<p>Today's <strong>Image of the Day</strong> from NASA Earth Observatory features smoke plumes stretching across the Iberian Peninsula, as wildfires suddenly intensified across Spain and Portugal.</p>



<p>The image was captured on August 15 by the MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) sensor on NASA’s Terra satellite.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-record-breaking-fire-season-nbsp">Record-breaking fire season&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Hot, dry conditions pushed fire risk to extreme levels, leaving vast landscapes scorched. The fires aren’t just dramatic visuals - they are shaping the year’s record-breaking <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fire-weather-seasons-are-overlapping-more-than-ever-before/">fire season</a>.</p>



<p>“As of August 19, fires in Spain had scorched more than 382,000 hectares (944,000 acres) since the start of the year, according to the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS),” noted <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/154691/smoke-blankets-the-iberian-peninsula" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA</a>.</p>



<p>This exceeds any previous yearly total in the EFFIS records, which date back to 2006. Firefighters were stretched thin, tackling roughly 20 major blazes nationwide, with a particularly severe cluster near Ourense.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fire-devastation-in-portugal">Fire devastation in Portugal</h2>



<p>Portugal faced a similarly devastating season. By mid-August, more than 347,000 hectares (857,000 acres) had been consumed by fire.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The European Commission’s Emergency Response Coordination Centre reported 10 large fires burning across the country at that time. The largest fire, near Trancoso, alone had already scorched over 39,000 hectares.</p>



<p>The blazes forced thousands of residents to evacuate their homes. Essential services were disrupted, including the high-speed rail line between Madrid and Galicia, which had been closed for nearly a week.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Firefighters worked tirelessly under extreme conditions, navigating both flames and smoke to protect people and property.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-smoke-pollution-and-far-reaching-effects">Smoke, pollution, and far-reaching effects</h2>



<p>The fires didn’t stay local. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wildfire-smoke-delivers-a-double-hit-to-air-quality/">Smoke</a> from the Iberian Peninsula carried high into the atmosphere, drifting across France, the United Kingdom, and Scandinavia.&nbsp;</p>



<p>It even mixed with smoke from wildfires in Canada, creating hazy skies across parts of Europe. Carbon emissions from these fires hit record levels in Spain and near-record levels in Portugal, according to the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service.</p>



<p>Black carbon, a component of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) released by wildfires, poses serious health risks. These tiny particles can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream, potentially aggravating respiratory and cardiovascular conditions.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Residents in affected regions were warned to limit outdoor activity and monitor air quality as smoke lingered.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wildfires-in-spain-and-portugal">Wildfires in Spain and Portugal </h2>



<p>Spain and Portugal are no strangers to wildfires, but the 2025 season is unusual for its speed and scale.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Heatwaves have become more frequent in southern Europe, with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/state-of-the-climate-2024-record-heat-and-rising-seas/">rising temperatures</a> and prolonged droughts creating tinderbox conditions for forests and grasslands.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Experts link this increase to ongoing climate change, which has amplified the intensity and frequency of extreme weather events in the region.</p>



<p>The EFFIS database shows that Spain’s burned area this year surpassed previous records, while Portugal’s figures ranked second only to the catastrophic fires of 2017. These trends highlight the growing challenge of managing wildfires in a warming climate.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-human-toll-of-wildfires-nbsp">The human toll of wildfires&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Beyond environmental impacts, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wildfires-are-changing-the-quality-of-our-air/">wildfires</a> take a heavy toll on communities. Tens of thousands of people have been displaced, and homes, farms, and critical infrastructure have suffered extensive damage.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Emergency services scrambled to coordinate evacuations and protect residents, while volunteers and local authorities provided support on the ground.</p>



<p>Firefighters faced particularly difficult conditions, battling flames under record heat and through thick <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-is-making-wildfire-smoke-more-deadly/">smoke</a>. The work was physically demanding and dangerous.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-satellite-technology-and-firefighting">Satellite technology and firefighting</h2>



<p>NASA’s Terra satellite and the MODIS sensor provide crucial monitoring for wildfire activity. These tools allow authorities to track the spread of fires in near-real time, identify hotspots, and deploy resources more efficiently.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The data feeds into systems like EFFIS and the Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS), offering a broader picture of wildfire patterns and trends across Europe.</p>



<p>This combination of satellite monitoring, on-the-ground firefighting, and coordination among emergency services is vital for managing the ongoing crisis. As wildfires continue to grow in frequency and intensity, technology can help limit damage and protect communities.</p>



<p>Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;</p>



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Wildfires scorch Spain and Portugal amid extreme heat

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

<p>Today's Image of the Day from NASA features the spiral galaxy NGC 2566, which is located 76 million light-years away in the constellation Puppis. </p>



<p>The striking image was captured by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope.</p>



<p>“A prominent bar of stars stretches across the center of this galaxy, and spiral arms emerge from each end of the bar. Because NGC 2566 appears tilted from our perspective, its disk takes on an almond shape, giving the galaxy the appearance of a cosmic eye,” said <a href="https://phys.org/news/2024-12-hubble-spies-spiral-galaxy-ngc.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA</a>.</p>



<p>“As NGC 2566 appears to gaze at us, astronomers gaze right back, using Hubble to survey the galaxy's star clusters and star-forming regions.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-complex-appearance-of-ngc-2566">Complex appearance of NGC 2566</h2>



<p>NGC 2566 lies at a considerable distance from Earth, making it a challenging object for amateur astronomers to observe in detail without powerful telescopes.&nbsp;</p>



<p>It can be seen in the Southern Hemisphere sky and is better observed from locations with minimal <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-light-pollution-influences-interest-in-astronomy/">light pollution</a>. </p>



<p>The galaxy's arms are populated with young, bright stars, regions of active star formation, and interstellar gas and dust - giving it a dynamic and complex appearance.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-measuring-the-ages-of-stars">Measuring the ages of stars</h2>



<p>According to NASA, data from Hubble is especially valuable for studying stars that are just a few million years old. “These stars are bright at the ultraviolet and visible wavelengths to which Hubble is sensitive.”</p>



<p>“Using these data, researchers can measure the ages of NGC 2566's stars, which helps piece together the timeline of the galaxy's star formation and the exchange of gas between star-forming clouds and the stars themselves.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-star-formation-in-galaxies">Star formation in galaxies</h2>



<p>Star formation in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/shapes-of-one-million-galaxies-hint-at-the-universes-origins/">galaxies</a> is a fascinating and complex process that unfolds over millions of years. It begins in vast clouds of gas and dust, known as molecular clouds, which are often found in the spiral arms of galaxies or in regions of irregular or starburst galaxies. </p>



<p>These clouds provide the raw material for star formation, consisting primarily of hydrogen and helium, with trace amounts of heavier elements.</p>



<p>As the molecular clouds collapse under their own gravity, regions within them begin to condense and fragment, forming dense clumps. Within these clumps, protostars emerge. Their formation is driven by the gravitational pull drawing in surrounding gas.&nbsp;</p>



<p>During this process, the gas heats up due to increasing pressure, eventually igniting nuclear fusion in the core, signaling the birth of a new star.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rates-of-star-formation">Rates of star formation</h2>



<p>The rate of star formation varies across galaxies is influenced by numerous factors. In spiral galaxies like the Milky Way, star formation is most active in the spiral arms, where density waves compress gas and dust, triggering the collapse of molecular clouds.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Elliptical galaxies, which often have little cold gas and dust, typically exhibit low rates of star formation or none at all.</p>



<p>On the other hand, starburst galaxies experience episodes of exceptionally high star formation, often triggered by <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/webb-captures-a-galaxy-collision-with-a-radiant-smile/">galactic collisions</a> or interactions.</p>



<p>These events can funnel large amounts of gas into central regions, leading to intense star-forming activity. However, such bursts are usually short-lived on cosmic timescales, exhausting the available gas quickly.</p>



<p>The environment within a galaxy also plays a significant role. Stellar winds and supernova explosions from existing stars can both inhibit and promote star formation. They may disperse gas, preventing further collapse, or compress nearby clouds, triggering new star formation.&nbsp;</p>



<p>As galaxies evolve over time, the availability of gas diminishes, leading to a gradual decline in star formation activity.</p>



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



<p>The Puppis constellation in the southern sky represents the stern of a ship. It was once part of a larger constellation known as Argo Navis, which depicted the mythical ship of Jason and the Argonauts.&nbsp;</p>



<p>However, Argo Navis was later divided into three separate constellations: Puppis, Carina (the keel), and Vela (the sails). Puppis is the largest of these three and contains many notable celestial objects.</p>



<p>This constellation is home to several bright stars, including Naos (Zeta Puppis), a hot, massive star that emits intense ultraviolet radiation. Puppis also hosts a wide variety of deep-sky objects, such as open <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stunning-star-clusters-captured-in-the-extreme-outskirts-of-the-milky-way/">star clusters</a> and nebulae. </p>



<p>Among these, Messier 46 and Messier 47 stand out. Both are beautiful star clusters that are visible through binoculars or small telescopes. The region is dense with stars because it lies along the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/milky-way-collision-may-change-everything-we-know-about-our-galaxy/">Milky Way</a>, making it a prime area for stargazing and astrophotography.<br></p>



<p>Image Credit: NASA</p>



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Eye in the sky: A galaxy that appears to be gazing back

Today's Image of the Day from NASA features the spiral...

<p>Today's <strong>Image of the Day</strong> from NASA Earth Observatory features a large phytoplankton bloom in the Gulf of Maine.</p>



<p>The image was captured on June 21, 2025, by the Ocean Color Instrument (OCI) on NASA’s PACE satellite.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“In summer 2025, waters in the Gulf of Maine popped with vivid swirls of blue and green. The cause was a massive bloom of phytoplankton - microscopic plant-like organisms that often float near the ocean surface,” noted <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/154472/a-booming-bloom-returns-to-the-gulf-of-maine">NASA</a>.</p>



<p>“Scientists say it was one of the largest blooms of its kind to show up in the Gulf’s waters in recent years.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bloom-in-the-gulf-of-maine">Bloom in the Gulf of Maine </h2>



<p>Catherine Mitchell is a satellite oceanographer at Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences. She noted that the Gulf of Maine bloom contained coccolithophores, a type of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tiny-phytoplankton-that-feed-ocean-life-are-rapidly-disappearing/">phytoplankton</a> that makes the water appear milky blue.</p>



<p>“The tiny organisms, along with other types of phytoplankton, including diatoms that bloom here in spring, lie at the base of the marine food web,” explained NASA.</p>



<p>“Their presence - or absence - in Gulf of Maine waters can affect the entire ecosystem, from finfish to shellfish, and the region’s fisheries that depend on them.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shifting-conditions-and-plankton-communities-nbsp">Shifting conditions and plankton communities&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Mitchell said that coccolithophore blooms like this one became less common in the Gulf’s waters starting around 2010. But in recent years, they’ve started to come back.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Scientists have also seen more dinoflagellates (a type of phytoplankton that move with tiny tails) and an overall drop in phytoplankton productivity over the past few decades.</p>



<p>These changes in plankton are linked to shifting ocean conditions. For instance, heavy rainfall from 2006 to 2009 made the Gulf’s waters fresher. Then, starting in 2008, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/invisible-forest-of-phytoplankton-thrives-in-a-warming-climate/">warm water</a> from deep in the North Atlantic began heating the Gulf from the bottom up.&nbsp;</p>



<p>However, by spring 2025, bottom-water temperatures were cooler than they’ve been in 20 years.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ongoing-research-efforts">Ongoing research efforts</h2>



<p>“The relationship between these changing water conditions and phytoplankton communities in the gulf remains unclear, but ongoing research could begin to provide some answers,” noted NASA.</p>



<p>“In fact, Mitchell and colleagues scrutinized this PACE image just days before heading out on a research expedition to study the bloom and other ocean properties up close. The cruise, the third so far this year, offers scientists the chance to validate ocean color data collected by PACE with real-world ocean samples.”</p>



<p>Mitchell pointed out that a major benefit of the PACE satellite is its ability to “see the rainbow,” which makes it easier for scientists to distinguish between groups of phytoplankton.</p>



<p>“With our continuing field measurements, we will validate ocean color observations from PACE, enabling satellite observations in the Gulf of Maine and supporting the region’s fisheries and aquaculture industries.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-vital-signs-of-ocean-health">Vital signs of ocean health</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dust-from-africa-sparked-a-massive-phytoplankton-bloom/">Phytoplankton blooms</a> like the one captured in the Gulf of Maine are vital signs of ocean health. These microscopic organisms form the foundation of marine food webs, feeding everything from tiny zooplankton to large fish, whales, and seabirds.&nbsp;</p>



<p>When conditions are right - such as warm temperatures, abundant sunlight, and available nutrients - phytoplankton populations can grow rapidly, creating colorful blooms that are visible from space.</p>



<p>The Gulf of Maine is particularly sensitive to environmental change. Located at the intersection of cold northern currents and warmer waters from the south, it’s a dynamic ecosystem where small shifts in temperature or salinity can have outsized effects.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This region is also one of the fastest-warming ocean areas on the planet, with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ocean-temperatures-are-rising-faster-than-expected-and-likely-to-accelerate/">temperatures</a> rising more than three times the global ocean average in some years.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-forecasting-changes-with-ocean-monitoring-nbsp">Forecasting changes with ocean monitoring&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Changes in water temperature and salinity have ripple effects across the food chain. Warmer waters can favor certain types of phytoplankton over others, shifting the balance of species in ways that affect what fish and shellfish are available to predators - and to the region’s fisheries.&nbsp;</p>



<p>For example, coccolithophores may thrive in clearer, warmer waters, while traditional spring-blooming diatoms do better in colder, more nutrient-rich conditions.</p>



<p>Long-term monitoring is essential to understand and predict these shifts. Satellites like PACE provide a global view of ocean color, which reflects the presence and composition of phytoplankton.&nbsp;</p>



<p>By combining these observations with ship-based sampling, scientists can get a more complete picture of how plankton communities are evolving and how that affects everything from carbon cycling to fisheries sustainability.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-warming-in-the-gulf-of-maine-nbsp">Warming in the Gulf of Maine&nbsp;</h2>



<p>The Gulf’s warming trend has already caused noticeable ecological changes. Some species of fish have moved farther north or into deeper waters in search of cooler temperatures.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Lobsters, a key commercial species, have shifted their range as well. Meanwhile, harmful <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/green-algae-in-lake-erie-may-be-hiding-toxic-deadly-compounds/">algal blooms</a> - caused by certain types of phytoplankton - have become more frequent in some parts of the Gulf, threatening shellfish harvests and public health.</p>



<p>Scientists are working to better predict how blooms will respond to future climate conditions.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Understanding which species are likely to dominate under warmer, fresher, or more acidic conditions can help predict changes in fish stocks, shellfish safety, and ecosystem stability.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This kind of forecasting is especially important in the Gulf of Maine, where marine resources are closely tied to local economies.</p>



<p>Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;</p>



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Giant bloom in the Gulf of Maine signals change

<p>Today's <strong>Image of the Day</strong> from NASA Earth Observatory features Lake Chad in central Africa. The photograph was taken by an astronaut on the International Space Station.</p>



<p>According to <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/154407/lake-chads-water-wetlands-and-dunes" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA</a>, Lake Chad once ranked among the largest natural lakes in the world. It was a critical resource for millions of people and animals, supporting agriculture and fishing across the region.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Lake Chad straddles the borders of Chad, Nigeria, Niger, and Cameroon. The shallow <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/lakes-are-warming-toward-the-point-of-no-return/">lake</a> is primarily fed by the Chari River, which brings water from the Central African Republic. </p>



<p>The water levels are also influenced by seasonal rainfall. The rainfall patterns vary significantly across the basin but generally follow a wet-dry seasonal cycle.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-environmental-decline-and-shrinkage-nbsp">Environmental decline and shrinkage&nbsp;</h2>



<p>From the 1960s to the early 2000s, the lake lost more than 90 percent of its surface area. It transformed from a vast expanse of open water into a patchwork of wetlands, reed beds, and scattered pools.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This environmental decline has had severe consequences for local communities, leading to food and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-water-security-relies-on-the-origins-of-rainfall/">water insecurity</a>, loss of livelihoods, and increasing competition over scarce resources.</p>



<p>“Ongoing droughts and the rising demand for fresh water have shrunk the lake to less than a tenth of the area it covered in the middle of the last century,” noted NASA.</p>



<p>“Although the lake has experienced dry and wet periods for thousands of years, there has been a significant decline in the amount of lake water available since the 1960s.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-conflict-culture-and-economy">Conflict, culture, and economy</h2>



<p>Lake Chad is a geopolitical hotspot. The region has been affected by conflict, including the insurgency led by Boko Haram, which has displaced millions and further complicated efforts to manage and protect the lake’s fragile ecosystem.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Despite these challenges, regional governments and international organizations are working to restore and sustain the lake, including ambitious proposals to divert water from the Congo River basin.</p>



<p>Culturally and economically, Lake Chad remains vital. It is a hub for trade and social exchange among diverse ethnic groups and continues to provide fish and fertile land despite its reduced size.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The future of Lake Chad hinges on sustainable water management, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-extremes-alter-how-sunlight-travels-through-clear-lakes/">climate</a> resilience, and political cooperation across national boundaries.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-evolution-of-lake-chad-nbsp">Evolution of Lake Chad&nbsp;</h2>



<p>According to NASA, the evolution of Lake Chad has been documented by astronaut photography over the past 60 years.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“During the Apollo 7 mission in 1968, an astronaut acquired an oblique <a href="https://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/SearchPhotos/photo.pl?mission=AS07&amp;roll=8&amp;frame=1932" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">photograph</a> of the lake as one large body of water. In 1982, another photo from the space shuttle mission STS-5 recorded receding water levels and encroaching sand dunes.”</p>



<p>“A photo taken in 2015 during space station Expedition 42 captured the lake’s remaining waters and wetlands in dark green, blue, and brown, contrasting with the sandy shades of the surrounding land.” </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wildlife-of-lake-chad">Wildlife of Lake Chad</h2>



<p>Lake Chad still supports wildlife, though species diversity and abundance have declined significantly due to ecosystem degradation</p>



<p>The lake and its surrounding wetlands are home to several species of fish, including tilapia, catfish, and Nile perch, which are important both ecologically and economically.&nbsp;</p>



<p>These fish support a major regional fishing industry, although overfishing and changes in water conditions have put pressure on fish populations.</p>



<p>Birds are another key component of the ecosystem. The lake serves as a crucial habitat and stopover point for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/birds-may-be-using-quantum-physics-for-migration/">migratory birds</a> traveling along the African-Eurasian flyway. </p>



<p>Species such as herons, storks, ducks, and geese can be found in the region, especially during the wet season when parts of the lake flood and create rich feeding grounds.</p>



<p>Mammals that depend on the surrounding floodplains and wetlands include hippos and various antelope species, yet their numbers have declined.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-conservation-efforts-and-challenges">Conservation efforts and challenges</h2>



<p>Reptiles like Nile crocodiles and turtles also inhabit the lake's waters and marshy areas. In the past, larger wildlife such as elephants and lions may have roamed the wider Lake Chad basin, but they are now mostly gone from the immediate lake area due to habitat loss and human activity.</p>



<p>Despite these challenges, Lake Chad remains an important, yet increasingly fragile, refuge for wildlife in a region where water and natural habitats are becoming more scarce.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Conservation efforts aim to balance the needs of people and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/thousands-of-freshwater-species-are-threatened-with-extinction/">wildlife</a>, but the success of such efforts depends on managing the lake’s limited resources in the face of climate change, political instability, and population growth.</p>



<p>Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;</p>



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Lake Chad: A vanishing lifeline in Central Africa

<p>Today's <strong>Image of the Day</strong> from NASA Earth Observatory features the Bear Gulch Fire, which has persisted for weeks on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington.  </p>



<p>The fire was ignited on July 6, 2025. Over the past month, it has grown into one of the most significant wildfires in the region's recent history. </p>



<p>The <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/154682/fire-burns-through-olympic-wilderness">image</a> was captured by the Landsat 8 satellite on August 12. “On that day, smoke reached a height of nearly 30,000 feet because of significant fuel consumption and unstable atmospheric conditions,” noted <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-progression-of-the-bear-gulch-fire-nbsp">Progression of the Bear Gulch Fire&nbsp;</h2>



<p>By August 12, the fire had expanded by approximately 1,200 acres in just 24 hours, burning a total of 7,390 acres.  </p>



<p>This <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fast-wildfires-are-gaining-even-more-speed/">rapid growth</a> was fueled by a combination of high temperatures - reaching 93°F - and dry vegetation that had been primed by weeks of drought. Firefighting efforts were further complicated by the region's rugged terrain, making containment challenging. </p>



<p>The fire's progression into the forest canopy in certain areas has been particularly concerning.  Flames have spread with the help of hanging moss. </p>



<p>Rock outcrops - which normally act as natural firebreaks - have been consumed due to the burning of moss on them. This behavior demonstrates the fire's intensity and the unusual conditions contributing to its spread. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-community-and-environmental-response">Community and environmental response</h2>



<p>In response to the fire's advancement, the Staircase area of Olympic National Park, along with several trails and campgrounds in the adjacent Olympic National Forest and Mount Skokomish Wilderness Area, were closed as of August 14, 2025.  </p>



<p>These closures aim to protect <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wildfire-smoke-is-an-escalating-public-health-emergency/">public safety</a> and allow firefighting efforts to proceed without interference. As of the latest reports, no structures have been damaged, but the situation is still evolving. </p>



<p>Firefighters continue to battle the Bear Gulch Fire. They are using a number of strategies to contain its spread, including bucket drops from helicopters.  </p>



<p>The coming days will be critical in determining the fire's trajectory and the effectiveness of suppression efforts.  Residents and visitors are urged to stay informed through official channels and to follow all safety advisories. </p>



<p>The Bear Gulch Fire serves as a stark reminder of the challenges posed by wildfires in the Pacific Northwest, especially under the influence of climate change.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<p>The wildfire highlights the need for ongoing vigilance, preparedness, and adaptation in the face of evolving environmental conditions.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-human-and-ecological-toll">The human and ecological toll</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fear-and-anxiety-the-mental-health-impacts-of-wildfires/">Wildfires</a> don’t just threaten trees and wildlife - they disrupt communities. Evacuations and road closures become part of life during fire outbreaks. </p>



<p>Residents often have to adjust daily routines to reduce exposure to smoke, taking steps ranging from keeping windows closed to limiting outdoor activities. Local health services may see an increase in respiratory issues, particularly among children, the elderly, and those with preexisting conditions. </p>



<p>At the same time, fire crews and emergency responders face heightened risks as they work to contain the flames - highlighting the human effort required to protect both communities and the environment during these events.</p>



<p>Smoke can travel miles from the blaze, affecting <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wildfire-smoke-delivers-a-double-hit-to-air-quality/">air quality</a> and public health in nearby towns. </p>



<p>Wildlife faces habitat loss, and even small changes to forest ecosystems can have ripple effects on biodiversity, soil health, and water quality.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-change-and-wildfire-risks">Climate change and wildfire risks</h2>



<p>The Bear Gulch Fire reflects a broader pattern affecting the Pacific Northwest. Increasing temperatures, prolonged droughts, and shifting precipitation patterns are making forests more susceptible to wildfires.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Over the past few decades, wildfire seasons in Washington and neighboring states have lengthened, and fires have become more intense and harder to control.</p>



<p>Scientists say climate change doesn’t just make fires more likely - it changes the way they behave.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Forests stressed by heat and dry conditions burn faster and hotter, with flames that can leap into tree canopies and travel across areas that would have naturally slowed a fire in the past.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The combination of high winds and dry vegetation can turn small ignitions into <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fast-wildfires-are-gaining-even-more-speed/">fires</a> that cover thousands of acres within days.</p>



<p>Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;</p>



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Bear Gulch Fire rages across Washington forests

<p>Today's <strong>Image of the Day</strong> from the European Space Agency features NGC 1792, a spiral galaxy located in the constellation Columba about 43 million light-years away from Earth.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This galaxy, discovered by British astronomer James Dunlop in 1826, is part of the larger NGC 1808 group of galaxies.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-intimate-view-of-ngc-1792">Intimate view of NGC 1792</h2>



<p>“An orange glow radiates from the center of NGC 1792, the heart of this stellar forge. Captured by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, this intimate view of NGC 1792 gives us some insight into this galactic powerhouse,” noted <a href="https://www.esa.int/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ESA</a>.</p>



<p>“The vast swathes of tell-tale blue seen throughout the galaxy indicate areas that are full of young, hot stars, and it is in the shades of orange, seen nearer the center, that the older, cooler stars reside.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-vigorous-star-formation-nbsp">Vigorous star formation&nbsp;</h2>



<p>NGC 1792 is notable for its vigorous star formation, classifying it as a starburst galaxy. The high rate of star birth is thought to be triggered by gravitational interactions with neighboring galaxies, though the exact cause is still under study.</p>



<p>“Nestled in the constellation of Columba (The Dove), NGC 1792 is both a spiral galaxy, and a starburst galaxy,” said ESA. </p>



<p>“Within starburst galaxies, stars are forming at comparatively exorbitant rates. The rate of star formation can be more than 10 times faster in a starburst galaxy than in the Milky Way.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fierce-bursts-of-star-formation">Fierce bursts of star formation</h2>



<p>ESA noted that when galaxies have a large reservoir of gas, like NGC 1792, these short-lived starburst phases can be sparked by galactic events such as mergers and tidal interactions.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“One might think that these starburst galaxies would easily consume all of their gas in a large forming event. However, supernova explosions and intense stellar winds produced in these powerful starbursts can inject energy into the gas and disperse it.”&nbsp;</p>



<p>“This halts the star formation before it can completely deplete the galaxy of all its fuel. Scientists are actively working to understand this complex interplay between the dynamics that drive and quench these fierce bursts of star formation.”</p>



<p>Due to its distance and brightness, NGC 1792 can be observed with medium-sized telescopes under favorable conditions.</p>



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



<p>Galaxy evolution refers to the process by which galaxies form and change over time. It begins in the early universe, shortly after the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-observations-disprove-big-bang-theory-universe-began-tired-light-theory/">Big Bang</a>, when small density fluctuations in the primordial gas led to the collapse of matter into the first galaxies. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-galaxy-mergers">Galaxy mergers</h3>



<p>Early galaxies were small and irregular, and were composed mostly of gas and dark matter. Over billions of years, galaxies grew larger by merging with one another and by accreting gas from the surrounding space.&nbsp;</p>



<p>These interactions often triggered bursts of star formation, and collisions between galaxies sometimes led to the creation of new, more massive galaxies.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-structural-changes">Structural changes</h3>



<p>As galaxies evolve, their morphology - shape and structure - can change. Early galaxies were often irregular or disk-shaped, but over time, many galaxies formed into the elliptical or spiral shapes we see today.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-star-formation">Star formation</h3>



<p>Star formation is a key driver of galaxy evolution, but it gradually slows down as galaxies age. </p>



<p>The gas that fuels <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/black-hole-is-starving-its-host-galaxy-of-star-forming-fuel/">star formation</a> can be used up, or it can be heated and pushed out of galaxies by supernovae or black holes, reducing the galaxy's ability to form new stars.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-galaxy-environment-nbsp">Galaxy environment&nbsp;</h3>



<p>The environment in which a galaxy resides also plays a role in its evolution. Galaxies in dense clusters are more likely to interact with their neighbors, which can alter their shape or trigger bursts of star formation.&nbsp;</p>



<p>In contrast, galaxies in more isolated regions of space evolve more slowly and without as many dramatic interactions.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dark-matter">Dark matter</h3>



<p>Dark matter also plays a crucial role in galaxy evolution. It provides the gravitational framework that holds galaxies together and influences their interactions with one another.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Supermassive <a href="https://www.earth.com/search-results/?search=Galaxies%20merge&amp;start=0">black holes</a>, found at the centers of most large galaxies, can also affect their evolution by releasing energy that impacts star formation and the movement of gas within the galaxy.</p>



<p>Overall, galaxy evolution is a complex and ongoing process driven by interactions between stars, gas, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/study-dark-matter-does-not-exist-and-the-universe-is-27-billion-years-old/">dark matter</a>, and black holes, and shaped by both internal processes and external influences.</p>



<p>Image Credit<strong>:</strong> ESA/Hubble &amp; NASA, J. Lee</p>



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Starburst galaxy in the constellation Columba

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

<p>Crater Lake&nbsp;(Klamath:&nbsp;Giiwas) is a&nbsp;crater lake&nbsp;in south-central&nbsp;Oregon&nbsp;in the western United States. It is the main feature of&nbsp;Crater Lake National Park&nbsp;and is famous for its deep blue color and water clarity. The lake partly fills a nearly 2,148-foot-deep (655&nbsp;m) caldera that was formed around 7,700 (± 150) years ago&nbsp;by the collapse of the volcano&nbsp;Mount Mazama. There are no rivers flowing into or out of the lake; the evaporation is compensated for by rain and snowfall at a rate such that the total amount of water is replaced every 250 years. With a depth of 1,949 feet (594&nbsp;m),&nbsp;the lake is the&nbsp;deepest&nbsp;in the United States. In the world, it ranks ninth for maximum depth, and third for mean (average) depth. Crater Lake features two small islands.&nbsp;Wizard Island, located near the western shore of the lake, is a&nbsp;cinder cone&nbsp;approximately 316 acres (128 ha) in size.&nbsp;Phantom Ship, a natural rock pillar, is located near the southern shore.</p>



<p>The park has two developed campgrounds,&nbsp;Mazama Campground&nbsp;and&nbsp;Lost Creek Campground. They are open only in the summer. Mazama Campground has 214 sites for tents and RVs. Lost Creek Campground has 16 sites for tents only.&nbsp; Sleeping overnight in the park is allowed only for hotel guests, campground campers, and backpackers who obtain a&nbsp;backcountry permit. Camping in the park’s pullouts, picnic areas, and parking lots is prohibited.</p>

Crater Lake National Park, Oregon

<p>Heat defined the summer of 2024, a harsh reminder of our changing climate. In the West African city of Kayes, temperatures soared past 119 degrees Fahrenheit in April. </p>



<p>People couldn't escape the brutal heat. Air conditioners strained electrical grids. Hospitals filled with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/extreme-heat-and-humidity-sharply-raise-heart-risks/">heat</a>-related illnesses. This wasn't just a bad week of weather. It was part of a dangerous trend that's reshaping life across an entire continent. </p>



<p><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/deadly-heat-waves-in-europe-can-be-predicted-by-melting-sea-ice/">Heat waves</a> are becoming Africa's new normal. These prolonged periods of abnormally hot weather now hit harder, last longer, and happen more often than they did just decades ago. </p>



<p>The change is so dramatic that scientists are calling it a complete transformation of African climate patterns.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-africa-s-heat-waves-changed">How Africa's heat waves changed</h2>



<p>New research reveals just how much things have changed. The research team examined heat wave patterns using large-ensemble computer models that could separate different contributing factors. They looked at daytime, nighttime, and compound <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/humid-heat-days-are-a-growing-threat-to-public-health/">heat</a> waves that combine both.</p>



<p>Between 1950 and 1979, Africa experienced relatively mild heat waves that occurred roughly once every three to eight years. During this earlier period, natural factors dominated the climate system. </p>



<p>About 80% of heat wave activity came from natural causes like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earths-orbit-may-trigger-massive-volcanic-eruptions/">volcanic eruptions</a> and normal weather variations. Sulfate aerosols - tiny particles released by volcanic eruptions and some human activities - actually helped cool the planet by making clouds reflect more sunlight back to space.</p>



<p>Fast forward to recent decades, and the picture looks completely different. From 1985 to 2014, heat waves started showing up every two years or less. They lasted up to three times longer than before. </p>



<p>By this period, human influences had taken over. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/greenhouse-gas-emissions-reach-another-all-time-high/">Greenhouse gas emissions</a> from burning coal, oil, and gas trapped more heat in the atmosphere. Black carbon emissions - essentially soot from incomplete combustion - absorbed sunlight and added to the warming effect.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-human-driven-heat-waves-in-africa">Human-driven heat waves in Africa</h2>



<p>The researchers found that only 30% of recent heat wave activity could be blamed on natural causes. The rest comes directly from human actions. </p>



<p>The team also found a strong connection between <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earth-is-on-pace-to-surpass-1-5c-global-temperature-increase-for-second-year-in-a-row/">heat</a> wave frequency and near-surface air temperatures. This relationship makes sense because both are influenced by similar factors like air circulation patterns and how energy moves between the Earth's surface and atmosphere.</p>



<p>"Raising awareness of heat waves is critical to saving human life," said Akintomide Afolayan Akinsanola, head of the Climate Research Lab and assistant professor of Earth and environmental sciences in the UIC College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. </p>



<p>"In a developing continent like Africa, where the capacity for adaptive infrastructure is relatively low, heat waves can have greater consequences."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-africa-suffers-more-from-heat">Why Africa suffers more from heat</h2>



<p>Africa sits in a particularly vulnerable position as our planet warms. The continent lacks the extensive air conditioning, emergency cooling centers, and heat-warning systems that help protect people in wealthier regions. Many communities depend on outdoor work and lack access to reliable electricity for cooling.</p>



<p>The human cost is already mounting. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/state-of-the-climate-2024-record-heat-and-rising-seas/">Heat</a>-related illnesses kill about 5,600 people annually in the United States - a country with extensive cooling infrastructure and emergency services. Some experts predict that Nigeria alone could see heat-related deaths rise to 23,000 or even 43,000 per year by the end of this century.</p>



<p>The most vulnerable people - infants, older adults, and those with existing health conditions - face the greatest risks. But heat waves don't just threaten individual health. They damage entire ecosystems, reduce crop yields, and overwhelm energy systems when people desperately need power for cooling.</p>



<p>"I was surprised to see that these changes were consistent across the African subregions, not just a specific isolated area," said Vishal Bobde, a doctoral student in Akinsanola's lab and the study's first author.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ripple-effects-of-extreme-heat">Ripple effects of extreme heat</h2>



<p>Heat waves create a cascade of problems that extend far beyond uncomfortable temperatures. When crops fail due to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/extreme-heat-is-pushing-parts-of-earth-beyond-human-survival/">extreme heat</a>, food prices rise and communities face shortages. </p>



<p>Energy systems struggle to meet cooling demands, leading to blackouts that make the heat even more dangerous.</p>



<p>These climate pressures can force people to leave their homes in search of cooler, more livable areas. Large-scale migration puts stress on destination communities and can create conflicts over resources. The researchers warn that these effects don't stay contained within Africa's borders.</p>



<p>"The impacts are wide-ranging, from productivity to food shortage to energy," said Akinsanola, who is jointly appointed at the Environmental Science Division of Argonne National Laboratory. </p>



<p>"Remember that the African population is close to 2 billion. Heat waves can lead to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/drought-kills-trees-faster-than-previously-thought/">drought</a>, trigger migration and spark conflicts, thereby impacting regional, continental and even global stability."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-looking-toward-heat-solutions">Looking toward heat solutions</h2>



<p>Scientists hope their findings will help African communities, governments, and international organizations develop better strategies for dealing with heat waves. </p>



<p>This includes creating early warning systems that can alert people when dangerous heat is approaching, and improving what researchers call "heat-risk literacy" - helping people understand and respond to heat dangers.</p>



<p>"While Africa contributes a relatively small share of global greenhouse gas emissions, climate change is a global issue that is intensifying heat waves everywhere. Addressing this requires global cooperation to aggressively reduce emissions and build adaptive capacity," said Kayode Ayegbusi, co-first author and UIC doctoral student in Akinsanola's lab.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-preparing-for-a-hotter-future">Preparing for a hotter future</h2>



<p>The research team plans to investigate how future heat wave patterns might change depending on whether the world meets the goals set in the 2015 Paris Agreement. This international treaty aims to limit global temperature increases and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.</p>



<p>Understanding these climate patterns represents just the first step. The real challenge lies in translating scientific knowledge into practical solutions that can protect vulnerable communities from an increasingly hostile climate.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-025-02578-6">Communications Earth &amp; Environment</a></em>.</p>



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Africa’s heat waves are getting hotter, longer, and deadlier

Heat defined the summer of 2024, a harsh reminder of...

<p>Flyers may soon help unlock one of the most mysterious regions of Earth’s atmosphere. Between 30 and 60 miles above our heads lies the mesosphere - a stretch of sky too high for planes and weather balloons, too low for satellites, and nearly impossible to reach with current tools. </p>



<p>Yet inside this no-man’s land sits valuable data that could sharpen weather forecasts and strengthen climate models.</p>



<p>Now, a group of scientists from the Harvard John A. Paulson <a href="https://seas.harvard.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">School of Engineering and Applied Sciences</a> and the University of Chicago may have found a way in.</p>



<p>Their new study introduces an ultra-light flying device that can lift itself into this thin, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-may-amplify-the-impacts-of-geomagnetic-storms/">upper atmosphere</a> using only sunlight.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lightweight-flyers-lifted-by-sunlight">Lightweight flyers lifted by sunlight</h2>



<p>The secret behind these floating flyers is a little-known physics trick called photophoresis.</p>



<p>“We are studying this strange physics mechanism called photophoresis and its ability to levitate very lightweight objects when you shine light on them,” said Ben Schafer, the lead author of the study.</p>



<p>Photophoresis happens when gas molecules bounce harder off the warm side of an object than the cool side. That creates a tiny push. In most environments, the force is too weak to notice. But in very low-pressure <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/international-space-station-observes-something-unknown-55-miles-above-earth/">conditions</a> - like those in the mesosphere - that small push can turn into a steady lift.</p>



<p>The research team built ultra-thin structures from ceramic alumina and coated one side with a thin chromium layer to absorb sunlight. When exposed to light, the temperature difference between the two sides generates a lift strong enough to counter <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/theory-gravity-exists-without-mass-so-dark-matter-does-not-exist/">gravity</a>.</p>



<p>“This phenomenon is usually so weak relative to the size and weight of the object it’s acting on that we usually don’t notice it,” Schafer explained. “However, we are able to make our structures so lightweight that the photophoretic force is bigger than their weight, so they fly.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-breakthroughs-in-technology">Breakthroughs in technology </h2>



<p>The idea for these light-powered devices started over a decade ago. David Keith, now at the <a href="https://www.uchicago.edu/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Chicago</a>, had been exploring ways photophoretic particles might be used in climate engineering. </p>



<p>That sparked a collaboration with Schafer and Joost Vlassak, a materials engineering expert with deep knowledge in nanofabrication.</p>



<p>Recent breakthroughs in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nanotech-material-graphene-passes-human-safety-tests/">nanotech</a> made it all possible. Scientists can now build featherweight structures with precise control over material thickness and shape.</p>



<p>“We developed a nanofabrication process that can be scaled to tens of centimeters,” said Vlassak. “These devices are quite resilient and have unusual mechanical behavior for sandwich structures. We are currently working on methods to incorporate functional payloads into the devices.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sunlight-powered-flyers-in-the-atmosphere">Sunlight-powered flyers in the atmosphere</h2>



<p>To see if the theory would hold up, the team designed and built their devices in the lab. They placed them inside a low-pressure chamber, designed by Schafer and Harvard postdoctoral fellow Jong-hyoung Kim, to simulate conditions found in the upper atmosphere.</p>



<p>“This paper is both theoretical and experimental in the sense that we reimagined how this force is calculated on real devices and then validated those forces by applying measurements to real-world conditions,” Schafer said.</p>



<p>In one key experiment, a structure just one centimeter wide was able to float at a pressure of 26.7 Pascals when exposed to light at 55% the intensity of sunlight. That’s about what you'd experience 60 kilometers above Earth.</p>



<p>“This is the first time anyone has shown that you can build larger photophoretic structures and actually make them fly in the atmosphere,” Keith said. “It opens up an entirely new class of device: one that’s passive, sunlight-powered, and uniquely suited to explore our upper atmosphere. Later they might fly on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-plan-terraform-mars-nanoparticles-would-make-it-habitable-for-humans/">Mars</a> or other planets.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-ways-to-study-the-mesosphere">New ways to study the mesosphere </h2>



<p>These devices could open up entirely new ways to monitor and study the mesosphere. With small sensors attached, they could collect data like wind speed, temperature, and pressure - information that’s hard to come by today, but critical for accurate forecasting and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/exxons-climate-predictions-were-remarkably-accurate-but-ignored/">climate predictions</a>.</p>



<p>Fleets of flyers in the mesosphere could also be used for emergency communication networks or defense, acting like near-Earth satellites but without the high cost or lag time.</p>



<p>And since the atmosphere on Mars shares similar characteristics with our mesosphere, these devices could even help in future planetary missions. The team is now working on building communication payloads that will let the devices send back data in real time.</p>



<p>“I think what makes this research fun is that the technology could be used to explore an entirely unexplored region of the atmosphere. Previously, nothing could sustainably fly up there,” Schafer said. “It’s a bit like the Wild West in terms of applied physics."</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09281-8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a></em>.</p>



<p>Image Credit: Ben Schafer and Jong-hyoung Kim</p>



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Sunlight-powered flyers could unlock secrets of Earth's atmosphere

Flyers may soon help unlock one of the most mysterious...

Silhouette,Business,People,Discussion,Communication,Meeting,Concept

<p>Body posture sends steady social signals. Long before anyone speaks, the way a person naturally stands can hint at how they see status, power, and the people around them. Not just in heated moments - your baseline stance matters.</p>



<p>Most research on posture looks at quick shifts tied to mood. This current study asked a different question: Are there trait-level differences in posture that stick over time and actually tell us something <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/psychologists-claim-the-7-38-55-rule-is-secret-to-exceptional-eq-emotional-intelligence/">about personality</a>?</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-linking-posture-to-social-personality">Linking posture to social personality</h2>



<p>The research tested whether <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-men-and-women-react-differently-to-stress/">individual differences</a> in everyday, natural posture relate to individual differences in personality. </p>



<p>In a large sample, the team tracked posture in neutral settings and linked those measures with attitudes toward competition, power, and social hierarchy.</p>



<p>The work was led by Soren Wanio-Theberge and Jorge Armony at <a href="https://www.mcgill.ca/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">McGill University</a>, who have argued that body language connects directly to emotions; these studies put that idea in a more precise frame.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-social-mood-and-posture">Social mood and posture</h2>



<p>The relationship the authors describe reflects individual differences in <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36048034/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">postural dominance</a> and submission. </p>



<p>People vary in how “open” or “closed” they tend to hold themselves at rest, and those patterns align with how they think about social rank. </p>



<p>The work suggests that postural signaling of social rank occurs not only in brief displays but as a stable individual trait with consequences for <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/psychology/social-processing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">socioaffective processing</a>.</p>



<p>To ensure the posture measure was sound, the researchers validated it against physiological data from relevant musculature and showed that it remained stable over a one-month interval.</p>



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



<p>Across the five studies, four relied on photos participants submitted of themselves standing in a natural pose. One brought participants to the lab for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/early-humans-felt-emotions-in-unusual-body-parts/">physiological measurements</a>. </p>



<p>In total, there were 608 young adult participants. Postural ratings across time tended to be stable, which supports the idea that baseline stance is more than a passing mood.</p>



<p>In one experiment, participants were instructed to pose in a dominant or submissive way. </p>



<p>In the submissive stance, they adopted a stooped, bent-forward posture. When instructed to appear dominant, they stood upright, with hips forward and torso leaning backward. </p>



<p>This might remind you of the “power pose” idea, but there was no indication in this particular study that an altered posture produced an altered state of mind.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-neck-flexion-and-positioning">Neck flexion and positioning</h2>



<p>The most informative feature was how much the head tilts down or up - <a href="https://www.stonybrookmedicine.edu/lifestyle-medicine/movement/resources/neck" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">neck flexion</a>. The scientists focused on the angle that captures chin-down vs. chin-up - i.e., how much the head is tilted forward relative to the neck/torso. </p>



<p>The team extracted body keypoints from simple front/side photos, then computed posture angles - including a neck-flexion angle - from those keypoints.</p>



<p>The position of your neck, combined with your body posture and stance, correlated to personality: more-upright individuals tended, on average, to endorse more dominance-oriented views and scored higher on some manipulative/antisocial trait measures. </p>



<p>To clarify, people who naturally held their head higher (less flexion; more “chin up”) tended, on average, to score higher on dominance-related and some antisocial/manipulative traits (e.g., social dominance orientation, primary psychopathy, <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/psychology/machiavellianism" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Machiavellianism</a>). They also scored lower on empathy and anger control.</p>



<p>Crucially, neck flexion was a group-level correlation, not a diagnosis, and the pattern held when participants returned about a month later, suggesting a stable trait rather than just a passing mood.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-posture-and-social-cues">Posture and social cues</h2>



<p>Some <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/body-language-expresses-emotions-across-cultures/">body-emotion links</a> are well known: raising the fists (anger), moving the torso backward (fear), curving the lower back or “lordotic” posture (sexual receptiveness in female mammals), and arching the back (rats and other four-legged animals). </p>



<p>In social situations, an open, erect, and expanded stance often reads as dominant. A slumped, closed posture tends to read as submissive.</p>



<p>These visible patterns form a practical “menu” of cues people use, especially with strangers. Any one of them, or a mix, can help you <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39311863/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">figure out what someone may be signaling</a> without saying a word.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-personality-links-that-showed-up">Personality links that showed up</h2>



<p>Early in the series, people with more erect postures scored higher on personality traits associated with psychopathic tendencies. Later work broadened the view. </p>



<p>The final study assessed psychopathy, manipulativeness, competitiveness, and belief in the existence of social hierarchies. </p>



<p>In the authors’ words, this range of attributes reflects “the use of intimidation in order to improve one’s access to resources in the environment at the expense of others."</p>



<p>The authors reasoned that for some dominant individuals, “the experience of being at the bottom of the heap can be intolerable." </p>



<p>A feedback loop can follow: standing tall and straight takes effort and often draws deferential treatment. That social response can reinforce a dominant posture over time.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-not-everyone-stands-the-same">Not everyone stands the same</h2>



<p>People who scored lower on these dominance-related traits showed a wider range of stances rather than sticking to one “strong” look. </p>



<p>Flexibility in posture - opening up in some moments, settling into neutral in others - fits with lower endorsement of competitive, top-down views of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/having-an-active-social-life-helps-the-brain-make-better-sense-of-the-world/">social life</a>.</p>



<p>The big picture here is that natural posture, captured in everyday conditions, carries information about personality and social attitudes. It wasn’t just a flash in the pan.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-underlying-issues">Underlying issues</h2>



<p>There are limits. The sample leaned heavily toward female undergraduates, and the methods were correlational. Culture also shapes how people use space and stance. </p>



<p>As people age, normal changes in muscle and body mass can affect posture, no matter their personality. Those realities matter when you apply these findings to new groups or settings.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bringing-this-into-the-real-world">Bringing this into the real world</h2>



<p>When you meet someone new, you take in many cues at once - <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/facial-expressions-arent-enough-to-understand-human-emotions/">face</a>, voice, handshake, movement. Posture is one cue among many, and it’s a useful one. </p>



<p>A person standing up straight can come across as confident and trustworthy. However, in special circumstances, a consistently erect, expanded stance was associated with stronger endorsement of social dominance and related traits. </p>



<p>On the flip side, a person who slumps isn’t automatically timid; context matters.</p>



<p>The study closes with a practical note: a person who appears to use their body to intimidate you - even if they do not fully succeed - is someone to avoid.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-you-should-take-from-this-study">What you should take from this study</h2>



<p>Trait-level posture exists - that isn't up for debate. It links directly to how people think about rank and competition. The measure was checked against muscle activity and held steady over one month. </p>



<p>Briefly adopting a pose - dominant or submissive - didn’t seem to change people’s mindset in this set of studies. </p>



<p>And while posture can inform first impressions, it should sit alongside other signals before you decide how to engage.</p>



<p>That’s the takeaway: pay attention, stay thoughtful, and use posture as one clear piece of the larger social puzzle.</p>



<p>The full studies were published in the journal <em><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39311863/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PubMed</a></em>.</p>



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You can quickly determine someone's personality type by the way they stand

Body posture sends steady social signals. Long before anyone speaks,...

<p>A fresh look at early members of our lineage suggests that males and females were not built alike. The size gap was wide, and it likely shaped daily life in ways we do not see in people today.</p>



<p>That conclusion comes from a new comparison of two classic Pliocene species that many readers know by name, but not by their striking differences.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dimorphism-seen-in-fossils">Dimorphism seen in fossils</h2>



<p>The work centers on <a href="https://humanorigins.si.edu/evidence/human-fossils/species/australopithecus-afarensis" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Australopithecus</em> <em>afarensis</em></a>, known from eastern Africa between about 3.85 and 2.95 million years ago, and on <a href="https://humanorigins.si.edu/evidence/human-fossils/species/australopithecus-africanus" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Australopithecus</em> <em>africanus</em></a>, known from South Africa between about 3.3 and 2.1 million years ago. </p>



<p><a href="https://www.albany.edu/anthropology/faculty/adam-d-gordon#main-content" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Adam D. Gordon</a> of the Department of Anthropology, <a href="https://www.albany.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University at Albany</a>, State University of New York, led the study.</p>



<p>The South African record for <em>A. africanus</em> anchors the southern end of the comparison and spans a similarly broad window in deep time. </p>



<p>The two species lived far apart, which helps test whether size differences track local environments or something deeper.</p>



<p>Lucy, the small-bodied<em> A. afarensis</em> skeleton cataloged as <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0047248498902238" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AL 288-1</a>, has long shaped how people picture that species. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-early-homo-species-discovered-lived-with-australopithecus-challenges-human-evolution-theory/">She was a tiny adult</a>, an outlier who needed to be placed within the full spread of body sizes now known.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-the-team-measured-dimorphism">How the team measured dimorphism</h2>



<p>Scientists use the term dimorphism for consistent differences between males and females in the same species. In primates, that often shows up as size gaps, and those gaps can point to how a species competed or cooperated.</p>



<p>Gordon’s team leaned on a geometric mean <a href="https://www.albany.edu/~ag856732/Gordonetal2008AJPA.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">framework</a> that was originally built to handle fragmentary fossils and missing measurements, a practical need when bones come in pieces. </p>



<p>Instead of trying to label each bone male or female, the approach looks at overall variation and tests how big the spread is compared with living species.</p>



<p>They focused on eight postcranial traits from the arms and legs, then compared those fossil spreads with gorillas, chimpanzees, and modern humans. That keeps the math honest by calibrating old bones against species where sex and size are known.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-the-new-comparisons-show">What the new comparisons show</h2>



<p>Both <em>Australopithecus</em> species show strong dimorphism, with <em>A. afarensis</em> standing out as even more pronounced. </p>



<p>Adam D. Gordon notes that the Lucy species was not defined by a few unusually large individuals but by a consistent gap between the sexes, visible in body mass, limb breadth, and leverage.</p>



<p>In primates, strong male-biased size gaps usually go hand in hand with intense male competition and <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9156798/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">polygyny</a>, a system in which some males mate with multiple females. </p>



<p>That pattern does not prove a mating system by itself, but it raises the odds.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/sexual-dimorphism_cranium-size-mapping_credit-Nature_1.jpg"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/sexual-dimorphism_cranium-size-mapping_credit-Nature_1s.webp" alt="Cranial allometry in females and males. Differences in cranial morphology of the two allometric trajectories. Color maps indicate local variations in area between centroid size extremes in female and male allometric trajectories. Cold colors indicate relative contraction, while warm colors indicate relative expansion. Credit: Nature" class="wp-image-1982656"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>Cranial allometry in females and males. Differences in cranial morphology of the two allometric trajectories. Color maps indicate local variations in area between centroid size extremes in female and male allometric trajectories. Cold colors indicate relative contraction, while warm colors indicate relative expansion. Click image to enlarge. Credit: Nature</em></figcaption></figure>



<p>Modern humans make a useful yardstick. Men today average about 12 to 25 percent heavier than women, while gorillas show much larger gaps, often 66 to 146 percent, depending on the population and metric used. Those numbers frame how unusual the fossil results are.</p>



<p>The new fossil comparisons sit much closer to the great apes than to us. That placement hints at social worlds where large males had advantages in contests, territory, and access to mates.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rethinking-earlier-interpretations">Rethinking earlier interpretations</h2>



<p>“Skeletal size dimorphism in <em>A. afarensis</em> was most similar to that of contemporary Homo sapiens,” according to Philip L. Reno and colleagues from a study back in 2003. </p>



<p>Two decades ago, a widely read <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1133180100" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">analysis</a> argued the opposite for <em>A. afarensis</em>, claiming it showed a human-like pattern. </p>



<p>Gordon’s 2008 work helped explain why these debates dragged on by showing how to compare mixed and incomplete skeletons without stacking the deck. </p>



<p>That study reported that postcranial dimorphism in <em>A. afarensis</em> is more like that of large apes than like humans, once the statistics handle missing data and uneven samples.</p>



<p>The new paper builds on that footing, adds <em><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/lucy-could-barely-run-what-does-that-say-about-our-ancestors/">A. africanus</a></em> for a direct fossil-to-fossil comparison, and tightens the test with updated samples and significance checks. </p>



<p>As a result, it narrows room for interpretations that relied on a few standout bones.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-this-means-for-lucy-and-her-kin">What this means for Lucy and her kin</h2>



<p>Lucy was small, but she was not the whole story for her species. <em>A. afarensis</em> included much larger bodies, and the spread between small and large is better explained by sex than by random chance or geography, given the cross-checks against living primates.</p>



<p><em><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tooth-enamel-analysis-suggests-early-eurasians-were-multiple-species-paranthropus-robustus/">A. africanus</a></em> shows a big gap too, just not as extreme as <em>A. afarensis</em>. That diversity across two close relatives undercuts the idea that dimorphism steadily shrank over time in a simple line.</p>



<p>Those differences matter because they help sort behavioral hypotheses. With stronger size gaps, models that include higher levels of male competition move to the front of the line, while egalitarian scenarios step back.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-power-samples-and-careful-claims">Power, samples, and careful claims</h2>



<p>“Results suggest intense sexual selection maintained high dimorphism in both fossil species,” wrote Gordon. Fossil tests can fail for dull reasons, like small samples. The new paper calls this out plainly.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Gordon’s statement reflects a simple statistical point. When the effect is large, you can detect it even with modest power, and that is what happened here for both species. It also points to next steps. </p>



<p>The same machinery can be applied to other early hominin groups to see whether the pattern repeats or splits in new ways.</p>



<p>The study is published in the <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ajpa.70093" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>American Journal of Biological Anthropology</em></a>.</p>



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Fossil discovery changes what we thought we knew about prehistoric men and women

A fresh look at early members of our lineage suggests...

<p>A short, self-guided program built around everyday contact with nature reports meaningful gains in mood and stress after just four weeks. It is simple by design and aimed at adults with low wellbeing who want help they can start today.</p>



<p>The approach is called Roots and Shoots. It pairs at-home reflections with brief outdoor <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-nature-conservation-day-2025-a-healthy-future-for-all/">activities</a> near where people live, adding light digital support for those who want it.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nature-helps-improve-mental-health">Nature helps improve mental health</h2>



<p>The study was led by <a href="https://experts.exeter.ac.uk/24356-matt-owens" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dr. Matt Owens</a> at the University of Exeter, with Clinical Psychologist <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/scientific-contributions/Hannah-L-I-Bunce-2217974973" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dr. Hannah L. I. Bunce</a>, co-founders of the <a href="https://www.rowantree.uk/about" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ROWAN</a> nature and mental health research group.</p>



<p>Researchers across psychology, public health, and ecology have <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31355340/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">linked</a> time in natural settings with improved attention, mood, and stress biology, forming a coherent picture of benefits to mental health. </p>



<p><a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1807504116" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Evidence</a> extends across the life course, with large cohort work suggesting childhood access to greenspace predicts a lower risk of several psychiatric disorders in adulthood.</p>



<p>The adult intervention literature has moved from anecdotes to trials. </p>



<p>A comprehensive <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34646931/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">review</a> finds nature-based interventions such as green exercise, gardening, and forest therapy improve mental health outcomes in adults, often with practical sessions of 20 to 90 minutes several times per week.</p>



<p>Prescribed contact with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earth-day-2025-what-were-really-fighting-for/">nature</a>, from park walks to blue space visits, has also shown benefits for symptoms of depression and blood pressure in randomized and quasi-experimental <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/piis2542-5196%2823%2900025-6/fulltext" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">studies</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nature-program-activities">Nature program activities</h2>



<p><a href="https://rootsandshoots.org/resources/roots-shoots-formula-toolkit/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Roots and Shoots is a printed guidebook</a> organized into six short sections that unfold over four weeks. It introduces the science of nature and wellbeing, then leads people through simple tracking of time in nature, mood, and values-based actions.</p>



<p>Core tools include a habit wheel for building small, repeatable moments <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nature-has-its-own-internet-and-were-only-beginning-to-understand-it/">outdoors</a>, a coping tool to swap unhelpful routines for neutral ones, and a honeycomb challenge to notice different kinds of nature contact. </p>



<p>Brief meditations and breathing exercises are available online, supporting practice when getting outside is hard.</p>



<p>The study used a randomised controlled trial design. Adults with low wellbeing were assigned either to start the program or to a waitlist control and completed measures at baseline, two weeks, and four weeks.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nature-program-results">Nature program results</h2>



<p>On the primary <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-environment-day-the-critical-role-of-nature-in-human-well-being/">outcome of wellbeing</a>, the intervention group improved more than the waitlist group across four weeks, with a large effect size by the study end. The design was remote and light touch, yet the signal was clear. </p>



<p>Eighty-two percent of program completers made reliable improvements in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mutual-relationships-with-nature-offer-hope-for-a-sustainable-future/">wellbeing</a>, and 59 percent met the threshold for clinically significant change. None showed deterioration.</p>



<p>Average scores on anxiety and depression started in the clinical range and shifted below caseness by week four.</p>



<p>Effects were medium for anxiety and small for depressive symptoms. Engagement and acceptability were high. Ninety four percent of those who finished said they would recommend the guidebook to a friend.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-practicing-the-program-daily">Practicing the program daily</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-nature-heals-outdoor-activities-greatly-improve-mental-health/">Nature time</a> is not treated as a luxury. It is framed as a small, daily behavior that can sit alongside existing routines and responsibilities.</p>



<p>The psychological ingredients are familiar and low cost. People practice mindfulness, track mood, write briefly, and connect actions to values that matter to them.</p>



<p>The program avoids all-or-nothing goals. It welcomes brief, nearby, and accessible encounters with trees, water, or sky, and includes virtual nature options when needed.</p>



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



<p>Self-help options can play a useful role when services are stretched and stigma or logistics make formal care harder to access. They also give people a way to start while they wait for more intensive support if needed.</p>



<p>Mental health problems <a href="https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/sites/default/files/2022-06/MHF-Investing-in-Prevention-Report-Summary.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cost</a> the UK economy an estimated 118 billion pounds per year, about 5 percent of GDP, which makes low-cost, scalable options worth testing carefully. </p>



<p>A month-long guidebook that people can complete without appointments or travel is inexpensive to deliver at scale.</p>



<p>The team emphasizes that a booklet is not a substitute for clinical care in crisis. It is an early step that can help many people feel and function better while easing pressure on services.</p>



<p>Health systems increasingly look for stepped care and preventive options. If confirmed in larger trials, a short nature guide could sit at step 1 or step 2 and augment therapy as homework after higher-intensity care.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nature-program-in-science">Nature program in science</h2>



<p>“We have developed a self-help package that uses principles from both clinical psychology and nature research to empower individuals to spend more time in nature, rediscover their relationship with natural environments and improve their wellbeing,” said Dr. Owens.</p>



<p>Several streams of evidence propose why nature contact helps. Attention restoration, stress recovery, and social connection are all plausible, testable mechanisms.</p>



<p>Recent reviews point to dose and variety as practical levers. Short, regular sessions in green or blue spaces appear better than rare marathons, and mixing settings may matter as much as time logged.</p>



<p><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/living-near-major-roads-increases-dementia-risk/">Urban living</a> need not be a barrier. Street trees, pocket parks, and canal paths can be enough to practice the habits described in the guide, especially when paired with brief indoor or virtual nature for consistency.</p>



<p>The structure here is the quiet shift. A light-touch plan that invites repeated, low-effort contact with nearby nature can build momentum without demanding free afternoons or long travel.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-next-steps-for-this-nature-program">Next steps for this nature program</h2>



<p>This was a pilot, so the next step is a larger, fully powered trial that tests durability, mechanisms, and who benefits most. Duration is an open question, since many participants said they would welcome a longer version.</p>



<p>Precision also matters. Some people may respond most to habit building outdoors, while others change more through mindfulness or values work.</p>



<p>The study is published in <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/15/8/1096" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Behavioral Sciences</em></a>.</p>



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



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

Simple and self-guided nature program quickly improves mood and reduces stress

A short, self-guided program built around everyday contact with nature...

<p>Efforts to hammer out a global treaty to tackle plastic pollution have once again hit a wall. After years of work and six formal negotiation rounds, talks wrapped up in Geneva without an agreement. </p>



<p>Delegates from 185 countries worked past the deadline and into the early hours, but the gap between two opposing sides proved too wide to bridge.</p>



<p>This round of negotiations - billed as a last-chance summit after a similar breakdown in South Korea last year - was seen as a potential turning point. Instead, frustration ruled.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-holding-back-a-plastic-treaty">What's holding back a plastic treaty?</h2>



<p>The main split was clear. One group, known as the High Ambition Coalition, includes countries like Canada, the UK, and members of the EU. They’re pushing for limits on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plastics-treaty-talks-slow-progress-yet-restored-hope/">plastic</a> production and a gradual phase-out of harmful chemicals used in plastics.</p>



<p>On the other side, oil-producing nations grouped under the "Like-Minded Group" - including Saudi Arabia, Iran, Russia, Kuwait, and Malaysia - want a treaty focused only on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/international-day-of-zero-waste-a-global-commitment-to-a-sustainable-future/">waste management</a>, not production cuts. These countries argue that targeting production would penalize resource-rich developing nations.</p>



<p>"Our views were not reflected without an agreed scope, this process cannot remain on the right track and risks sliding down a slippery slope," said Kuwait.</p>



<p>Bahrain added that it supported a treaty that "does not penalize developing countries for exploiting their own resources."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tensions-boil-over">Tensions boil over</h2>



<p>The emotional toll was visible. France's Ecological Transition Minister, Agnes Pannier-Runacher, didn’t mince words. "I am disappointed, and I am angry," she said. </p>



<p>"A handful of countries, guided by short-term financial interests, had blocked the adoption of an ambitious treaty. Oil-producing countries and their allies have chosen to look the other way."</p>



<p>Tuvalu, speaking on behalf of 14 Pacific island nations, voiced deep frustration.</p>



<p>"For our islands this means that without global cooperation and state action, millions of tonnes of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-think-their-biotech-breakthrough-could-end-plastic-waste-forever/">plastic waste</a> will continue to be dumped in our oceans, affecting our ecosystem, food security, livelihood and culture."</p>



<p>Colombia was equally direct, nothing that the negotiations were consistently blocked by a small number of states who simply don't want an agreement.</p>



<p>"We have missed a historic opportunity but we have to keep going and act urgently. The planet and present and future generations need this treaty," said Cuba. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-plastic-treaty-process-in-chaos">Plastic treaty process in chaos</h2>



<p>Midweek, as talks looked increasingly fragile, the chair of the negotiations, Luis Vayas Valdivieso, issued a draft treaty based on overlapping areas. It was rejected across the board.</p>



<p>The High Ambition Coalition said it was too weak. The Like-Minded Group said it was too broad.</p>



<p>Valdivieso scrambled to salvage the talks with closed-door meetings and a revised draft. But shortly before sunrise, it was clear: no deal.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-plastic-problem-by-the-numbers">The plastic problem, by the numbers</h2>



<p>Over 400 million tonnes of plastic are produced globally each year. Half of that is used once and tossed.</p>



<p>Only 15% of plastic waste is even collected for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-recycling-day-creating-a-healthier-planet-for-all/">recycling</a>. Of that, only 9% ends up actually recycled.</p>



<p>Nearly half goes straight to landfills. Another 17% is incinerated. The remaining 22% ends up polluting landscapes, oceans, and waterways.</p>



<p><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/microplastics-pose-a-greater-threat-to-some-ocean-animals/">Microplastics</a> have now been found on Mount Everest and in the Mariana Trench. They’re in our lungs, our blood, and our food.</p>



<p>And the problem is accelerating. According to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, plastic production could nearly triple by 2060, reaching 1.2 billion tonnes a year. Plastic waste is expected to top one billion tonnes.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-happens-next-for-plastic-talks">What happens next for plastic talks?</h2>



<p>No one is quite sure what happens next. Some countries called for a seventh round of talks. South Africa insisted that it cannot end here. The EU called the latest draft a "good basis for a resumed session."</p>



<p>Whether or not countries return to the table will depend on political pressure, shifting alliances, and the mounting cost of inaction. Scientists and environmental groups are urging negotiators not to let the momentum slip away.</p>



<p>In the meantime, national governments may move forward with their own <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/food-packaging-is-leaking-harmful-chemicals-into-meals/">plastic</a> restrictions, bans, or recycling mandates. But without a global plan, the patchwork approach will struggle to keep up with a problem that knows no borders.</p>



<p>Consumers, too, are becoming more vocal. The failure to reach a deal may only fuel public demand for action, transparency, and accountability from industries driving plastic production.</p>



<p>The urgency remains. Plastic pollution isn't slowing down - and neither should the effort to stop it.</p>



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



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

Plastic treaty talks end with disappointment and no solution in sight

Efforts to hammer out a global treaty to tackle plastic...

<p>A series of hide-and-seek tests show that bonobos rely on memory to keep track of several familiar people at once, even when they’re out of sight. The results reveal mental map-making skills once assumed to be uniquely human.</p>



<p>The study, led by Johns Hopkins University’s <a href="https://www.social-cognitive-origins.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Social and Cognitive Origins Group</a>, documents these abilities in a bonobo named Kanzi. The findings speak to how animals manage complex social worlds and where humans and apes overlap.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-myth-of-human-only-minds">The myth of human-only minds</h2>



<p>Study senior author Chris Krupenye is an assistant professor at Johns Hopkins who studies how animals think. </p>



<p>“People think social <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/every-part-of-the-brain-works-together-to-support-intelligence/">intelligence</a> is a thing that makes humans unique," said Krupenye. "We have to manage so many different relationships, we might have a range of cognitive tools for doing so that will only be found in ultra-social species like humans,”</p>



<p>“But most of us who study apes have a strong intuition that, because the social world is so important for them too, they must, like humans, be keeping track of these critical social partners," he said. "They must share with us at least the foundations of our rich social intelligence.”</p>



<p>Humans routinely keep mental tabs on others. If a partner leaves the room, their location stays active in the mind. For bonobos and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/chimpanzees-catch-yawns-from-robots-and-lie-down-to-rest/">chimpanzees</a>, who often move through dense forests where companions flicker in and out of view, such memory would be useful - perhaps essential.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-testing-bonobo-memory-skills">Testing bonobo memory skills</h2>



<p>Kanzi faced a simple setup with demanding implications. Two caregivers he knew well hid behind two of three identical barriers. </p>



<p>An experimenter then showed Kanzi a photo of one caregiver and asked him to point to where that person was. Trials were repeated in varied orders to prevent rote guessing.</p>



<p>“Kanzi very quickly understood the task and performed well,” said lead author Luz Carvajal, a Ph.D. student in Krupenye's lab who studies apes' knowledge of their social relationships.</p>



<p>The team then removed visual cues altogether. Caregivers hid where Kanzi could not see them choose a barrier. From behind the screens they each called out, “Hi Kanzi,” letting him hear who was where. </p>



<p>Only then did the experimenter show a photo of one caregiver and ask Kanzi to indicate their location.</p>



<p>“Here he also performed above chance, and especially well with one of his two caregivers,” Carvajal said. “He does have the capacity to use voice as a marker for identity. This face matches this voice.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-faces-and-voices-connected">Faces and voices connected</h2>



<p>While the bonobo made mistakes - as humans do in memory tasks - the pattern was clear. Kanzi kept separate, accurate records of multiple individuals at once, and he could connect a face with a voice to a place.</p>



<p>“Across these studies, the results suggest that Kanzi has a memory of these individuals that brings together their vocal and visual identities - who they are and what they sound like, and where they are in space,” Krupenye said.</p>



<p>“If he hears them he might imagine what they look like. If he sees them, he might bring to mind an idea of what they sound like," he said. "We think this is one <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/built-in-memory-janitor-helps-your-brain-forget-some-things-on-purpose/">integrated memory</a>. He's using the same photo prompt to refer to an individual whether he can see them or not.”</p>



<p>That kind of “bound” memory - linking identity across senses and locations - helps explain how bonobos manage fission-fusion societies, where subgroups split and reunite through the day.</p>



<p>It suggests a shared foundation for the social cognition humans rely on to plan, coordinate, and reconnect.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bonobo-memory-human-insight">Bonobo memory, human insight </h2>



<p>Field studies have long hinted that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/great-apes-will-suffer-through-frequent-and-extreme-climate-events/">great apes</a> mentally track groupmates and recognize familiar voices and faces even after years apart. </p>



<p>Chimpanzees, for instance, can pick out known humans wearing masks. But controlled tests of tracking multiple individuals at once were missing. Kanzi’s performance fills that gap and pushes the conversation forward.</p>



<p>The results also broaden what “voice recognition” means in apes. Bonobos had not been tested on matching voices to specific individuals hidden from view. Here, voice alone guided correct choices, at rates above chance, and in some cases with striking accuracy.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-deep-origins-of-social-life">Deep origins of social life</h2>



<p>The team now wants to expand the study with new questions: How many individuals can apes track at once? Does performance hold up over minutes, hours, or days? What happens when the voices are recorded, filtered, or partially masked? </p>



<p>The answers could reveal the limits of these mental maps and the cues apes, including bonobos, rely on.</p>



<p>“These animals are rich and complex,” Krupenye said. “Even if we just want to understand ourselves better, there’s an urgency to this work - and to saving this endangered species.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-human-and-ape-social-minds">Human and ape social minds</h2>



<p>The findings also blur the line between human and ape <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/having-an-active-social-life-helps-the-brain-make-better-sense-of-the-world/">social minds</a>. Apes are not planning cities or managing calendars, but they can bind identities across senses, track several individuals at once, and call up that knowledge on demand - much like we do. </p>



<p>For species that must coordinate movement, negotiate alliances, and reunite after separation, those abilities are not luxuries. They are survival tools. </p>



<p>Kanzi’s success suggests the roots of our social lives run deeper than our species - and they’re still visible, if we know how to play the right game of hide-and-seek.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2025.0640" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Proceedings of the Royal Society B</em></a>.</p>



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



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

Bonobos have memory skills that were thought to be uniquely human

A series of hide-and-seek tests show that bonobos rely on...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVywlgRJXsc
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Some children read facial expressions when making food choices.</figcaption></figure>



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



<p></p>

Social modeling affects our food choices

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

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JynHpMaNO8A
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Chaotic cancer protein finally controlled after decades of mystery</figcaption></figure>



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Worms dominated seas before dinosaurs

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Earth's oldest forest found in the United States

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

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Veg4HmmRVZY
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Our bodies hits two 'aging cliffs' at these ages.</figcaption></figure>



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Scientists discover we age in bursts

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

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqlF0XKzHY4
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The hidden science behind tickling.</figcaption></figure>



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Scientists solve the mystery of tickling

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

<p>Big Bend National Park&nbsp;is an American&nbsp;national park&nbsp;located in&nbsp;West Texas, bordering Mexico. The park has national significance as the largest protected area of&nbsp;Chihuahuan Desert&nbsp;topography&nbsp;and&nbsp;ecology&nbsp;in the United States, and was named after a&nbsp;large bend&nbsp;in the&nbsp;Rio Grande/Río Bravo. &nbsp;The park protects more than 1,200 species of plants, more than 450 species of birds, 56 species of reptiles, and 75 species of mammals. Additional park activities include scenic drives, programs led by Big Bend park rangers, and stargazing.</p>



<p>There are&nbsp;four&nbsp;campgrounds in Big Bend National Park. The National Park Service (NPS) operates three developed frontcountry campgrounds that provide drinking water and restroom facilities. In addition, a full hookup RV camping area is operated by the park concessioner, Forever Resorts. Reservations are required for Big Bend National Park Campgrounds. Reservations can be made by visiting&nbsp;recreation.gov. For visitors with rugged vehicles, or the willingness to leave the road behind and backpack into the wild, Big Bend provides options for&nbsp;backcountry camping. A backcountry permit is required for all backcountry camping and river trips.</p>

Crater Lake National Park, Oregon

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