Can farms produce enough food to feed us while still leaving space for wildlife? A new proposal says they can.



By setting aside one-fifth of farmland for nature, and tweaking everyday practices on the rest, we can help wildlife recover without sacrificing the food on our tables.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-farming-with-wildlife-in-mind">Farming with wildlife in mind</h2>



The plan comes from ecologists at the <a href="https://www.ceh.ac.uk/">UK Centre for Ecology &amp; Hydrology</a> and the University of Alcalá in Spain. Study co-author Professor James Bullock elaborated on the importance of the research.



“Reversing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/un-report-calls-for-global-change-to-stop-biodiversity-loss/">biodiversity loss</a> and degradation of ecosystems is essential both for nature as well as long-term global food security. But there is no single silver bullet for nature recovery and so far it has been unclear how to integrate rewilding into agricultural landscapes," said Professor Bullock. 



“Our proposed approach moves beyond land sparing versus land sharing. We believe rewilding can be interwoven into agricultural landscapes and could be key to maintaining <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/increasing-plant-based-food-production-would-have-extremely-positive-impact/">food production</a> in a way that is sustainable in the long term for people and the planet.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dedicating-land-to-nature-recovery">Dedicating land to nature recovery</h2>



According to the study, fostering rewilding approaches alongside farming could create agroecological landscapes that accommodate biodiversity while remaining resilient and functionally connected. Certain incentives would encourage farmers to adopt this approach.



“While setting aside land for nature recovery could potentially be made a legal requirement for farmers and landowners, there is more likely to be acceptance and success of rewilding if there are incentives in the form of payments for ecosystem services and tax deductions,” noted Professor José María Rey Benayas, lead author on the study.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-farming-needs-wildlife">Why farming needs wildlife</h2>



Modern farming has greatly increased food production since the 1940s. But this has often come at the expense of nature. 



Clearing land, using heavy fertilizers and pesticides, and removing natural features like hedgerows have pushed many plant and animal species to the edge.



This loss doesn’t just affect wildlife - it disrupts vital services that farms depend on, such as healthy soil, natural pest control, and water retention. As these services decline, the long-term productivity and resilience of farming systems are put at risk.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-cost-of-declining-wildlife">The cost of declining wildlife</h2>



Across Europe and beyond, once-common species are disappearing from farmland. For example, the U.K. has lost over 40 million birds since 1970, and wild bee populations have declined in more than half of European countries, according to multiple long-term surveys.



These animals aren’t just part of the scenery - they’re key to food production. Birds eat crop pests. Bees and other insects pollinate the flowers that develop into fruits and vegetables. Their loss means greater reliance on artificial fertilisers, pesticides, and expensive manual labour.



Bringing wildlife back isn’t just a conservation goal - it’s a practical step toward more affordable and reliable <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mixed-cover-crops-may-be-the-future-of-sustainable-farming/">farming</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-steps-to-farming-alongside-wildlife">Steps to farming alongside wildlife </h2>



The researchers suggest a four-part plan that links nature conservation with everyday farming. 



First, they recommend reserving at least 20% of farmland for nature. This space would include large patches of woodland, wetlands, and species-rich grassland to form strong core habitats. 



Second, these patches should be connected by green corridors - such as hedgerows, ponds, and strips of scrubland - that allow wildlife to move, feed, and reproduce.



Third, they propose protecting small hotspots within working fields. This would involve setting aside about 10% of cropped land for flower strips, beetle banks, and bird perches, bringing the total to the 30% global restoration goal. 



Finally, they call for small changes in daily farming practices, like reducing chemical use, planting flowers for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pollinators-face-extinction-risk-due-to-climate-change/">pollinators</a>, and letting livestock graze more freely to help spread seeds and support healthy soil.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rewilding-has-benefits-for-farmers">Rewilding has benefits for farmers</h2>



Many European regions cannot host bears or bison. However, smaller species such as lynx, wildcat, or European hare can still boost ecosystem health. Choosing the right mix depends on local conditions.



Helping wildlife can pay off in more ways than one. When farms support natural habitats, they often see practical benefits in return. 



Better soil retains more water and nutrients, which supports stronger <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/farmers-can-help-make-crops-more-resilient/">crops</a>. Pollinators and natural predators of pests can help increase yields in nearby fields. 



Farmers may also spend less on fertilizers and pesticides, lowering overall input costs. In some places, governments might provide payments or tax breaks to reward efforts that support biodiversity and ecosystem services.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-making-room-for-wildlife">Making room for wildlife</h2>



Reaching the 20% target may be challenging for small farms, but collective action can make it achievable. At the same time, each region will need to adapt the plan to fit its local conditions. 



Areas with heavily degraded farmland have the most to gain, while places with traditional, low-impact farming may require fewer changes. 



The researchers emphasize that this is just a starting point - but the message is clear: making room for wildlife alongside farming can help secure both indigenous species and food for the future.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/fee.2860">Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment</a>.



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Farming for wildlife: How traditional practices can protect nature

Can farms produce enough food to feed us while still leaving space for wildlife? A new proposal says they can. By setting aside one-fifth of farmland for nature, and tweaking everyday practices on the rest, we can help wildlife recover without sacrificing the food on our tables. Farming with wildlife in mind The plan comes from ecologists at the UK Centre for Ecology &amp; Hydrology and the University of Alcalá in Spain. Study co-author Professor James Bullock elaborated on the importance of the research. “Reversing biodiversity loss...

A recent study from <a href="https://www.psu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Penn State</a> has revealed that interactive screen time such as texting and gaming are more detrimental to adolescents' <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/exercise-counteracts-negative-effects-of-sleep-deprivation/">sleep</a> than passive screen engagement like watching television. 



The research sheds light on how different types of screen usage can variably impact sleep patterns in teens.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-interactive-screen-time">Interactive screen time</h2>



The study was focused on the sleep habits of 15-year-olds. The experts found that those engaging in interactive screen time before bed took approximately 30 minutes longer to fall asleep compared to those who avoided such activities.&nbsp;



And it was not just interactive screen time before bed that affected kids’ sleep, said the researchers. For each hour that kids spent playing video games beyond their usual routine during the day, their sleep was delayed by about 10 minutes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-significant-sleep-loss">Significant sleep loss</h2>



“If teens typically play video games for an hour each day, but one day a new game comes out and they play for four hours, that's three additional hours more than they typically play,” said study lead author and postdoctoral scholar David Reichenberger.



“So, that means they could have 15 minutes of delayed sleep timing that night. For a child, losing 15 minutes of sleep at night is significant. It’s especially difficult when they have to get up in the morning for school; if they're delaying their sleep, they can't make up for it in the morning."&nbsp;



"Without adequate sleep, kids are at increased risk of obesity, as well as impaired cognition, emotion regulation and mental health.”



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



For the analysis, the team conducted daily surveys with 475 adolescents, inquiring about their screen-based activities, including communication methods and entertainment preferences.&nbsp;



In addition, the researchers employed accelerometers to accurately track the teens’ sleep duration over a week. These devices, typically worn on the wrist, provided insights into the participants' activity levels to infer sleep patterns.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-findings-nbsp">Key findings&nbsp;</h2>



The study revealed that teens spent an average of two hours per day communicating digitally and around 1.3 hours playing video games.&nbsp;



Despite these figures, the most substantial sleep delays were noted in those who engaged in interactive screen time during the hour before bed, leading to about 30 minutes of delayed sleep onset.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-passive-screen-time">Passive screen time</h2>



Interestingly, said Reichenberger, the team found no significant associations between passive screen-based activities and subsequent sleep, like browsing the internet and watching television, videos and movies.



“It could be that these more passive activities are less mentally stimulating than interactive activities, like texting and video game playing.” said study co-author Professor Anne-Marie Chang.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-limiting-interactive-activities-nbsp">Limiting interactive activities&nbsp;</h2>



Addressing the question of what parents can do to help protect their teens’ sleep, Professor Chang said it's a tricky situation.



"These tools are really important to everyone nowadays, so it's hard to put a limit on them, but if you're really looking out for an adolescent’s health and well-being, then you might consider limiting the more interactive activities, especially in the hour before bed," said Chang.



The study is published in the <a href="https://www.jahonline.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of Adolescent Health</a>.



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Interactive screen time has a big impact on sleep among teens

A recent study from Penn State has revealed that interactive...

Researchers are describing a new iguana species in southern China which was previously mistaken for a closely related species, Calotes versicolor.&nbsp;



The experts confirmed that the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/excess-sugar-is-toxic-to-rock-iguanas-on-remote-islands/">iguana</a> is genetically distinct from other members of the genus Calotes, and have named the new species Calotes wangi, or Wang’s garden lizard.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-distinguishing-features-nbsp">Distinguishing features&nbsp;</h2>



The experts found that Calotes wangi has many distinguishing characteristics, including a length of less than 9 centimeters and an orange tongue.



The species name wangi is a tribute to Professor Yuezhao Wang, a former director of the Amphibian and Reptile Research Laboratory and Museum of Herpetology.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unexpected-discovery-nbsp">Unexpected discovery&nbsp;</h2>



The research team, led by Yong Huang from the Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, published their findings in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1187.110704" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ZooKeys</a>.



“From 2009 to 2022, we conducted a series of field surveys in South China and collected a number of specimens of the Calotes versicolor species complex, and found that the population of what we thought was Calotes versicolor in South China and Northern Vietnam was a new undescribed species and two subspecies,” said Huang.



The study authors noted that the new species is similar to Calotes irawadi, "but differs in having scales between the nasal shield and the orbit and a fourth toe with a claw that can reach between the eyes and tympanum (even to the snout when hind the limbs are adpressed forward)."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-habitat-and-lifestyle-nbsp">Habitat and lifestyle&nbsp;</h2>



According to Huang, Calotes wangi is found in subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forests and tropical monsoon forests in southern China and northern Vietnam, mostly in mountainous areas, hills and plains on forest edges, arable land, shrub lands, and even urban green belts.



"It is active at the edge of the forest, and when it is in danger, it rushes into bushes or climbs tree trunks to hide. Investigations found that the lizards lie on sloping shrub branches at night, sleeping close to the branches," said Huang.



The small iguana eats a variety of insects, spiders, and other arthropods. "It is active from April to October every year, while in the tropics it is active from March to November or even longer," wrote the study authors.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-conservation-status">Conservation status</h2>



The researchers noted that the new species is not considered threatened, but may be impacted by habitat fragmentation. “In addition, their bodies are used medicinally and the lizards are also eaten,” they wrote.



The experts suggest that the local government strengthen the protection of their ecological environment and pay close attention to the population dynamics.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cryptic-lineages-nbsp">Cryptic lineages&nbsp;</h2>



"Based on extensive spatial sampling across China and comprehensive data on morphology and genetics for species delimitation, we add a new species and more stability to the systematics of Calotes," wrote the study authors.&nbsp;&nbsp;



"Another interesting finding from this study is the presence of subspecies, which highlights the need for more thorough geographic sampling to uncover cryptic lineages."



image Credit: Huang et al.



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Calotes wangi: New iguana species identified in China

Researchers are describing a new iguana species in southern China...

New research from the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-health-security-agency" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UK Health Security Agency</a> (UKHSA) has presented significant findings regarding the efficacy of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/air-pollution-associated-with-lower-covid-19-vaccine-responses/">COVID-19</a> vaccination.&nbsp;



The experts found that there is a substantial decrease in the risk of death from COVID-19 following vaccination. However, they also found evidence that this protective effect diminishes after six months.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-focus-of-the-study">Focus of the study</h2>



"Risk of death after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection has fallen during the pandemic, largely due to immunity from vaccination. In England, the timing and extent of this reduction varied due to staggered eligibility during the primary vaccination campaign, based on age and clinical risk group," wrote the study authors.&nbsp;



"Duration of protection is less well understood. Our objective was to estimate the case fatality risk (CFR) by vaccination status and time since last dose during a period of widespread community testing, to better understand the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination and duration of protection."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-case-fatality-risk-nbsp">Case fatality risk&nbsp;</h2>



The researchers analyzed over 10 million COVID-19 cases in adults from May 2020 to February 2022. The team focused on case fatality risk (CFR), which is the proportion of COVID-19 cases that result in death.&nbsp;



This metric was cross-referenced with the vaccination status of individuals, uncovering a strong correlation between vaccination and lowered mortality rates.



"Case fatality risk (CFR) has been a useful metric for observing changes in mortality during the pandemic. When testing patterns are stable, this measure can show changes in risk of death over time, highlighting groups at higher risk of severe disease or death," wrote the researchers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-findings">Key findings</h2>



A critical observation from the study is the time-sensitive nature of vaccine efficacy. The data indicates that within six months of receiving the last vaccine dose, CFR was consistently lowest across all age groups.&nbsp;



Beyond this six-month period, the experts observed an increase in case fatality risk, suggesting a waning protective benefit from the vaccine.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-impact-on-mortality-rates">Impact on mortality rates</h2>



The study highlights the success of the COVID-19 vaccination program in reducing mortality rates, particularly among adults over 50. In this group, there was a sharp contrast in CFR between vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals. 



The CFR was 10 times higher in unvaccinated adults (6.3%) compared to those vaccinated within six months of testing positive for COVID-19 (0.6%). Furthermore, the study revealed a significant decline in CFR in early 2021, coinciding with the initial vaccine rollout.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-study-significance-nbsp">Study significance&nbsp;</h2>



Study lead author Florence Halford from the UKHSA’s COVID-19 Vaccines and Epidemiology Division emphasized the importance of these findings.



"COVID-19 Case Fatality Risk reduced after vaccination, with the lowest seen across all age bands when vaccinated up to six months prior to the specimen date. This provides some evidence for continued booster doses in older age groups," said Halford.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-booster-doses">Booster doses</h2>



The research offers strong evidence supporting the need for booster doses, especially in older populations.&nbsp;



As the protective effects of the vaccine diminish over time, regular booster doses could be crucial in maintaining low mortality rates amidst the ongoing pandemic.



The study is published in the <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/01410768231216332" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine</a>.



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COVID-19 vaccination reduces mortality risk, but only for 6 months

New research from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has...

Insect larvae were already using sophisticated defense tactics during the Cretaceous period about 100 million years ago, according to a new study.&nbsp;



This discovery, stemming from detailed analyses of Burmese amber fossils, highlights the early emergence of various survival strategies among the tiny creatures, crucial to our ecosystems even today.



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



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-insect-decline-what-are-the-causes-and-consequences/">Insect</a> larvae play a wide range of ecological roles, including predator and prey. They are critical for maintaining ecosystem health and biodiversity.



Insect larvae are instrumental in decomposing dead matter and wood, contributing significantly to soil formation and the recycling of essential elements. Furthermore, they serve as a primary food source for birds, fish, mammals, and other insects.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-insect-defense-mechanisms">Insect defense mechanisms</h2>



Faced with the constant threat of predation, many insect larvae have evolved an array of defense mechanisms.&nbsp;



These include physical features such as spines and hairs and behavioral strategies like camouflage and concealment. Over millions of years, this has led to a diverse range of adaptations aimed at survival.



A collaborative study by <a href="https://www.lmu.de/de/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LMU</a>, the <a href="https://www.uni-greifswald.de/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Greifswald</a>, and the <a href="https://www.uni-rostock.de/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Rostock</a> sheds new light on early defense strategies used by Holometabolan larvae. 



This group includes insects that experience a complete metamorphosis through egg, larva, pupa, and adult stages.



"Holometabolan <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/insect-larvae-contribute-to-microplastic-pollution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">larvae</a> are a major part of the animal biomass and an important food source for many animals. Many larvae evolved anti-predator strategies and some of these can even be recognized in fossils," noted the researchers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-focus-of-the-study">Focus of the study</h2>



The research was focused on well-preserved holometabolan larvae in 100-million-year-old Kachin amber from Myanmar. The team analyzed these fossils to identify defensive specializations, and also to gain insights into the behavior of ancient predators and prey.&nbsp;



"From the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/incredible-discovery-some-mammals-attacked-dinosaurs-and-they-often-won-the-battle/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cretaceous</a> onward, ambers start to provide a window to the larval forms of Holometabola in the past in an almost life-like manner. While there are older ambers, these have so far not included holometabolan larvae," wrote the study authors. 



"Among the different Cretaceous ambers, Kachin amber, found in Myanmar and being around 100 million years old, has been especially productive in providing examples of holometabolan <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/unusual-jumping-behavior-recorded-in-beetle-larvae/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">larvae</a> that possess different types of anti-predator structures or allow to infer anti-predator types of behavior."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-findings-about-insect-defense">Key findings about insect defense </h2>



By examining the exceptionally preserved fossils, the researchers determined that anti-predator mechanisms were already highly varied during the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plant-fossils-cretaceous-period/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cretaceous</a> period.



"A particularly spectacular example is by far the oldest larva of a scorpionfly to have been discovered, which is the second fossil ever found to have special hairs on its back for attaching camouflage material," said study lead author Professor Carolin Haug.



"Also, I could mention sawfly larvae that lived in leaves and created tunnels in them as they ate their way through the thin layer of the leaf interior." 



This research marks a significant advancement in our understanding of ancient insect larvae and their survival strategies, offering insights into the evolutionary pressures that shaped the insects we see today.&nbsp;



"The repetitive independent evolution of similar strategies in distantly related lineages indicates that several strategies evolved convergently as a result of similar selective pressures," noted the researchers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-for-understanding-biodiversity">Implications for understanding biodiversity</h2>



"Observing the diversity of the past and the emergence and disappearance of various morphologies helps us better understand these processes, which is particularly important in view of the ongoing biodiversity crisis," said Professor Haug.



The study not only reveals the ancient diversity of defensive strategies among insect larvae but also contributes to a broader understanding of evolutionary processes.



"A point to be emphasized is that although we see many anti-predator strategies we know from modern faunal components, they are not necessarily performed by directly related forms. Instead, it appears that many strategies have evolved repetitively independently due to convergent evolution," wrote the study authors.&nbsp;



"Such a pattern indicates that there are especially successful strategies that have been employed by many lineages, also many modern lineages, and that evolved repetitively. In contrast to that, there are also strategies that are rarer, especially among holometabolans."



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/iscience/fulltext/S2589-0042(23)02698-6?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS2589004223026986%3Fshowall%3Dtrue" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">iScience</a>.



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Insects had sophisticated defense strategies 100 million years ago

Insect larvae were already using sophisticated defense tactics during the...

Researchers have made significant strides in understanding brain activity during daydreaming. The study, conducted on mice, offers insights that could illuminate similar processes in humans.



The research was led by Nghia Nguyen, a PhD student in Neurobiology at the Blavatnik Institute at <a href="https://hms.harvard.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Harvard Medical School</a>. The team tracked the activity of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pregnancy-brain-how-neurons-get-rewired-to-prepare-for-motherhood/">neurons</a> in the visual cortex of mice while they were in a relaxed waking state.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-moments-of-quiet-reflection-nbsp">Moments of quiet reflection&nbsp;</h2>



The experts discovered that these neurons occasionally fired in patterns resembling those observed when the mice viewed actual images.&nbsp;



“We wanted to know how this daydreaming process occurred on a neurobiological level, and whether these moments of quiet reflection could be important for learning and memory,” Nguyen explained.



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



This study ventured beyond the hippocampus, a region extensively studied for memory and spatial navigation, to focus on the visual cortex’s role in forming visual memories.



”My lab became interested in whether we could record from enough neurons in the visual cortex to understand what exactly the mouse is remembering - and then connect that information to brain plasticity,” said senior author Mark Andermann, a professor of Medicine at <a href="https://www.bidmc.org/">Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center</a> and of Neurobiology at HMS.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-distinct-neural-patterns-nbsp">Distinct neural patterns&nbsp;</h2>



In their experiments, the researchers showed mice two different checkerboard images and recorded neural activity from around 7,000 neurons in the visual cortex.&nbsp;



The experts found distinct neural patterns for each image and similar but not identical patterns when the mice viewed a gray screen, suggesting the mice were daydreaming about the images. The daydreams correlated with a state of relaxation, indicated by calm behavior and small pupils.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-representational-drift-nbsp">Representational drift&nbsp;</h2>



Surprisingly, the study revealed that the daydreams could predict future changes in the brain’s response to images, a phenomenon known as “representational drift.”&nbsp;



“There’s drift in how the brain responds to the same image over time, and these early daydreams can predict where the drift is going,” Andermann said.



The team also observed that these daydreams in the visual cortex coincided with replay activity in the hippocampus, hinting at communication between these two brain regions.



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



The findings suggest that daydreaming may play a role in brain plasticity, aiding in distinguishing between different experiences. “Our findings suggest that daydreaming may guide this process by steering the neural patterns associated with the two images away from each other,” Nguyen explained.



The researchers plan to further explore the connections between individual neurons in the visual cortex and how these connections evolve. Andermann reflects on the broader implications of their work: “We were chasing this 99 percent of unexplored brain activity and discovered that there’s so much richness in the visual cortex that nobody knew anything about.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-human-daydreaming">Human daydreaming</h2>



While it remains to be confirmed if similar patterns occur in human daydreaming, preliminary evidence suggests an analogous process. Studies have shown increased brain activity in the visual cortex when people recall images, aligning with these recent findings in mice.



The study underscores the potential importance of quiet wakefulness and daydreaming in both humans and animals for learning and memory. “If you never give yourself any awake downtime, you’re not going to have as many of these daydream events, which may be important for brain plasticity,” Andermann concluded.



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-06810-1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a>.



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What happens in the brain while we are daydreaming?

Researchers have made significant strides in understanding brain activity during...

Soccer,Players,Chasing,Ball,On,Field

A recent study led by Staffordshire University in the United Kingdom, in collaboration with <a href="https://shirazu.ac.ir/en/home" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shiraz University</a> in Iran, has revealed intriguing insights into the effects of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/high-caffeine-levels-reduce-the-risk-of-diabetes/">caffeine</a> on athletes, particularly football (soccer) players. 



The research, published in the journal <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2023.114732" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Behavioural Brain Research</a>, suggests that while caffeine can enhance certain physical aspects of performance, it may also impair more complex cognitive functions like decision-making and problem-solving.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-popular-dietary-supplement">Popular dietary supplement</h2>



Dr. Pooya Soltani, a senior lecturer in games technology at <a href="https://www.staffs.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Staffordshire University</a>, explains the basis of the study. 



“Caffeine is one of the most popular dietary supplements which has been shown to provide benefits during exercise, including football," Soltani said.



"Studies have shown that caffeine can enhance attention, accuracy, and speed, as well as self-reported measures of energy and mood.”&nbsp;



However, notes Dr. Soltani, “the effects of caffeine on ‘higher’ cognitive functions such as problem-solving and decision-making are often debated, so we decided to investigate this."



The study involved 12 young football players aged 16-17 who underwent a series of tasks to assess the impact of caffeine on decision-making and passing accuracy.&nbsp;



The tasks included performing short and long passes, as well as completing the Loughborough Soccer Passing Test, which measures skills like passing, dribbling, control, and decision-making. Additionally, a computer task was used to assess decision-making in various gameplay scenarios.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-insights-on-athletes-and-caffeine">New insights on athletes and caffeine</h2>



Each participant completed these tasks twice: once after consuming three mg/kg body mass of caffeine and once after a placebo. 



The findings indicated a notable improvement in passing accuracy with caffeine intake -- 1.67 percent better in short passes and 13.48 percent in long passes compared to the placebo. 



However, Negar Jafari from Shiraz University highlights a concern. “While the short pass accuracy remained consistent among almost all participants before and after caffeine consumption, the performance varied in the case of long passes. Moreover, most of the participants scored lower on decision-making and the Loughborough Soccer Passing Test after consuming caffeine.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-study-implications-nbsp">Study implications&nbsp;</h2>



While the researchers emphasize that they are not advocating for athletes to completely avoid caffeine, they acknowledge the need for further research on caffeine’s impact on in-game decision-making.&nbsp;



“Our findings show that this can be affected by caffeine intake and coaches may find these performance metrics useful to explore in training,” Soltani said.&nbsp;



He also points out that various factors, such as the dosage of caffeine relative to body weight, frequency of intake, and the players’ positions or playing styles, can influence the outcomes. 



For instance, a slight decrease in pass accuracy might have different implications for a midfielder compared to a goalkeeper.



This study sheds light on the complex effects of caffeine on athletes, balancing its physical benefits against potential cognitive drawbacks, and underscores the importance of tailored approaches in sports training and nutrition.



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Caffeine can reduce athletes’ decision-making abilities

A recent study led by Staffordshire University in the United...

In our increasingly digital world, children encounter a vast array of information online, much of it unverified and generated by robots and artificial intelligence (<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ai-can-predict-human-life-events-including-death/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AI</a>) sources. 



A pivotal skill for children in this environment is discerning the reliability of these sources, a key component in developing critical thinking.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-children-robots-and-trust">Children, robots and trust</h2>



A recent study sheds light on this issue. Titled ‘Younger, not older, children trust an inaccurate human informant more than an inaccurate robot informant,’ the research explores how children aged three to five gauge trustworthiness in both human and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ai-robots-marketing-and-the-power-of-persuasion/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">robot</a> informants.



Dr. Li Xiaoqian is a research scholar at the Singapore University of Technology and Design (<a href="https://www.sutd.edu.sg/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SUTD</a>). 



She, along with her PhD supervisor, Professor Yow Wei Quin, head of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences at SUTD, co-authored the study. They found that children’s trust is influenced by an informant's past accuracy. 



“Children do not just trust anyone to teach them labels, they trust those who were reliable in the past. We believe that this selectivity in social learning reflects young children’s emerging understanding of what makes a good (reliable) source of information,” explained Li Xiaoqian. 



“The question at stake is how young children use their intelligence to decide when to learn and whom to trust.”



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



The study involved participants from Singapore preschools, such as ChildFirst, Red SchoolHouse, and Safari House. 



Divided into ‘younger’ and ‘older’ groups based on the median age of 4.58 years, these children interacted with either a human or robot informant. These informants provided either accurate or inaccurate labels for objects like ‘ball’ or ‘book’.



To measure trust, the researchers observed if the children accepted new information from these informants. The robot used was NAO by <a href="https://www.softbankrobotics.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SoftBank Robotics</a>, a humanoid robot with a human-like but robotic voice. 



To ensure consistency, the human informant mirrored the robot's movements. An experimenter was also present to facilitate the process and ensure the child was comfortable.



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



The findings revealed that children trusted informants -- <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/humans-engage-in-social-loafing-when-they-have-robot-team-members/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">human or robot</a> -- who had previously provided accurate information. However, they were hesitant to trust informants with a history of inaccuracies, particularly if the informant was a robot. 



Additionally, younger children were more likely to trust an unreliable human over an unreliable <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/social-robots-with-charismatic-voices-get-better-results-from-students/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">robot</a>, while older children tended to distrust unreliable informants, regardless of their nature.



“These results implicate that younger and older children may have different selective trust strategies, especially the way they use informants’ reliability and identity cues when deciding who to trust," said Dr. Li. 



"Together with other research on children’s selective trust, we show that as children get older, they may increasingly rely on reliability cues to guide their trust behavior.”



Previous studies indicate that children consider various factors, like age, familiarity, and language, to assess an informant's reliability. 



Younger children might emphasize identity cues more, while older children focus more on the substance of the information provided.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-research-on-children-and-robots">Future research on children and robots</h2>



This study is unique in its exploration of children's perceptions of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/what-happens-when-robots-lie/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">robots</a> compared to humans and their corresponding trust behaviors. 



“Addressing these questions will provide a unique perspective on the development of trust and social learning among children who are growing up alongside various sources of information, including social robots,” described Prof Yow.



The research has significant implications for educational methods, especially as robots and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/artificial-intelligence-proves-very-useful-to-doctors-when-diagnosing-patients/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AI tools</a> become more common in classrooms. Children's perceptions of robots as trustworthy sources could evolve with increased exposure to smart machines.



“Designers should consider the impact of perceived competence when building robots and other <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ai-is-able-to-predict-if-a-new-song-will-be-a-hit-with-97-accuracy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AI-driven</a> educational tools for young children," emphasized Professor Yow. 



"Recognizing the developmental changes in children’s trust of humans versus robots can guide the creation of more effective learning environments, ensuring that the use of technologies aligns with children’s developing cognitive and social needs.”



In summary, future research might expand beyond word learning to other areas, such as tool usage, emotional expression, and episodic memory. The current findings will be influential in design pedagogy. 



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://srcd.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cdev.14048" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Child Development</a>.



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Who do children trust more, robots or humans? Scientists found out

In our increasingly digital world, children encounter a vast array...

A recent study published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.108.083533" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Physical Review D</a> marks a significant advancement in cosmology. A team of researchers has analyzed over one million <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/galaxies-like-our-own-milky-way-are-not-unique/">galaxies</a> to delve into the origins of the universe’s current cosmic structures.&nbsp;



This study contributes to the understanding of the ΛCDM model, the standard framework for the universe, which posits the significance of cold dark matter (CDM) and dark energy (the cosmological constant, Λ).



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-primordial-fluctuations-nbsp">Primordial fluctuations&nbsp;</h2>



The model theorizes that primordial fluctuations, originating at the universe’s inception, acted as catalysts for the formation of all celestial objects, including stars, galaxies, and galaxy clusters.&nbsp;



These fluctuations, initially small, grew over time due to gravitational forces, eventually forming dense regions of dark matter, or halos. These halos then collided and merged, leading to the creation of galaxies.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-spatial-distribution-of-galaxies">Spatial distribution of galaxies</h2>



The spatial distribution of galaxies, significantly influenced by these primordial fluctuations, has been a key focus for researchers.&nbsp;



In addition to this, the galaxy shapes distributed across the universe also reflect these primordial fluctuations. Traditional analysis, however, has primarily centered on the spatial distribution of galaxies as points.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-focus-of-the-study-nbsp">Focus of the study&nbsp;</h2>



The research was led by Toshiki Kurita, a graduate student at the <a href="https://www.kavlifoundation.org/institutes/kavli-institute-for-the-physics-and-mathematics-of-the-universe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe</a> (Kavli IPMU) at the time of the study (now a postdoctoral researcher at the <a href="https://www.mpa-garching.mpg.de/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics</a>), and Kavli IPMU Professor Masahiro Takada.



The team developed a novel method to measure the power spectrum of galaxy shapes. This method combines spectroscopic data of galaxies’ spatial distribution with imaging data of individual galaxy shapes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-critical-new-insights-nbsp">Critical new insights&nbsp;</h2>



By analyzing approximately one million galaxies from the <a href="https://www.sdss.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sloan Digital Sky Survey</a> (SDSS), the team successfully constrained the statistical properties of the primordial fluctuations that seeded the formation of the universe’s structure. 



The experts discovered a significant alignment in the orientations of galaxies’ shapes, even over distances exceeding 100 million light years, suggesting correlations between distant galaxies whose formation processes are seemingly independent.



“In this research, we were able to impose constraints on the properties of the primordial fluctuations through statistical analysis of the ‘shapes’ of numerous galaxies obtained from the large-scale structure data,” Kurita said.&nbsp;



“There are few precedents for research that use galaxy shapes to explore the physics of the early universe, and the research process, from the construction of the idea and development of analysis methods to the actual data analysis, was a series of trial and error.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wonderful-research-achievement">Wonderful research achievement</h2>



The study also confirmed that the observed correlations are consistent with those predicted by inflation theory and do not exhibit a non-Gaussian feature of the primordial fluctuation.&nbsp;



Takada, expressing pride in Kurita's work, said: “This research is the result of Toshiki’s doctoral dissertation. It’s a wonderful research achievement in which we developed a method to validate a cosmological model using galaxy shapes and galaxy distributions, applied it to data, and then tested the physics of inflation.”



The research sets a foundation for future studies to further test inflation theory, potentially opening new avenues in cosmological research and deepening our understanding of the universe’s origins and evolution.



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Shapes of one million galaxies hint at the universe’s origins

A recent study published in the journal Physical Review D...

Researchers at the <a href="https://www.wfu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wake Forest University</a> School of Medicine have revealed new insights into the role of dopamine, a key neurotransmitter, in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/humans-share-many-of-the-same-behaviors-as-animals-that-live-nearby/">human behavior</a>.&nbsp;



The experts investigated dopamine's role in learning from both positive and negative experiences. This research marks a significant advancement in understanding how dopamine influences decision-making and behavioral adaptation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reward-and-punishment-nbsp">Reward and punishment&nbsp;</h2>



Dopamine, a neurotransmitter produced in the brain, has long been associated with positive emotions and functions like movement, cognition, and learning.&nbsp;



However, this study sheds light on its comprehensive role, emphasizing its crucial involvement in processing both reward and punishment prediction errors.&nbsp;



This suggests that dopamine's function extends beyond the realm of positive emotions, playing a pivotal role in learning from negative experiences as well.



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



"Previously, research has shown that dopamine plays an important role in how animals learn from 'rewarding' (and possibly 'punishing') experiences. But, little work has been done to directly assess what dopamine does on fast timescales in the human brain," said lead author Dr. Kenneth Kishida.&nbsp;



"This is the first study in humans to examine how dopamine encodes rewards and punishments and whether dopamine reflects an 'optimal' teaching signal that is used in today's most advanced artificial intelligence research."



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



For the investigation, Dr. Kishida's team used a combination of fast-scan cyclic voltammetry and machine learning to measure dopamine levels at an impressive rate of 10 measurements per second. This technique, however, is limited to invasive procedures like deep-brain stimulation (DBS) surgeries, commonly used to treat Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and epilepsy.



In collaboration with neurosurgeons Dr. Stephen B. Tatter and Dr. Adrian W. Laxton from Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, the researchers inserted a carbon fiber microelectrode deep into the brains of participants undergoing DBS for essential tremor.&nbsp;



While awake in the operating room, these participants engaged in a computer game that involved making choices with monetary consequences, allowing the researchers to monitor dopamine responses to rewards and punishments.



Dopamine levels were measured continuously, once every 100 milliseconds, throughout each of the three stages of the game.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-critical-new-insights-nbsp">Critical new insights&nbsp;</h2>



The study revealed that dopamine signals both positive and negative experiences in an optimal manner for learning outcomes.&nbsp;



"We found that dopamine not only plays a role in signaling both positive and negative experiences in the brain, but it seems to do so in a way that is optimal when trying to learn from those outcomes. What was also interesting, is that it seems like there may be independent pathways in the brain that separately engage the dopamine system for rewarding versus punishing experiences," said Dr. Kishida.



"Our results reveal a surprising result that these two pathways may encode rewarding and punishing experiences on slightly shifted timescales separated by only 200 to 400 milliseconds in time."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-study-implications-nbsp">Study implications&nbsp;</h2>



Dr. Kishida believes that this research may lead to a better understanding of how the dopamine system is affected in humans with psychiatric and neurological disorders. He noted that additional research is needed to understand how this signaling is altered in psychiatric and neurological disorders.



"Traditionally, dopamine is often referred to as 'the pleasure neurotransmitter,"' said Dr. Kishida. "However, our work provides evidence that this is not the way to think about dopamine. Instead, dopamine is a crucial part of a sophisticated system that teaches our brain and guides our behavior."&nbsp;



"That dopamine is also involved in teaching our brain about punishing experiences is an important discovery and may provide new directions in research to help us better understand the mechanisms underlying depression, addiction, and related psychiatric and neurological disorders."



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adi4927" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science Advances</a>.&nbsp;



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Dopamine helps us learn from positive and negative experiences

Researchers at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine have...

A recent study led by <a href="https://www.psu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Penn State</a> scientists and published in <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adg6794" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science Advances</a> reveals new insights into how water shapes <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-and-why-do-mountains-form-new-theories-for-an-age-old-mystery/">mountainous</a> terrain over geological time. 



Using drone technology, the team’s research in central Taiwan has identified a critical link between the size of river boulders and river steepness, shedding light on the relationship between underground tectonic processes and surface landscape changes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-focus-of-the-research">Focus of the research</h2>



“Over the course of a mountain belt developing, we’re seeing differences in how rivers incise, or cut down into the bedrock, in the younger and older sections. It means that as a mountain belt evolves, erosion is changing at the surface,” explained lead author Julia Carr, a 2022 Ph.D. graduate in Geosciences from Penn State.



The study focuses on the process of uplift, where tectonic plate collisions push previously buried rocks to the surface, leading to variations in rock properties. These properties, including rock hardness and the orientation of fractures, impact how these rocks erode when exposed to surface elements.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-critical-new-insights-nbsp">Critical new insights&nbsp;</h2>



In Taiwan, the researchers observed that the main indicator of rock strength in the mountains was the size of boulders in rivers, with larger and stronger boulders found where rocks had been buried deeper in the Earth’s crust.&nbsp;



“When the boulders in the channels are larger, the river needs to steepen to be able to erode at the same rate,” said co-author Roman DiBiase, an associate professor of Geosciences at Penn State.



This study also sheds light on the challenges of accounting for rock strength in erosion models.&nbsp;



“Determining the controls on river incision into rock is important for understanding how mountain ranges evolve over geologic time,” DiBiase added.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-comprehensive-survey">Comprehensive survey</h2>



The researchers utilized drones to navigate the challenging terrain and collect extensive data on river channel morphology and boulder measurements.&nbsp;



Carr notes the uniqueness of this approach, emphasizing that such a comprehensive survey reveals patterns that would be missed by conventional field surveys.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ideal-study-setting">Ideal study setting</h2>



The central mountain range of Taiwan, one of the steepest and most erosion-prone landscapes on Earth, provided an ideal setting for this study.&nbsp;



The systematic burial depth patterns in this region, resulting from millions of years of tectonic activity, offer valuable insights into the connection between a rock’s subsurface history and its surface properties.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-study-implications-nbsp">Study implications&nbsp;</h2>



“If we apply this, it implies this primary rock strength signal controlling boulder size is setting river incision in the landscape. And that matches with the local steepness of the rivers,” Carr explained.



This study not only advances our understanding of how mountains evolve but also has broader applications in developing erosion models for other mountain ranges, enhancing our comprehension of Earth’s dynamic landscape.



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Drone study reveals how water shapes mountains over time

A recent study led by Penn State scientists and published...

Scientists have unraveled the mystery behind millions of crater-like ocean pits, known as pockmarks, scattered across the ocean floor worldwide, particularly in the North Sea.



These formations were believed to be the result of fluid discharges such as methane or groundwater. The ocean pits have now been linked to the behavior of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plastic-waste-may-be-disrupting-the-sex-lives-of-marine-animals/">marine vertebrates</a> like porpoises and sand eels.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-surprising-connection">Surprising connection </h2>



The study was led by Dr. Jens Schneider von Deimling of <a href="https://www.uni-kiel.de/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kiel University</a> in collaboration with researchers from various other institutions. 



The team identified a surprising connection between these ocean pits and the hunting patterns of porpoises. 



"Our results show for the first time that these depressions occur in direct connection with the habitat and behavior of porpoises and sand eels and are not formed by rising fluids," said Dr. von Deimling. 



"Our high-resolution data provide a new interpretation for the formation of tens of thousands of pits on the North Sea seafloor."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-studying-the-ocean-pits">Studying the ocean pits</h2>



The research team, which included experts from the <a href="https://www.awi.de/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alfred Wegener Institute</a> and the <a href="https://www.tiho-hannover.de/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover</a>, meticulously examined the North Sea floor near Heligoland. 



In the medical realm, pockmarks are well known as deep scars on the skin and are obviously of biogenic nature. In geoscience, pockmarks are referred to as cone-shaped depressions in the seabed. 



"Geologic pockmarks are traditionally believed to result from fluid (i.e., gas or liquid) venting with erosive agents emerging from beneath the seabed," wrote the researchers.



The high-resolution data not only provide a new interpretation for the formation of tens of thousands of pits on the floor of the North Sea, but also suggest that the underlying mechanisms might be a global phenomenon that has been overlooked until now.



They were first observed in the 1970s within clastic sediments offshore Nova Scotia, Canada. Now, about five decades after their initial discovery, it has become clear that pockmarks are among the most widespread morphologic features in the oceans.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ocean-pits-and-the-role-of-sand-eels">Ocean pits and the role of sand eels</h2>



Dr. Anita Gilles from the <a href="https://www.tiho-hannover.de/en/clinics-institutes/institutes/institute-of-terrestrial-and-aquatic-wildlife-research-itaw" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TiHo-Institute</a> for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research highlighted the significance of sand eels in this context. Being a crucial food source for the North Sea porpoise population, the sand eels inadvertently contribute to the creation of the ocean pits. 



"From analyses of the stomach contents of stranded porpoises, we know that sand eels are an important food source for the North Sea population", says Dr Gilles.



Porpoises, while hunting for eels buried in shallow sediments, leave behind pits. Although these depressions resemble pockmarks, they are much shallower.



The detection and analysis of these seabed depressions have been made possible through advanced multibeam echosounder technology.&nbsp;



"The formation mechanism of these pits, as we call them, probably also explains the existence of numerous crater-like depressions on the seafloor worldwide, which have been misinterpreted as the result of methane gas leaks," said Dr. von Deimling.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-study-implications-nbsp">Study implications&nbsp;</h2>



In the North Sea alone, researchers identified 42,458 of these uniquely shaped, shallow pits. This discovery contradicts the previous belief that the depressions were primarily caused by rising fluids.



"Our results have far-reaching implications from a geological and biological perspective. They can help to assess the ecological risks associated with the expansion of renewable energies in the offshore sector and thus improve marine environmental protection," said Dr. von Deimling.



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s43247-023-01102-y" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Communications Earth &amp; Environment</a>. 



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Millions of mysterious crater-like ocean pits are linked to porpoises

Scientists have unraveled the mystery behind millions of crater-like ocean...

Close,Up,Of,The,Eye,Cheek,Of,A,Young,Woman

A groundbreaking study published on December 21st in the journal <a href="https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3002442" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PLoS Biology</a> has uncovered a fascinating aspect of human biochemistry and behavior. Conducted by Shani Agron at the <a href="https://www.weizmann.ac.il/pages/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Weizmann Institute of Science</a> in Israel, the research reveals that chemicals in women’s tears have the ability to diminish <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/childhood-aggression-environment/">aggression</a> in men.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-social-chemosignaling">Social chemosignaling</h2>



Specifically, when men sniff these tears, there is a noticeable reduction in brain activity related to aggression, subsequently leading to less aggressive behavior.



This phenomenon is an instance of social chemosignaling, where chemical signals influence social behavior. While such signaling is well-documented in animals, its understanding in humans is less clear.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-male-aggression-nbsp">Male aggression&nbsp;</h2>



The study drew parallels with rodents, where male aggression is known to be inhibited by the scent of female tears.&nbsp;



To explore this effect in humans, the researchers conducted an experiment involving men who were exposed to either women’s emotional tears or a saline solution.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-focus-of-the-study-nbsp">Focus of the study&nbsp;</h2>



During the experiment, the men engaged in a two-person game designed to provoke aggressive responses against a perceived cheating opponent.&nbsp;



The opportunity for revenge presented itself in the form of financial loss for the other player. Importantly, the men could not differentiate between the tears and saline, as both were odorless.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-insights">Key insights</h2>



The results were striking: men exhibited more than a 40 percent decrease in aggressive behavior after inhaling women’s emotional tears.&nbsp;



Further insights were gained through functional MRI imaging, which showed reduced activity in two aggression-related brain regions - the prefrontal cortex and anterior insula - when the men smelled the tears, compared to the saline. This diminished brain activity correlated with a decreased likelihood of the men seeking revenge in the game.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-study-implications-nbsp">Study implications&nbsp;</h2>



The study’s findings suggest that social chemosignaling plays a significant role in modulating human aggression, a concept previously considered more relevant to animal behavior.&nbsp;



“We found that just like in mice, human tears contain a chemical signal that blocks conspecific male aggression. This goes against the notion that emotional tears are uniquely human,” the authors wrote.



Thus, this research not only sheds light on the complex interplay between human emotions, biochemistry, and behavior but also challenges the long-held belief that emotional tears are a uniquely human trait.



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Exposure to women’s tears decreases aggression in men

A groundbreaking study published on December 21st in the journal...

Scientists are transforming chocolate into a functional food by infusing it with probiotics and prebiotics, aiming to create a treat that satisfies cravings while supporting gut health. 



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



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



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



Researchers Smriti Gaur and Shubhi Singh from India's Jaypee Institute of Information Technology took an innovative approach, using natural prebiotics like corn and honey instead of complex processing methods. 



They created five chocolate varieties: a control and four synbiotic versions containing different combinations of prebiotics, probiotics (Lactobacillus strains), and flavor enhancers (cinnamon or orange).



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



Taste tests were positive, with researchers particularly enjoying the orange-flavored variety, describing it as having "vibrant citrus notes" complementing the "rich cocoa" with a "luxurious" texture.



This research represents just the beginning. With further refinement of strains, textures, and flavors, chocolate could evolve beyond mere indulgence to become a functional food that nourishes while it delights.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsfoodscitech.4c00741" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ACS Food Science &amp; Technology</a>.

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Nushagak Bay, a large estuary in southwest Alaska. Nushagak runs mainly north to south and exits in Bristol Bay, a large body of water in the Bering Sea.



"The bay is primarily fed by the Nushagak River, which begins in the Alaska Range and flows southwest approximately 450 km. The bay is also fed by several additional rivers including the Wood, Igushik, Snake and Weary rivers," says ESA.



"The dark colors of the Nushagak River are most likely due to tannins or lignins (chemical substances found in plants). Tannins and lignins from roots, leaves, seeds, bark and soil can leach into the water and give it a brown or even black colour. The sediments then flow southwards where it is mixed with the bluer waters of the bay."



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.acs.org/">American Chemical Society</a> (ACS) reveals that proteins on flu viruses are actually flexible, tilting and waving in a “breath-like” motion. According to the experts, these proteins could be used to better defend against the flu.



"The main antigenic targets of influenza virus are two surface glycoproteins, hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). Whereas the structural and dynamical properties of both glycoproteins have been studied previously, the understanding of their plasticity in the whole-virion context is fragmented," wrote the researchers.



To investigate, the team conducted detailed simulations of the influenza A H1N1 virion, or the swine flu. The experts concluded that the visualizations show many new vulnerable states of flu viruses, which could improve future vaccines and antiviral drugs.



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Lake Trasimeno, which is located west of Perugia in central Italy. It is the fourth largest lake in the country. While Trasimeno’s water level varies, it has a maximum depth of approximately six meters.&nbsp;



"In this Copernicus Sentinel-2 image, captured on 6 August 2022, the lake’s emerald green colour is likely due to the presence of phytoplankton. Streaks in the water, particularly visible in the west, indicate the presence of soil and sediments which have been stirred up by winds. Dark colored waters in the southern part of the lake indicate a presence of submerged and floating macrophytes (aquatic plants) as well as algae," says ESA.



"Surrounded by hills on three sides, Trasimeno is subject to heavy storms created by winds, especially from the north and west. There are three islets in the lake: Maggiore, Minore and Polvese (the largest). The lake’s shores are sparsely inhabited with only two popular villages: Castiglione del Lago and Passignano sul Trasimeno."



"Italy is experiencing its worst drought in 70 years which has affected drinking water supplies, hydroelectric power and agricultural production. High temperatures, hot winds and lack of rainfall are the main causes of drought in the Umbrian region which saw Lake Trasimeno’s drop 1.3 m, reaching the limit of the hydrometric zero in July 2022."



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.acs.org/">American Chemical Society</a> describes a new self-powered nanosensor that can instantly detect mercury contamination with the tap of a finger.&nbsp;



The oxidized form of mercury can be harmful when it is ingested through contaminated water or food. This makes it necessary for experts to develop sensors that can quickly and accurately detect the presence of mercury.&nbsp;



Zong-Hong Lin and colleagues have now created a triboelectric nanosensor (TENS) that can detect mercury by simply by touching a sample. According to the researchers, their TENS could serve as the basis for similar devices to safely and remotely monitor other pollutants.



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.acs.org/">American Chemical Society</a> explores the ability of salt to transform the way that foods and beverages taste. Salt is known to cover up undesirable flavors, such as bitterness in coffee or beer, but how exactly does sodium chloride change the taste of other compounds?



One previous study showed that, not only does salt suppress bitterness, but also enhances sweetness and sourness. Another study revealed that bitterness reduction by salt seems to be happening at the tongue receptor level as well as in the brain.&nbsp;



While it is known that salt taste is mediated by the presence of sodium channels in the form of taste buds, experts believe that there is also an unknown receptor responsible for how we taste salt that has not yet been identified.&nbsp;



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

How does salt makes things taste better?

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Santiago, the capital city of Chile. The city is located in the center of the Santiago Metropolitan Region, which has a population of about eight million people.&nbsp;



'The weather of Santiago resembles the Mediterranean climate with dry and warm summers with temperatures reaching up to 35°C (from October to March) and cool and humid winters that can drop to 0°C (from April to September)."



"The city lies in the centre of the country’s central valley around 80 km from the Pacific Ocean to the west and borders Argentina to the east. A tiny part of Argentina is visible in the top-right corner of the image where the mountain crest of the Andes Mountains acts as a divider between the two countries," says ESA.



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Santiago, Chile in South America

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Spiral,Galaxy,,Illustration,Of,Milky,Way

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Astronomers at <a href="https://www.jhu.edu/">Johns Hopkins University</a> have created an interactive map of the universe, including the actual position and real colors of 200,000 galaxies. The map allows the public to access data that was previously only available to scientists.



The map was developed using data collected by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. For over two decades, a telescope in New Mexico was aimed at slightly different locations to capture the night sky.&nbsp;



"Growing up I was very inspired by astronomy pictures, stars, nebulae and galaxies, and now it's our time to create a new type of picture to inspire people," said map creator Brice Ménard, a professor at Johns Hopkins. "Astrophysicists around the world have been analyzing this data for years, leading to thousands of scientific papers and discoveries. But nobody took the time to create a map that is beautiful, scientifically accurate, and accessible to people who are not scientists. Our goal here is to show everybody what the universe really looks like."



"In this map, we are just a speck at the very bottom, just one pixel. And when I say we, I mean our galaxy, the Milky Way which has billions of stars and planets. We are used to seeing astronomical pictures showing one galaxy here, one galaxy there or perhaps a group of galaxies. But what this map shows is a very, very different scale."



"From this speck at the bottom, we are able to map out galaxies across the entire universe, and that says something about the power of science."



The <a href="https://mapoftheuniverse.net/">interactive map</a> is available online, where it can be downloaded for free.



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky" Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features northwest Lesotho in South Africa.



According to ESA, Lesotho is the only nation in the world that lies completely above 1,000 m in elevation. The country is famous for its tall mountains and narrow valleys, and is known as Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky."



Out of a population of around two million people, about 80 percent live in rural areas. More than 75 percent of these people are engaged in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-will-have-a-global-impact-on-agriculture/">agriculture</a>, including rainfed cereal production and animal grazing.&nbsp;



ESA reports that the country’s agricultural system faces a growing number of issues, with climate-related vulnerabilities such as drought, floods and extreme temperatures occurring more frequently. 



Diamonds are amongst the minerals found in the mountains. Indeed, Lesotho can truly be called the Kingdom in the Sky. Beautiful, culturally rich, safe, affordable, and easily accessible from Durban and Johannesburg, mountainous Lesotho is a vastly underrated travel destination. the Kingdom of Lesotho (Sotho: 'Muso oa Lesotho) is an enclaved country in southern Africa. It is just over 30,000 km2 (11,583 sq mi) in size and has a population of around 2 million.



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Dublin, the capital and largest city of Ireland. Beyond its pub culture, Dublin is known as a modern culinary destination and a UNESCO City of Literature.



"Dublin is located near the midpoint of Ireland’s east coast in the province of Leinster. The city, which covers an area of around 115 square kilometers, is bordered by the Dublin Mountains, a low mountain range to the south, and is surrounded by flat farmland to the north and west," says ESA.



"The city straddles the River Liffey, which rises in the Wicklow Mountains and flows around 80 kilometers eastwards through the city of Dublin, in which it is canalised and bordered with quays. It then empties into Dublin Bay, an arm of the Irish Sea."



Dublin has an abundance of green spaces, including one of the largest enclosed public parks in any European capital city. Phoenix Park, which was originally formed as a royal hunting park in the 1660s, includes 707 hectares of green space.



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features the province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain. The image was captured by the Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission.



"Together with the provinces of Huesca and Teruel, Zaragoza formed the old kingdom of Aragon. Its capital, also called Zaragoza (not visible in this image) is home to around half of Aragon’s population," says ESA.



"The Ebro River can be seen winding its way through the province from west to east in this image. Between its source in the Cantabrian Mountains in the northwest and its delta on the Mediterranean coast, the Ebro River is fed by more than 200 tributaries as it flows 910 km across much of northern Spain."



Since rainfall is very scarce in this region, irrigation in the Ebro basin is critically important. In the valleys surrounding the Ebro River, many fields are used for growing crops such as corn, wheat, and barley.



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> reveals the evolution of the Columbia Glacier in southeastern Alaska. Columbia is among the fastest shrinking glaciers in the world, and the video documents its rapid retreat over the years.&nbsp;



Columbia Glacier is a large, multi-branched calving glacier that flows out of the Chugach Mountains to the Prince William Sound.&nbsp;



According to USGS, Columbia had a long history of stability prior to 1980, with a length 41 miles, and small, short-lived advances or retreats.



In the years since 1980, however, satellite images have captured Columbia’s alarming retreat. By using false-color images, scientists can distinguish between snow and ice, open water, vegetation, and rocky debris on the glacier’s surface.



The series of false-color images featured in today's video were acquired over the span of 35 years. You can see that by 2021, the glacier’s main branch had retreated about 15 miles from its initial position.



The Columbia Glacier has also lost more than 50 percent of its volume, mostly due to calving. <a href="https://www.earth.com/video/nasa-reveals-3d-visual-of-an-atmospheric-river/">NASA</a> reports that while climate change likely started the retreat, mechanical processes kept the disintegration going.



The NASA images are provided by Jesse Allen, Robert Simmon, Joshua Stevens, and Lauren Dauphin using data from Landsat satellites, from the U.S. Geological Survey, and data from MODIS on NASA’s Terra satellite. The structure of Columbia’s moraine played a large role in the stability of the glacier before 1980. 



Like other tidewater glaciers, the Columbia built up a moraine over time, and the mixture of ice and rock functioned like a dam keeping out the sea. It was supported on one end by the shoreline and by the underwater terminal moraine at the other.



Video Credit: NASA Earth Observatory/&nbsp; NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio



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



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The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features the Pyrenees Mountains, which form a natural boundary between France and Spain in southwest Europe.



The mountain range is 430 kilometers in length. It stretches from the Mediterranean Sea on the east to the Atlantic Ocean on the west.



At an elevation of 3404 meters, Pico de Aneto is the highest mountain peak in the Pyrenees, and the third-highest peak in Spain. Pico de Aneto is located in the Posets-Maladeta Natural Park, which spans more than 82,000 acres.&nbsp;



"Geological studies have revealed that the Pyrenees Mountains have been around for longer than the Alps, with their sediments first deposited in coastal basins during the Paleozoic and Mesozoic eras," reports ESA.



"The entire mountain range formed due to the upwelling of large sedimentary rocks by the collision of the Iberian and the Eurasian plate around 100 to 150 million years ago, followed by intense erosion from ice and water."



The western Pyrenees receive more precipitation due to moisture blowing in from the Atlantic Ocean. The mountain range contains many lakes, several small glaciers, and some of the highest waterfalls in Europe.



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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Today's Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard</a> describes two exoplanets that are orbiting a star 218 light-years away. A team of researchers led by the University of Montreal has found evidence that these planets are "water worlds."



The experts used data from NASA’s Hubble and Spitzer Space Telescopes. They discovered that exoplanets Kepler-138 c and Kepler-138 could be composed largely of water.



"We previously thought that planets that were a bit larger than Earth were big balls of metal and rock, like scaled-up versions of Earth, and that's why we called them super-Earths," explained study co-author Björn Benneke.&nbsp;



"However, we have now shown that these two planets, Kepler-138 c and d, are quite different in nature and that a big fraction of their entire volume is likely composed of water. It is the best evidence yet for water worlds, a type of planet that was theorized by astronomers to exist for a long time."



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



Image Credit: NASA, ESA, and Leah Hustak (STScI)



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



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Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard</a> describes Earth’s interconnected systems, and how this network is affected by rising temperatures.&nbsp;



During 2020, average global temperatures matched the hottest year on record. The hurricane season was also record-breaking, with many of the storms intensifying at extraordinary speeds. Hot water in the ocean is fuel for hurricanes. The satellite data shows that it's all one interconnected system showing how Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected.



According to NASA, dust swept up from Northern Africa plays a major role in the formation of hurricanes, and is also a key source of fertilization in the Amazon rainforest. As a result of<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/seagrass-wasting-disease-is-fueled-by-climate-change/"> climate</a> change, dust plumes are expected to decline, which will have an effect on vegetation far away.&nbsp;



Images from Earth-observing satellites show how the world’s plant life is affected by natural disasters, fires, and deforestation. Satellites also reveal how widespread changes in vegetation impact waterways,&nbsp; the climate, air quality. Satellites communicate by using radio waves to send signals to the antennas on the Earth. "Earth From Space" is a groundbreaking two-hour special that reveals a spectacular new space-based vision of our planet. 



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

[sendtonews key="JbW4VsY53O-1632195-12187" type="single"] Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected...

Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://welcome.miami.edu/">University of Miami</a> Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science explores how changes in water temperatures have affected tiger shark habitats and movements in the North Atlantic Ocean. The study reveals that rising temperatures have caused the sharks to shift toward the poles over the past 40 years.



“Tiger shark annual migrations have expanded poleward, paralleling rising water temperatures,” explained study lead author Neil Hammerschlag. “These results have consequences for tiger shark conservation, since shifts in their movements outside of marine protected areas may leave them more vulnerable to commercial fishing.”



The researchers analyzed nine years of tracking data from satellite-tagged tiger sharks, combined with four decades of conventional tag and recapture data provided by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Cooperative Shark Tagging Program.



The experts found that during the last decade of record heat, for every one-degree Celsius increase in water temperatures, tiger sharks migrated further poleward by over 400 kilometers. They also migrated two weeks earlier than usual to waters off the northeastern coast of the United States.



“Given their role as apex predators, these changes to tiger shark movements may alter predator-prey interactions, leading to ecological imbalances, and more frequent encounters with humans,” concluded Professor Hammerschlag.



Video Credit: University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science



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



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Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

Today’s Video of the Day from the University of Miami...

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> is focused on the melt ponds that emerge during the spring and summer on the Greenland Ice Sheet, which is the largest ice mass in the northern hemisphere.



"Melt ponds are vast pools of open water that form on both sea ice and ice sheets and are visible as turquoise-blue pools of water in this Copernicus Sentinel-2 image," says ESA.



"When snow and ice melts atop glaciers, water flows in channels and streams and collects in depressions on the surface. These melt ponds can speed up the melting of the surrounding ice since they greatly reduce the ice’s ability to reflect sunlight."



"This can create a positive feedback where an increasing number of melt ponds absorb more heat which causes ice cover to melt even faster."



According to ESA, Greenland has been hit with a late-season heatwave that began in early September. This caused the type of melt event that usually occurs in the middle of summer.



"In a recent paper published in Nature Climate Change, scientists found that major sea-level rise from the melting of the Greenland ice cap is now ‘inevitable’ even if the burning of fossil fuels were to halt overnight," says ESA. "Using satellite observations of Greenland ice loss and ice cap from 2000 to 2019, the team found the losses will lead to a minimum rise of 27 cm regardless of climate change."



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

[sendtonews key="qARzJPSabQ-2270617-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> describes a new map of Mars that is providing insight into the planet’s watery past. The map also reveals where future missions could safely land on Mars.&nbsp;



The map has been created over the last decade using observations of water-rich rocks and mineral deposits. The images were captured by ESA’s Mars Express and NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.



"A big surprise is the prevalence of these minerals, with the map revealing hundreds of thousands of water-affected locations in the oldest parts of the planet," says ESA. "The new data will help answer exciting questions about Mars’ climate history, whether water was globally persistent or confined to short, intense episodes, and whether the conditions were ever suitable for life."



"Specifically, the map shows the locations and abundances of aqueous minerals. These are from rocks that have been chemically altered by the action of water in the past, and have typically been transformed into clays and salts."



According to John Carter of the Institut d’Astrophysique Spatiale (IAS), our collective understanding of Mars has been oversimplified. He explained that planetary scientists have tended to think that only a few types of clay minerals on Mars were created during its wet period, then as the water gradually dried up, salts were produced across the planet.



The new map shows that the composition of Mars is much more complicated than what we thought. For example, while many salts formed after Martian clays, there are some salts that are presumed to be older than some of the clays.&nbsp;



“The evolution from lots of water to no water is not as clear cut as we thought, the water didn’t just stop overnight. We see a huge diversity of geological contexts, so that no one process or simple timeline can explain the evolution of the mineralogy of Mars. That’s the first result of our study. The second is that if you exclude life processes on Earth, Mars exhibits a diversity of mineralogy in geological settings just as Earth does,” said Carter.



Video Credit: ESA



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



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

The history of Mars is much more complex than we thought

[sendtonews key="qas3EhyI0Y-2220951-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

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Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.stowers.org/">Stowers Institute for Medical Research</a> describes how cavefish adapted to a sedentary lifestyle over tens of thousands of years. 



The experts found that the muscle metabolism of cavefish has been genetically reprogrammed over time. As a result, the animals have experienced major changes in their morphology and behavior. Despite these changes, however, the cavefish remain healthy and fit.



The research may provide new clues about the evolutionary consequences of prolonged physical inactivity in humans.&nbsp;



“It’s no surprise that people are moving less and less as technology has advanced,” said Rohner. “With cavefish, we have a unique system where we can study what might happen if people remained couch potatoes over very, very long periods of time.”



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research



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



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Cavefish are healthy despite their sedentary lifestyle

[sendtonews key="vpljfR2VBX-2560867-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

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Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> some of the most incredible waves in the world, as seen by Landsat satellites.



"With more than 370,000 miles of coastline on Earth, there are plenty of places where epic waves build up, curl over, and hurtle toward the shore.- much to the thrill of surfers," says NASA. "There are some places where these waves are so magnificent that they can be seen from space."



"With the broad perspective of satellites, we can see how these iconic waves develop into the world’s tallest, longest, fastest, and heaviest."



Video Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Satellites capture the world's biggest and fastest waves

[sendtonews key="MHyhtebibJ-2200368-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from NASA...

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