Today's Image of the Day from NASA Earth Observatory features a stunning transformation across the western Barents Sea on August 5, 2025. 



Tiny, plant-like organisms known as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tiny-phytoplankton-that-feed-ocean-life-are-rapidly-disappearing/">phytoplankton</a> surged near the ocean’s surface, forming a colorful bloom visible from space.&nbsp;



Captured by NASA’s Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard the Aqua satellite, the bloom swirled around Bear Island, part of Norway’s Svalbard archipelago. 



Bear Island lies roughly halfway between Spitsbergen, the archipelago’s largest island, and mainland Norway.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-phytoplankton-s-seasonal-rhythm">Phytoplankton’s seasonal rhythm</h2>



Phytoplankton, though microscopic, play a major role in the marine ecosystem. Their seasonal blooms support countless species of fish and zooplankton.



Phytoplankton also contribute to the global carbon cycle and produce a significant portion of the oxygen we breathe. These tiny organisms are vital for both local and planetary health.



The Barents Sea experiences two main phytoplankton bloom seasons each year. Diatoms, which are a type of single-celled algae with silica shells, appear first in May and June.&nbsp;



Later, in August, coccolithophores emerge. These organisms thrive as nutrients are depleted and the surface waters warm and stratify.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-forces-behind-phytoplankton-blooms">Forces behind phytoplankton blooms</h2>



The striking turquoise color of the recent bloom likely comes from coccolithophores, specifically Gephyrocapsa huxleyi. These organisms are encased in calcium carbonate plates, which reflect sunlight and give the water its distinctive color. 



Other shades visible in the bloom may come from floating sediment and different phytoplankton <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/invisible-forest-of-phytoplankton-thrives-in-a-warming-climate/">species</a>. Diatoms, for example, often tint the water green.



Researchers have long studied how environmental factors influence phytoplankton blooms. Water flowing in from North Atlantic currents plays a major role in shaping the location and extent of G. huxleyi blooms in this area. 



According to <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/154651/bloom-time-in-the-barents-sea" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA</a>, scientists are particularly interested in how “Atlantification” - the warming and changing circulation of Arctic waters - could alter the marine food web and biogeochemical cycles of the region.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-base-of-the-food-web-nbsp">The base of the food web&nbsp;</h2>



Coccolithophores and other phytoplankton form the base of the marine food web, supporting small zooplankton that are themselves a key food source for fish, seabirds, and marine mammals.&nbsp;



In the Barents Sea, this web is the lifeline for commercial fisheries and species such as cod, capelin, and herring. Any change in phytoplankton abundance or composition can ripple through the ecosystem, affecting species from the tiniest shrimp to large predatory fish.



Beyond their role as a food source, coccolithophores contribute to carbon cycling. When they die, their calcium carbonate shells sink to the ocean floor, sequestering carbon in deep waters.&nbsp;



This natural process helps regulate atmospheric carbon dioxide, linking Arctic phytoplankton <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dust-from-africa-sparked-a-massive-phytoplankton-bloom/">blooms</a> to broader climate systems. They also produce oxygen through photosynthesis, reinforcing the ocean’s role as a life-support system for Earth.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracking-blooms-from-space">Tracking blooms from space</h2>



The August 2025 bloom highlights how modern technology allows scientists to monitor marine ecosystems in near real-time.&nbsp;



MODIS, the sensor aboard NASA’s Aqua satellite, detects the color and extent of phytoplankton blooms from orbit, providing crucial data for understanding seasonal patterns and ecological shifts.&nbsp;



Satellite observations, combined with in-water measurements, provide a comprehensive picture of how phytoplankton respond to environmental changes.



Experts emphasize that phytoplankton are not just passive indicators of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-marine-heatwaves-impact-ocean-health/">ocean health</a>. Their blooms reflect the underlying dynamics of water movement, temperature, and nutrient availability. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-impacts-of-atlantification">Impacts of Atlantification</h2>



As Arctic waters continue to warm and Atlantic currents penetrate further north, the region’s marine ecosystems may experience significant shifts.&nbsp;



Coccolithophore blooms, for example, could become more frequent or widespread, altering food web dynamics and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/a-weaker-ocean-will-release-more-carbon-into-the-atmosphere/">carbon cycling</a>.&nbsp;



Scientists are closely monitoring these trends to predict how fisheries, nutrient distribution, and ecosystem health might change in coming decades.



For now, the August 2025 bloom serves as a vivid reminder of the Arctic Ocean’s intricate web of life.&nbsp;



From microscopic algae to commercial fish stocks, these seasonal blooms shape the rhythms of life in one of Earth’s most extreme environments. They are both a signal of ecological change and a testament to the delicate balance of life in Arctic waters.



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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Phytoplankton bloom transforms the Barents Sea 

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

Today's Image of the Day from the European Space Agency features a stunning view of the spiral galaxy NGC 1309 captured by the Hubble Space Telescope. 



The galaxy, located about 100 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Eridanus, shines with bluish stars and trails of dusty gas.



The real fascination lies not just in how NGC 1309 looks - it’s what happened there that keeps astronomers coming back.



The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/thousands-of-galaxies-revealed-in-a-single-webb-image/">galaxy</a> has been a familiar subject for Hubble, appearing in images released in both 2006 and 2014. That continued interest isn’t just because it’s photogenic.&nbsp;



NGC 1309 is a site of rare astronomical events that have helped researchers understand what happens when stars die, and in one case, what happens when they don't quite finish the job.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hundreds-of-galaxies-surround-ngc-1309">Hundreds of galaxies surround NGC 1309</h2>



Hubble’s newest look at NGC 1309 captures more than just one galaxy. As ESA noted, countless distant galaxies are visible in the background of the image.&nbsp;



But one sharp point of light stands out near the top of the frame. It’s not a galaxy, but a nearby star from our own <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/milky-way-galaxy-may-be-inside-a-giant-void-in-the-universe-explains-hubble-tension/">Milky Way</a>, just a few thousand light-years away.



“This stunning Hubble image encompasses NGC 1309’s bluish stars, dark brown gas clouds and pearly white centre, as well as hundreds of distant background galaxies,” noted <a href="https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2025/08/A_supernova-rich_spiral#msdynmkt_trackingcontext=8d9474de-58be-45fd-9fca-2f9985620200" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ESA</a>.



“Nearly every smudge, streak and blob of light in this image is an individual galaxy. The only exception to the extragalactic ensemble is a star, which can be identified near the top of the frame by its diffraction spikes.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-unusual-story-of-ngc-1309">The unusual story of NGC 1309</h2>



Even though the view is crowded, all eyes are on NGC 1309. This galaxy gained attention after two significant explosions lit it up in the past few decades. The first, a textbook Type Ia supernova named SN 2002fk, occurred in 2002.&nbsp;



These types of supernovae are known for being reliable “standard candles” that help astronomers measure cosmic distances. They happen when a white dwarf - the leftover core of a dead star - gets pushed past its limit and explodes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-supernova-that-left-something-behind">Supernova that left something behind</h2>



In 2012, Hubble detected a second <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/supernovae-explosions-seem-to-have-altered-earths-climate-in-the-past-and-could-do-so-again-at-any-time/">supernova</a> in NGC 1309 - SN 2012Z. This one threw scientists a curveball. On the surface, it looked like another Type Ia event, but its brightness didn’t quite measure up. It turned out to be part of a lesser-known category called Type Iax supernovae.



Unlike typical Type Ia explosions, SN 2012Z didn’t tear the white dwarf completely apart. What was left behind surprised astronomers: a “zombie star.”&nbsp;



Instead of fading into the background, the star remained - and it actually became brighter after the explosion. That’s not something astronomers were expecting to see.



This discovery made NGC 1309 the site of something that had never been captured before: the exact white dwarf that triggered a supernova, seen in images taken before the explosion.&nbsp;



Usually, supernovae are identified after the fact, based on the light they release. But in this case, the star was already in Hubble’s earlier images of the galaxy. That allowed scientists to link the before-and-after views in a way they’d never been able to do.



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



Studying supernovae helps astronomers learn about the life cycles of stars, and how the elements created in those explosions spread through galaxies.&nbsp;



Type Ia supernovae, in particular, have been crucial for measuring how fast the universe is expanding. But Type Iax <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/webb-travels-back-in-time-to-better-understand-supernovae-science/">events</a> like SN 2012Z add a wrinkle to that story.



These smaller explosions don’t follow the usual rules. They’re dimmer, take longer to unfold, and - as SN 2012Z revealed - they might not mark the end of a star’s life. 



Ultimately, weaker explosions are less reliable for measuring distances in space. But they offer something different: a look at what could happen when a supernova doesn’t finish the job.



Observing a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hungry-white-dwarf-stars-eat-heavy-metals/">white dwarf</a> that somehow survives its own explosion gives scientists a chance to rethink their models. Maybe some stars don’t die as completely as once thought. Maybe there’s a middle ground between a full explosion and a quiet fade.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hubble-s-long-memory-pays-off">Hubble’s long memory pays off</h2>



Thanks to its sharp vision and longevity, the Hubble Space Telescope has been able to watch NGC 1309 across decades. The long record made it possible to notice changes and connect the dots between past and present.&nbsp;



Even though newer telescopes like the <a href="https://webbtelescope.org/home" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">James Webb Space Telescope</a> are joining the game, Hubble still has a key role.&nbsp;



Hubble's deep image of NGC 1309 is a map of astronomical history - and in this case, a rare chance to catch a supernova before and after its big moment.



Image Credit: ESA



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Hubble captures a star that survived its own explosion 

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

Today’s Image of the Day from the European Space Agency features a persistent algae bloom along the coastline of South Australia near Adelaide. For more than five months, the waters have been marked by the unusual phenomenon. 



A bloom of microscopic organisms, almost invisible to the naked eye, has painted the sea with hints of yellow-green, signaling an ecological shift that scientists have been watching closely.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-persistent-bloom-near-australia">Persistent bloom near Australia </h2>



The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/arctic-ocean-turning-green-thanks-to-climate-change-algae-blooms/">bloom</a> began in mid-March around the Fleurieu Peninsula and has yet to fade away. Its persistence has raised alarms for both marine ecosystems and people living along the coast.



The culprit behind this event is a dinoflagellate called Karenia mikimotoi. Although this algae is not classified as toxic to humans, it can still cause skin and eye irritation, along with respiratory discomfort for those who spend time near the shore.&nbsp;



For marine animals, however, the impact is far more serious. The bloom can damage fish gills, suffocating entire populations and threatening local fisheries.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-heatwaves-and-unstable-seas">Heatwaves and unstable seas</h2>



The Government of South Australia has linked the prolonged bloom to an equally persistent <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ocean-temperatures-are-rising-faster-than-expected-and-likely-to-accelerate/">marine heatwave</a>. Since September 2024, southern waters have been unusually warm, setting the stage for algal growth on an unprecedented scale.&nbsp;



Warm conditions, paired with calm and nutrient-rich waters, create an ideal environment for Karenia mikimotoi to thrive.



The species flourishes in stratified waters. When the ocean layers remain stable, sunlight penetrates the surface while nutrients accumulate in the shallows.&nbsp;



That balance, while favorable for algae, disrupts the natural cycles that coastal ecosystems depend on. Once blooms like this take hold, they can be extremely difficult to break.



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



While the bloom has unfolded along South Australia’s coast, the story is being told from far above.&nbsp;



Satellites orbiting Earth now act as essential sentinels, offering wide-ranging views that scientists on the ground could never achieve alone.&nbsp;



The Copernicus <a href="https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/Copernicus/Sentinel-3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sentinel-3</a> mission, equipped with its Ocean and Land Colour Instrument, has been tracking this bloom with remarkable precision. By measuring chlorophyll-a, which is a pigment that signals the presence of algae, researchers have been able to map the bloom’s reach and intensity.



Satellite data has become more than just a monitoring tool. It provides decision-makers with early warnings and helps governments respond faster to environmental changes that might otherwise go unnoticed. 



In this case, the <a href="https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">extended bloom</a> highlights the importance of pairing ground-based studies with large-scale observations from orbit.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-long-algae-blooms-matter">Why long algae blooms matter</h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/humans-have-caused-toxic-algae-blooms-since-the-bronze-age/">Algal blooms</a> are not unusual in coastal waters, but their duration and scale often dictate their impact. Short-lived blooms may come and go without causing much disruption.&nbsp;



Extended events like the one unfolding near Adelaide are different. They alter food webs, reduce oxygen levels, and can trigger cascading effects across entire marine ecosystems.



Fisheries are among the first sectors to feel the strain. When fish die in large numbers, not only do local communities face economic losses, but the region’s biodiversity also suffers. Recovery can take years, especially when multiple species are affected.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-an-uncertain-future">An uncertain future</h2>



The South Australian bloom is part of a larger story unfolding worldwide. As oceans warm and marine heatwaves become more frequent, conditions that favor harmful <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/algae-that-thrives-on-ice-plays-an-unexpected-role-in-glacier-melting/">algae</a> are expected to expand.&nbsp;



Blooms that once occurred sporadically may become seasonal features. For coastal communities, this means preparing for more frequent disruptions to fisheries, tourism, and public health.



Even as scientists work to understand the mechanics of Karenia mikimotoi blooms, the bigger picture points to climate change as a driving force.&nbsp;



Marine systems are highly dynamic, and shifts in temperature, currents, and nutrient flow create openings for species that thrive in disturbance.&nbsp;



The bloom near Adelaide may be a local event, but it represents global challenges that are becoming harder to ignore.



Image Credit: Copernicus Sentinel data (2025), processed by ESA



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Algae bloom lingers for months off Australia 

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

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

Ou0new

Doritos have been a favorite snack around the world for decades. One of the dyes that gives the chips their bright pop just did something unexpected in a lab: it helped make mouse skin temporarily transparent, creating "see-through" mice. 



That dye is tartrazine, a vivid yellow-orange additive you’ll also find in some foods, medicines, and cosmetics. 



Mix a small amount with water, apply it to the skin, and for a short time, cameras tuned to certain wavelengths can see through <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/skins-secret-strength-shields-against-puncture-damage/">the top layers</a>.



For people who study living systems, being able to look inside the body without cutting it open is important. 



Light usually scatters in tissue, so images blur before you reach anything useful. A simple, safe topical mixture that sharpens the view - even briefly - can open doors for research.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tartrazine-and-invisible-skin">Tartrazine and invisible skin</h2>



Researchers at <a href="https://www.stanford.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stanford University</a> described the method in the journal Science. 



The approach uses basic optics to reduce scatter and clarify what cameras pick up from living tissue. The idea hinges on changing how water bends light so that it better matches nearby fats in the skin.



“For those who understand the fundamental physics behind this, it makes sense; but if you aren’t familiar with it, it looks like a magic trick,” said <a href="https://profiles.utdallas.edu/zihao.ou" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Zihao Ou</a>, the lead author of the study who is now an assistant professor of physics at <a href="https://www.utdallas.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The University of Texas at Dallas</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-living-tissue-normally-looks-cloudy">Living tissue normally looks cloudy</h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/vitamin-c-promotes-skin-renewal-and-anti-aging-at-the-genetic-level-dna-demethylation/">Skin, fat, and muscle</a> aren’t uniform. They’re built from many tiny parts that bend light by different amounts. When light hits those differences, it scatters in many directions. That’s why images fade fast with depth. 



Scientists describe how much a material bends light using a value called the <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/refractivity" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">refractive index</a>. Water in tissue has a refractive index around 1.33. Lipids sit higher, roughly in the 1.45 to 1.48 range. That gap creates a lot of scatter.



Close that gap, and the path straightens. Less scatter means sharper images and a deeper reach for the same camera and light source.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-tartrazine-changes-light-waves">How tartrazine changes light waves</h2>



Tartrazine absorbs blue and <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9077139/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">near-ultraviolet light</a>. A principle of optics links absorption at one set of wavelengths to changes in refractive index at other wavelengths. 



Add a dye that soaks up blue, and you can nudge water’s refractive index upward in the red and near-infrared - the wavelengths that already go deeper into tissue. 



Water begins to act a little more like the fats around it, so the light scatters less and the image gets clearer.



The team first checked this in gels and thin tissue slices. The pattern held: there was less scatter where it mattered. Then they moved to live mice and applied a diluted solution to the skin. 



To the naked eye, the area looked darker because the dye absorbs blue light. To a camera set for red or <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Near-infrared_spectroscopy" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">near-infrared</a>, the patch turned more transparent for a short time.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-see-through-tartrazine-mice">"See-through" tartrazine mice</h2>



That window was long enough to watch organs move beneath the abdomen. They could follow the gut’s rhythm as it pushed food along. 



On the head, they mapped surface blood vessels without shaving to the skull or placing a surgical window. 



In a hind limb, they resolved the banded patterns inside <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-fat-hidden-in-muscles-weakens-strength-and-healing/">muscle fibers</a> - details that usually hide behind layers of scatter. They didn’t cut the skin or implant anything.



Once researchers washed off the dye, the mice lost their translucency, and the dye was excreted in urine, according to the research team. 



“It’s important that the dye is biocompatible - it’s safe for living organisms,” Ou said. “In addition, it’s very inexpensive and efficient; we don’t need very much of it to work.”



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/mice_see-through-skin_doritos-chemical_-Kramers-Kronig-relations_1m.jpg"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/mice_see-through-skin_doritos-chemical_-Kramers-Kronig-relations_1s.webp" alt="Strongly absorbing molecules dissolved in water can modify the RI of the aqueous medium through the Kramers-Kronig relations to match that of lipids. This approach can render various samples transparent, including scattering phantoms, chicken breast tissue, and live mouse body for visualizing a wide range of deep-seated structures and activities. Scale bars, 5 mm. Credit: The schematic was prepared using BioRender.com" class="wp-image-1984331"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Strongly absorbing molecules dissolved in water can modify the RI of the aqueous medium through the Kramers-Kronig relations to match that of lipids. This approach can render various samples transparent, including scattering phantoms, chicken breast tissue, and live mouse body for visualizing a wide range of deep-seated structures and activities. Scale bars, 5 mm. Click image to enlarge. Credit: The schematic was prepared using BioRender.com</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-neat-trick-but-why-does-it-matter">Neat trick, but why does it matter?</h2>



Most methods that clear tissue for imaging work on dead samples. They often dehydrate the tissue, replace fats, or fix it chemically. Those steps can create beautiful static pictures, but they destroy the live dynamics. 



This dye-based method <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/molecules-found-in-young-human-blood-shown-to-reverse-signs-of-aging-on-skin/">leaves tissue alive</a> and flexible. It quiets the optical mismatch just long enough to capture the action. That makes a difference for everyday lab work. 



Researchers can track surface blood flow, watch organ motion without surgery, study how nerves in the gut coordinate with muscle contractions, and test new imaging tools with fewer invasive procedures. 



Students can learn from live systems while avoiding harsher interventions.



“Optical equipment, like the microscope, is not directly used to study live humans or animals because light can’t go through living tissue," Ou said. 



"But now that we can make tissue transparent, it will allow us to look at more detailed dynamics. It will completely revolutionize existing optical research in biology.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tartrazine-and-future-human-health">Tartrazine and future human health</h2>



Because the physics ties absorption to refractive index, this strategy isn’t limited to tartrazine. The principle points to a family of agents tuned to the exact wavelengths a microscope uses. 



Researchers plan to explore other substances that could outperform tartrazine. The goal is the same: reduce scatter, sharpen images, and do it with materials that are safe, affordable, and easy to apply.



A small change in a fundamental property of water - how it bends light at certain wavelengths - turned cloudy tissue into a temporary window. The method showed live, moving structures in mice. 



The immediate win for this study is to provide better, kinder live-animal imaging for biology. 



The longer-term promise is a new class of simple add-ons that could help future optical devices “see” a bit deeper at the body’s surface - if safety and performance hold up.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adm6869" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science</a>.



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Ingredient used in Doritos helps scientists create mice with 'see-through' skin

Doritos have been a favorite snack around the world for...

Life doesn’t always play by the tidy rules in textbooks. Most organisms use oxygen to produce ATP, which is energy used by cells. Some life forms, especially microbes, tap other chemicals when oxygen is scarce. The usual explanation says it’s one mode or the other.



A team studying a microbe from a Yellowstone hot spring found something different. This bacterium can use oxygen and sulfur at the same time to produce energy. That mixed strategy gives it an edge when oxygen levels fluctuate.



Lisa Keller of <a href="https://www.montana.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Montana State University</a> is the lead author of this research that describes her work with bacterial samples from a group called Aquificales. 



Along with her adviser and mentor Eric Boyd, professor in the College of Agriculture’s <a href="https://www.montana.edu/mbi/">Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology</a>, they published their fascinating work in the journal Nature Communications.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-microbes-that-breathe-oxygen-and-sulfur">Microbes that breathe oxygen and sulfur</h2>



Respiration is how a cell converts food into usable energy (<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK26882/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ATP</a>). In oxygen-based respiration, cells move electrons through a chain of reactions and pass them to oxygen at the end. 



Anaerobic respiration does a similar job but transfers electrons to other acceptors, such as sulfur, nitrate, or iron. Both strategies work; they are just different.



The hot-spring bacterium, <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/immunology-and-microbiology/aquificales" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Aquificales</a>, challenged the usual either-or assumption. Under the right conditions, it kept both systems running. 



That meant that while the bacteria were producing sulfide - an anaerobic process - they were using oxygen, meaning that both metabolisms were occurring.



“There’s no explanation other than that these cells are breathing oxygen at the same time that they are breathing elemental sulfur,” Keller said.



Keller explained that the bacterium’s ability to conduct both processes at once challenges our understanding of how microbes survive, especially in dynamic, low-oxygen environments such as hot springs. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-oxygen-and-sulfur-in-hot-springs">Oxygen and sulfur in hot springs</h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/giant-viruses-found-in-yellowstones-hot-springs-may-be-near-the-root-of-all-life-on-earth/">Hot springs</a> are tough places to live. Temperatures run high. Minerals dissolve into the water. Gases bubble in and out. 



Oxygen dissolves less in hot water than in cool water and escapes more easily, so levels change from moment to moment. In that kind of environment, a flexible energy strategy goes a long way.



The bacterium in this study thrives at high temperatures and feeds on simple molecules, including hydrogen gas. It can use oxygen when it’s available and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sulfur-may-have-played-key-role-origin-of-life-on-earth/">elemental sulfur</a> when oxygen dips.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-the-study-was-done">How the study was done</h2>



Keller and her team isolated the microbe, then grew it in the lab at high temperatures with three ingredients: <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fairy-circles-may-point-to-underground-sources-of-clean-energy-from-natural-hydrogen-reserves/">hydrogen gas</a> as the energy source, elemental sulfur, and oxygen. They then tracked the cells’ chemical reactions and which genes were switched on.



Next, the team measured oxygen levels directly using <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/gas-chromatography" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">gas chromatography</a>. They also watched for the conversion of sulfur to sulfide, a clear sign of anaerobic sulfur respiration. 



Gene expression data aligned with the chemistry: enzymes for both oxygen use and sulfur processing were active simultaneously.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-microbe-s-oxygen-sulfur-strategy">Microbe's oxygen-sulfur strategy</h2>



Cultures given hydrogen, sulfur, and oxygen grew faster and reached higher cell counts than cultures that had to use only oxygen or only sulfur. 



That growth boost points to a simple payoff: more net energy when both pathways run together under low or unstable oxygen.



One detail matters for interpreting the results. The sulfide produced doesn’t persist in a mixed setup. Oxygen and certain metal ions in the broth can quickly consume it. 



Without careful controls, that can hide the microbe’s dual strategy. This study accounted for that factor, which helps explain why this behavior may have been missed in past experiments.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-widespread-pattern-in-nature">Widespread pattern in nature</h2>



Genes and enzymes similar to those involved here are found in many microbes. 



That suggests this hybrid mode could be more common than we realized, especially in places where conditions shift minute to minute. Hot springs and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/deep-sea-hydrothermal-vents-provide-clues-about-the-origin-of-life/">deep-sea vents</a> contain fuels and oxidants that rise and fall. 



Microbes that can keep multiple electron acceptors available may outgrow neighbors that wait for a single, ideal condition.



Flexibility like this also fits the story of early Earth. Oxygen didn’t flood the oceans all at once. It rose in patchy, inconsistent ways. 



Microbes that could sense tiny amounts of oxygen while still relying on older, oxygen-free reactions likely had an advantage. 



The results of this study may explain how ancient lifeforms adapted to the progressive oxygenation of Earth that began around 2.8 billion years ago - the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earths-first-bacteria-used-oxygen-about-one-billion-years-earlier-than-we-thought/">Great Oxidation Event</a>.



“This is really interesting, and it creates so many more questions,” Keller said. “We don't know how widespread this is, but it opens the door for a lot of exploring.”



The Yellowstone bacterium isn’t ancient, but it shows a strategy that would have made sense when oxygen first began to matter.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-oxygen-sulfur-combo-works">How oxygen-sulfur combo works</h2>



Oxygen sits at the top of the energy ladder because it accepts electrons strongly, which usually means more energy per unit of fuel. 



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/astrochemists-think-they-found-where-sulfur-atoms-in-space-has-been-hiding/">Sulfur compounds</a> accept electrons too, though the energy yield is lower. When oxygen is scarce or fluctuating, using sulfur in parallel keeps the energy flowing rather than stalling.



Temperature and chemistry help set the stage. High heat speeds reactions and lowers oxygen solubility. Hydrogen gas, common around hydrothermal systems, supplies a steady stream of electrons. 



Elemental sulfur is abundant in many volcanic and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/geothermal-energy-is-cheap-and-clean-and-having-its-moment/">geothermal settings</a>. Together, these conditions make simultaneous oxygen and sulfur respiration advantageous.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-real-world-implications">Real-world implications</h2>



Mixed respiration hints at new ways to run bioreactors and environmental cleanup efforts. 



If microbes can be encouraged to keep more than one pathway active, engineers may squeeze extra efficiency from waste-to-energy systems, or keep pollutant breakdown steady when oxygen supply is uneven. 



The same thinking applies to managing the sulfur and carbon cycles in complex settings where oxygen isn’t easy to control.



The work also urges careful experimental design. Testing a microbe in a strict “oxygen-only” or “no-oxygen” setup can miss behaviors that only appear when both are present. 



Real environments rarely offer neat categories. Lab protocols that match those complex realities reveal strategies that would otherwise stay hidden.



To sum it all up, this heat-loving bacterium, Aquificales, broadens how we think about life’s energy playbook. It's messy, adaptive, and full of clever workarounds that let microbes, and maybe eventually us, survive in a changing world.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-56418-4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications</a>.



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New microbes are discovered in Yellowstone that can do something life should not be able to do

Life doesn’t always play by the tidy rules in textbooks....

The race to replace fossil fuels has inspired researchers to explore many unconventional potential sources. Among these, natural hydrogen, which is found deep underground, is gaining attention. 



It is seen as a possible building block for a cleaner energy future. Yet, it remains difficult to predict where this hidden hydrogen lies.



A recent study from the <a href="https://www.univie.ac.at/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Vienna</a> suggests that mysterious features on Earth’s surface, called fairy circles, could reveal the presence of these underground reserves. 



The round patches, where vegetation is damaged or absent, may point the way to a sustainable <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/clean-hydrogen-source-could-power-earth-for-170000-years/">energy</a> source.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-are-fairy-circles">What are fairy circles?</h2>



Across many parts of the world, unusual circular patterns appear on the landscape, drawing attention from scientists and local communities alike. 



These formations, known as fairy circles, can be found in regions as distant and varied as Russia, Namibia, Brazil, and <a href="https://research.csiro.au/hydrogenfsp/australian-fairy-circles/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Australia</a>.



They often stand out sharply from the surrounding environment due to the presence of vast rings or depressions with sparse or no vegetation. 



Despite their size - sometimes hundreds of meters across - the depressions themselves are relatively shallow, sinking only a few meters into the ground.



For decades, these circles remained a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-catalyst-precatalyst-improves-clean-hydrogen-production-to-99-9-efficiency/">geological</a> and ecological mystery. Researchers speculated about many possible explanations, ranging from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mysterious-fairy-circles-are-likely-caused-by-termite-activity/">termite</a> activity to natural gas seepage. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-questions-still-remain">Questions still remain</h2>



However, no single theory could fully account for their global presence. It wasn’t until roughly ten years ago that a significant breakthrough emerged.



Scientists discovered that these fairy circles were not just barren patches of land but active sites where natural hydrogen escapes from reservoirs deep underground. 



This finding revealed a surprising connection to one of the cleanest potential energy sources known.



Still, even with this discovery, questions persisted. 



The mechanisms that shaped these depressions, and the reasons their size might vary depending on the depth and pressure of hydrogen, remained largely unknown. This left both geologists and the energy sector eager for clearer answers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-linking-hydrogen-and-fairy-circles">Linking hydrogen and fairy circles</h2>



This information is critical for the energy industry. Natural hydrogen carries a negligible carbon footprint, making it an attractive sustainable option.



"But before expensive drilling can be carried out, we need to understand how fairy circles form, how large the deposits might be and how deep we need to drill," explained Martin Schöpfer from the University of Vienna and NiMBUC Geoscience.



A study supported by OMV and led by Schöpfer used geomechanical computer simulations to show why <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/massive-hydrogen-reserves-discovered-beneath-earths-mountains/">hydrogen</a>-emitting fairy circles sink. 



The simulations revealed that interactions between gas, water flow, and soil create a two-step process that leads to surface collapse.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-souffle-effect-explained">Soufflé effect explained</h2>



The team compared the phenomenon to a soufflé. Loose sediments, like sand or clay, sit above solid rock. 



When hydrogen enters the sediment, it pushes water upward, uplifting the surface. Plants suffer from the altered gas mixture and die, leaving bare patches.



"You could say that the sediment rises like a soufflé, but here geomechanical processes are at work, whereas with a soufflé it is chemical processes," explained Schöpfer. When the hydrogen flow stops, pressure drops and the sediment compacts.



"The soil compresses and subsides, similar to a collapsing soufflé," he added.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-matching-nature-and-models">Matching nature and models</h2>



Simulations aligned closely with real fairy circles found in Russia, Brazil, and Australia. The research showed a clear pattern: larger circles indicate deeper and higher-pressure hydrogen sources underground.



"These findings are a real breakthrough," emphasizes Bernhard Grasemann, deputy head of the Department of Geology. 



"Fairy circles could thus serve as natural signposts in the future for finding underground hydrogen sources - a potentially inexhaustible and environmentally friendly <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/worlds-largest-natural-hydrogen-deposit-discovery-is-worth-a-staggering-184-billion/">energy</a> source."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hydrogen-from-fairy-circles-matters">Hydrogen from fairy circles matters</h2>



The energy sector is closely watching these developments. 



"The energy sector's interest in natural hydrogen as a potential new energy source with a negligible carbon footprint is growing, especially in comparison to all other types of artificially produced hydrogen," noted Gabor Tari, chief geologist at OMV.



He pointed out that natural, or white and golden hydrogen, along with orange hydrogen, may become cheaper and more profitable than traditional forms, such as black, gray, blue, pink, or green hydrogen. 



This is why OMV supports basic research that explores hydrogen’s future role in energy transitions.



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



Although promising, many questions remain. Schöpfer stresses the need for additional studies. 



These may include testing different soil types, simulating pulsing gas emissions, and conducting field research to examine chemical reactions that could further influence subsidence.



If fairy circles do serve as natural guides to underground hydrogen, they could reshape global energy strategies. Unlocking this hidden source may bring the world one step closer to a truly sustainable energy system. 



This could drive innovation across industries, reduce global reliance on carbon-heavy fuels, and open opportunities for affordable, clean energy.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/gsa/geology/article-abstract/53/9/712/654903/The-mechanical-genesis-of-fairy-circle-depressions?redirectedFrom=fulltext" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Geology</a>.



Featured image: A new study by the University of Vienna explains why "fairy circles" - circular areas where vegetation is damaged, as seen here in the São Francisco Basin in Brazil - subside and how their diameter is related to the depth of the hydrogen source. Credit: Alain Prinzhofer/University of Vienna



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Fairy circles may point to underground sources of clean energy from natural hydrogen reserves

The race to replace fossil fuels has inspired researchers to...

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