Today's Image of the Day from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope features the most detailed view to date of the planetary nebula NGC 1514.



The nebula sits about 1,500 light-years away in the Taurus constellation. Webb’s latest <a href="https://webbtelescope.org/contents/news-releases/2025/news-2025-118#section-id-2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">observation</a> reveals two dusty rings wrapped around a fading star system, surrounded by orange arcs and glowing gas. 



This scene isn’t new - it’s been evolving for at least 4,000 years. Until now, much of its structure remained hidden. Thanks to Webb’s powerful mid-infrared camera, scientists can finally see the full extent of the nebula’s complexity.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dust-rings-and-broken-shells">Dust rings and broken shells</h2>



At the center of NGC 1514, two stars locked in a tight nine-year orbit are driving this dramatic display. One of them - formerly several times the mass of our Sun - has shed its outer layers as it reached the end of its life.&nbsp;



What’s left is a hot, compact white dwarf star blasting out faster, weaker winds that may have swept earlier material into thin, fragile shells.



What Webb has <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/webb-telescope-may-have-just-found-its-first-planet/">uncovered</a> is a tangled mess of dust, much of which was invisible to previous telescopes. The rings now appear fuzzy and uneven, like clumps floating through space.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-material-ejected-from-a-dying-star">Material ejected from a dying star</h2>



Some areas show distinct holes near the center, marking where faster material appears to have punched through the older gas. The telescope also picked up signs of oxygen in the nebula’s pink core, especially around the edges of the holes.



“Before Webb, we weren’t able to detect most of this material, let alone observe it so clearly,” said Mike Ressler, a project scientist for Webb’s MIRI (Mid-Infrared Instrument) at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.&nbsp;



Ressler first spotted the rings in 2010 using an earlier infrared mission, but they were faint and hard to analyze. “With MIRI’s data, we can now comprehensively examine the turbulent nature of this nebula,” he said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-nebula-s-unusual-shape">The nebula’s unusual shape</h2>



Unlike the perfectly round shapes many might expect, NGC 1514 isn’t a sphere. Webb’s observations show that the whole formation is tilted at about 60 degrees - like a can being tipped over - but its true shape is more like an hourglass with the ends sliced off.&nbsp;



Subtle pinches of dust in shallow V-shapes give clues to this structure, particularly near the top left and bottom right of the image.



The bizarre shape may be due to the interaction between the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-map-twin-stars-to-discover-hidden-planets-with-unprecedented-accuracy/">two stars</a>. During the period when the larger star was losing its outer layers, its companion may have drifted extremely close.&nbsp;



“That interaction can lead to shapes that you wouldn’t expect,” said David Jones, a senior scientist who confirmed the central binary system in 2017. “Instead of producing a sphere, this interaction might have formed these rings.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-patchy-rings-with-a-fuzzy-appearance-nbsp">Patchy rings with a fuzzy appearance&nbsp;</h2>



Between the rings, dim and semi-transparent clouds stretch through the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/six-rogue-worlds-discovered-inside-a-young-star-forming-nebula/">nebula</a>, adding body and giving hints at the object’s full three-dimensional shape.&nbsp;



The rings themselves aren’t evenly lit - they fade out toward the top right and bottom left. This patchiness, along with their fuzzy appearance, points to their makeup: very small dust grains.



“We think the rings are primarily made up of very small dust grains,” Ressler explained. “When those grains are hit by ultraviolet light from the white dwarf star, they heat up ever so slightly, which we think makes them just warm enough to be detected by Webb in mid-infrared light.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-simple-mix-of-ingredients">A simple mix of ingredients</h2>



Notably, the nebula lacks something usually seen in similar objects: carbon and its more complex molecules.&nbsp;



Most planetary nebulae contain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons - carbon-rich compounds that resemble soot. But <a href="https://webbtelescope.org/home" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Webb</a> didn’t find any trace of them in NGC 1514.



The absence of the molecules could be due to the swirling motion of the two central stars, which may have prevented more complex molecules from forming. This also allows more light from the stars to escape, helping to illuminate the faint, outer rings.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-glowing-shells-of-dying-stars">Glowing shells of dying stars</h2>



Astronomers have been studying NGC 1514 for centuries. Back in 1790, William Herschel described it as the first deep-sky object he saw that looked truly cloudy - not just a collection of stars. He couldn’t resolve it into individual points of light the way he could with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/trio-of-star-clusters-may-be-the-same-system-at-different-ages/">star clusters</a>. 



That cloudy impression was one of the earliest clues pointing toward the existence of planetary nebulae - the glowing shells of gas that dying stars leave behind.



Now, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/webb-telescope-uncovers-secrets-of-dark-matter-in-cosmic-collision-zone/">Webb</a> has revealed the full extent of the cloud Herschel saw. NGC 1514 has turned out to be a complex, dynamic structure still shifting over time.



Image Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Michael Ressler (NASA-JPL), Dave Jones (IAC)



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Webb captures the fading legacy of a dying star

Today's Image of the Day from NASA’s James Webb Space...

Today’s Image of the Day from the European Space Agency features IRAS 04302, a young star wrapped in a massive planet-forming disc about 525 light-years away in the Taurus star-forming region.&nbsp;



The young star sits deep in a dark cloud, hidden behind a veil of dusty gas. The material around it is raw fuel for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/planet-formation-new-insights-mechanics-physics/">planet formation</a>.&nbsp;



The birth of planets is not something we can watch unfold in real time. It takes millions of years for the ingredients of a solar system to come together.&nbsp;



Still, astronomers can get snapshots of these processes by turning powerful telescopes toward stellar nurseries. This <a href="https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images">image</a> from the James Webb Space Telescope offers an intimate look at one of the most striking planet-forming discs ever seen.



What Webb shows us is not only beautiful, but also a clue to how our own Solar System may have looked some 4.5 billion years ago.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-protostar-wrapped-in-dust">A protostar wrapped in dust</h2>



At the heart of the IRAS 04302 system lies a protostar - a star still in the process of gathering mass. Around it is a giant <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/planet-forming-disks-surrounding-stars-often-last-much-longer-than-expected/">protoplanetary disc</a> that Webb has measured at about 65 billion miles across, several times wider than the Solar System we know.&nbsp;



This is the environment where planets might be taking shape, as dust grains collide, stick together, and gradually grow into larger bodies.



From Webb’s vantage point, the disc is tilted edge-on. That angle creates a dark band across the image, blocking light from the star itself.&nbsp;



The shadow is not empty space. It is packed with dust and gas, the very material that could eventually give rise to planets. Scientists can use this perspective to study the vertical structure of the disc, including how efficiently dust settles toward its midplane - a process essential for building worlds.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-butterfly-star">The Butterfly Star</h2>



The striking appearance of IRAS 04302 has earned it a nickname: the Butterfly Star. The dense streak of dust bisects the view, while two glowing wings stretch above and below.&nbsp;



These wings are reflection <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/six-rogue-worlds-discovered-inside-a-young-star-forming-nebula/">nebulas</a>, lit up by starlight bouncing off surrounding clouds. They provide a softer glow that contrasts with the sharp dark lane running through the middle.



Seen from a different angle, protoplanetary discs often reveal features such as rings, gaps, or spirals. These patterns may point to baby planets carving out paths, or to other processes like gravitational instabilities.&nbsp;



The edge-on view here does not highlight those structures, but instead gives a rare look at the thickness of the disc itself.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stellar-system-in-transition-nbsp">Stellar system in transition&nbsp;</h2>



To capture this image, astronomers combined data from Webb’s Near-Infrared Camera and Mid-Infrared Instrument with optical observations from the Hubble Space Telescope. Each tool adds its own piece of the puzzle.&nbsp;



<a href="https://science.nasa.gov/mission/webb/">Webb</a> is especially sensitive to the distribution of fine dust grains and the scattering of infrared light over great distances. Hubble, meanwhile, picks out sharp details in the dust lane and reveals clumps and streaks that hint at jets and outflows still erupting from the star.



Together, these telescopes show a stellar system in transition. The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/gas-streamers-may-help-high-mass-stars-grow-despite-strong-radiation/">protostar</a> is still feeding on its surroundings, but it is also shaping them with energy and motion. That push and pull is part of how young stars mature and carve out the conditions for planets to emerge.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-first-steps-of-planet-formation">The first steps of planet formation</h2>



IRAS 04302 is one of four discs studied as part of Webb’s General Observer program #2562. The program focuses on discs oriented edge-on, since those views allow scientists to measure how dust grains evolve over time.&nbsp;



Dust growth is believed to be a crucial early step toward making planets. By watching how particles settle into dense midplanes, researchers can begin to reconstruct the timeline of planetary birth.



The Taurus region is a well-known nursery where dozens of young stars are found. Observing IRAS 04302 in such detail adds to our understanding of how stars and planets are connected.&nbsp;



Every glimpse like this one helps astronomers piece together the story of how ordinary gas and dust can turn into complex systems of worlds.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-looking-back-to-our-own-beginnings">Looking back to our own beginnings</h2>



Although IRAS 04302 is hundreds of light-years away, it offers a mirror to our past. The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-our-sun-is-unusually-calm-and-what-that-means-for-earth/">Sun</a> once sat inside its own cloud of dust, pulling in material while planets assembled around it.&nbsp;



Seeing another star at a similar stage helps remind us that solar systems are not accidents. They are natural outcomes of star formation, happening again and again across the galaxy.



The Butterfly Star is still in its infancy, and any planets taking shape there are far from complete. Yet in its shadowed disc and glowing wings, we catch a glimpse of the processes that once shaped Earth.&nbsp;



Image Credit: ESA/Webb, NASA &amp; CSA, M. Villenave et al.



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Butterfly Star shows off its planet-forming disc

Today’s Image of the Day from the European Space Agency...

Today's Image of the Day from the European Space Agency features the Butterfly Nebula, located about 3,400 light-years away in the constellation Scorpius.&nbsp;



It’s what astronomers call a planetary nebula - the brief phase when a dying star sheds its outer layers into space.



Despite the name, planetary nebulae have nothing to do with planets. Early astronomers thought these glowing shells looked round, like distant <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/six-rogue-worlds-discovered-inside-a-young-star-forming-nebula/">worlds</a> seen through primitive telescopes.&nbsp;



The name stuck, even though many nebulae are anything but round. The Butterfly Nebula, with its outstretched “wings” of gas and dust, is a perfect example.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-butterfly-with-a-hidden-heart">Butterfly with a hidden heart</h2>



At the center of this spectacular cloud lies the remnant of a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sun-like-stars-release-massive-superflares-every-100-years/">Sun-like star</a>. It has burned through its fuel and shed most of its mass, leaving behind a blazing hot core.&nbsp;



The star energizes the nebula, making it glow across the spectrum. Yet until recently, the star itself remained hidden.



A dark band of dust and gas cuts through the nebula like the “body” of the butterfly. This band is actually a torus, a doughnut-shaped structure that blocks visible light.&nbsp;



The torus shapes the nebula by forcing gas outward in two opposite directions, creating the iconic bipolar wings. It also conceals the central star from optical view.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-webb-telescope-brings-clarity">Webb telescope brings clarity</h2>



The <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/mission/webb/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">James Webb Space Telescope</a> has now pierced the dust with its Mid-Infrared Instrument, offering the sharpest view yet of the nebula’s core. 



By working in “integral field unit mode,” Webb captured <a href="https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Webb/Webb_investigates_complex_heart_of_a_cosmic_butterfly" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">images</a> and spectra at multiple wavelengths simultaneously. The result is a detailed portrait of how the nebula looks in different slices of light.



The team also added data from the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array in Chile, which revealed colder gas and dust.&nbsp;



Together, these instruments exposed a structure of extraordinary complexity, with nearly 200 spectral lines tracing atoms and molecules woven into layered shells.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-central-star-revealed">The central star revealed</h2>



The Webb observations finally pinned down the location of the nebula’s hidden <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/massive-stars-shape-planetary-systems-like-ours-with-ultraviolet-radiation/">star</a>. Its surrounding dust cloud glows brightly in mid-infrared light, betraying its position for the first time.&nbsp;



With a scorching temperature of 220,000 Kelvin - around 400,000 degrees Fahrenheit - this is one of the hottest known central stars in a planetary nebula.



That heat drives the nebula’s glow, but its power doesn’t escape evenly. The dense torus channels the outflow, creating the striking wings that stretch across space.&nbsp;



Webb data show that the torus contains crystalline silicates such as quartz, along with irregular grains about a millionth of a meter across. For cosmic dust, that’s relatively large, suggesting the particles have been accumulating for a long time.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-jets-layers-and-chemical-signatures">Jets, layers, and chemical signatures</h2>



Outside the torus, the nebula displays a multilayered design. Atoms that need the most energy to ionize cluster near the center. Those requiring less energy appear farther out.&nbsp;



Among the highlights are iron and nickel, which mark out two jets blasting away from the star in opposite directions. These fast-moving streams help sculpt the overall shape of the nebula.



The team also found evidence of carbon-based molecules known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs.&nbsp;



On Earth, PAHs are common in soot from fires, exhaust fumes, and even burnt toast. In the Butterfly Nebula, they appear to form when bursts of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tracing-solar-wind-directly-to-its-source-for-the-first-time/">stellar wind</a> collide with the surrounding gas.&nbsp;



This could be the first time PAHs have been spotted forming in an oxygen-rich planetary nebula, offering a rare window into the chemistry of dying stars.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fleeting-beauty-of-the-butterfly-nebula">Fleeting beauty of the Butterfly Nebula</h2>



The entire spectacle will not last long by cosmic standards. The planetary nebula stage endures only about 20,000 years - a brief flicker compared to a star’s lifetime of billions of years.&nbsp;



The Butterfly Nebula is a reminder of how short-lived and yet astonishingly beautiful the final chapters of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/massive-star-redefines-our-understanding-of-stellar-evolution/">stellar evolution</a> can be.



The results of this study are <a href="https://academic.oup.com/mnras/article/542/2/1287/8241385" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">published</a> in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 



The research shows that even well-studied objects like the Butterfly Nebula can surprise us when viewed with fresh eyes.&nbsp;



Webb’s infrared vision has revealed not only the hidden star at the heart of the butterfly, but also the intricate chemistry that surrounds it - from crystalline dust to unexpected organic molecules.



Image Credit: ESA/Webb, NASA &amp; CSA, J. Kastner, M. Zamani (ESA/Webb)



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Secrets of the Butterfly Nebula uncovered by Webb

Today's Image of the Day from the European Space Agency...

Today's Image of the Day from the European Space Agency features the Cat's Paw Nebula - a massive, active star-forming region in the constellation Scorpius. Also known as NGC 6334, the nebula is located about 4,000 light-years away from Earth.



The nebula’s name comes from its appearance. When viewed in visible or infrared light, it resembles a cat’s paw with bright lobes that look like giant toe beans.



“To celebrate the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope’s third year of highly productive science, astronomers used the telescope to scratch beyond the surface of the Cat’s Paw Nebula (NGC 6334), a massive, local star-forming region,” said <a href="https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ESA</a>.



“This area is of great interest to scientists, having been subject to previous study by NASA/ESA’s Hubble and retired NASA Spitzer Space telescopes, as they seek to understand the multiple steps required for a turbulent molecular cloud to transition to stars.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-activity-in-the-cat-s-paw-nebula-nbsp">Activity in the Cat’s Paw Nebula&nbsp;</h2>



The Cat’s Paw Nebula is a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/80-million-pixels-reveal-the-brilliance-of-a-star-cluster/">stellar nursery</a>, teeming with young, hot stars that are still forming from clouds of gas and dust. It spans roughly 50 light-years across and glows red, primarily due to the presence of ionized hydrogen gas illuminated by ultraviolet radiation from the newborn stars.&nbsp;



Much of the star formation remains hidden in visible light because of dense dust clouds, but observations in infrared and radio wavelengths have revealed an incredible amount of ongoing activity beneath the surface.



NGC 6334 is particularly rich in massive <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/planet-forming-disks-surrounding-stars-often-last-much-longer-than-expected/">stars</a>, including some that are over ten times the mass of the Sun.&nbsp;



Because of this, it's often used by astronomers to study the early stages of high-mass star formation, which are less understood than the processes that form lower-mass stars.&nbsp;



The region is also home to a number of protostars and clusters still wrapped in dusty cocoons, making it a dynamic and evolving part of our galaxy.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-details-in-the-cat-s-paw-nebula-nbsp">New details in the Cat’s Paw Nebula&nbsp;</h2>



“With its near-infrared capabilities and sharp resolution, the telescope 'clawed' back a portion of a singular 'toe bean,' revealing a subset of mini toe bean-reminiscent structures composed of gas, dust, and young stars,” noted ESA.



“Webb’s view reveals a chaotic scene still in development: massive young stars are carving away at nearby gas and dust, while their bright starlight is producing a bright nebulous glow represented in blue.”&nbsp;



Although only recently recognized in modern astronomy, the Cat’s Paw Nebula has become iconic - not just for its curious shape, but also for the insight it offers into how massive stars form in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/milky-ways-thin-disk-is-billions-of-years-older-than-we-thought/">Milky Way</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-constellation-scorpius-nbsp">The constellation Scorpius&nbsp;</h2>



Scorpius is one of the most striking constellations in the night sky, especially visible during the summer months in the Southern Hemisphere and lower latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere.&nbsp;



Its shape is unusually recognizable, forming a long, curving line that resembles a scorpion with a curled tail and extended claws.&nbsp;



In mythology, Scorpius is often associated with the story of Orion, the great hunter. According to one version of the myth, Orion boasted that he could kill all the animals on Earth, which angered the goddess Artemis. To punish him, she sent a giant scorpion to defeat him.&nbsp;



After a fierce battle, both <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/our-solar-system-once-drifted-through-orions-star-forming-region/">Orion</a> and the scorpion were placed among the stars on opposite sides of the sky. To this day, Orion sets as Scorpius rises, as if the hunter is still fleeing from the celestial scorpion.



Antares, the brightest star in the constellation Scorpius, is a red supergiant whose name means "rival of Mars" due to its reddish hue and brightness. Antares serves as the scorpion's heart and is one of the most prominent stars in the night sky.&nbsp;



Because Scorpius lies along the plane of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cosmic-map-reveals-that-the-milky-ways-dust-has-very-unusual-properties/">Milky Way</a>, it is filled with dense star fields and deep-sky objects. This part of the sky is exceptionally rich in detail, offering a glimpse into the crowded heart of our galaxy.



Image Credit: ESA



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Webb reveals the Cat's Paw Nebula in stunning detail

Today's Image of the Day from NASA Earth Observatory features the massive iceberg A-23A and its offspring near South Georgia, a remote island in the South Atlantic Ocean.&nbsp;



The natural-color <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/154625/antarctic-iceberg-downsizes" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">image</a> was captured by NASA’s Aqua satellite on July 22, 2025, as sunlight returned to Antarctica after months of polar night.



By this time, the main <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/worlds-largest-iceberg-a23a-undergoing-major-erosion/">iceberg</a> still covered an impressive 969 square miles, while the smaller iceberg fragments measured 62 and 28 square miles.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-journey-of-iceberg-a-23a-nbsp">The journey of iceberg A-23A&nbsp;</h2>



A-23A has been on a long journey since breaking away from Antarctica’s Filchner Ice Shelf nearly four decades ago. Now drifting about 1,500 miles north of where it started, the iceberg is showing its age.&nbsp;



Once a giant of the southern ocean, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/worlds-largest-iceberg-a23a-breaks-free-from-ocean-cyclone/">A-23A</a> is steadily losing large chunks of ice as it moves through the warmer waters near South Georgia.



Icebergs born in the frigid waters around Antarctica usually spend years drifting on the cold currents. But once they move north toward warmer seas, they face a tough fight against melting caused by higher temperatures, rough waves, and seasonal weather changes.&nbsp;



These natural forces slowly chip away at the ice, shrinking these floating giants over time.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-iceberg-s-slow-breakup">The iceberg’s slow breakup</h2>



Around March 1, 2025, A-23A became lodged on the shallow continental shelf near <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/worlds-largest-iceberg-may-crash-into-a-wildlife-sanctuary/">South Georgia</a>.



This stopover wasn’t permanent. By late May, the iceberg had broken free from the shelf, continuing its drift eastward along currents that also carried the famous A-68A iceberg in 2020.



The winter months in the southern hemisphere brought harsher conditions. The iceberg endured rough seas and freezing air, causing more ice to break off its edges.&nbsp;



Two of these newly formed icebergs were large enough to earn their own names and tracking status: A-23D and A-23E.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-role-of-radar-technology-nbsp">The role of radar technology&nbsp;</h2>



Radar technology played a key role in spotting and tracking these pieces. Jan Lieser from Australia’s <a href="http://www.bom.gov.au/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bureau of Meteorology</a> first spotted the new icebergs using radar data from NovaSAR-1. 



These observations were later confirmed by the U.S. National Ice Center with radar images from the European Space Agency’s Sentinel-1 satellite.



“Radar satellites can take images of the Earth at polar night and through all weather conditions, including heavy clouds and even smoke,” noted Lieser.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-life-cycle-and-climate-impact">Life cycle and climate impact</h2>



Even after losing significant ice, A-23A remains the largest free-floating iceberg in the world’s oceans. Another iceberg, D-15A, is larger but grounded off East Antarctica’s Amery Sea.&nbsp;



As longer daylight hours brighten the South Atlantic, scientists expect A-23A to lose even more ice while it travels farther north.



Icebergs like A-23A serve as floating records of Antarctica’s changing climate. Their journeys help scientists learn how ocean currents and temperatures influence iceberg lifespans.&nbsp;



When <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/measuring-marine-environment-near-melting-mega-iceberg-a-68a-for-first-time/">icebergs</a> drift into warmer waters, melting accelerates, contributing freshwater to the ocean. This influx can affect local marine ecosystems and even influence global ocean circulation patterns.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cascading-effects-of-icebergs">Cascading effects of icebergs</h2>



The breakup of large icebergs also releases nutrients trapped in the ice, feeding marine life and sometimes causing bursts of plankton growth.&nbsp;



These blooms can have cascading effects through the food chain, supporting fish and other wildlife around remote islands like South Georgia.



Tracking icebergs has become more precise thanks to advancements in satellite technology. Radar satellites provide consistent monitoring, unaffected by darkness or bad weather.&nbsp;



Visible light sensors complement these efforts during clear conditions. Together, they give scientists a clearer picture of iceberg movements and breakups.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-iceberg-tracking-in-a-changing-world">Iceberg tracking in a changing world</h2>



The story of A-23A is more than just the tale of a drifting iceberg. It reflects broader changes happening in polar regions due to climate shifts.&nbsp;



Ice shelves in Antarctica are breaking off more frequently, and giant icebergs are becoming common visitors to subantarctic waters.



Monitoring these icebergs helps researchers understand how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/giant-icebergs-are-not-the-main-threat-to-antarcticas-stability/">warming oceans</a> affect ice melt and the resulting impacts on sea levels and ecosystems. This knowledge is vital for predicting future changes and preparing for their consequences.



In the end, A-23A is a powerful reminder of nature’s slow but relentless changes. From its breakaway in Antarctica to its current fate in the South Atlantic, this iceberg’s path tells a story about time, climate, and the forces shaping our planet.



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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Decades adrift: The slow decay of iceberg A-23a

Today's Image of the Day from NASA Earth Observatory features...

Coffee is part of the morning routines for millions of people. But does drinking more coffee align with having more muscle? 



That’s the question behind a new analysis of Americans’ habits and body composition. This research doesn’t try to prove cause and effect. It asks whether higher coffee or caffeine intake corresponds to more limb muscle for a given body size.



The answer points in a positive direction for most adults, with an important exception. The details matter, because the way researchers measured muscle and tallied <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/coffee-may-help-you-live-longer-if-you-drink-it-this-way/">coffee intake</a> shapes how to read the results.



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



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/studies-learn-the-exact-amount-of-time-you-should-spend-training-to-build-muscle/">Muscle mass</a> isn’t just about strength. Lower muscle mass in arms and legs raises the risk of falls, fractures, and everyday struggles that chip away at independence. 



Scientists often track limb muscle adjusted for body size because it flags early losses that can sneak up with age.



A standard yardstick for that job is the appendicular skeletal muscle mass-to-BMI ratio, abbreviated as <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10401528/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ASMBMI</a>. In plain terms: “How much limb muscle do you have for your body size?” 



This measurement focuses on muscle quantity, not how quickly you rise from a chair or how steady you feel on stairs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-studying-coffee-s-link-to-muscles">Studying coffee's link to muscles</h2>



Researchers pulled data from a large, ongoing U.S. health survey (<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NHANES</a>) spanning 2011-2018. 



They started with adults, applied clear rules such as “only include people with full diet interviews and body scans,” and finished with 8,333 participants. Muscle was measured by DXA scans of the arms and legs and then expressed as ASMBMI.



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/coffee-helps-bacteria-resist-antibiotics-in-your-gut/">Coffee intake</a> came from two 24-hour dietary recalls - structured interviews covering everything people ate and drank on two different days. The team looked at regular coffee, decaf coffee, and total caffeine from all sources. 



Their statistical models adjusted for age, sex, race, education, income, smoking, alcohol, physical activity, BMI, medical conditions, total calories, and protein, so they could compare people who were similar on many fronts except for coffee intake.



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



People who drank more coffee tended to have <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/eating-grapes-every-day-can-transform-your-muscles/">more limb muscle</a> relative to their body size. After full adjustments, the highest coffee group had about a 13% higher ASMBMI than the non-coffee group. 



The highest caffeinated coffee group showed roughly a 12% increase. The top caffeine group showed about an 11% increase. Decaf didn’t show a clear, statistically significant link. 



When researchers drew smoothed trend lines, the pattern appeared approximately linear: more <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/drinking-coffee-may-help-women-stay-sharp-and-strong-as-they-age/">regular coffee</a> or caffeine corresponded to more muscle relative to body size.



There was one major exception. When participants were split by BMI, the positive link disappeared in the group with obesity (BMI ≥ 30). 



In that subset, drinking more coffee was not associated with higher ASMBMI. That doesn’t mean coffee lowers muscle there; it means the helpful pattern seen elsewhere wasn’t present.



A likely reason is biological factors tied to obesity, including chronic, low-grade inflammation that speeds muscle breakdown and may overshadow small benefits from caffeine or other coffee compounds.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-limitations-in-this-research">Limitations in this research</h2>



This was a cross-sectional snapshot. It can spot links, but it can’t prove that coffee changes muscle. People with more muscle may simply be more active or keep schedules where coffee fits better. 



The models adjusted for activity and many other variables, which strengthens confidence, but unmeasured factors can still nudge results.



Diet recalls lean on memory and honesty, and add-ins like sugar or cream can be easy to forget. 



ASMBMI captures muscle quantity, not strength or performance, so it can’t tell you how much weight you can move or how good your balance is during daily activities. 



Results also come from U.S. adults in specific survey years, so patterns could differ in other populations.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-coffee-is-linked-with-muscles">Why coffee is linked with muscles</h2>



Caffeine stimulates the nervous system and modulates how the body uses fuel during activity. Coffee also contains <a href="https://www.chhs.colostate.edu/krnc/monthly-blog/what-are-polyphenols-another-great-reason-to-eat-fruits-and-veggies/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">polyphenols</a> with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. 



Lab and animal research suggests these compounds may support healthier muscle by encouraging autophagy - the cell’s cleanup crew for worn-out parts - and by dialing down chronic inflammation over time. 



This analysis didn’t test mechanisms, but these ideas fit with the pattern. Decaf’s “no clear link” signal hints that caffeine may be doing more of the heavy lifting in this dataset.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-did-we-learn-from-this">What did we learn from this?</h2>



In U.S. adults, higher <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mood-boost-how-coffee-makes-us-happier-in-the-morning/">regular coffee</a> and total caffeine intake tracked with more limb muscle relative to body size after accounting for many other factors. However, that association did not appear in participants with obesity. 



If coffee already fits your day, these results sit comfortably with a muscle-friendly routine. Keep portions sensible, mind the extras, and avoid late cups that cut into sleep because <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/irregular-sleep-may-cause-premature-muscle-aging/">poor sleep impairs recovery</a>.



If you’re in the obesity range, the study’s “no clear link” finding suggests coffee isn’t a muscle fix. 



The bigger levers are steady resistance training, enough protein spaced through the day, and better sleep, ideally alongside medical care that addresses weight, strength, and metabolic health together. 



Coffee can still be part of that plan if it agrees with you, but it’s not the star of the show.



It’s a pattern, not proof. Pair your coffee with protein, training, and sleep if your goal is to build or protect muscle.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2024.1390309/full" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Frontiers in Nutrition</a>.



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Drinking this beverage every day helps protect your muscles from aging

Coffee is part of the morning routines for millions of...

Happy,Woman,Watching,Movie,And,Eating,Popcorn,At,Night,At

We all know the pull of one more episode. Streaming services make it easy to keep watching, and though it often feels like a guilty pleasure, new research suggests it may not be entirely bad.



A study from the University of Georgia (<a href="https://www.uga.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UGA</a>) highlights that binge-watching or marathon reading can actually strengthen how we remember stories. 



These memories may not vanish once the credits roll but instead linger in our minds, shaping imagination and reflection.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-binge-watching-strengthens-memory">Binge watching strengthens memory</h2>



The research connects this phenomenon to something called <a href="https://academic.oup.com/edited-volume/34268/chapter-abstract/290548954?redirectedFrom=fulltext" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">retrospective imaginative involvement</a>, or RII. It refers to how people continue to think about characters and events after finishing a story.



Rather than ending with the last chapter or episode, stories are reconstructed, expanded, and sometimes even altered in imagination.



“Humans are storytelling creatures. One of the functions of narratives is the ability to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/social-media-use-increases-smoking-vaping-risks-among-youth/">satisfy motivations</a> for things like connecting with other people, feeling autonomous and confident, and even security and safety. Stories have characters that fulfill these roles, and we can satisfy those needs through them,” noted Joshua Baldwin, lead author of the study.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-memory-and-imagination">Memory and imagination</h2>



The study shows that people who binge-watch are more likely to engage with stories later, carrying them into daydreams. 



Consecutive viewing appears to help audiences create richer mental models of characters and worlds, which makes these stories more accessible in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/emotions-shape-what-goes-viral-on-social-media/">memory</a>.



By consuming content in longer stretches, viewers weave tighter connections across episodes and character arcs, allowing subtle details to resonate more clearly.



This means binging may support stronger recall in the short term, even if some details fade over time. 



More importantly, it keeps the emotional and thematic essence alive, which is what fuels imagination and encourages people to revisit stories in new, creative ways.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-people-binge-watch">Why people binge watch</h2>



The reason behind a person's binge-watching habits also matters. Some are drawn to stories to escape stress, while others seek to expand their sense of self through new perspectives.



The Temporarily Expanding Boundaries of the Self (<a href="https://academic.oup.com/edited-volume/34268/chapter-abstract/290539200?redirectedFrom=fulltext">TE</a><a href="https://academic.oup.com/edited-volume/34268/chapter-abstract/290539200" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">B</a><a href="https://academic.oup.com/edited-volume/34268/chapter-abstract/290539200?redirectedFrom=fulltext" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">OTS</a>) model suggests narratives allow people to step outside daily limits and experience autonomy, competence, and connection in imagined worlds.



Escapism-driven viewing, on the other hand, gives relief by pushing aside everyday stress. 



The study found both motivations can lead to retrospective imagination, though expansion motives appear more powerful in creating long-lasting engagement.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-enjoyment-versus-appreciation">Enjoyment versus appreciation</h2>



Not all stories affect memory the same way. Lighter tales that are fun and easy to watch often spark simple recollections. 



By contrast, appreciated stories (those that feel deep, moving, or even bittersweet) encourage people to reimagine, expand, and reshape them.



These more reflective narratives are especially likely to trigger dynamic forms of imagination, such as changing events or exploring hidden backstories.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stress-and-leisure-time">Stress and leisure time</h2>



Stress does not influence story recall in a simple way. When stress is low or moderate, imagination can act as a relief, giving people a way to unwind and mentally process experiences. In these cases, stories serve as a calming outlet.



However, when stress levels rise too high, the brain becomes overloaded, leaving fewer mental resources available for remembering or reflecting on narratives. 



Instead of nurturing imagination, the mind directs energy toward coping with immediate pressures.



Leisure time changes the picture. When people have free, relaxed moments, their minds are more open to revisiting favorite stories. 



These quiet breaks - during a walk, while chatting, or simply reflecting - create mental space for narratives to return, grow, and shape daydreams.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-binge-watching-can-support-coping">Binge watching can support coping</h2>



Binge-watching has often been criticized for harming sleep and well-being. But this research suggests the picture is more nuanced. 



For some, it builds mental models that last well beyond the show itself. These memories and imagined extensions may even help people cope with challenges, making stories an ongoing psychological resource.



“People who have that habit of binge-watching shows often aren’t doing it passively but are actually actively thinking about it afterwards. They’re very much wanting to engage with stories, even when they’re not around to watch shows,” Baldwin explained.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stories-live-on-beyond-the-screen">Stories live on beyond the screen</h2>



Most people think bingeing means wasting hours in front of a screen. But the study shows it can be much more than that. 



When you get lost in a story, the characters and emotions often tag along even after you stop watching. Sometimes they reappear in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/most-dogs-binge-watch-television-everyday/">daydreams</a>, other times in quiet reflections when your mind drifts.



This habit doesn’t just strengthen memory. It can stir creativity, spark imagination, and even help people make sense of their own lives. 



Stories can offer comfort, connection, or a fresh perspective - things we all need from time to time. That’s why they rarely end with the credits. Instead, they linger in our thoughts, shaping how we dream, reflect, and connect with the world.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001691825004147?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Acta Psychologica</a>.



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Why binge-watching TV shows may actually be good for your mind

We all know the pull of one more episode. Streaming...

For years, one rule in chemistry class seemed simple: certain high-energy carbon species, like vitamin B1, fall apart in water. That’s why many reactions take place in specialized organic solvents instead of the most common solvent on Earth. 



A new study puts a crack in that rule. It shows that a reactive carbon species can persist in water long enough to be directly observed and clearly described.



Water is common, safe, cheap, and central to life. If reactive <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/100-year-old-chemistry-rule-bredts-rule-proven-false-updating-textbooks-comes-next/">carbon chemistry</a> can run in water, we get a clearer picture of how some enzymes might work inside cells and a cleaner path for industry to make useful molecules.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-vitamin-b1-debate-began-in-1958">Vitamin B1 debate began in 1958</h2>



Back in 1958, a bold idea suggested that vitamin B1 could form a short-lived, carbene-like species inside cells. 



The concept clashed with the old view that water destroys carbenes almost instantly. The debate simmered for decades as tools improved and chemists searched for direct proof.



That proof has now arrived with a made-to-measure molecule that shields the reactive center well enough to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/water-molecule-discovery-will-force-textbooks-to-be-rewritten/">persist in liquid water</a>. 



The team didn’t just propose it. They produced it and documented it with measurements that settle the case.



"This is the first time anyone has been able to observe a stable carbene in water," said Vincent Lavallo, a professor of chemistry at <a href="https://www.ucr.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UC Riverside</a> and corresponding author of the paper. 



"People thought this was a crazy idea. But it turns out, Breslow was right."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-water-carbenes-and-complications">Water, carbenes, and complications</h2>



<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/chemistry/carbene" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">A carbene</a> is a carbon atom with two open spots for bonding. Carbon usually prefers a full set of electrons. 



With fewer electrons than usual, it becomes reactive quickly. That reactivity is useful in many lab and industrial reactions because it can rearrange bonds efficiently.



Water molecules are quick to react with electron-hungry species. For most carbenes, that means a fast end to the reaction you wanted to study. 



That’s the core reason many chemists long believed carbenes couldn’t play a role in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/quantum-secrets-of-water-molecules-discovered-in-the-lab-through-spectroscopy/">watery environments</a> like cells.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-they-proved-it">How they proved it</h2>



The researchers protected the carbene by surrounding it with bulky groups that hinder attack by water.



By crowding the space near the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-the-ocean-holds-carbon-hidden-mechanisms-revealed/">reactive carbon</a>, they reduced unwanted side reactions while keeping the carbon center active.



They generated the carbene in water and captured its signature using <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_magnetic_resonance" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)</a> spectroscopy. That experiment gave a clear, solution-phase fingerprint. 



They then obtained a single-crystal X-ray structure that fixed the positions of the atoms in space. Together, those tools moved the result from “likely” to “certain.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-vitamin-b1-connection">Vitamin B1 connection</h2>



Vitamin B1, also known as <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002401.htm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">thiamine</a>, becomes an active cofactor in the body. In that form, it helps enzymes break and form carbon-carbon bonds during metabolism. 



The 1958 proposal suggested that, under the right conditions, a carbene-like state forms long enough to assist those bond changes. 



Over the years, chemists gathered indirect support, such as the “<a href="https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2021/sc/d1sc01910d" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Breslow intermediate</a>,” but critics could still argue that real carbenes can’t exist in water. 



This work removes that roadblock by showing that a true carbene can persist in water when designed correctly.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cleaner-chemistry-impact">Cleaner chemistry impact</h2>



"Water is the ideal solvent - it's abundant, non-toxic, and environmentally friendly," said first author Varun Raviprolu, who completed the research as a graduate student at UCR and is now a postdoctoral researcher at UCLA. 



"If we can get these powerful catalysts to work in water, that's a big step toward greener chemistry."



A large share of chemical manufacturing still depends on organic solvents that pose fire and health hazards. 



If more carbene chemistry can run in water, production lines for some medicines and materials could become safer and easier to manage. Water won’t replace every solvent, but even a partial shift would help.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-vitamin-b1-is-just-the-first-step">Vitamin B1 is just the first step</h2>



"There are other reactive intermediates we've never been able to isolate, just like this one," Lavallo said. "Using protective strategies like ours, we may finally be able to see them, and learn from them."



That outlook matters. Many <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/one-step-closer-to-mimicking-natures-mastery-of-chemistry/">useful reactions</a> rely on short-lived species we seldom catch in the act. With smarter protection and sharper tools, more of those species can move from theory to clear evidence.



Vincent Lavallo put it this way: "Just 30 years ago, people thought these molecules couldn't even be made," he said. "Now we can bottle them in water. What Breslow said all those years ago - he was right."



Science often works like this. An idea arrives before the tools exist to test it. Over time, methods improve, and designs get better. When the right experiment finally lands, the field shifts from debate to result.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-does-any-of-this-matter">Why does any of this matter?</h2>



This finding does not claim to show vitamin B1 forming a carbene inside a living cell directly on camera. It shows that water doesn’t automatically rule out carbene chemistry. 



The result aligns with a classic proposal about vitamin B1, clears away a key objection, and points to cleaner ways to run powerful reactions in the safest solvent we have. 



With good <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/no-electron-dancing-allowed-new-molecular-design-rules/">molecular design</a>, a carbene can endure in water and still do its job. That makes the original idea from 1958 chemically realistic and strengthens modern views of how thiamine-dependent enzymes might carry out their work.



"We were making these reactive molecules to explore their chemistry, not chasing a historical theory. But it turns out our work ended up confirming exactly what Breslow proposed all those years ago," Raviprolu concluded.



It’s a careful piece of chemistry with practical upside - and a reminder that good ideas can wait a long time before the right evidence arrives.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adr9681" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science Advances</a>.



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Vitamin B1 theory from 1958 is finally proven by scientists after being called 'crazy'

For years, one rule in chemistry class seemed simple: certain...

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