealed-lunar-sample_new-study_NASA_1s.webp" alt="The sample has been unopened since it was first collected in 1972. Credit: Dave Edey and Romy Hanna, UTCT, Jackson School of Geosciences/NASA" class="wp-image-1982929"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>The sample has been unopened since it was first collected in 1972. Click image to enlarge. Credit: Dave Edey and Romy Hanna, UTCT, Jackson School of Geosciences/NASA</em></figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tycho-impact-or-moonquake">Tycho impact or moonquake</h2>



<p>What pushed the South Massif slope past the point of no return remains under debate. One candidate is a shower of fast-moving debris launched by the impact that formed Tycho Crater. </p>



<p>Secondary pockmarks near the massif hint that some of those fragments may have hit the area and shaken the slope loose.</p>



<p>Another idea points to local tectonics. Studies of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/most-dangerous-part-of-this-west-coast-earthquake-fault-cascadia-subduction-zone/">faults</a> and ridges in the valley have argued that seismic shaking along the Lee Lincoln fault zone could have provided the trigger at the right time and place.</p>



<p>The new core textures do not settle that "starting gun" question, and the authors say more work is in progress. The textures reveal how the slide behaved after it began - insight beyond what orbital images alone provide.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lunar-soil-guides-safe-building">Lunar soil guides safe building</h2>



<p>Understanding <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/turning-moon-soil-lunar-regolith-space-debris-into-building-materials/">how regolith behaves</a> under stress is not only an academic problem. Artemis planning needs better data on how loose lunar soil compacts, flows, and carries loads under low gravity if we want to build safe routes, pads, and shelters near rough terrain.</p>



<p>“These samples are about how to preserve, store and open lunar material without damaging the contents," said Dr. Magnarini. "This is already feeding into plans for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/grow-plants-on-moon-by-2026-nasa-artemis-iii-mission/">Artemis</a>’ science and helping to develop new instruments."</p>



<p>There is also a scientific payoff beyond engineering. With the Light Mantle, researchers can compare an on-site sample set to a well-mapped surface deposit. They can then test mechanical models against real textures at millimeter and inch scales.</p>



<p>The feedback loop - from field context to lab imaging to model testing - grows stronger as researchers open more cores and bring new ones home.</p>



<p>ANGSA has shown how to do that work without losing precious context, and that know-how will carry straight into the next decade of lunar exploration.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-artemis-missions-expand-apollo-s-legacy">Artemis missions expand Apollo’s legacy</h2>



<p>Future analyses will extend below the upper 8 inches already imaged in detail and will refine how often clast cortex aggregates occur with depth. </p>



<p>A clear rise or fall in abundance could reveal shifting shear conditions as the slide thinned and settled.</p>



<p>Researchers are also revisiting maps of secondary craters and small impact scars that cross the Light Mantle. </p>



<p>New correlations between crater clusters, slope breaks, and in-core textures could help decide whether Tycho’s debris shower or local quakes are the better match for the trigger <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dry-side-of-the-moon-reveals-new-details-about-its-evolution/">history</a>.</p>



<p>Artemis will return new cores from fresh sites, including places with different slopes and rock types. </p>



<p>Each one will add another test of how dry, airless slides move on a body where liquid water and thick air do not play a role.</p>



<p>The same methods will also help engineers read the shallow subsurface near planned habitats. </p>



<p>A better handle on layering, particle size, and cohesion could steer where to build and how to protect sensitive hardware from dust and ejecta.</p>



<p>-----</p>



<p>Featured image: Astronaut Eugene A. Cernan, commander, drives the Lunar Roving Vehicle during first Apollo 17 extravehicular activity at the Taurus-Littrow landing site. July 20, 1969. Credit: NASA</p>



<p>The study is published in the <a href="https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2024JE008422" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets</em></a>.</p>



<p>-----</p>



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Sealed lunar soil sample from Apollo 17 offers new insight for future moon explorers

Apollo 17 carried home a sealed tube of lunar soil...

<p>Cement keeps our cities standing, but it also keeps them hot. Roofs and pavements absorb sunlight, store heat, and then radiate it back into the air. Air conditioners fight that heat, but they burn electricity and drive up emissions. </p>



<p>Fengyin Du and her team at <a href="https://www.seu.edu.cn/english/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Southeast University</a> believe that cement itself can change the story by cooling cities instead of heating them up.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-regular-cement-fails">Why regular cement fails</h2>



<p>Ordinary cement is dark and doesn’t bounce sunlight away. Instead, it absorbs the sun’s energy and traps it as heat. </p>



<p>The heat then moves into <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/turning-co2-into-cement-a-new-path-to-greener-construction/">buildings</a>, making rooms hotter and harder to cool. It also warms the outside environment, so streets and sidewalks feel hotter too.</p>



<p>When cities heat up this way, people rely more on air conditioning, which uses a lot of electricity. If we continue to use the same materials, the demand for cooling will keep growing. </p>



<p>By the middle of this century, the energy used for cooling could make carbon emissions up to three times higher than today.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-building-a-different-cement">Building a different cement</h2>



<p>The&nbsp;Southeast University team took a different approach. The researchers created a cement where crystals form naturally on the surface. The mineral ettringite does the heavy lifting.</p>



<p>“It works like a mirror and a radiator, so it can reflect sunlight away and send heat out into the sky, so a building can stay cooler without any air conditioning or electricity,” explained Du.</p>



<p>The cement also lets heat escape because of tiny pores and a gel rich in aluminum. Together, these features turn the surface into both reflector and radiator.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-the-cooling-cement-is-made">How the cooling cement is made</h2>



<p>The recipe starts with common <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ancient-roman-concrete-offers-lessons-for-sustainable-building/">minerals</a> like limestone, gypsum, alumina, and silica. These are shaped into pellets, heated, and then ground. </p>



<p>When mixed with water, the particles react to form both ettringite and gel. To shape the surface, the team used molds and air bubbles that left behind microcavities. </p>



<p>Crystals grow inside these cavities, creating patterns that scatter light and boost reflectivity.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-testing-the-cement-in-sunlight">Testing the cement in sunlight</h2>



<p>The researchers placed the new cement on a rooftop at Purdue University to see how it worked in real sunlight. </p>



<p>The cement stayed cooler than the air around it - by 5.4°C (9.7°F) - and much cooler than normal Portland cement - by 26°C (47°F). That means it didn’t trap heat the way regular cement does.</p>



<p>Even at night, when there’s no sunlight, the cement kept releasing stored heat into the sky. This showed that its cooling ability doesn’t stop when the sun goes down. It can keep surfaces cooler both day and night.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-strength-and-resilience">Strength and resilience</h2>



<p>Cooling power alone isn’t enough. Buildings need <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/recycled-cement-is-an-absolute-miracle-to-lower-concrete-emissions/">materials</a> that last. The new cement showed compressive strength above 100 MPa, stronger than many traditional mixes. </p>



<p>It resisted scratches, stayed intact under freeze-thaw cycles, and endured immersion in corrosive liquids. After months of UV exposure and a full year outdoors, its reflectivity barely dropped.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-brighter-city-streets">Brighter city streets</h2>



<p>Cement is usually gray, but the new research shows that it doesn’t have to stay that way. The team mixed in special phosphor dyes while making the cement. This produced colored versions - yellow, green, and red.</p>



<p>Even with the color, the cement still reflected about 90% of sunlight. That means it kept its cooling ability while also giving architects and city planners more design options to make buildings and streets look brighter.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-benefits-of-cooling-cement">Climate benefits of cooling cement</h2>



<p>Production matters as much as performance. This cement is made at lower temperatures, cutting emissions during manufacture by about 25 percent.</p>



<p>Life-cycle studies suggest that over 70 years, a tonne of this <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ai-just-created-concrete-that-could-reverse-climate-damage/">cement</a> could reduce up to 2,867 kilograms of CO2 compared with standard Portland cement. </p>



<p>Some cities, like Niamey and Mumbai, could reach carbon neutrality with it faster than others.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cooler-cities-with-less-energy-demand">Cooler cities with less energy demand</h2>



<p>Oscar Brousse from <a href="https://www.ucl.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University College London</a> praises the material’s design but warns against simple conclusions. </p>



<p>“It doesn’t mean that because the surface is 5°C lower, that the air temperature will be 5°C lower around it. The effect locally may be greatly limited,” said Brousse.</p>



<p>Even with that caution, the potential is clear. This cement could cut energy demand in cities, reduce emissions, and extend building lifespans. If scaled, it may help cool entire neighborhoods without flipping a switch.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adv2820" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science Advances</a>.</em></p>



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Cement of the future: Cooling cities and cutting emissions

Cement keeps our cities standing, but it also keeps them...

<p>Human speech follows a steady timing pattern that shows up across cultures. A new paper reports that people naturally package talk into short phrases that arrive about once every 1.6 seconds, regardless of the language being spoken.</p>



<p>That unit of delivery is not a syllable or a word. It is a prosodic chunk called an intonation unit, and its regular tempo shows up in everyday <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/brain-computer-interface-bci-reads-your-innermost-thoughts-and-translates-them-into-text/">conversation</a>, in children and adults, and in communities from many language families.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-speech-rhythm-is-universal">Speech rhythm is universal</h2>



<p>The study was led by Dr. Maya Inbar with Professors Eitan Grossman and Ayelet N. Landau at the <a href="https://en.huji.ac.il/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hebrew University of Jerusalem</a>, and Professor Landau also holds an appointment at University College London (<a href="https://www.ucl.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UCL</a>). Their collaboration draws linguistics, psychology, and cognitive neuroscience into the same frame.</p>



<p>“These findings suggest that the way we pace our <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/smartphones-may-leak-conversations-through-vibrations/">speech</a> isn’t just a cultural artifact, it’s deeply rooted in human cognition and biology,” said Dr. Inbar.</p>



<p>“Understanding this temporal structure helps bridge neuroscience, linguistics, and psychology,” said Prof. Landau.</p>



<p>An intonation unit (<a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10697392/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">IU</a>) is a short prosodic phrase marked by coordinated changes in pitch, loudness, and timing. It is the slice of speech that carries a small, coherent bit of information before the next slice begins.</p>



<p>These units help listeners keep track of ideas and time their replies. Cross-cultural research shows that turn-taking in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/speech-pattern-wfd-that-is-a-clear-indication-a-person-is-in-cognitive-decline/">conversation</a> relies on subtle temporal cues, not only on grammar or vocabulary.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-speech-rhythm-found-across-languages">Speech rhythm found across languages</h2>



<p>The team assembled 668 recordings across 48 languages from 27 families, drawing most of the material from the <a href="https://doreco.huma-num.fr/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">DoReCo</a> language documentation archive, which houses high quality recordings of many small and endangered languages. They focused on spontaneous speech rather than scripted or read text.</p>



<p>They used an automatic <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32985572/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">method</a> to flag prosodic boundaries and then validated the results against expert annotations in English, Hebrew, Russian, and Totoli. </p>



<p>The validation showed moderate to high agreement with human transcribers, giving confidence that the boundary detector worked across unrelated languages.</p>



<p>To test whether IU onsets line up with a slow periodic pattern in the speech signal, the team used a bias-free phase synchronization metric known as pairwise phase consistency. </p>



<p>This measure detects consistent timing of events relative to slow oscillations without overestimating effects when sample sizes change.</p>



<p>The analysis revealed a prominent rhythm near 0.6 Hz. That corresponds to one new IU roughly every 1.6 seconds, and this alignment held across all languages in the sample.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-this-links-to-the-brain">How this links to the brain</h2>



<p>The 1 to 2 second window is a meaningful timescale in cognition. Prior <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4809195/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">work</a> shows that neural activity tracks hierarchical structures in connected speech, from syllables and words to phrases and sentences, with distinct rhythms at each level.</p>



<p>A foundational <a href="https://nyuscholars.nyu.edu/en/publications/cortical-oscillations-and-speech-processing-emerging-computationa" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">review</a> argues that low-frequency brain rhythms help package incoming information at the right temporal grain for comprehension. </p>



<p>That packaging supports the parsing of speech into units that are neither too small nor too large for memory and attention.</p>



<p>New physiological evidence connects IUs directly to brain responses. When listeners hear spontaneous narrative speech, EEG shows a specific <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/brain-benefits-of-musical-training-may-be-all-in-our-heads/">response</a> at IU boundaries that is distinct from reactions to lower-level acoustic features.</p>



<p>There is also a broader literature suggesting that slow neural dynamics guide self-paced behavior. <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1210467109" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Models</a> of voluntary action describe gradual, subsecond to multisecond build ups that precede self-initiated movement, situating the IU timescale within a general framework for timing in the brain.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rhythm-differs-from-syllable-speed">Rhythm differs from syllable speed</h2>



<p>The IU rhythm is different from the tempo of syllables. Syllable-level rhythms often cluster in the theta range, about 4 to 8 cycles per second, and listeners and speakers are tuned to that band for efficient perception and production.</p>



<p>The new work shows that local changes in syllable rate only weakly predict IU timing, and average syllable rates across languages do not explain cross-language variation in IU rate. That makes IUs a higher-level planning unit, not just a side effect of talking faster or slower.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-speech-rhythm-helps-learning">Speech rhythm helps learning</h2>



<p>Prosodic phrasing gives learners early cues for carving speech into manageable pieces. Infants exploit rhythmic and intonational structure to segment continuous speech and build phonological and lexical knowledge.</p>



<p>The same structure eases turn-taking in conversation. When speakers keep to a steady IU pace, it becomes simpler to anticipate a likely endpoint and start a reply with minimal gaps or overlaps.</p>



<p>Speech technology can benefit from this timing principle. Automatic speech recognition and spoken-language understanding systems often track the <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6957234/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">envelope</a>, a summary of intensity over time, and cortical recordings show that the brain uses sharp envelope edges as landmarks aligned with syllable onsets.</p>



<p>Incorporating IU-scale timing into text-to-speech could make synthetic voices easier to follow, especially in noisy settings or long-form listening. </p>



<p>Systems that predict and respect an IU cadence may reduce listener fatigue and support better comprehension during hands-free use.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-research-directions">Future research directions</h2>



<p>The corpus was broad but did not capture repeated recordings from the same individuals, so speaker-level variability remains an open question. </p>



<p>Future work that samples multiple sessions per person could reveal how stable a speaker’s IU timing is across contexts.</p>



<p>Another priority is connecting IU timing with physiology during natural conversation, not only during listening. </p>



<p>Combining boundary-sensitive analysis with brain and body measures, such as breathing and heart rhythms, could clarify how the timing of talk relates to the timing of action and memory across daily life.</p>



<p>The study is published in <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2425166122" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</em></a>.</p>



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People everywhere talk with the same rhythm, regardless of the language

Human speech follows a steady timing pattern that shows up...

<p>Music carries a remarkable ability to connect sound with lived experience, shaping how people recall their past. A melody can spark vivid memories, often with startling speed. Just a few notes may transport someone back to a childhood party, a first date, or a quiet evening walk.</p>



<p>A new study from <a href="https://www.gold.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Goldsmiths University of London</a> explores how different kinds of songs, whether soft and acoustic or energetic and loud, affect the qualities of those memories. The findings reveal a fascinating interplay between <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nostalgic-songs-light-up-your-brain-and-get-you-moving/">musical properties</a> and emotional recall.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-impact-of-songs-on-memories">Impact of songs on memories</h2>



<p>Researchers Safiyyah Nawaz and Diana Omigie investigated whether specific features of music influence the type of autobiographical memories people recall. </p>



<p>While previous studies confirmed that songs are powerful triggers of memory, few examined how tempo, acousticness, or energy level shape those memories.</p>



<p>The researchers asked 233 people to take part in an online survey. Each person shared memories linked to two kinds of music: <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/music-boosts-memory-but-only-with-the-right-emotional-spark/">songs</a> they chose themselves and popular songs from their younger years. </p>



<p>After collecting the responses to the survey, the team used statistical methods to look for patterns.</p>



<p>The goal was to determine whether certain qualities of songs, like being soft or energetic, matched up with specific types of memories - such as vivid, happy, or sad.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-energetic-songs-exciting-memories">Energetic songs, exciting memories</h2>



<p>The results drew a clear line between different types of songs. More acoustic, lower-energy pieces, like Debussy’s <em>Clair de Lune</em>, often brought back memories filled with calmness, romance, or even sadness. </p>



<p>Such memories were described as vivid, important, and unique, though less social in nature.</p>



<p>In contrast, energetic and less acoustic tracks, such as Fetty Wap’s <em>Trap Queen</em>, stirred memories of excitement, amusement, and social energy. Participants also reported recalling these memories more quickly than those tied to softer <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/brain-benefits-of-musical-training-may-be-all-in-our-heads/">songs</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-personal-choices-carry-deeper-meaning">Personal choices carry deeper meaning</h2>



<p>When people picked their own songs, the memories that came back were stronger and more emotional than those tied to common popular songs. </p>



<p>Personal choices carried deeper meaning because they were often connected to big moments in life, like important relationships or milestones. </p>



<p>This finding is significant because it shows that familiarity and personal connection make music an even more powerful memory trigger. </p>



<p>The researchers propose that personally meaningful songs could have therapeutic value. </p>



<p>In reminiscence therapy, for instance, playing music tied to a person’s life may help individuals with memory conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease recall past experiences more vividly and with greater positivity.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-linking-songs-and-memory">Linking songs and memory</h2>



<p>“We all know of the experience of hearing a song and being transported back in time to a vivid memory associated with that song," noted Nawaz </p>



<p>"As it turns out, the properties of the music itself, characteristics like acousticness, loudness and energy, relate to the emotional and phenomenological qualities of the same <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/human-brain-map-shows-how-rhythms-instantly-reconfigure-your-mind-freq-ness/">musical memories</a>."</p>



<p>According to Nawaz, the team discovered that more acoustic songs were associated with memories that were more vivid, unique, and characterized by complex emotions like romance and adoration.</p>



<p>Louder, more energetic songs were linked to social, exciting, high-energy memories that were recalled faster, she added.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-countless-memories-linked-to-songs">Countless memories linked to songs</h2>



<p>The researchers found analyzing over 1,400 musical memories both humbling and inspiring. Each song holds countless life moments for its listeners, offering a new way to see music as timeless.</p>



<p>Nawaz and her team also turned their work into a public project. They launched an online archive of <a href="https://memoryrecords.xyz/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">musical memories</a>, where some of the memories shared by participants are now available. </p>



<p>The goal is to broaden the collection beyond Western cultural samples, giving the research a more global foundation.</p>



<p>Study co-author Diana Omigie pointed to another key factor in memory formation: personal connection to the music.</p>



<p>“Our in-depth analysis showed that it’s not just the musical features that influence memory, but also how much a person likes a song and how familiar it is to them," said Omigie.</p>



<p>"We hope future research will explore how musical elements interact with such personal elements to bring about the deep and meaningful memories that people experience in everyday life."</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <em><a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0329072" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PLOS One</a>.</em></p>



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How music tunes the emotions in our memories

Music carries a remarkable ability to connect sound with lived...

<p>Have you ever heard of a moon you cannot see? This Saturday, the night sky will host a rare event known as a Black Moon.</p>



<p>Its significance lies not just in its darkness, but in its timing. <a href="https://www.instructables.com/Ultimate-Guide-for-Sky-Watchers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Skywatchers</a>, astronomers, and even a few believers are eagerly anticipating this event.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-is-a-black-moon">What is a Black Moon?</h2>



<p>The new moon that occurs precisely at 2:06 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on August 23 carries a special title, the Black Moon.</p>



<p>A Black Moon is a term used to describe a type of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/saturn-has-128-new-moons-with-odd-orbits-and-mysterious-origins/">new moon</a>, though it is not an official <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/interstellar-tunnel-cosmic-channel-discovered-connects-our-solar-system-to-other-stars/">astronomical</a> term.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Recalling the <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/moon/moon-phases/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">lunar cycle</a> helps you understand this better. A full moon occurs when the side of the moon facing the Earth is entirely illuminated by the <a href="https://physics.weber.edu/schroeder/ua/sunandseasons.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sun</a>, appearing bright and circular in the night sky. </p>



<p>A new moon, on the other hand, happens when that side is in shadow, making the moon almost invisible. However, you could spot the thin silver crescent moon a couple of evenings later, about 30 to 40 minutes after sunset.</p>



<p>The Black Moon is simply a special new moon that appears according to these unusual calendar or seasonal patterns, making it a rare and intriguing event for skywatchers.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-monthly-vs-seasonal-black-moons">Monthly vs. seasonal Black Moons</h2>



<p>In terms of calendar months, it is the second new moon occurring in that month. In terms of a <a href="https://www.noaa.gov/education/resource-collections/climate/changing-seasons" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">season</a>, it is the third new moon in a season that has four new moons.</p>



<p>Since the lunar cycle is about 29.5 days, we usually get one full moon and one new moon each month. If a month happens to have two full moons, the second one is called a Blue Moon.</p>



<p>Similarly, if a second new moon happens in a calendar month, it is a monthly Black Moon. These occur approximately once every 29 months and are the most common type of Black Moon.&nbsp;</p>



<p>A typical season lasts about three months, normally giving us three new moons. Rarely, a fourth new moon pops up.&nbsp;</p>



<p>In that case, the third new moon gets the "Black Moon" title. These seasonal Black Moons occur roughly once every 33 months. With this context, the upcoming Black Moon in 2025 takes on its seasonal significance.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-astrological-and-cultural-significance">Astrological and cultural significance</h2>



<p>The Black Moon has captured human imagination for centuries, giving rise to various cultural and astrological interpretations.</p>



<p>Astrologically, the Black Moon is considered a time for new beginnings and intention-setting, and some even view it as a powerful moment for <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1385110124000741" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">manifestation</a>.</p>



<p>Some view it as marking the end of a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/water-cycles-through-plants-with-unexpected-speed/">cycle</a> and a period of significant change, occasionally associated with prophecies.</p>



<p>Some religions see it as an apt time for spells, rituals, and other practices, believing that the dark sky enhances energy and intentions. In some modern spiritual communities, it is used for meditation and cleansing spaces.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-2025-black-moon-nbsp">The 2025 Black Moon&nbsp;</h2>



<p>The current season is summer in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/spring-has-arrived-in-the-northern-hemisphere/">Northern Hemisphere</a> and winter in the Southern Hemisphere. It falls between the solstice on June 20 or 21 and the equinox on September 22, depending on your time zone.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Within this period, new moons occur on June 25, July 24, August 23, and September 21. It is a very tight schedule for the fourth new moon to fit in, but it still manages to happen.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This means August 23 is the seasonal Black Moon in 2025.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-to-observe-the-black-moon">How to observe the Black Moon?</h2>



<p>The Black Moon's moonless night provides a rare opportunity for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/january-2025-stargazing-a-parade-of-bright-planets/">stargazers</a>. With deep darkness, it is perfect for observing summer stars when the Milky Way is at its peak in the Northern Hemisphere.&nbsp;</p>



<p>To get the best view, find a location far away from light pollution, ideally with no city lights on the southern horizon.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Look for the three bright stars of the Summer Triangle in the southeast: Vega, Deneb, and Altair. The Milky Way will stretch through the left side of the triangle, roughly from Deneb down to Altair, and from there down to the southern horizon.</p>



<p>Take advantage of the Black Moon, which provides the perfect opportunity to see our galaxy at its very best.</p>



<p>The information was obtained from <a href="https://news.northeastern.edu/2025/08/20/black-moon-event-august-23-explained/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Northeastern Global News</em></a><em>.</em></p>



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When is the 'Black Moon' in 2025, and why does it occur?

Have you ever heard of a moon you cannot see?...

<p>The military operation conducted in early March 2025 led to the remarkable shipwreck discovery off the coast of Ramatuelle.</p>



<p>&nbsp;A team from the French Navy's Expert Center for Human Diving and Underwater Intervention (CEPHISMER) located the wreck, named Camarat 4.</p>



<p>They used an autonomous <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/albatross-flight-inspires-a-new-generation-of-drones/">drone</a> whose sonar detected the wreck at a depth of more than 8,421 feet (approximately 2,500 meters).&nbsp;</p>



<p>"It's the deepest shipwreck ever found in French territorial waters," said Arnaud Schaumasse, the head of the culture ministry's underwater archaeology department.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-discovery-during-a-naval-operation">Discovery during a naval operation</h2>



<p>The crew was on a seabed control operation to help the French Navy explore and train in <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/autonomous-underwater-vehicle" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">deep-sea</a> operations, called the CALLIOPE 25.1 mission. The operation used an underwater drone named A18D, a deep-sea autonomous underwater vehicle (<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/autonomous-underwater-vehicle">AUV</a>).</p>



<p>While processing the sonar data, the crew spotted an unlisted wreck on the images. It was not present in the specialized maps used for maritime navigation, known as nautical charts.</p>



<p>Because of this, the crew decided to visually inspect the wreck using the <a href="https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/auv-rov.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AUV camera</a>. The captured images were shared with the Underwater Archaeology Research Department (DRASSM) for expert analysis.</p>



<p>A few weeks later, the team conducted another <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fish-are-quietly-battling-climate-change-on-the-seabed/">seabed</a> control operation in the same area, called CALLIOPE 25.2. This time, they used a remotely operated vehicle (<a href="https://www.lmitac.com/articles/remotely-operated-vehicle-rov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ROV</a>) capable of working at depths of about 13,123 feet (4,000 meters).</p>



<p>The ROV captured high-resolution color images and videos, which were transmitted to DRASSM. The crew made sure there was no physical contact with the shipwreck, preserving its integrity.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-name-tied-to-cap-camarat">A name tied to Cap Camarat</h2>



<p>The wreck was named Camarat 4 because of its geographical location near Cap Camarat on the French Riviera. The "4" indicated that it was the fourth underwater cultural property officially recorded in that area.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The shipwreck measured about 98.4 feet (30 meters) long and about 22.9 feet (7 meters) wide. It was most likely a 16th-century merchant ship carrying cargo dominated by ceramics.</p>



<p>The footage revealed the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/a-new-approach-to-protecting-whales-from-ship-strikes/">ship</a>'s anchor, artillery pieces, and iron bars. Several hundred ceramic pitchers, likely meant for export, were also found. </p>



<p>About 200 pitchers were clearly visible, and remarkably, about 100 yellow plates remained neatly stacked on the seafloor.</p>



<p>However, many more pitchers remained buried under sand and sediments. The globular pitchers had pinched spouts and ribbon-shaped handles.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Some were decorated with "IHS" Christogram, a monogram representing the name of Jesus Christ. Others featured plant patterns or geometric decorations encircled by a double line.</p>



<p>Archaeologists recognized several motifs among the pitchers, which matched the 16th-century Ligurian <a href="https://www.bridgestorecovery.com/blog/neuroscience-could-explain-why-pottery-is-good-for-depression/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pottery</a> from Italy.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-traces-of-modern-pollution">Traces of modern pollution</h2>



<p>The wreck had not escaped modern pollution. Alongside its 16th-century cargo, cameras also captured a glove, beer cans, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/yogurt-may-be-the-perfect-cure-for-garlic-breath/">yogurt</a> pots, and other waste trapped in its structures.</p>



<p>"After the awe of the discovery comes the sadness of finding such things," said Arnaud Schaumasse, in response to the modern debris discovered.</p>



<p>The site also contained ship equipment, such as anchors, cannons, and two cauldrons. Numerous other artifacts remained buried beneath the sand and needed to be studied closely.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rare-shipwreck-discovery-that-s-preserved">Rare shipwreck discovery that's preserved</h2>



<p>No other maritime cultural property had ever been recorded at this depth in French waters. </p>



<p>While much of the wreck remains buried and unstudied, the exposed sections provide an extraordinary glimpse into 16th-century maritime life.</p>



<p>"This is a genuine time capsule. It feels as if time stopped on this ship," said Marine Sadania, the DRASSM archaeologist responsible for the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (PACA), further enriching France's record of historic shipwreck discovery.</p>



<p>"The site, thanks to its depth, which prevented any recovery or looting, has remained intact, as if time froze, which is exceptional," said Sadania.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-next-steps-for-research-and-outreach">Next steps for research and outreach</h2>



<p>The next steps include exploring the wreck's surroundings, creating 3D models and maps, and targeted recovery of fittings or structural remains.&nbsp;</p>



<p>These studies will bring together a team of experts from archaeology, ceramic analysis, naval architecture, artillery, anchors, material culture, restoration, and curation.</p>



<p>Once studied, Camarat 4 will be added to the existing collection of 16th-century shipwrecks in the PACA. This area already has many documented wrecks from that era.</p>



<p>In addition, there will also be public-oriented projects such as 3D modeling, exhibitions, and educational campaigns.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Another focus will be raising <a href="https://www.unep.org/topics/ocean-seas-and-coasts/regional-seas-programme/marine-and-land-based-pollution" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">awareness</a> about ocean and sea pollution, since the wreck is now contaminated with modern micro and macro-waste.</p>



<p>Taken together, this remarkable shipwreck discovery serves as a reminder of the fragile balance between cultural heritage and the modern pressures facing our oceans.</p>



<p>Information obtained from an <a href="https://www.premar-mediterranee.gouv.fr/communiques-presse/decouverte-remarquable-l-epave-la-plus-profonde-referencee-dans-les-eaux-sous-juridiction-francaise-au-large-de-ramatuelle-83" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">official publication</a> by the French Maritime Prefecture for the Mediterranean.</p>



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The French Navy makes a discovery 8,421 feet deep that breaks a record

The military operation conducted in early March 2025 led to...

<p>It is not every day that a nearby, cataloged galaxy reveals a secret hiding in plain sight. A new study reports a complete Einstein ring, a near perfect loop of light made when a more distant galaxy’s glow is bent and magnified by a massive foreground galaxy.</p>



<p>The result arrives from <a href="https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Euclid" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Euclid</a>’s early observations and centers on <a href="https://wikisky.org/starview?object_type=2&amp;object_id=15057&amp;object_name=NGC+6505&amp;locale=PL" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NGC 6505</a>, a well known elliptical. The new analysis presents the first strong lens discovered by Euclid and pins down key numbers for both the lens and the hidden background source.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-einstein-ring-in-a-familiar-galaxy">Einstein ring in a familiar galaxy</h2>



<p>The ring encircles the core of NGC 6505 with an Einstein radius of about 2.5 arcseconds. </p>



<p>Spectroscopy identifies the background source at redshift z = 0.406 and the lens at z = 0.042, placing the ring at a physical scale of roughly 2.1 kiloparsecs in the lens plane, while remaining compact compared with the galaxy’s effective radius.</p>



<p>Euclid’s visible and near infrared images reach exceptionally high signal to noise. </p>



<p>That imaging, paired with follow up spectroscopy from the Keck Cosmic Web Imager (<a href="https://www2.keck.hawaii.edu/inst/kcwi/primer.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">KCWI</a>) and data from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (<a href="https://www.desi.lbl.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">DESI</a>), allowed precise modeling of the light and mass in the lens.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/einstein-ring_galaxy-ngc-6505_Euclid_ESA_1m.jpg"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/einstein-ring_galaxy-ngc-6505_Euclid_ESA_1s.webp" alt="This wide field shows the extended stellar halo of NGC 6505 and showcases the Einstein ring, surrounded by colorful foreground stars and background galaxies. Credit: ESA" class="wp-image-1982911"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>This wide field shows the extended stellar halo of NGC 6505 and showcases the Einstein ring, surrounded by colorful foreground stars and background galaxies. Click image to enlarge. Credit: ESA</em></figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-an-einstein-ring-tells-us">What an Einstein ring tells us</h2>



<p><a href="https://arxiv.org/abs/1003.5567" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Gravitational lensing</a> occurs when mass bends the path of light, causing background objects to be displaced, stretched, or multiply imaged. </p>



<p>In the special case where the alignment between source, lens, and observer is close to exact, the images merge into a ring whose radius encodes the mass inside it.</p>



<p>These systems serve many roles. They trace how matter, including invisible dark matter, is arranged in and around galaxies, and they can probe how the universe has grown over time by connecting lens statistics to cosmic expansion and structure growth.</p>



<p>Strong lenses also act as natural magnifying glasses for the lensed sources. That gives astronomers a clearer look at distant <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/galaxies-in-the-deep-universe-all-rotate-in-the-same-direction-leaving-scientists-baffled/">galaxies</a> than direct imaging alone can provide, especially when the lensing geometry boosts surface brightness and effective resolution.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/einstein-ring_infograpic_ESA_1m.jpg"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/einstein-ring_infograpic_ESA_1s.webp" alt="Infographic illustrating gravitational lensing and Einstein rings. Credit: ESA" class="wp-image-1982913"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>Infographic illustrating gravitational lensing and Einstein rings. Click image to enlarge. Credit: ESA</em></figcaption></figure>



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



<p>Low redshift lenses are uncommon, so a bright, complete ring around a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/zhulong-spiral-galaxy-like-milky-way-discovered-at-edge-of-universe-should-not-exist/">nearby galaxy</a> is a valuable laboratory. The small Einstein radius samples the inner region of the lens where stars dominate the mass budget.</p>



<p>Only a handful of comparably nearby systems have allowed similarly tight tests of stellar mass and orbital structure in the central kiloparsecs. </p>



<p>Classic examples include the lens 2237+0305 at z ≈ 0.039, known as the “<a href="https://adsabs.harvard.edu/full/1985AJ.....90..691H" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Einstein Cross</a>,” which has long anchored studies of galaxy center mass profiles.</p>



<p>NGC 6505 adds a cleaner geometry to that toolbox. The high quality Euclid imaging enables a detailed subtraction of the galaxy’s own light and a careful reconstruction of the lensed arcs.</p>



<p>With those pieces in place, the team could compare dynamical measurements to the mass implied by the ring and check for consistency. That cross check is essential when testing how mass is partitioned between stars and dark matter in galaxy cores.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-window-on-dark-matter-and-stars">A window on dark matter and stars</h2>



<p>The analysis measures a <a href="https://astronomy.stackexchange.com/questions/18947/what-does-the-velocity-dispersion-of-a-galaxy-mean" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">central velocity dispersion</a> of 303 ± 15 kilometers per second and combines it with the ring size to infer the enclosed mass. </p>



<p>Modeling points to a dark matter fraction of about 11 percent inside the Einstein radius, modest for that inner region but supported by the data.</p>



<p>Those constraints translate into a statement about the stellar initial mass function (IMF) in the galaxy’s center. </p>



<p>The team reports an IMF mismatch parameter of 1.26 with narrow uncertainties, indicating a heavier mix of low mass stars than a <a href="https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2005ASSL..327...41C/abstract" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chabrier IMF</a>, but lighter than a Salpeter case in the same region.</p>



<p>That result aligns with emerging evidence that many massive ellipticals have bottom heavy IMFs in their inner parts, with gradients toward more Milky Way-like IMFs at larger radii. </p>



<p>It also highlights how nearby strong lenses sharpen those inferences by focusing on a small, well defined aperture in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/space-tornadoes-discovered-at-the-center-of-our-galaxy/">galaxy center</a>.</p>



<p>The geometry here even reveals subtle departures from perfect ellipticity in the total mass distribution. The preferred models include mild “boxiness,” echoing features seen in the starlight and hinting at close ties between light and mass within the ring.</p>



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



<p>Euclid is built to map more than a third of the sky and observe billions of galaxies out to roughly 10 billion light years, a scope that will flood <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/webb-captures-a-rare-einstein-ring-caused-by-light-bending/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">lensing studies</a> with statistics and rare gems alike. </p>



<p>The survey formally began routine science on February 14, 2024, and will run for about six years.</p>



<p>Forecasts suggest Euclid alone should uncover on the order of one hundred thousand reliable strong galaxy galaxy lenses, turning what used to be small samples into population studies. </p>



<p>That scale opens the door to percent level constraints on cosmological parameters when lensing is combined with other probes, as well as systematic tests of how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dark-energy-might-be-fading-so-what-does-that-mean/">dark energy</a> influences growth of structure.</p>



<p>Finds like the NGC 6505 ring preview that future. They show Euclid can deliver exquisite detail on nearby systems while scanning the deep universe for the weak lensing signatures it was designed to measure.</p>



<p>The work was led by Conor M. O’Riordan of the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics (<a href="https://www.mpa-garching.mpg.de/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MPA</a>), with critical involvement from Euclid Archive Scientist Bruno Altieri at the <a href="https://www.esa.int" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">European Space Agency</a> and Euclid Project Scientist Valeria Pettorino at ESA. Their combined efforts turned routine instrument checks into a discovery.</p>



<p>The study is published in <a href="https://www.aanda.org/articles/aa/full_html/2025/02/aa53014-24/aa53014-24.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Astronomy &amp; Astrophysics</em></a>.</p>



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What appeared to be a normal galaxy concealed a ring of light never seen before

It is not every day that a nearby, cataloged galaxy...

<p>The gas that shields us from ultraviolet radiation is also a heat trapper. That tension sits at the heart of a new analysis that recalculates how much extra warming will come from changes in ozone over the next quarter century.</p>



<p>The headline result is stark, but the mechanics matter even more. The research was led by Professor Bill Collins at the <a href="https://www.reading.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Reading</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ozone-recovery-and-pollution">Ozone recovery and pollution</h2>



<p>A multi-model study shows that without strong air pollution controls, ozone will add 0.268 ± 0.084 W/m² of extra heating between 2015 and 2050. This makes <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-ozone-layer-is-healing-will-the-hole-disappear-for-good/">ozone</a> the second-largest driver of near-term warming after carbon dioxide.</p>



<p>The team separated two drivers that push ozone upward. One is recovery of the high altitude layer as ozone depleting chemicals keep declining. </p>



<p>The other is the build up of ozone near and above the surface, fed by ozone <a href="https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2022-12/Ozone_Precursors.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">precursor</a> emissions such as methane and nitrogen oxides from industry, traffic, and agriculture.</p>



<p>Across seven state of the art Earth system and chemistry models, the signal was consistent. Roughly half of the added warming came from stratospheric recovery and half from tropospheric increases.</p>



<p>Those values exceed earlier estimates used by policymakers for the same scenario. The gap arises from the methods used to diagnose forcing and from how clouds, water vapor, and surface reflectivity respond to ozone changes.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-healing-ozone-also-traps-heat">Healing ozone also traps heat</h2>



<p>Ozone acts as a greenhouse gas by absorbing infrared <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ozone-pollution-threatens-tree-survival-across-western-u-s/">radiation</a>, particularly near 9.6 micrometers. Higher concentrations in the upper atmosphere trap more outgoing heat, but increases closer to the surface have an even stronger effect because the air there is denser and warmer.</p>



<p>The Montreal <a href="https://ozone.unep.org/treaties/montreal-protocol" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Protocol</a> phased out Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), saving the protective layer and cutting dangerous ultraviolet exposure, yet its success has a climate side effect because a thicker ozone layer also holds more heat.</p>



<p>“Countries are doing the right thing by continuing to ban chemicals called CFCs and HCFCs that damage the ozone layer above Earth. However, while this helps repair the protective ozone layer, we have found that this recovery in ozone will warm the planet more than we originally thought,” said Professor Collins.</p>



<p>The study’s message is not to second guess the treaty. It is to count this unavoidable warming correctly while accelerating cuts to the pollutants that create ozone in the lower atmosphere.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pollution-today-warming-tomorrow">Pollution today, warming tomorrow</h2>



<p>Near the ground, the <a href="https://scied.ucar.edu/learning-zone/atmosphere/troposphere" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">troposphere</a> is where we live and where familiar emissions cook up ozone under sunlight. Those reactive gases are short lived, so trimming them yields benefits within years, and it eases a public health burden that hits lungs, hearts, and crops.</p>



<p>Ground level ozone raises risks of coughing, worsened asthma, and reduced lung function, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (<a href="https://www.epa.gov/ground-level-ozone-pollution/health-effects-ozone-pollution" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EPA</a>).</p>



<p>“Air pollution from vehicles, factories and power plants also creates ozone near the ground, causing health problems and warming the planet,” said Professor Collins.</p>



<p>Because ozone links air quality and climate, steps that reduce methane, nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic compounds can cool the climate while cleaning the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/more-heat-cleaner-air-the-surprising-ozone-connection/">air</a>. The dual payoff is large in cities and rapidly industrializing regions where ozone chemistry is most active.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-metrics-change-warming-numbers">Metrics change warming numbers</h2>



<p>Climate science uses radiative forcing to tally how different agents change Earth’s energy budget. The effective radiative forcing (ERF) for ozone since 1750 is assessed at 0.47 [0.24 to 0.71] W/m², reflecting historical increases in tropospheric ozone as well as stratospheric changes.</p>



<p>ERF is powerful here because it includes fast adjustments in clouds, water vapor, and surface reflectivity that kick in when ozone changes, while leaving out the slower response of surface temperature. That makes ERF more representative of the actual climate push than methods that ignore these rapid adjustments.</p>



<p>By contrast, stratospheric temperature adjusted radiative forcing (SARF) accounts for the quick cooling or warming of the stratosphere but not other rapid adjustments. </p>



<p>The new analysis shows that for ozone changes driven by declining ozone depleting substances, ERF is roughly double SARF, meaning older approaches can undercount the climate push from the healing layer.</p>



<p>This metric choice is not a technical footnote. It influences how we attribute warming to different pollutants, how we design near term mitigation, and how we set expectations for temperature outcomes by mid century.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ozone-recovery-needs-pollution-cuts">Ozone recovery needs pollution cuts</h2>



<p>According to a <a href="https://csl.noaa.gov/assessments/ozone/2022/executivesummary/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NOAA report</a>, stratospheric ozone will continue to recover for decades, meaning the associated warming is effectively locked in regardless of air quality policies on the ground.</p>



<p>That does not weaken the case for the Montreal Protocol’s success or its health protections. It simply means climate planners should pencil a larger ozone line into their near-term forcing budgets and not assume a free climate bonus from the treaty’s chemical ban.</p>



<p>Where we do have leverage is on precursors. Cutting methane curbs a major source of global background <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rocket-launches-threaten-earths-ozone-recovery/">ozone</a> and reduces warming on short time scales. </p>



<p>Tightening controls on nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds lowers urban and regional ozone peaks, improving health while shaving future climate forcing.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ozone-recovery-speeds-up-warming">Ozone recovery speeds up warming</h2>



<p>Ozone’s protective shield is on the mend, and that is non-negotiable for human and ecosystem health. </p>



<p>At the same time, the climate system will feel extra heat from both the healing layer above and the pollution made ozone below, and counting it correctly helps us choose smarter levers.</p>



<p>Practical steps include updating inventories with ERF-based ozone data, accelerating cuts to methane and ozone precursors, and upholding the Montreal Protocol. These measures protect health gains while aligning energy and air quality policy with the physics that truly drives warming.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://acp.copernicus.org/articles/25/9031/2025/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics</em></a>.</p>



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Ozone recovery will amplify near-term global warming

The gas that shields us from ultraviolet radiation is also...

<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=WXXGGiynIjs
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Greenland is not sinking. In fact, it is the opposite.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-contrasting-climate-response">A contrasting climate response</h2>



<p>Most coastal towns are <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sinking-land-will-intensify-the-effects-of-rising-sea-levels/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">preparing for higher sea levels</a>, but <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/greenland-no-longer-has-to-worry-about-rising-sea-levels/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Greenland presents</a> a different scenario during climate change. The ground there is rising at a remarkable rate. Over the past decade, some areas have lifted about 20 centimeters, which translates to roughly 2 meters per century. This rate significantly exceeds current projections for sea level rise.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-geological-rebound-process-through-climate-change">Geological rebound process through climate change</h2>



<p>The mechanism behind this phenomenon is straightforward. As the ice sheet melts, the immense weight is removed from the bedrock, causing the land to rebound upward. This process resembles the way compressed material springs back when pressure is released.</p>



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



<p>Researchers at the <a href="https://www.dtu.dk/english/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Technical University of Denmark</a> are documenting this uplift using the GNET network, consisting of 61 GPS stations positioned around Greenland's coast. These sensors can detect movement with millimeter precision, providing detailed measurements of the ongoing changes.</p>



<p>The data reveal that current uplift rates exceed the gradual rebound occurring since the last ice age ended approximately 12,000 years ago. This acceleration corresponds directly with increased ice sheet melting rates.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-coastal-transformation">Coastal Transformation</h2>



<p>This uplift is actively reshaping Greenland's coastline. New islands and rocky formations, called "skerries," are emerging as previously submerged land surfaces rise above the water level. This represents a notable contrast to global concerns about rising seas.</p>



<p>The study, published in Geophysical Research Letters, demonstrates the varied regional impacts of climate change. While many locations face rising water levels, Greenland's bedrock is literally rising above the surrounding seas.</p>



<p>The full study was recently published in <em><a href="https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1029/2023GL104851" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Geophysical Research Letters</a></em>.</p>



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Greenland's ground rises while coasts worldwide face higher seas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXXGGiynIjs Greenland is not sinking. In fact, it is the...

<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=DSM3EVeGHJU
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Companies like MindStudio help companies train their employees to implement the latest AI Agent building platform.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ai-agent-training-transforms-the-workplace-fear-factor-into-a-competitive-advantage">AI agent training transforms the workplace 'fear factor' into a competitive advantage</h2>



<p>Organizations that offer comprehensive artificial intelligence training to their workers find remarkable value that extends well beyond basic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mind-wandering-might-be-more-productive-than-you-think/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">productivity improvements</a>. Emerging research demonstrates that carefully crafted AI training programs <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ai-does-not-replace-human-creativity-but-enhances-it/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">enhance</a> corporate performance, lower operational costs, and dramatically improve employee psychological well-being by turning workplace uncertainty into professional empowerment.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-addressing-the-widespread-ai-anxiety-crisis-among-us">Addressing the widespread 'AI anxiety' crisis among us</h2>



<p>A staggering 53% of employees expressed concern that the use of AI tools to automate work tasks could make them appear disposable to their employers, according to <a href="https://www.microsoft.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Microsoft</a>'s 2024 workplace survey. Such pervasive worry about being substituted by machines has caused what researchers have termed "AI technostress" – a psychological state that can result in occupational burnout and poorer mental well-being.</p>



<p>Data published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/palcomms/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Humanities and Social Sciences Communications</a> showed that belief in AI learning ability was a moderator in the link between technology adoption and work pressure, and higher confidence significantly lowered negative psychological responses. Workers provided ample training to become competent with AI software have significantly lower stress.</p>



<p>Companies like <a href="https://www.mindstudio.ai/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MindStudio</a> have platforms for building what are known as "AI Agents".  In essence, AI Agents are simply tools that employees can build for themselves or their teams quickly and inexpensively.   MindStudio will even train entire companies, from the CEO on down, at no cost. By letting MindStudio empower employees, companies avoid hiring more IT staff, buying more software, and implementing solutions to problems that do not exist.</p>



<p>MindStudio even has partners locally for companies, like <a href="http://www.dominnus.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dominnus</a> with offices in the Carolinas, California, and Denver, to help build AI Agents and support employees as they become resident AI experts for their organization.  The training provided by MindStudio is applicable across other AI Agent building platforms as well.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-revolutionary-productivity-through-focused-learning">Revolutionary productivity through focused learning</h2>



<p>Organizations that implement large-scale AI training programs achieve dramatic outcomes. Employees performed tasks significantly better when they utilized AI support compared to when they didn't, according to <a href="https://www.nngroup.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nielsen Norman Group</a> research findings. Their study documented productivity increases of 66% for a variety of professional tasks.</p>



<p>Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis research finds workers record 33% higher productivity in time working with generative AI tools. The benefit is equivalent to 5.4% of work time savings for AI users – around 2.2 hours per week for full-time workers.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-psychological-well-being-benefits-through-ai-competence">Psychological well-being benefits through AI competence</h2>



<p>The emotional transformation when employees are provided with proper technology training is a fundamental transformation from fear to professional confidence. A survey of 600 employees across industries, carried out by ScienceDirect, proved that AI capabilities strengthen work environment commitment and improve job satisfaction.</p>



<p>A <a href="https://www.lut.fi/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LUT University</a> study discovered that AI adoption has no direct effect on workers' well-being but does so indirectly through working conditions like task optimization and safety protocols. Strategically deployed AI that involves correct training can actually increase workplace mental well-being.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-from-replacement-anxiety-to-partnership-confidence">From 'replacement anxiety' to 'partnership confidence'</h2>



<p>Although 35% of those interviewed in recent McKinsey studies were concerned about workforce displacement, firms with large-scale training initiatives witness such fears dissipate quickly. The World Economic Forum found that two out of three respondents believe AI competencies will enhance their career prospects and job marketability.</p>



<p>This shift from fear to trust has measurable implications for job satisfaction. Applied Sciences research indicates AI can create tailored wellness programs based on individual employee requirements.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-financial-benefits-of-increased-retention">Financial benefits of increased retention</h2>



<p>The mental health advantages of AI learning have a direct impact on organizational bottom lines in the form of a positive feedback cycle with high retention of employees. Recent ROI research validates that artificial intelligence learning has a beneficial impact on employee turnover and satisfaction levels.</p>



<p>PriceWaterhouseCoopers' research documents 20% to 30% improvements in productivity, market speed, and revenue in organizations that attempt systematic AI adoption through comprehensive training.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-environmental-advantages-of-ai-enabled-teams">Environmental advantages of AI-enabled teams</h2>



<p>AI training has unforeseen environmental benefits as it makes the work environment more efficient. According to a study in Scientific Reports, the carbon footprint in writing and illustrating work is significantly lower when AI performs it compared to humans. AI software produces 130 to 1,500 times less CO2 equivalent per page of text created than human authors.</p>



<p>In addition, AI-driven remote work functionality significantly reduces environmental impact. Research by Cornell University and Microsoft indicates that remote workers reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 54% by not commuting daily to offices. Hybrid workers working remotely two to four days a week can reduce their carbon footprint by 11% to 29%.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cumulative-organizational-advantages">Cumulative organizational advantages</h2>



<p>The compounding gains of better mental well-being, reduced turnover, increased productivity, and environmental benefits flow to enterprises from the pairing. McKinsey analysis estimates the long-term AI potential at $4.4 trillion in incremental productivity growth opportunity from business use cases.</p>



<p>As of now, 75% of knowledge workers globally utilize generative AI, mirroring widespread adoption patterns. Organizations that provide organized training and assistance see the most favorable results in productivity, worker satisfaction, and ecological sustainability.</p>



<p>The research overwhelmingly indicates that companies that invest in proper AI education, like that offered through <a href="https://www.mindstudio.ai" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MindStudio</a>, establish win-win scenarios where employees are both more empowered and less stressed, and companies enjoy the gains of increased productivity, reduced turnover, and improved mental health outcomes throughout their workforce.</p>



<p>For more on MindStudio's free AI training for companies, visit the website's of MindStudio and Dominnus from the links below.</p>



<p>The research was published across a variety of peer-reviewed journals, including <a href="https://www.nature.com/palcomms/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Humanities and Social Sciences Communications</a>, <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/artificial-intelligence" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence</a>, and <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/journal/applsci">Applied Sciences</a>.</p>



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<p>MindStudio.AI: <a href="https://www.mindstudio.ai" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.mindstudio.ai</a></p>



<p>Dominnus: <a href="https://www.dominnus.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.dominnus.com</a></p>

AI agent training boosts mental health and profits

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSM3EVeGHJU Companies like MindStudio help companies train their employees to...

<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=0HDXqTGEmi4
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Scientists give plants superpowers against bacterial disease</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-natural-solution-to-disease-through-crop-modification">A natural solution to disease through crop modification.</h2>



<p>The agricultural industry stands at a crossroads between productivity and environmental responsibility, and crop modification often carries a negative connotation. While chemical pesticides have long been the go-to solution for crop protection, their harmful effects on ecosystems and human health have prompted scientists to seek alternatives. The recent breakthrough by <a href="https://www.southampton.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Southampton</a> researchers offers a promising path forward through the precise manipulation of plant-associated microbial communities.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-science-behind-microbial-partnerships">The science behind microbial partnerships</h2>



<p>Plants naturally harbor diverse ecosystems of bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms that function as biological allies. These microscopic partners contribute to disease resistance, nutrient absorption, and stress tolerance. However, until now, scientists lacked the tools to deliberately reshape these communities to enhance crop protection.</p>



<p>The Southampton team's approach centered on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/engineered-plant-microbiomes-the-future-of-crop-protection/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">modifying lignin biosynthesis genes in rice plants</a>. This strategic intervention altered the plant's metabolic output, creating conditions that favored beneficial bacterial populations while suppressing harmful ones. The result was a living defense system embedded within the plant itself.</p>



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



<p>The successful demonstration against Xanthomonas oryzae, the pathogen responsible for bacterial blight in rice, represents more than a laboratory achievement. Rice feeds nearly half the world's population, and bacterial blight causes devastating crop losses annually. Traditional control methods rely heavily on pesticides that contaminate soil and water systems.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-looking-beyond-disease-resistance">Looking Beyond Disease Resistance</h2>



<p>While disease protection represents the immediate application, the research framework opens doors to broader agricultural improvements. Future developments could engineer microbiomes to enhance nutrient uptake, reducing dependence on synthetic fertilizers. This dual benefit addresses both crop productivity and environmental sustainability.</p>



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



<p>As this technology advances from laboratory to field applications, it promises to reshape sustainable agriculture. The ability to program plants with their own biological defense systems could herald a new era where crops protect themselves naturally, reducing chemical inputs while maintaining yields necessary for global food security.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal&nbsp;<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-44335-3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Nature Communications</em></a>.</p>



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Revolutionizing agriculture through microbiome engineering

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HDXqTGEmi4 Scientists give plants superpowers against bacterial disease A natural...

<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=kVywlgRJXsc
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Some children read facial expressions when making food choices.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-other-people-s-reactions-influence-children-s-eating-habits">Other people's reactions influence children's eating habits</h2>



<p>Many children are finicky eaters, but research explains how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-have-learned-why-so-many-kids-dislike-vegetables/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">watching others eat and social modeling</a> influence the eating habits of children.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Study Methodology Demonstrates Social Learning Impact</h2>



<p>Researchers at <a href="https://www.aston.ac.uk/hls/school-of-psychology" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Aston University School of Psychology</a> have published findings in Frontiers in Psychology that illuminate the neurobiological foundations of food preference development through observational learning. The investigation employed controlled video stimuli featuring adults consuming raw broccoli while displaying systematically varied facial expressions to measure participant responses.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Asymmetrical Response Patterns Identified</h2>



<p>The research, conducted with 204 female participants, revealed a pronounced asymmetry in social modeling effects. Negative facial expressions during vegetable consumption significantly diminished observer food preference ratings, while positive expressions failed to produce corresponding increases in vegetable appeal. This finding challenges conventional assumptions about the bidirectional nature of social influence in dietary behavior formation.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Evolutionary Psychology Framework Applied</h2>



<p>Dr. Katie Edwards and her research team propose that these results reflect adaptive mechanisms developed through evolutionary processes. The heightened sensitivity to disgust expressions likely functions as a protective system, enabling individuals to identify potentially harmful foods through social cues without direct risk exposure.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Clinical and Educational Implications</h2>



<p>These findings carry substantial implications for pediatric nutrition interventions and family meal dynamics. The research suggests that parental expressions of distaste during vegetable consumption may inadvertently reinforce children's existing food aversions through unconscious social transmission pathways.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Future Research Directions</h2>



<p>The study establishes a foundation for expanded investigation into real-time social modeling effects and cross-demographic applicability. Researchers emphasize the necessity for longitudinal studies examining actual consumption behaviors rather than preference ratings alone, particularly within family contexts where social learning occurs most frequently.</p>



<p>-----</p>



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<p>-----</p>



<p></p>

Social modeling affects our food choices

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVywlgRJXsc Some children read facial expressions when making food choices....

<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=JynHpMaNO8A
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Chaotic cancer protein finally controlled after decades of mystery</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cancer-causing-protein-bound-and-blocked">Cancer-causing protein bound and blocked</h2>



<p>In a discovery that can one day revolutionize cancer treatment, researchers at the <a href="https://www.ucr.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of California, Riverside</a> have successfully developed a means of controlling MYC, a notoriously slippery protein that causes approximately <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/chaotic-protein-that-fuels-75-of-cancers-can-be-controlled/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">75% of all cancers in humans</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-makes-myc-different">What makes MYC different</h2>



<p>MYC presents a unique challenge when studying cancer. Normally, this protein plays a vital role in healthy cells. It carefully controls transcription - the process that converts genetic information from DNA and RNA into proteins.</p>



<p>However, cancer changes everything. In cancer cells, MYC becomes a destructive force. It operates in overdrive mode with no regulation whatsoever.</p>



<p>Professor Min Xue, who led the research team, explains it simply: "MYC is less like food for cancer cells and more like a steroid. It drives cancer's aggressive growth." This superactive behavior makes MYC involved in three out of every four cancer cases.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-myc-is-hard-to-target">Why MYC is hard to target</h2>



<p>Despite its clear role in cancer, targeting MYC has been one of medicine's biggest challenges. The main problem lies in MYC's unusual structure - or rather, its complete lack of structure.</p>



<p>Professor Xue describes the protein as "basically a glob of randomness." This means conventional drug discovery methods don't work. These traditional approaches rely on sharply defined protein structures. MYC simply doesn't have one.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A New Approach to Fighting MYC</h2>



<p>The UCR research team developed a clever solution. They designed a special peptide molecule that could selectively bind to MYC. More importantly, this peptide could block MYC's destructive activity.</p>



<p>The key was fine-tuning two specific features: the peptide's stiffness and its shape. Through careful adjustments, researchers achieved something remarkable. They reached "sub-micro-molar affinity" - meaning their peptide binds as strongly as antibodies do.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-breakthrough-results">Breakthrough results</h2>



<p>This accomplishment represents a major leap beyond previous attempts. The researchers enhanced their peptide's binding strength by two orders of magnitude. This dramatic improvement brings the work significantly closer to practical drug development goals.</p>



<p>The research opens new possibilities for treating the vast majority of cancers where MYC plays a destructive role.</p>



<p>The researchers are presently optimizing peptide-delivery systems based on lipid nanoparticles that deliver the peptide effectively into cancer cells. The<a href="https://www.nih.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> National Institutes of Health</a> and the <a href="https://www.defense.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">U.S. Department of Defense</a> funded the study, which appeared in the Journal of the <a href="https://www.acs.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">American Chemical Society</a>.<br>This research offers renewed hope against cancer, and it can potentially open a door to more effective cancer therapies for most cancer patients worldwide.</p>



<p>-----</p>



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<p>-----</p>

The protein that fuels 3 out of 4 cancers has been controlled

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JynHpMaNO8A Chaotic cancer protein finally controlled after decades of mystery...

<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>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>-----</p>



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<p>-----</p>

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>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>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."</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



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



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>The forest was remarkably diverse. Scientists identified <em>Eospermatopteris</em>, 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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>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."</p>



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em>Current Biology</em>.</p>



<p>-----</p>



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<p>-----</p>

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=Veg4HmmRVZY
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Our bodies hits two 'aging cliffs' at these ages.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scientists-map-exact-ages-when-your-body-rapidly-ages">Scientists Map Exact Ages When Your Body Rapidly Ages</h2>



<p>Scientists have <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/human-bodies-begin-breaking-down-two-very-precise-ages/#google_vignette">discovered that aging</a> isn't the gradual, steady process many assume it to be. Instead, researchers from Stanford Medicine have found that our bodies undergo dramatic molecular changes at two specific ages: 44 and 60. This research, published in Nature Aging, reveals that aging happens in sudden bursts rather than smooth transitions.</p>



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



<p>The Stanford study tracked over 135,000 different molecules and microbes in 108 participants aged 25 to 75 over several years. Results showed that 81% of all molecules studied exhibited non-linear changes, meaning they shifted dramatically at certain ages rather than changing gradually over time.</p>



<p>Michael Snyder, chair of genetics at Stanford School of Medicine and the study's senior author, noted significant findings. "We're not just changing gradually over time; there are some really dramatic changes. It turns out the mid-40s is a time of dramatic change, as is the early 60s. And that's true no matter what class of molecules you look at."</p>



<p>The first wave of changes occurs around age 44, affecting molecules related to alcohol metabolism, caffeine processing, lipid <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/age-related-changes-in-metabolism-dont-match-our-expectations/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">metabolism</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/heart-disease-remains-the-leading-cause-of-death-worldwide/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cardiovascular disease</a>, and skin and muscle function. The second wave hits around age 60, involving changes in carbohydrate metabolism, immune regulation, kidney function, and again cardiovascular and muscle health.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-happens-during-these-aging-bursts">What happens during these aging bursts</h2>



<p>During the mid-40s transformation, researchers observed significant changes in how the body processes alcohol and fats. This period often coincides with increased stress levels in many people's lives, potentially contributing to lifestyle factors that accelerate these molecular shifts.</p>



<p>"It's possible some of these changes could be tied to lifestyle or behavioral factors that cluster at these age groups, rather than being driven by biological factors," Snyder explained. For instance, alcohol metabolism dysfunction might result from increased consumption during the typically stressful mid-40s period.</p>



<p>The changes at age 60 are perhaps less surprising, as this is when many age-related diseases begin to manifest more prominently. The molecular shifts affect immune function and kidney health, both critical for maintaining overall wellness as we enter our senior years.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-latest-research-confirms-aging-patterns">Latest research confirms aging patterns</h2>



<p>Recent 2025 studies have validated these findings. Research examining tissue samples from 76 people found similar aging patterns, noting an "inflection point" between ages 45 and 55.</p>



<p>Scientists discovered that blood vessels, particularly the aorta, age fastest among all body tissues. This vascular aging may drive aging in other body parts, highlighting cardiovascular health's central role in the aging process.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cellular-changes-and-microbiome-shifts">Cellular changes and microbiome shifts</h2>



<p>The Stanford research revealed that these aging bursts affect our microbiome – the trillions of bacteria, viruses, and fungi living in and on our bodies. These microbial communities undergo substantial shifts during both aging periods, potentially affecting everything from digestion to immune function.</p>



<p>Additionally, researchers found that protein production and gene expression begin to fall out of sync as we age. This breakdown in cellular communication becomes especially pronounced during the two aging waves, contributing to the accumulation of damaged proteins associated with diseases such as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/alzheimers-may-not-be-brain-disorder-important-data-was-fabricated/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alzheimer's</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-health-implications-and-longevity-considerations">Health implications and longevity considerations</h2>



<p>Understanding these aging patterns has important implications for healthcare strategies. Research suggests that people should pay particular attention to their health during their 40s and 60s, when these dramatic molecular changes occur.</p>



<p>Snyder emphasized the importance of proactive health measures. "I'm a big believer that we should try to adjust our lifestyles while we're still healthy," he noted. This might include increasing exercise to protect heart health and maintain muscle mass, or reducing alcohol consumption in the 40s as the body's ability to metabolize it declines.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-approaches-to-anti-aging-treatment">New approaches to anti-aging treatment</h2>



<p>Aging research has seen notable advances in 2025. Harvard Medical School scientists developed chemical cocktails that reverse cellular aging without genetic modification. These six combinations restored aged cells to youthfulness in under a week, offering safer alternatives to gene therapy.</p>



<p>Researchers identified new biomarkers like "InflammAge," a saliva-based test measuring chronic inflammation associated with aging. This non-invasive approach could change how we monitor aging and intervention.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-directions-in-aging-research">Future directions in aging research</h2>



<p>Emerging technologies including artificial intelligence, cellular reprogramming, and senolytic therapies, are opening new possibilities for extending healthspan. Companies develop treatments targeting aging's fundamental mechanisms rather than just managing age-related diseases.</p>



<p>The Stanford findings provide a roadmap for implementing preventive measures. Rather than waiting for symptoms, people can prepare for and potentially mitigate these predictable aging waves.</p>



<p>As aging understanding evolves, one thing becomes clear: aging isn't inevitable decline, but specific biological events we may learn to prevent or reverse. The key is recognizing when these transitions occur and taking proactive health steps during vulnerable periods.</p>



<p>The study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.nature.com/nataging" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Aging</a></em>.</p>



<p>-----</p>



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<p>-----</p>

Scientists discover we age in bursts

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Veg4HmmRVZY Our bodies hits two 'aging cliffs' at these ages....

<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=PqlF0XKzHY4
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The hidden science behind tickling.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scientists-discover-the-brain-s-tickling-command-center">Scientists discover the brain's 'tickling command center'</h2>



<p>Researchers have finally solved one of humanity's most enduring mysteries: why we can't <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/after-centuries-of-debate-we-still-dont-know-how-tickling-works/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tickle</a> ourselves and what makes some people incredibly ticklish while others barely react? Recent scientific discoveries are revolutionizing our understanding of this peculiar human behavior.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-breakthrough-discovery-in-the-brain">Breakthrough discovery in the brain</h2>



<p>In 2023, Dr. Michael Brecht's team at <a href="https://www.hu-berlin.de/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Humboldt University</a>-<a href="https://www.hu-berlin.de/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Berlin</a> made a major discovery published in the <a href="https://www.cell.com/iscience/fulltext/S2589-0042(22)01991-5" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">journal <em>Neuron</em></a>. They identified the brain's actual "tickling command center" – specific neurons in a region called the periaqueductal gray that control both tickling responses and play behavior.</p>



<p>When researchers used cutting-edge optogenetic technology to shut down these neurons in laboratory rats, something remarkable happened. The animals completely lost their ability to be tickled or engage in playful behavior.</p>



<p>"We found that global blockade of the rat periaqueductal gray with either muscimol or lidocaine interfered with ticklishness and play," the research team reported in their study.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-two-types-of-tickling-revealed">Two types of tickling revealed</h2>



<p>What we call "tickling" is two completely different phenomena, according to the latest research. Light tickling – that feathery sensation that makes you want to scratch – is essentially your body's sophisticated bug detection system. This alerts you to potential insects or parasites on your skin.</p>



<p>Deep tickling – the kind that makes you laugh uncontrollably – involves complex brain circuits and is fundamentally social. You literally cannot tickle yourself with this type of stimulation.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-self-tickling-is-impossible">Why self-tickling is impossible</h2>



<p>Your cerebellum acts like a prediction machine, recent findings show. When you move your own hand to touch yourself, your brain generates precise predictions about what you will feel and then cancels out the tickling sensation through neural inhibition.</p>



<p>When someone else tickles you, your brain can't predict their movements, so the full tickling response activates. It's like your brain's way of distinguishing between self and others.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-individual-differences-explained">Individual differences explained</h2>



<p>Individual differences in ticklishness depend on genetics, psychology, and even trust. Dr. Xinzhong Dong at <a href="https://www.jhu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Johns Hopkins University</a> notes that people with denser nerve endings tend to be more sensitive.</p>



<p>Psychological factors matter just as much. You respond more strongly when tickled by people you trust, and anxiety completely shuts down tickling responses. This explains why the same physical stimulus can produce completely different reactions depending on who's doing the tickling.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-controlling-your-ticklishness">Controlling your ticklishness</h2>



<p>Science offers answers for controlling your ticklishness. You can reduce tickling sensitivity through systematic desensitization – gradual exposure in controlled settings.</p>



<p>Dr. Konstantina Kilteni's 2025 research, published in <em><a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adt0350" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science Advances</a></em>, reveals another technique: place your hand on the tickler's hand. This allows your brain to partially predict the sensations, reducing the tickling response by up to 90 percent.</p>



<p>"Your brain is essentially learning to override its own reflexes," Kilteni explained in her review of tickling research.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-evolutionary-purpose-discovered">Evolutionary purpose discovered</h2>



<p>From an evolutionary perspective, tickling serves vital functions according to <a href="https://www.umd.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Maryland</a> researcher Dr. Robert Provine's extensive studies. It trains our defense reflexes for vulnerable body areas and facilitates social bonding between family members.</p>



<p>Tickling-induced laughter is actually one of the first forms of communication between infants and caregivers. "Tickle involves a neurological self/nonself discrimination, providing the most primitive social scenario," Provine noted in his research.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-clinical-applications-emerge">Clinical applications emerge</h2>



<p>Research shows people with autism spectrum disorder perceive touches as more ticklish than people without the condition. Investigating this difference could provide insight into brain differences and help advance autism research.</p>



<p>People with schizophrenia tend to experience self-touches similarly to external tickles, allowing them to essentially tickle themselves. This suggests altered sensory prediction mechanisms in the condition.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-animal-research-reveals-universal-nature">Animal research reveals universal nature</h2>



<p>Scientists have discovered that many species beyond humans are ticklish. Rats emit ultrasonic "laughs" when tickled, while chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans all respond to tickling stimulation.</p>



<p>This widespread occurrence across species suggests that tickling serves fundamental biological and social functions that evolved long before humans developed complex language and culture.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-research-directions">Future research directions</h2>



<p>Dr. Kilteni argues that tickling research deserves more scientific attention. "It is a complex interplay of motor, social, neurological, developmental, and evolutionary aspects," she stated in her recent review.</p>



<p>New haptic technologies and advanced research methodologies now permit scientists to investigate tickle sensation with unprecedented precision. Standardized experimental methods using mechanical tickling devices ensure consistent results across studies.</p>



<p>Recent findings published in <em>Science Advances</em> show that tickling research is opening new doors in neuroscience, potentially leading to a better understanding of social behavior, sensory processing, and neurological conditions.</p>



<p>-----</p>



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<p>-----</p>

Scientists solve the mystery of tickling

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqlF0XKzHY4 The hidden science behind tickling. Scientists discover the brain's...

<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=elr4948_uOU
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Dr. Ronald Mallett from the University of Connecticut reveals secret mission to create working time travel device.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-could-an-equation-truly-bend-time-a-physicist-s-decades-long-quest-to-rewrite-reality">Could an equation truly bend time? A physicist's decades-long quest to rewrite reality</h2>



<p>Imagine the impossible: stepping back through time in a time machine, not in fantasy, but through a scientific endeavor driven by profound personal loss. For <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/astrophysicist-says-hes-cracked-the-equation-for-time-travel/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dr. Ronald Mallett</a>, a distinguished astrophysicist and professor emeritus at the <a href="https://uconn.edu/">University of Connecticut</a>, this deeply human longing has fueled a lifelong mission. He claims to have discovered the equation that could unlock temporal displacement, pushing boundaries once deemed purely science fiction.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-profound-grief-that-forged-a-vision">A profound grief that forged a vision</h2>



<p>Mallett's extraordinary pursuit began with devastating tragedy in 1955. At merely 10 years old, he endured his father Boyd's sudden death—a television repairman whose passion for science had ignited a similar spark in his young son. Boyd Mallett, only 33, succumbed to a heart attack, leaving behind a grief-stricken child searching for solace.</p>



<p>That solace came through H.G. Wells' <em>The Time Machine</em>. Within its pages, Mallett found a captivating concept: "Time is only a kind of Space." These words transformed from a literary phrase into a guiding principle, becoming the driving force behind his unwavering commitment to unraveling time's fundamental mysteries.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-from-humble-beginnings-to-academic-heights">From humble beginnings to academic heights</h2>



<p>Mallett's journey was far from straightforward. After serving in the Air Force during the Vietnam War era, he utilized the GI Bill for higher education, earning his Ph.D. in physics from Pennsylvania State University in 1973 at the age of 28.</p>



<p>In 1975, he made history as the first African American professor in the University of Connecticut's physics department, achieving full professorship in 1987 before retiring in 2024 as professor emeritus.</p>



<p>Throughout these successful academic years, Mallett harbored his radical ambition as a closely guarded secret. "I kept my time travel goal a secret," he confessed. "I worried people would think I was nuts." His public research centered on black holes, serving as a "cover story" while he quietly developed his revolutionary time travel theory.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-breakthrough-moment">The breakthrough moment</h2>



<p>His pivotal insight arrived while hospitalized for a heart condition—a profound irony given his father's heart attack started this journey. The breakthrough was elegantly simple yet revolutionary: "If gravity can bend time, and light can create gravity, then light can bend time."</p>



<p>"It turns out that black holes can create a gravitational field that could lead to the creation of time loops that could allow us to go back in time," he explained.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-blueprint-for-a-temporal-vortex">The blueprint for a temporal vortex</h2>



<p>Mallett's vision for a functioning time machine replicates spacetime-warping phenomena around black holes. He offers a compelling analogy: "Picture a cup of coffee. Stir it with a spoon, and the coffee swirls. A spinning black hole does the same to spacetime."</p>



<p>In Einstein's general relativity, the universe is a dynamic fabric woven from space and time. Massive objects like black holes warp this fabric—an effect we perceive as gravity. Mallett theorizes that an intense, continuous, circulating beam of light from a ring of powerful lasers could replicate this gravitational torsion, effectively twisting time into a loop.</p>



<p>This "time loop" would theoretically allow information—or perhaps matter—to travel backward in time. He detailed this mathematical concept in his 2006 autobiography, <em>Time Traveler: A Scientist's Personal Mission to Make Time Travel a Reality</em>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-published-research-and-recognition">Published research and recognition</h2>



<p>His work, published in respected journals including <em><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/physics-letters-a" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Physics Letters A</a></em> and <em><a href="https://link.springer.com/journal/10701" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Foundations of Physics</a></em>, suggests circulating laser light could generate gravitational fields potent enough to create closed timelike curves, enabling time travel for data.</p>



<p>Mallett's research has gained worldwide media attention, featured on <a href="https://www.thisamericanlife.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Public Radio's <em>This American Life</em></a>, the <a href="https://www.history.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">History Channel</a>, and <a href="https://www.today.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBC's <em>Today Show</em></a>. The widespread interest reflects both his compelling personal story and rigorous scientific approach.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-galactic-hurdles-and-persistent-skepticism">The galactic hurdles and persistent skepticism</h2>



<p>While Mallett's equations captivate imagination, the path to reality faces immense obstacles. The energy requirement is staggering—Mallett acknowledges needing "galactic amounts of energy," far beyond current technological capabilities.</p>



<p>There's also a poignant limitation: even if realized, his machine could only send information back to when it was first activated, meaning it couldn't transport him to 1955 to prevent his father's death.</p>



<p>The scientific community remains skeptical. Physicists Ken Olum and Allen Everett argue that Mallett's proposed laser ring would need to be larger than the observable universe to achieve the necessary spacetime distortion. They invoke Stephen Hawking's chronology protection conjecture, suggesting physics may prevent macroscopic time travel.</p>



<p>Astrophysicist Paul Sutter has voiced doubts about Mallett's underlying mathematics, while science writer Brian Clegg finds the concept intriguing enough to warrant experimental investigation.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-legacy-that-transcends-time">A legacy that transcends time</h2>



<p>Now approaching 80, Dr. Mallett remains steadfast. "I believe my work will show time travel is possible," he asserts. "Future generations will build on it in ways we can't yet imagine."</p>



<p>His equations, though yet to physically bend time, have bent our collective imagination. Ongoing public interest, evidenced by his continued media appearances and Spike Lee's film adaptation of his memoir, underscores his ideas' profound impact.</p>



<p>More than a scientific pursuit, Mallett's story testifies to human resilience, intellectual courage, and hope's enduring power. Whether his theoretical time machine ever materializes, his legacy is immeasurable—inspiring countless individuals to challenge conventional limits and perceive time not as an unyielding barrier, but as a boundless frontier awaiting exploration.</p>



<p></p>



<p>-----</p>



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<p>-----</p>

Retired professor claims he solved time travel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elr4948_uOU Dr. Ronald Mallett from the University of Connecticut reveals...

<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>



<p>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?</p>



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



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



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



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



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



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



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



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



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



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



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



<p><strong>Sources:</strong> <em>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.</em></p>



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



<p><strong>1. Is acid rain completely gone?</strong> 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.</p>



<p><strong>2. How long did solving take?</strong> 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.</p>



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



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



<p><strong>5. Could acid rain return?</strong> 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.</p>



<p><strong>6. Can you recommend any teaching tools on the subject of "acid rain"?</strong> 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></p>



<p>-----</p>



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<p>-----</p>

The environmental problem we actually solved

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

<p>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. </p>



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



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



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



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



<p>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. </p>



<p>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).</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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>.</p>

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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<p>Today’s <strong>Video of the Day</strong> 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.</p>



<p>"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.</p>



<p>"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."</p>



<p><em>Video/ Image Credit: ESA</em></p>



<p><em>-</em><em>--</em></p>



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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

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<p>Today's <strong>Video of the Day</strong> 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.</p>



<p>"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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p><em>Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;</em></p>



<p><em>-</em><em>--</em></p>



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



<p>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.</p>

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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<p>Today’s <strong>Video of the Day</strong> 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;</p>



<p>"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.</p>



<p>"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."</p>



<p>"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."</p>



<p><em>Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;</em></p>



<p><em>-</em><em>--</em></p>



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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

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<p>Today's <strong>Video of the Day</strong> 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;</p>



<p>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;</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p><em>Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;</em></p>



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



<p>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.</p>

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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<p>Today’s <strong>Video of the Day</strong> from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Kainji Lake, a reservoir on the Niger River.</p>



<p>In 1968, Kainji Lake was created by the construction of the Kainji Dam. The Niger River, the third longest in Africa, enters the lake in the north.&nbsp;</p>



<p>According to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rivers-in-the-american-west-are-a-lifesaving-resource-for-birds/">ESA</a>, the creation of the lake submerged Foge Island and the town of Bussa and permanently flooded other riverine settlements, leaving around 50,000 people displaced.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Large parts of Foge Island are temporarily exposed during low water tides, and the land is often used by migrating fishermen. Kainji Dam is a dam across the Niger River in Niger State of Central Nigeria. </p>



<p>Wild mammals occur at relatively low densities due to illegal hunting. Lake Kainji has suffered a dramatic decline as a fishery due to the high numbers of artisanal and subsistence fisherfolk using the lake. It has been suggested that a period of closure, together with controlled fishing rights may help improve fish stocks.</p>



<p>Kainji Lake National Park is the oldest of its kind in Nigeria. The park contains three distinct areas: a part of the Kainji Lake, the Borgu Game Reserve to the west of the lake, and the Zugurma Game Reserve to the southeast. The park is home to around 65 mammal species, 350 bird species, and 30 species of reptiles and amphibians. </p>



<p><em>Video/ Image Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;</em></p>



<p><em>-</em><em>--</em></p>



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



<p>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.</p>

Kainji Lake in north central Nigeria

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<p>Today’s <strong>Video of the Day</strong> from <a href="https://www.igb.illinois.edu/">Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology</a> reveals how scientists can modify common crops like soybean, rice, and wheat to protect them from heat stress.</p>



<p>“We need to double crop production by 2050 to feed a growing global population, and not only are we not on track to do that, but climate change is further complicating things,” said Amanda Cavanagh, a lecturer at the University of Essex. </p>



<p>The study is part of Realizing Increased Photosynthetic Efficiency (RIPE), an international research project that aims to develop food crops that turn the sun’s energy into food more efficiently.</p>



<p>“Using an engineering approach we designed multiple alternative metabolic pathways to photorespiration. Testing them in the field showed increases in productivity which led Amanda to significantly move the project forward by showing our engineered plants can withstand pretty extreme temperature stress,” said study co-author and RIPE researcher Paul South.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“As the climate changes and temperature stresses increase the pressure on our global food supply, farmers will need every tool available including engineering approaches like the synthetic biology used here to maintain safe and productive harvests.”</p>



<p>The experts tested plants modified to have more efficient photorespiration to see if they were better adapted to warmer temperatures.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The team found that the engineered plants produced 26 percent more biomass than the wild-type plants exposed to the same temperatures, and had 15 percent less yield loss under the higher temperatures.</p>



<p><em>Video Credit: Amanda Nguyen/University of Illinois</em></p>



<p><em>-</em><em>--</em></p>



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



<p>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.</p>

Designing crops that can beat the heat

[sendtonews key="QGPzYnXEtN-1712599-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from Carl...

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<p>Today’s <strong>Video of the Day</strong> 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?</p>



<p>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;</p>



<p>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;</p>



<p><em>Video Credit: ACS Reactions</em></p>



<p><em>-</em><em>--</em></p>



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



<p>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.</p>

How does salt makes things taste better?

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<p>Today’s <strong>Video of the Day</strong> 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;</p>



<p>'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)."</p>



<p>"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.</p>



<p><em>Video/ Image Credit: ESA</em></p>



<p><em>-</em><em>--</em></p>



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



<p>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.</p>

Santiago, Chile in South America

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