A blood test that looks for tumour DNA shed by cancer cells has been trialled for the first time in a group of 10,000 women who had no known cancer history. If the test revealed a positive result, the women would then be given further tests, and this process picked up 26 previously undetected cancers. But 101 women who had a positive test turned out not to have cancer. And 24 women who had a negative test were diagnosed with cancer through other screening programmes, revealing a need to improve the reliability of the test. Read more at ScienceMag.We’ve blogged before about the scientists working to develop the elusive cancer blood test.
Breast cancer drug effective in treating prostate cancer
The targeted drug olaparib is a drug already used to treat some breast and ovarian cancers, but new studies show it could also be effective in treating some men with advanced prostate cancer. The targeted treatment takes advantage of a weakness in some prostate cancers’ ability to repair damaged DNA, blocking prostate cancer growth more effectively than the current standard of hormone treatment. Experts are hopeful that the treatment will be made available for NHS patients in the next couple of years. Our news report has the full story.
Scotland shows rise in cancer cases, but fall in cancer risk
More people are being diagnosed with cancer in Scotland, according to official figures picked up by BBC News. Public Health Scotland have linked the increase to Scotland’s growing and aging population. But while the number of cancers diagnosed in the last decade increased, stats suggest the risk of developing the disease has fallen thanks, in part, to changes in smoking rates.
And finally…
Women with breast cancer who would usually have 3 weeks of radiotherapy after surgery could benefit as much from a five day ‘fast-track’ treatment, according to new study results. Researchers from the Institute of Cancer Research say the treatment is as safe and effective as the current standard for women who have undergone surgery for early stage breast cancer. It’s hoped this shorter treatment period will also relieve pressure on the NHS during the coronavirus pandemic. More on this at The Metro.
Alex
from Cancer Research UK – Science blog https://ift.tt/35oFMHo
Cancer blood test trialled in 10,000 women
A blood test that looks for tumour DNA shed by cancer cells has been trialled for the first time in a group of 10,000 women who had no known cancer history. If the test revealed a positive result, the women would then be given further tests, and this process picked up 26 previously undetected cancers. But 101 women who had a positive test turned out not to have cancer. And 24 women who had a negative test were diagnosed with cancer through other screening programmes, revealing a need to improve the reliability of the test. Read more at ScienceMag.We’ve blogged before about the scientists working to develop the elusive cancer blood test.
Breast cancer drug effective in treating prostate cancer
The targeted drug olaparib is a drug already used to treat some breast and ovarian cancers, but new studies show it could also be effective in treating some men with advanced prostate cancer. The targeted treatment takes advantage of a weakness in some prostate cancers’ ability to repair damaged DNA, blocking prostate cancer growth more effectively than the current standard of hormone treatment. Experts are hopeful that the treatment will be made available for NHS patients in the next couple of years. Our news report has the full story.
Scotland shows rise in cancer cases, but fall in cancer risk
More people are being diagnosed with cancer in Scotland, according to official figures picked up by BBC News. Public Health Scotland have linked the increase to Scotland’s growing and aging population. But while the number of cancers diagnosed in the last decade increased, stats suggest the risk of developing the disease has fallen thanks, in part, to changes in smoking rates.
And finally…
Women with breast cancer who would usually have 3 weeks of radiotherapy after surgery could benefit as much from a five day ‘fast-track’ treatment, according to new study results. Researchers from the Institute of Cancer Research say the treatment is as safe and effective as the current standard for women who have undergone surgery for early stage breast cancer. It’s hoped this shorter treatment period will also relieve pressure on the NHS during the coronavirus pandemic. More on this at The Metro.
Alex
from Cancer Research UK – Science blog https://ift.tt/35oFMHo
On these next few evenings, the waxing gibbous moon is moving through the prominent constellation Leo the Lion. In particular, watch for the moon on May 1, 2020, when it’ll shine near the bright star Regulus, representing the Lion’s Heart.
The dark side of a waxing moon always points in the moon’s direction of travel relative to the backdrop stars of the zodiac. Although – on any given night – the moon will move westward because of the Earth’s rotation, the moon’s orbital motion will actually cause the moon to travel eastward from day to day. The moon moves 1/2 degree (its own diameter) eastward per hour in front of the constellations of the zodiac – or about 13 degrees eastward per day.
Note where the moon appears relative to Regulus at nightfall May 1 and then again as darkness falls on May 2. The change in the moon’s position in front of Leo will be obvious.
Want to know the moon’s position in front of the constellations of the zodiac? Visit Heavens-Above.
By May 3, the moon will have moved again on your starry dome, as it pursues its endless orbit around Earth. On May 3, the moon will be near a fainter star in Leo, called Denebola. The word “deneb” in star names typically means “tail.” The name Denebola indicates that this star represents the Lion’s Tail.
Our sun travels nearly one degree (two sun-diameters) eastward per day in front of the constellations of the zodiac. The sun passes in front of the constellation Leo each year from around August 10 to September 16, and has its yearly conjunction with the star Regulus on or near August 23.
Visit Heavens-Above to know which constellation of the zodiac presently backdrops the sun.
Chart of the constellation Leo via the International Astronomical Union (IAU). The ecliptic depicts the annual pathway of the sun in front of the constellations of the zodiac. The sun passes in front of the constellation Leo each year from around August 10 to September 16, and has its yearly conjunction with the star Regulus on or near August 23.
Bottom line: On the evenings of May 1 and 2, 2020, use the moon to find Regulus, the constellation Leo the Lion’s one and only 1st-magnitude star. By May 3, the moon is closer to Denebola, in the Tail of Leo.
from EarthSky https://ift.tt/2KRzvuA
On these next few evenings, the waxing gibbous moon is moving through the prominent constellation Leo the Lion. In particular, watch for the moon on May 1, 2020, when it’ll shine near the bright star Regulus, representing the Lion’s Heart.
The dark side of a waxing moon always points in the moon’s direction of travel relative to the backdrop stars of the zodiac. Although – on any given night – the moon will move westward because of the Earth’s rotation, the moon’s orbital motion will actually cause the moon to travel eastward from day to day. The moon moves 1/2 degree (its own diameter) eastward per hour in front of the constellations of the zodiac – or about 13 degrees eastward per day.
Note where the moon appears relative to Regulus at nightfall May 1 and then again as darkness falls on May 2. The change in the moon’s position in front of Leo will be obvious.
Want to know the moon’s position in front of the constellations of the zodiac? Visit Heavens-Above.
By May 3, the moon will have moved again on your starry dome, as it pursues its endless orbit around Earth. On May 3, the moon will be near a fainter star in Leo, called Denebola. The word “deneb” in star names typically means “tail.” The name Denebola indicates that this star represents the Lion’s Tail.
Our sun travels nearly one degree (two sun-diameters) eastward per day in front of the constellations of the zodiac. The sun passes in front of the constellation Leo each year from around August 10 to September 16, and has its yearly conjunction with the star Regulus on or near August 23.
Visit Heavens-Above to know which constellation of the zodiac presently backdrops the sun.
Chart of the constellation Leo via the International Astronomical Union (IAU). The ecliptic depicts the annual pathway of the sun in front of the constellations of the zodiac. The sun passes in front of the constellation Leo each year from around August 10 to September 16, and has its yearly conjunction with the star Regulus on or near August 23.
Bottom line: On the evenings of May 1 and 2, 2020, use the moon to find Regulus, the constellation Leo the Lion’s one and only 1st-magnitude star. By May 3, the moon is closer to Denebola, in the Tail of Leo.
View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Nope, not the moon. It’s a many-colored crescent Venus, captured April 30, 2020 – through a telescope – by our friend Ilija Desic in Belgrade, Serbia. When seen through a telescope now, Venus appears as a crescent, like a tiny crescent moon. The planet will appear to wane to a thinner and thinner crescent throughout May, before passing between us and the sun on June 3. The rainbow-like effect happens when Venus is seen close to the horizon, as it will be, over the coming month, as it prepares to go between us and the sun. Cool photo, Ilija! Thank you.
Why, in the photo above, does Venus show rainbow-like colors? The reason is that Ilija caught Venus when it was low in the sky, where we’re looking at it through a greater thickness of Earth’s atmosphere than when Venus is viewed higher above the horizon. The atmosphere splits the Venus light (really, reflected sunlight) into this colorful array. Les Cowley of the great website Atmospheric Optics told us this morning:
Bottom line: Maybe you didn’t realize Venus can appear as a crescent, much less in rainbow colors? These effects happen when Venus draws near its time of passing between us and the sun, which it will on June 3. You need a telescope (in the case of the crescent) and a camera (in the case of the rainbow colors) to capture them.
View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Nope, not the moon. It’s a many-colored crescent Venus, captured April 30, 2020 – through a telescope – by our friend Ilija Desic in Belgrade, Serbia. When seen through a telescope now, Venus appears as a crescent, like a tiny crescent moon. The planet will appear to wane to a thinner and thinner crescent throughout May, before passing between us and the sun on June 3. The rainbow-like effect happens when Venus is seen close to the horizon, as it will be, over the coming month, as it prepares to go between us and the sun. Cool photo, Ilija! Thank you.
Why, in the photo above, does Venus show rainbow-like colors? The reason is that Ilija caught Venus when it was low in the sky, where we’re looking at it through a greater thickness of Earth’s atmosphere than when Venus is viewed higher above the horizon. The atmosphere splits the Venus light (really, reflected sunlight) into this colorful array. Les Cowley of the great website Atmospheric Optics told us this morning:
Bottom line: Maybe you didn’t realize Venus can appear as a crescent, much less in rainbow colors? These effects happen when Venus draws near its time of passing between us and the sun, which it will on June 3. You need a telescope (in the case of the crescent) and a camera (in the case of the rainbow colors) to capture them.
An image of Regulus obtained with a small telescope. The faint smudge above it is the dwarf galaxy Leo I. Image via Fred Espenak.
Regulus, the brightest star in the constellation Leo the Lion, is a harbinger of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. It creeps higher in the sky with each passing day in March and April as winter favorites like Orion the Hunter descend westward. By May, this brilliant blue-white star is quite conspicuous in the evening sky, as soon as the sun goes down.
On star charts, Regulus – also known as Alpha Leonis – is located at the base of a star pattern that appears like a backwards question mark. This pattern, known as The Sickle, makes up the head and forequarters of Leo the Lion. Ancient Arab stargazers called Regulus by the name Qalb al-Asad, which means Heart of the Lion. It’s also sometimes called Cor Leonis, also meaning the Lion’s Heart. This same name was said to have been given to Richard the Lionhearted (although more frequently in French).
These early astronomers would never have guessed that Regulus is actually a multiple star system with at least four component stars.
A star chart showing the constellation Leo. On the right is a pattern that looks like a flipped question mark, “the Sickle.” This is the most recognizable pattern to look for when trying to locate Leo in the sky. Image via Torsten Bronger / Wikimedia Commons.
Around February 18, Regulus is opposite the sun, rising above the horizon as the sun sets; it is up all night long, reaching its highest point due south at local midnight. By early April, Regulus is well up in the southeast an hour after sunset. By early June, it’s high in the southwest an hour after sunset. And by early July, Regulus is low to the west an hour after sunset. Regulus can be found at some time of night throughout the year except for about a month on either side of August 22, when the sun is located in Regulus’ direction in space.
During the total solar eclipse on Aug 21, 2017, Regulus was visible close to the moon during totality. It’s that little speck of light in the lower left corner. Image via Bernd Thaller/ Flickr.
Regulus is the only 1st magnitude star to sit almost squarely on the ecliptic, which marks the path of the sun, moon and planets across our sky. That means it can be seen from the entire Earth.
Bright planets sometimes pass near Regulus, and every month the moon passes no more than about 5 degrees away. In some years, the moon occults (passes in front of) this star as seen from our earthly vantage point. In fact, Regulus underwent a series of occultations – one during each month that this star was visible – starting on December 18, 2016, and concluding on April 24, 2018. There will be a series of 20 lunar occultations of Regulus, starting on July 26, 2025, and ending on December 27, 2026.
At about 79 light-years away, Regulus is a multiple system with at least four component stars. The main star, called Regulus A, is large and blue, with a spectral type of B8 IVn. Its surface temperature averages about 12,460 Kelvin (roughly 21,970 degrees F or 12,190 degrees C), much higher than the sun’s surface temperature of 5,778 Kelvin (9,941 °F or 5,505 °C). Regulus A is 3.8 times the mass of the sun, about three times as wide, and almost 288 times brighter.
A very rapid rotation rate of 16 hours causes Regulus A’s equatorial region to bulge, making it appear oblate – shaped like an egg – in contrast to our spherical-shaped sun, which rotates once every 25 days at its equator. If Regulus rotated just a bit faster, the star would fly apart. Regulus is not the only star known to spin so fast that it has an oblate shape. The stars Altair and Achernar are also fast spinners with flattened shapes.
A computer generated model of Regulus created in 2005 by Georgia State University’s Center for High Angular Resolution Astronomy (CHARA). A model of the sun is shown next to it for scale. The high rotation rate of Regulus creates pronounced equatorial bulging such that its diameter across its equator is one-third longer than its north-south diameter. Image via Wenjin Huang/ Georgia State University/ NSF.
Through a moderately large telescope, Regulus resolves into two objects separated by 176 arc seconds, the brighter one being Regulus A. The fainter one, Regulus B, is a cool “orange” dwarf star with a spectral classification of K2 V; it’s 0.8 times the mass of the sun, half as bright, and has a surface temperature of 4,885 Kelvin (8,333 °F or 4,612 °C).
Regulus B, meanwhile, has its own companion called Regulus C that’s only visible with powerful telescopes. This star, just 1/3 the mass of the sun, is a red dwarf star with a spectral classification of M4 V. Regulus B and C are gravitationally bound to each other; their distances ranged from 4.0 to 2.5 arc seconds between 1867 and 1943. There are no recently available measurements.
The fourth star in the system has never been directly resolved via imaging but its presence is revealed in the spectra of Regulus A. Astronomers think it may be a closely orbiting white dwarf star.
So this is not one solitary star as the eye believes, but at least four. The Regulus system is thought to be more than a billion – that’s 1,000,000,000 – years old. The system, seen from Earth as the single object, Regulus, ranks 21st in the list of brightest stars in the sky.
The larger lion is the constellation Leo, with the star Regulus at its heart, as depicted on a set of constellation cards published in London c.1825. Above it is the faint constellation Leo Minor. Image via Library of Congress/ Wikimedia Commons.
The name Regulus is from the diminutive form of the Latin rex, and means Little King. Astronomers know Regulus as Alpha Leonis, but in times past it has been known simply as Rex, as well as by kingly names in other languages. It’s not clear how Regulus went from being a king – thought to rule celestial affairs – to being a “little” king. Perhaps the thought was that Leo itself represented the King of Beasts, and there was room for one full king only.
The constellation Leo the Lion, of which Regulus is the most prominent member, is easy to visualize. As mentioned previously, Regulus dots the backwards question mark of stars that outlines the Lion’s head and mane. An easily identifiable triangle depicts the Lion’s hindquarters and tail. There is a great deal of mythology associated with Leo, perhaps the most common tale being that Leo was the Nemean Lion of the Hercules story. It is said that even in South America, some Peruvian Indians knew these stars as the Mountain Lion, whereas in China it was sometimes seen as a horse, and at other times as part of a dragon. Christians in the Middle Ages sometimes referred to it as one of Daniel’s lions.
Regulus’ position is RA: 10h 08m 22.3s, dec: +11° 58′ 02″.
Bottom line: Regulus, the brightest star in the constellation Leo the Lion, is associated with the arrival of spring, as it usually rises above the horizon in mid-February. By May, the star is very prominent in our evening sky.
from EarthSky https://ift.tt/2KMuOlN
An image of Regulus obtained with a small telescope. The faint smudge above it is the dwarf galaxy Leo I. Image via Fred Espenak.
Regulus, the brightest star in the constellation Leo the Lion, is a harbinger of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. It creeps higher in the sky with each passing day in March and April as winter favorites like Orion the Hunter descend westward. By May, this brilliant blue-white star is quite conspicuous in the evening sky, as soon as the sun goes down.
On star charts, Regulus – also known as Alpha Leonis – is located at the base of a star pattern that appears like a backwards question mark. This pattern, known as The Sickle, makes up the head and forequarters of Leo the Lion. Ancient Arab stargazers called Regulus by the name Qalb al-Asad, which means Heart of the Lion. It’s also sometimes called Cor Leonis, also meaning the Lion’s Heart. This same name was said to have been given to Richard the Lionhearted (although more frequently in French).
These early astronomers would never have guessed that Regulus is actually a multiple star system with at least four component stars.
A star chart showing the constellation Leo. On the right is a pattern that looks like a flipped question mark, “the Sickle.” This is the most recognizable pattern to look for when trying to locate Leo in the sky. Image via Torsten Bronger / Wikimedia Commons.
Around February 18, Regulus is opposite the sun, rising above the horizon as the sun sets; it is up all night long, reaching its highest point due south at local midnight. By early April, Regulus is well up in the southeast an hour after sunset. By early June, it’s high in the southwest an hour after sunset. And by early July, Regulus is low to the west an hour after sunset. Regulus can be found at some time of night throughout the year except for about a month on either side of August 22, when the sun is located in Regulus’ direction in space.
During the total solar eclipse on Aug 21, 2017, Regulus was visible close to the moon during totality. It’s that little speck of light in the lower left corner. Image via Bernd Thaller/ Flickr.
Regulus is the only 1st magnitude star to sit almost squarely on the ecliptic, which marks the path of the sun, moon and planets across our sky. That means it can be seen from the entire Earth.
Bright planets sometimes pass near Regulus, and every month the moon passes no more than about 5 degrees away. In some years, the moon occults (passes in front of) this star as seen from our earthly vantage point. In fact, Regulus underwent a series of occultations – one during each month that this star was visible – starting on December 18, 2016, and concluding on April 24, 2018. There will be a series of 20 lunar occultations of Regulus, starting on July 26, 2025, and ending on December 27, 2026.
At about 79 light-years away, Regulus is a multiple system with at least four component stars. The main star, called Regulus A, is large and blue, with a spectral type of B8 IVn. Its surface temperature averages about 12,460 Kelvin (roughly 21,970 degrees F or 12,190 degrees C), much higher than the sun’s surface temperature of 5,778 Kelvin (9,941 °F or 5,505 °C). Regulus A is 3.8 times the mass of the sun, about three times as wide, and almost 288 times brighter.
A very rapid rotation rate of 16 hours causes Regulus A’s equatorial region to bulge, making it appear oblate – shaped like an egg – in contrast to our spherical-shaped sun, which rotates once every 25 days at its equator. If Regulus rotated just a bit faster, the star would fly apart. Regulus is not the only star known to spin so fast that it has an oblate shape. The stars Altair and Achernar are also fast spinners with flattened shapes.
A computer generated model of Regulus created in 2005 by Georgia State University’s Center for High Angular Resolution Astronomy (CHARA). A model of the sun is shown next to it for scale. The high rotation rate of Regulus creates pronounced equatorial bulging such that its diameter across its equator is one-third longer than its north-south diameter. Image via Wenjin Huang/ Georgia State University/ NSF.
Through a moderately large telescope, Regulus resolves into two objects separated by 176 arc seconds, the brighter one being Regulus A. The fainter one, Regulus B, is a cool “orange” dwarf star with a spectral classification of K2 V; it’s 0.8 times the mass of the sun, half as bright, and has a surface temperature of 4,885 Kelvin (8,333 °F or 4,612 °C).
Regulus B, meanwhile, has its own companion called Regulus C that’s only visible with powerful telescopes. This star, just 1/3 the mass of the sun, is a red dwarf star with a spectral classification of M4 V. Regulus B and C are gravitationally bound to each other; their distances ranged from 4.0 to 2.5 arc seconds between 1867 and 1943. There are no recently available measurements.
The fourth star in the system has never been directly resolved via imaging but its presence is revealed in the spectra of Regulus A. Astronomers think it may be a closely orbiting white dwarf star.
So this is not one solitary star as the eye believes, but at least four. The Regulus system is thought to be more than a billion – that’s 1,000,000,000 – years old. The system, seen from Earth as the single object, Regulus, ranks 21st in the list of brightest stars in the sky.
The larger lion is the constellation Leo, with the star Regulus at its heart, as depicted on a set of constellation cards published in London c.1825. Above it is the faint constellation Leo Minor. Image via Library of Congress/ Wikimedia Commons.
The name Regulus is from the diminutive form of the Latin rex, and means Little King. Astronomers know Regulus as Alpha Leonis, but in times past it has been known simply as Rex, as well as by kingly names in other languages. It’s not clear how Regulus went from being a king – thought to rule celestial affairs – to being a “little” king. Perhaps the thought was that Leo itself represented the King of Beasts, and there was room for one full king only.
The constellation Leo the Lion, of which Regulus is the most prominent member, is easy to visualize. As mentioned previously, Regulus dots the backwards question mark of stars that outlines the Lion’s head and mane. An easily identifiable triangle depicts the Lion’s hindquarters and tail. There is a great deal of mythology associated with Leo, perhaps the most common tale being that Leo was the Nemean Lion of the Hercules story. It is said that even in South America, some Peruvian Indians knew these stars as the Mountain Lion, whereas in China it was sometimes seen as a horse, and at other times as part of a dragon. Christians in the Middle Ages sometimes referred to it as one of Daniel’s lions.
Regulus’ position is RA: 10h 08m 22.3s, dec: +11° 58′ 02″.
Bottom line: Regulus, the brightest star in the constellation Leo the Lion, is associated with the arrival of spring, as it usually rises above the horizon in mid-February. By May, the star is very prominent in our evening sky.
You’ll see a waxing gibbous moon between a first quarter moon and full moon. The word gibbous comes from a root word that means hump-backed.
People often see a waxing gibbous moon in the afternoon, shortly after moonrise, while it’s ascending in the east as the sun is descending in the west. It’s easy to see a waxing gibbous moon in the daytime because, at this phase of the moon, a respectably large fraction of the moon’s dayside faces our way.
Point of interest on a waxing gibbous moon: Sinus Iridum (Bay of Rainbows) surrounded by the Jura Mountains. Photo via Lunar 101-Moon Book in Toronto, Canada.
Prabhakaran A captured this image on a waxing gibbous moon on November 16, 2018. He wrote: “Three types of land forms make up the moon’s surface: impact craters, maria, highlands. The image above depicts the large crater Plato, whose interior of the crater has smoothed over from old lava flows. A portion of Mare Imbrium – another lava feature – is visible at the right bottom. The lunar surface features many mountains, such as Montes Alpes, which frequently border the maria or seas. Comparing the diameters of the Earth and moon, the lunar mountains are proportionally higher. Mons Pico is an isolated mountain with a height of 2,400 meters [7,900 feet]. It creates an enormous shadow in this picture which shows its height.”
As the moon orbits Earth, it changes phase in an orderly way. Follow these links to understand the various phases of the moon.
You’ll see a waxing gibbous moon between a first quarter moon and full moon. The word gibbous comes from a root word that means hump-backed.
People often see a waxing gibbous moon in the afternoon, shortly after moonrise, while it’s ascending in the east as the sun is descending in the west. It’s easy to see a waxing gibbous moon in the daytime because, at this phase of the moon, a respectably large fraction of the moon’s dayside faces our way.
Point of interest on a waxing gibbous moon: Sinus Iridum (Bay of Rainbows) surrounded by the Jura Mountains. Photo via Lunar 101-Moon Book in Toronto, Canada.
Prabhakaran A captured this image on a waxing gibbous moon on November 16, 2018. He wrote: “Three types of land forms make up the moon’s surface: impact craters, maria, highlands. The image above depicts the large crater Plato, whose interior of the crater has smoothed over from old lava flows. A portion of Mare Imbrium – another lava feature – is visible at the right bottom. The lunar surface features many mountains, such as Montes Alpes, which frequently border the maria or seas. Comparing the diameters of the Earth and moon, the lunar mountains are proportionally higher. Mons Pico is an isolated mountain with a height of 2,400 meters [7,900 feet]. It creates an enormous shadow in this picture which shows its height.”
As the moon orbits Earth, it changes phase in an orderly way. Follow these links to understand the various phases of the moon.
When did you last see a glow worm? Most likely, quite some time ago. Depending on how young you are, you may have never seen one at all. Those light-emitting insects, Wordsworth’s “earthborn stars”, have been declining in the U.K. for decades. That means that scientists now see them in fewer places, and even in those pockets where conditions are right for them, there are fewer of them to be found.
But it isn’t just glow worms that are struggling. You’ll have heard reports that insects are declining in many parts of the world, with fewer of them around and some species disappearing altogether. Many people have noted that the number of “splats” you’re likely to see on a car windscreen in summer is now much lower compared with 20 years ago, and this has even been confirmed by a scientific study. As scientists who study insects, we’re right to be worried, but how sure can we be sure of the general picture if we only have information about particular species in particular places?
Lampyris noctiluca, or the common glow worm of Europe. Image via Igor Krasilov/ Shutterstock
Fortunately, a new study has offered the clearest indication yet of how insects all over the world are faring. The researchers studied data on the numbers and total weight of insects and arachnids (spiders and mites) sampled in 166 long-term surveys. Each of these lasted more than ten years and recorded insects at 1,676 sites in 41 countries on five continents. The earliest record was from 1925, and the most recent from 2018, although most records were dated from 1986 or later.
They estimate that land-based insects, which make up the majority of species, have been declining at nearly 1% per year, or almost 9% per decade. But during the same period, the small proportion of insects which live in freshwater experienced a 1% annual increase, or just over 11% per decade.
A complicated picture
Does this give us cause to be relatively cheerful (or at least, less miserable)? Hardly. While these estimates of how rapidly insect populations are declining are much lower than some previous estimates, it’s still serious. The general rate of decline may be an underestimate, too – most of the long-term data came from protected populations of insects in nature reserves.
Even if you’re not enamored with creepy crawlies, their gradual disappearance from the places they were once numerous is an ongoing crisis for the natural world. Insects and small invertebrates occupy the bottom rungs of most terrestrial ecosystems. As ecologist E.O. Wilson once observed, if you take away the ‘little things that run the world‘ then most of the creatures occupying niches further up the food chain will disappear too, and that includes humans. That’s why a 2017 study in Germany rang so many alarm bells – it reported a 75% decline over 27 years in the local biomass of all kinds of flying insects.
But what does a “general decline” mean? It doesn’t mean that every kind of insect is affected in the same way. Several recent studies have shown that some species are able to prosper while their close relatives die out. A study of wild pollinators (bees and hoverflies) in the UK between 1980 and 2013 showed that around 10% of these insects increased in abundance while more than 30% declined. The insects that did well were crop specialist pollinators, those that didn’t were those specialists that preferred plants pushed out of farmed landscapes.
It’s a complicated picture, but the sheer number of records collected under different conditions from diverse sources in this new study gives grim confirmation that something is very wrong.
What it means for conservation
While the picture of widespread insect declines is becoming a little clearer, we still don’t know the cause. The new study found some evidence that the growth of cities and towns nearby was detrimental to insect abundance. Perhaps surprisingly, there was little evidence for insect populations being harmed by neighboring intensive agriculture, but this might have been because those sites were already depleted of insects when the study began.
There was also no evidence for climate change affecting insect abundance. Terrestrial insects seemed to be worst affected in Europe and North America, with insects in Asia, South America and Oceania showing no great declines. This likely reflects the fact that there’s less information from these places, though. Interestingly, terrestrial insect populations in North America have recovered markedly since 1990, while those in Europe have shrunk still further. There is no obvious explanation for this.
Mayflies are aquatic insects, which are among the few winners in the new study. Image via Trishazdigilife/ Shutterstock
The apparent healthiness of aquatic insects confirms the results of a recent UK study, which suggested that EU legislation to clean up rivers throughout Europe may be working. Sounds encouraging, but fresh water only covers 2.4% of the Earth’s land surface. The comparative success of aquatic insects doesn’t make up for everywhere else, and it might even conceal the collapse of some water dwellers, like water beetles and the superabundant mayfly swarms of the North American Great Lakes and Upper Mississippi which used to number in the tens of billions but have declined by around 50% in recent years.
The German federal government recently approved €100 million for insect conservation, with a quarter of it going towards research. Knowing where and why certain species are struggling is as important as trying to fix it. Insects are in trouble, but each bug faces its own battle. Support for our arthropod friends will need to be carefully targeted.
When did you last see a glow worm? Most likely, quite some time ago. Depending on how young you are, you may have never seen one at all. Those light-emitting insects, Wordsworth’s “earthborn stars”, have been declining in the U.K. for decades. That means that scientists now see them in fewer places, and even in those pockets where conditions are right for them, there are fewer of them to be found.
But it isn’t just glow worms that are struggling. You’ll have heard reports that insects are declining in many parts of the world, with fewer of them around and some species disappearing altogether. Many people have noted that the number of “splats” you’re likely to see on a car windscreen in summer is now much lower compared with 20 years ago, and this has even been confirmed by a scientific study. As scientists who study insects, we’re right to be worried, but how sure can we be sure of the general picture if we only have information about particular species in particular places?
Lampyris noctiluca, or the common glow worm of Europe. Image via Igor Krasilov/ Shutterstock
Fortunately, a new study has offered the clearest indication yet of how insects all over the world are faring. The researchers studied data on the numbers and total weight of insects and arachnids (spiders and mites) sampled in 166 long-term surveys. Each of these lasted more than ten years and recorded insects at 1,676 sites in 41 countries on five continents. The earliest record was from 1925, and the most recent from 2018, although most records were dated from 1986 or later.
They estimate that land-based insects, which make up the majority of species, have been declining at nearly 1% per year, or almost 9% per decade. But during the same period, the small proportion of insects which live in freshwater experienced a 1% annual increase, or just over 11% per decade.
A complicated picture
Does this give us cause to be relatively cheerful (or at least, less miserable)? Hardly. While these estimates of how rapidly insect populations are declining are much lower than some previous estimates, it’s still serious. The general rate of decline may be an underestimate, too – most of the long-term data came from protected populations of insects in nature reserves.
Even if you’re not enamored with creepy crawlies, their gradual disappearance from the places they were once numerous is an ongoing crisis for the natural world. Insects and small invertebrates occupy the bottom rungs of most terrestrial ecosystems. As ecologist E.O. Wilson once observed, if you take away the ‘little things that run the world‘ then most of the creatures occupying niches further up the food chain will disappear too, and that includes humans. That’s why a 2017 study in Germany rang so many alarm bells – it reported a 75% decline over 27 years in the local biomass of all kinds of flying insects.
But what does a “general decline” mean? It doesn’t mean that every kind of insect is affected in the same way. Several recent studies have shown that some species are able to prosper while their close relatives die out. A study of wild pollinators (bees and hoverflies) in the UK between 1980 and 2013 showed that around 10% of these insects increased in abundance while more than 30% declined. The insects that did well were crop specialist pollinators, those that didn’t were those specialists that preferred plants pushed out of farmed landscapes.
It’s a complicated picture, but the sheer number of records collected under different conditions from diverse sources in this new study gives grim confirmation that something is very wrong.
What it means for conservation
While the picture of widespread insect declines is becoming a little clearer, we still don’t know the cause. The new study found some evidence that the growth of cities and towns nearby was detrimental to insect abundance. Perhaps surprisingly, there was little evidence for insect populations being harmed by neighboring intensive agriculture, but this might have been because those sites were already depleted of insects when the study began.
There was also no evidence for climate change affecting insect abundance. Terrestrial insects seemed to be worst affected in Europe and North America, with insects in Asia, South America and Oceania showing no great declines. This likely reflects the fact that there’s less information from these places, though. Interestingly, terrestrial insect populations in North America have recovered markedly since 1990, while those in Europe have shrunk still further. There is no obvious explanation for this.
Mayflies are aquatic insects, which are among the few winners in the new study. Image via Trishazdigilife/ Shutterstock
The apparent healthiness of aquatic insects confirms the results of a recent UK study, which suggested that EU legislation to clean up rivers throughout Europe may be working. Sounds encouraging, but fresh water only covers 2.4% of the Earth’s land surface. The comparative success of aquatic insects doesn’t make up for everywhere else, and it might even conceal the collapse of some water dwellers, like water beetles and the superabundant mayfly swarms of the North American Great Lakes and Upper Mississippi which used to number in the tens of billions but have declined by around 50% in recent years.
The German federal government recently approved €100 million for insect conservation, with a quarter of it going towards research. Knowing where and why certain species are struggling is as important as trying to fix it. Insects are in trouble, but each bug faces its own battle. Support for our arthropod friends will need to be carefully targeted.
The European Space Agency released this image today (April 30, 2020) of small asteroid 2020 HS7, which zipped past Earth shortly before a much larger asteroid – mile-wide 1998 OR2 – but coming much, much closer. The larger asteroid passed us at 16 times the moon’s distance. The smaller asteroid came close enough to sweep near satellites in Earth’s geostationary ring, sweeping by at about 23,000 miles (36,400 km). According to ESA, the small space rock passed only about 750 miles (1200 km) from the nearest satellite. That’s a close shave on the scale outer space!
2020 HS7 is estimated to be between 13 and 24 feet (4 to 8 meters) in diameter. It made its closest approach at 2:51 p.m. EDT (18:51 UTC) on
April 28, 2020. Its passing wasn’t anything unusual. Lindley Johnson, Planetary Defense Officer and Program Executive for the Planetary Defense Coordination Office at NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC., explained in a statement:
Small asteroids like 2020 HS7 safely pass by Earth a few times per month. At its closest approach 2020 HS7 will pass Earth by a distance of about 23,000 miles/36,400 km. It poses no threat to our planet, and even if it were on a collision path with Earth it is small enough that it would be disintegrated by our Earth’s atmosphere.
Bottom line: Small asteroid 2020 HS7 sweep close to a satellite in Earth’s geostationary ring on April 28, 2020.
The European Space Agency released this image today (April 30, 2020) of small asteroid 2020 HS7, which zipped past Earth shortly before a much larger asteroid – mile-wide 1998 OR2 – but coming much, much closer. The larger asteroid passed us at 16 times the moon’s distance. The smaller asteroid came close enough to sweep near satellites in Earth’s geostationary ring, sweeping by at about 23,000 miles (36,400 km). According to ESA, the small space rock passed only about 750 miles (1200 km) from the nearest satellite. That’s a close shave on the scale outer space!
2020 HS7 is estimated to be between 13 and 24 feet (4 to 8 meters) in diameter. It made its closest approach at 2:51 p.m. EDT (18:51 UTC) on
April 28, 2020. Its passing wasn’t anything unusual. Lindley Johnson, Planetary Defense Officer and Program Executive for the Planetary Defense Coordination Office at NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC., explained in a statement:
Small asteroids like 2020 HS7 safely pass by Earth a few times per month. At its closest approach 2020 HS7 will pass Earth by a distance of about 23,000 miles/36,400 km. It poses no threat to our planet, and even if it were on a collision path with Earth it is small enough that it would be disintegrated by our Earth’s atmosphere.
Bottom line: Small asteroid 2020 HS7 sweep close to a satellite in Earth’s geostationary ring on April 28, 2020.
