You probably don’t think twice about smelling a jug of milk to check if it’s gone bad. But behind that quick decision is a symphony of genes and proteins hard at work.



A research team at <a href="https://www.uni-leipzig.de/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Leipzig University</a>, led by genetic epidemiologist Markus Scholz, has mapped the genetics behind our sense of smell in more detail than ever before. 



In a sweeping study of over 21,000 people from Germany, Italy, and the U.S., they uncovered how our DNA shapes which scents we recognize - and how strongly we react to them.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fragrance-fingerprints-in-dna">Fragrance fingerprints in DNA</h2>



“We identified ten genetic regions associated with the ability to detect specific odors, seven of these are new discoveries,” said Scholz. His genome-wide association study tied everyday smell performance to specific DNA changes. 



The team asked participants to identify twelve scents delivered by Sniffin’ Sticks and then matched the right answers to millions of single-nucleotide polymorphisms. The exercise generated a personal odor score for every volunteer.



Two hotspots sit inside clusters of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-story-behind-our-sense-of-smell-is-coming-into-focus/">olfactory receptor</a> genes, while others highlight specific enzymes that convert a chemical whiff into an electrical signal. Together they outline the earliest steps between sniff and perception.



One key genetic change makes people nearly four times better at recognizing the smell of fish. About one in three Europeans has it, which helps explain why some people love fish while others can’t stand the smell.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-women-really-smell-the-roses">Why women really smell the roses</h2>



Women outperform men in smell tests across cultures. The data reveal three genomic regions whose effects flip between sexes. One variant triples women’s odds of naming orange yet does nothing for men.



Sex hormone reviews link estrogen peaks to sharper sensitivity and testosterone surges to dampening effects on smell. The hormonal picture is complex, but patterns are starting to emerge.



“The findings help to explain why women perceive smells differently during their menstrual cycle or pregnancy,” said researcher Franz Förster, who helped coordinate data. His observation echoes decades of anecdotal reports from clinicians.



Anthropologists call this the embryo-protection hypothesis, arguing that a keen maternal nose guards the fetus - though evidence remains mixed. Human genetics is starting to test that evolutionary idea directly.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-smell-traits-mapped-in-dna">Smell traits mapped in DNA</h2>



Each scent in the test was linked to a different part of our DNA. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cinnamon-supplements-may-disrupt-how-medications-work/">Cinnamon</a> was tied to a gene that helps detect its main ingredient, while pineapple was connected to two separate spots in the genome.



Researchers confirmed that removing an odor from the total score erased its associated signal, proving that each variant’s effect is narrow. That safeguard against statistical noise strengthens confidence in each hit.



Your pineapple gene does not help you with peppermint. That precision matters for designing clinical smell tests.



Lemon and orange were linked to smaller genetic effects, found near genes that help send smell signals, not detect them. This suggests that how the signal is processed might matter just as much as how it's first picked up.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scent-loss-as-warning-sign">Scent loss as warning sign</h2>



Smell loss is among the earliest red flags for Alzheimer’s disease. Using Mendelian randomization, the team found that high genetic risk for Alzheimer’s lowers odor-identification scores, but poor smell does not raise dementia risk.



The strongest link pointed to a gene involved in moving materials inside cells, one that’s often found alongside a known <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-blood-test-can-track-the-progression-of-alzheimers/">Alzheimer’s risk</a> gene. This connection brings cell health into the picture when studying how smell and memory might be related.



Community studies linking odor discrimination to later cognitive decline back the idea that brain change erodes smell, not the reverse. Genetic data now reinforce that timeline.



Large prevention trials are now considering smell testing as a low-cost enrollment screen. Ease of administration makes the scratch-and-sniff format appealing in primary care.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hormones-shape-smell-genes">Hormones shape smell genes</h2>



Bioinformatic scans found more than forty androgen-response motifs near the sex-biased variants, far outnumbering estrogen motifs. This density hints at direct regulation by testosterone.



Yet genome-level screens showed no direct causal trail from circulating testosterone, bioavailable <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/men-with-low-testosterone-have-a-higher-risk-of-mortality/">testosterone</a>, or sex-hormone-binding globulin to smell scores. The null result surprised some observers.



Larger cohorts may be needed to uncover subtle endocrine effects that small studies miss. Endocrinologists are watching the space closely.



Lab teams are already planning CRISPR edits in cultured olfactory neurons to watch how these motifs alter gene output. Results from those experiments will clarify whether the motifs truly gate hormone effects.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-diverse-dna-diverse-smell-traits">Diverse DNA, diverse smell traits</h2>



A 200,000-participant follow-up inside Germany’s NAKO cohort is already underway and should expose weaker or rarer variants. The added power should uncover variants with much smaller effects.



Similar projects planned in East Asia and Africa will test whether diet or environment shifts genetic influence on smell. That diversity will reveal whether smell genetics follows food habits or remains universal.



Clinically, smell genotyping could tailor occupational screening for firefighters or chemical workers with innate disadvantages. Regulators already require smell tests for certain high-risk jobs.



In consumer spheres, recipe apps or <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/home-fragrances-impact-indoor-air-quality-and-the-health-risks-are-alarming/">fragrance</a> firms might one day suggest products that match a user’s genetic sensitivity. Industry watchers predict fragrance personalization within a decade.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-personalized-smell-is-coming">Personalized smell is coming</h2>



Smell genes are not part of medical care yet, but they could soon appear in direct-to-consumer DNA reports. 



Ancestry services already flag lactose intolerance, and a future module may tell you that a low-sensitivity pineapple allele runs in the family. Armed with that knowledge, perfumers could tailor product lines to match regional genetic profiles. 



Genes never fully dictate how we perceive aromas, but mapping their influence moves the sense of smell from mystery toward measurement.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-61330-y" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



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



-----

Your DNA may explain why you love or hate certain smells

You probably don’t think twice about smelling a jug of milk to check if it’s gone bad. But behind that quick decision is a symphony of genes and proteins hard at work. A research team at Leipzig University, led by genetic epidemiologist Markus Scholz, has mapped the genetics behind our sense of smell in more detail than ever before. In a sweeping study of over 21,000 people from Germany, Italy, and the U.S., they uncovered how our DNA shapes which scents we recognize - and how strongly...

<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/coffee-may-help-you-live-longer-if-you-drink-it-this-way/">Coffee</a> sits at the breakfast table of millions, prized for its flavor and the zip that follows the first sip. Now a Danish trial suggests the beverage may also shrink the bathroom scale, thanks to a little-known molecule lurking in unfiltered brews.



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



The compound is cafestol, a fat-soluble diterpene most abundant in espresso, French press, and Turkish coffee. Lead investigator <a href="https://www.au.dk/en/fbmellbye@clin.au.dk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Frederik D. Mellbye</a> from <a href="https://www.stenoaarhus.dk/english/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Steno Diabetes Center Aarhus</a> says the team wanted to know whether purified cafestol could change markers tied to obesity and diabetes.



“Participants who received cafestol lost an average of 1.94 lbs of body weight over twelve weeks,” the study team reports. In the 12-week, placebo-controlled study, 40 adults with large waistlines swallowed either 6 mg of cafestol or an inert capsule twice daily.&nbsp;



Unfiltered coffee already intrigues metabolic researchers because habitual drinkers show lower rates of <a href="https://diabetes.org/about-diabetes/type-2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">type 2 diabetes</a>. 



Isolating cafestol let the Danish scientists test whether weight and fat changes might happen without the full brew.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-closer-look-at-the-danish-trial">A closer look at the Danish trial</h2>



Volunteers kept their normal diets but were limited to one cup of unfiltered coffee each day to avoid extra cafestol. 



They could drink as much filtered or instant coffee as they liked, since those contain negligible amounts of the compound.



Magnetic resonance imaging measured abdominal fat before and after the intervention, while blood tests tracked glucose handling and liver enzymes. 



The design mirrors earlier <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/coffee-helps-bacteria-resist-antibiotics-in-your-gut/">coffee</a> studies yet stands out because it uses a purified molecule rather than brewed coffee.



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



Visceral fat fell by five percent in the cafestol group, corresponding to 440 mL of lost internal fat that wraps organs and drives disease risk. 



Weight dropped two percent, while the placebo group gained almost a kilogram during the same period.



Liver health improved as well, with <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15161799/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">gamma-glutamyl transferase</a> (GGT) falling 15 percent among cafestol takers, a notable shift because high GGT predicts diabetes onset. 



Fasting glucose, blood pressure, and subcutaneous fat barely budged, suggesting the molecule targets deep abdominal fat first.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-cafestol-stacks-up-against-other-coffee-compounds">How cafestol stacks up against other coffee compounds</h2>



Roasted beans house hundreds of chemicals, but most headlines focus on caffeine or chlorogenic acids. Cafestol differs by dissolving in coffee oils that paper filters remove, which explains why a French press tastes richer and delivers more of the molecule.



Animal work previously linked cafestol to better insulin secretion, but the new human data found no change in insulin sensitivity. 



The authors note that a higher dose or longer trial might reveal effects that 12 weeks at 12 mg per day could not capture.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-weight-loss-fat-types-and-health-risks">Weight loss, fat types, and health risks</h2>



Losing visceral fat matters because this depot floods the bloodstream with free fatty acids, a driver of insulin resistance and inflammation. 



By trimming that hidden fat without strict dieting, cafestol hints at a new nutrition-based tool against metabolic syndrome.



The findings echo earlier <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31398662/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">work</a> with green coffee extract, where chlorogenic acids modestly lowered body-mass index (BMI) in overweight adults. Together, these studies keep pointing to coffee as more than a caffeinated pick-me-up.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-cholesterol-caveat">The cholesterol caveat</h2>



Historical trials showed daily cafestol above 10 mg can raise LDL cholesterol, likely by suppressing bile acid export in the liver. 



The Danish team did not see a cholesterol rise at 12 mg per day, suggesting a narrow window where weight benefits appear without lipid penalties.



Even so, people with heart disease risk should wait for larger safety studies before chasing cafestol supplements. 



Regular paper-filtered coffee still delivers polyphenols without the diterpene load that might nudge <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/just-one-handful-of-pecan-nuts-each-day-can-lower-cholesterol-heart-health/">cholesterol</a> upward.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unanswered-questions-and-next-steps">Unanswered questions and next steps</h2>



“The present study reveals that a dosage of 6 mg cafestol twice daily for a period of twelve weeks causes reductions in visceral fat content, body weight, and gamma-glutamyl transferase levels compared to placebo,” Dr. Søren Gregersen and colleagues wrote in the report. 



They call for trials in prediabetic and diabetic cohorts, where <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plant-extracts-may-help-treat-metabolic-syndrome/">metabolic</a> chaos is worse and benefits could be bigger.



Researchers also want to clarify how cafestol shifts fat metabolism without altering insulin response. One theory is that the compound tweaks mitochondrial activity in adipocytes, nudging stored triglycerides toward combustion rather than storage.



Finally, dosage and delivery matter; the capsules used here equal roughly four 5 oz cups of French press coffee. People chasing similar intake through espresso alone would need several shots each day and would pick up caffeine and other compounds along the way.



The study is published in <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/16/19/3232" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nutrients</a>.



-----



Like what you read?<a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/"> Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



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



-----

Natural molecules found in certain types of coffee help you lose weight without dieting

Coffee sits at the breakfast table of millions, prized for...

Walk through any African rainforest at the height of fruit season, and you will eventually stumble upon a surprising scene: apes foraging not in the treetops but on the forest floor, scooping up fallen figs or overripe marulas that have begun to ferment.



Until now, primatologists have documented the behavior but lacked a word that sets it apart from ordinary fruit eating. 



A new paper led by <a href="https://home.dartmouth.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dartmouth College</a> anthropologist Nathaniel Dominy and <a href="https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of St Andrews</a> primatologist Catherine Hobaiter fixes that linguistic oversight by proposing a single, evocative term - “scrumping.”



“It’s not that primatologists have never seen scrumping - they observe it pretty regularly. But the absence of a word for it has disguised its importance,” Dominy explained.



By naming the habit, the authors hope to inspire more systematic data collection. This simple ground-level snack could hold outsized clues to why human beings tolerate <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/drunk-animals-may-explain-humans-love-of-alcohol/">alcohol</a> so well.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-medieval-word-for-a-modern-puzzle"><a></a>A medieval word for a modern puzzle</h2>



Scrumping originates from the Middle English rendering of the German “schrimpen.” The word described “shriveled” or “shrunken” fruit that had fallen off the tree. In rural England today, “scrumpy” refers to a rustic cider fermented from windfallen apples.



Dominy and Hobaiter argue that the linguistic lineage is perfect for apes pilfering fermented fruit. Both activities involve the opportunistic gathering of overripe produce with elevated alcohol content.



The name matters because, until now, field notes have lumped floor-foraging events with canopy foraging under the bland heading of “fruit feeding.” That lumping masks the ecological stakes. 



Once fruit hits the ground, it becomes a microbial playground where yeasts convert sugars into alcohols. This process often gives the fruit an ethanol punch of a few percent.



For a 220-pound chimp eating ten pounds of such fruit per day, that may add up to a low but steady dose of alcohol. If the capacity to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/living-at-high-altitude-leads-to-longer-life-by-changing-metabolism/">metabolize</a> that ethanol confers a survival advantage, then scrumping could have exerted evolutionary pressure on primate digestive enzymes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-linking-scrumping-apes-to-alcohol-genes">Linking scrumping apes to alcohol genes</h2>



In 2015, geneticists reported that the primary enzyme humans use to break down ethanol - ADH4 - underwent a pivotal amino acid tweak in the last common ancestor of humans, chimpanzees and gorillas.



That mutation boosted the enzyme’s efficiency fortyfold. The genetic timeline aligns suspiciously well with fossil and climatic evidence suggesting early apes were spending more time on the ground, perhaps because <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-cooling-wont-be-a-quick-fix-for-the-state-of-our-oceans/">global cooling</a> was fragmenting forest canopies.



Dominy’s team suspected that scrumping, not tree foraging, was the behavior that turned the genetic key. To test the prevalence of ground-level fruit snacking, they combed through thousands of feeding observations for chimpanzees, western gorillas, mountain gorillas, and orangutans.



Every record pairing ground-level apes with a fruit species normally found higher in the canopy counted as a scrumping event. African apes did it routinely. 



Orangutans of Southeast Asia, by contrast, almost never did - and tellingly, the 2015 gene study shows orangutans have a far less efficient version of ADH4.



These weren’t differences of nuance - African apes scrump on a regular basis, but orangutans do not. The contrast strengthens the idea that processing dietary ethanol was an adaptive edge for African lineages.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-escaping-competition-avoiding-falls"><a></a>Escaping competition, avoiding falls</h2>



Why would a large ape bother with windfall fruit instead of plucking fresher pieces overhead? Dominy points to two incentives. 



First, avoiding the highest branches reduces the risk of potentially fatal falls - a risk he and co-author Luke Fannin quantified in a 2023 study showing that accidents in the canopy exact serious tolls on primate skeletons.



Second, staying on the ground lets apes sidestep competition with smaller, more nimble monkeys that strip trees of unripe fruit. If ethanol metabolism means an ape can safely eat the fermented fare, it gains a foraging niche all its own.



“A fundamental feature of our relationship with alcohol is our tendency to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-social-drinking-feels-so-different-from-drinking-alone/">drink together</a>," said Hobaiter. She wonders whether shared ape scrumping sessions reinforce social bonds in apes the way communal drinking does in humans.



Future fieldwork will track whether group foraging for windfallen fruit correlates with grooming, alliance formation, or mating opportunities.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-happy-hour-in-the-jungle">Happy hour in the jungle</h2>



The next empirical frontier is chemistry. Researchers plan to sample ethanol concentrations in fruits still hanging versus fruits lying on the forest floor. They will also monitor ape breath or urine for ethanol metabolites to estimate intake more precisely.



If chronic low-level exposure proves common, it could reshape narratives about ancient hominin diets and even the timing of the agricultural revolution, when humans began deliberately fermenting grains and grapes.



“Scrumping by the last common ancestor of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/gorillas-are-digging-for-a-surprising-food-in-the-jungle-soil/">gorillas</a>, chimpanzees, and humans about 10 million years ago could explain why humans are so astoundingly good at digesting alcohol,” Dominy noted.



He suggests that long before our ancestors brewed beer, natural selection had already equipped them with biochemical bar tabs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-will-scrumping-stick">Will scrumping stick?</h2>



Scientific neologisms catch on only if they fill a conceptual gap - think “symbiosis” in the 19th century or Richard Dawkins’s “meme” in 1976. Dominy believes scrumping meets that test.



It instantly conveys a specific behavior - ground foraging for fermented fruit - that generic terms cannot. If colleagues adopt the label, datasets will soon be searchable, hypotheses testable, and evolutionary stories clearer.



“We never knew we needed the word until we did. That’s natural selection at work,” Dominy said. Whether scrumping becomes a staple of primatology vocabulary remains to be seen. 



But the paper makes a compelling case: name the behavior, and the science of why we drink - and how we evolved - may gain a fresh ferment of insight.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/advance-article/doi/10.1093/biosci/biaf102/8215783">BioScience</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



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



-----

"Scrumping" apes may explain how humans started drinking alcohol

Walk through any African rainforest at the height of fruit...

Most of us think empathy is either something you have or do not. A new study from the University of Southern California shows that this social glue can be taught through simple emotional rewards.



After just a few minutes of watching a cartoon stranger enjoy small victories, volunteers started to feel happy for the character and even gave up money to keep that happiness going. 



Psychologist Yi Zhang of <a href="https://dornsife.usc.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">USC Dornsife</a>, who led the project, says the brain learns to link another person’s good mood to its own internal payoff.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rewards-can-train-empathy-faster">Rewards can train empathy faster</h2>



The study reports that empathy can grow when positive feelings are consistently paired with personal gains. This finding challenges the idea that empathy only comes from shared experience or moral instruction.



Instead, the brain appears to treat another person like a favorite object whenever their smile predicts a benefit. That habit stays intact even when the benefit disappears.



In previous decades, empathy training focused on perspective taking workshops. The new data suggest that pairing emotion with reward may work faster and reach people who resist verbal lessons.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cartoons-helped-people-care">Cartoons helped people care</h2>



Researchers asked 1,500 adults to view short clips of a stick figure hero who sometimes played with a dog and other times fell off a bike. After each scene, a counter on the screen rose or fell, telling viewers they had won or lost cents.



People whose counters rose during the happy scenes later rated the hero’s feelings as more important and even pressed keyboard keys longer to see new happy clips. Their extra effort showed that the emotional link was now a small but real motivational push.



Importantly, the hero had no voice or facial features, so participants could not read expressions or mirror emotions. That design choice helped isolate learning from automatic mimicry.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-smiles-taught-empathy-like-pavlov-s-bell">Smiles taught empathy like Pavlov’s bell</h2>



“It’s a social twist on Pavlov’s classic experiment,” said Professor Leon Hackel, the study’s senior author. By swapping food for smiles, the team demonstrated a form of Pavlovian conditioning that applies to mental states rather than bells and steaks.



Earlier work on associative learning in social settings found that humans and animals easily connect gestures and voices with reward, but this project is among the first to show that abstract <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/acts-of-kindness-social-brains-are-wired-to-help/">emotions</a> can serve the same role. 



The research opens the door to training compassion without relying on shared background or ideology.



Because the effect survived a delay period and new scenarios, the authors argue that the brain builds a flexible template rather than a narrow stimulus response chain. In practical terms, caring can expand beyond the original situation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-empathy-led-to-kind-actions">Empathy led to kind actions</h2>



In a later task, participants picked digital gift cards for the cartoon hero, knowing exactly which cards the hero liked. Selecting the preferred card sometimes drained their own point balance.



Those who had learned the happiness reward link were more willing to lose points or at least hesitated before being selfish. The behavior matched their self reported feelings, suggesting that empathy and prosocial behavior can spring from the same learning rule.



The finding matters because many real world prosocial acts, from tipping to blood donation, involve small personal costs. Building the reward link could tip the scales toward generosity in those moments.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cooperation-competition-and-classrooms">Cooperation, competition, and classrooms</h2>



The findings help explain why empathy thrives in groups where one person’s win lifts everyone. Studies of cooperative learning in schools show that children who share grades and goals also show sharper gains in caring for peers.



Competitive arenas do the opposite, because a rival’s success predicts personal loss, making the empathic pathway harder to condition. Workplace reward <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-customer-courtesy-kindness-transforms-service-quality-and-job-satisfaction/">systems</a> could unknowingly shape compassion by choosing between winner-takes-all bonuses and team incentives.



Sports teams and military units, which bond players through shared wins and losses, might naturally leverage the same circuit. Recognizing that link could inspire training programs that cultivate empathy alongside skill.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-empathy-training-can-help-therapy">Empathy training can help therapy</h2>



“Understanding how people form emotional <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/little-benjamina-the-oldest-evidence-of-social-empathy-in-humans/">bonds</a> could help us design AI that responds in more human-like ways,” said Yi Zhang. Engineers could teach chatbots to value user joy by aligning system rewards with human smiles, rather than relying on canned politeness.



Therapists might also use reward-based exercises to help clients with social anxiety practice noticing and valuing other people’s positive emotions. Because the intervention is brief and game like, it could slot into digital mental health tools.



Parents might reinforce caring by celebrating siblings who cheer each other on. Small rewards paired with shared happiness could be stronger than many lectures on kindness.



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



The experiments ran online with small monetary stakes, so scientists still need to check whether the same pattern appears in face to face settings. They also want to know how long the effect lasts when real time passes instead of computer rounds.



Brain imaging could reveal whether the reward circuits light up in sync with empathic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bonobos-and-chimps-express-empathy-much-like-humans/">feelings</a>, or if new networks come online. That work may point toward therapies for disorders marked by low empathy, such as psychopathy.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/09567976251351304" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Psychological Science</a>.



-----



Like what you read?&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a>&nbsp;for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



Check us out on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/author/eralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a>&nbsp;and Earth.com.



-----

Empathy can be taught through simple reward training

Most of us think empathy is either something you have...

When clinicians talk to patients about preventing heart disease, they typically describe risk in dry percentages such as “eight out of 100 people like you may have a heart attack in the next decade.” Many Americans find that hard to grasp - and the numbers do not always move them to action.



A research team at Northwestern University <a href="https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/index.html">Feinberg School of Medicine</a> thinks there is a clearer, more motivating way to translate cardiovascular danger: tell people the age of their heart.



In a new study, epidemiologist Dr. Sadiya Khan and colleagues introduce an online calculator that converts standard health information - blood pressure, cholesterol, smoking status, and diabetes - into a single “heart age.” 



The metric is anchored to the American Heart Association’s new <a href="https://professional.heart.org/en/guidelines-and-statements/prevent-calculator%C3%B9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PREVENT equations</a>, which Khan also helped develop.



“We hope this tool helps doctors and patients discuss risk for heart disease more effectively so we can better inform what therapies can prevent <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/subtle-warning-signs-what-a-heart-attack-really-feels-like/">heart attacks</a>, stroke, or heart-failure events from ever happening,” Khan said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-testing-heart-age-globally">Testing "heart age" globally</h2>



The premise is intuitive: if laboratory results and lifestyle factors give you the cardiovascular profile of an older person, you probably need to rethink prevention. Conversely, if your heart age matches or beats your birth certificate, you might be on track.



To validate their calculator, Khan’s team mined data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NHANES</a>), a rolling study that measures the health of the U.S. population.



They focused on 14,000 adults aged 30 to 79 who had never been diagnosed with heart disease. For each person, they calculated chronological age and heart age, then compared the two.



The patterns were sobering. Across the board, Americans carried older hearts than their birthdays would suggest. Women averaged a heart age of 55.4 despite being only 51.3 years old. 



The gap was wider for men: an average heart age of 56.7 versus an actual age of 49.7 - roughly seven extra “cardiac birthdays.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-race-and-income-age-hearts">Race and income age hearts</h2>



The researchers drilled deeper into the data to see how these gaps varied by education, income, and race or ethnicity. These factors are known to track with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/heart-disease-remains-the-leading-cause-of-death-worldwide/">cardiovascular outcomes</a>.



Men with no more than a high-school education showed the greatest disconnect: almost one-third possessed hearts at least a decade older than their bodies.



Racial and ethnic contrasts were stark as well. Among men, Black participants had a heart age 8.5 years older than their chronological age. Hispanic men trailed at 7.9 years, followed by Asian men at 6.7 and white men at 6.4.



Women showed similar but smaller gaps. Black women had the oldest hearts relative to their age (a 6.2-year difference), while Asian women had the youngest (2.8 years).



These numbers, the authors argue, reveal how structural forces - access to health care, exposure to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/chronic-stress-disrupts-gut-bacteria-and-fuels-cancer-progression/">chronic stress</a>, the cost of nutritious food - literally age the heart faster in some communities than others.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-risk-that-feels-personal">Risk that feels personal</h2>



<a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21493-cardiovascular-disease" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cardiovascular disease</a> has remained the nation’s leading cause of death for more than a century, even in the face of better medications and public-health campaigns against <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/smoking-related-deaths-will-surge-by-2030/">smoking</a>.



A key reason, Khan said, is that millions of people who would benefit from preventive therapies never start them - or start too late. She believes the new heart-age tool can turn abstract percentages into something people feel viscerally.



“Many people who should be on medicine to lower their risk for heart attack, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stroke-risk-is-elevated-by-air-pollution-and-traffic-noise/">stroke</a>, or heart failure are not on these medications,” Khan explained.



“We hope this new heart-age calculator will help support discussions about prevention and ultimately improve health for all people.”



The idea draws on behavioral research showing that vivid, easily understood messages spur action. 



A person who hears their heart is “ten years older” may grasp the urgency of lowering <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-identify-minimum-amount-of-physical-activity-needed-to-prevent-high-blood-pressure/">blood pressure</a>, quitting cigarettes, or beginning statin therapy. They may respond more readily than someone handed a 10 percent risk score.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-heart-aging-tool-with-limits">Heart aging tool, with limits</h2>



The online tool, available for free, asks for five inputs: age, sex, total cholesterol, <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/hdlthegoodcholesterol.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">HDL</a> (“good”) cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, and whether the user smokes or has diabetes. With one click it produces a heart age and a brief explanation.



Khan’s team is quick to add caveats. The calculator is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Its equations are built on large-population averages, but individual factors - such as family history, kidney disease, or inflammatory conditions - can raise or lower risk outside the scope of the tool. 



Users should discuss results with a clinician before changing medications.



To ensure clinicians embrace the approach, the researchers are planning follow-up studies that track whether framing risk as age improves adherence to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-identify-minimum-amount-of-physical-activity-needed-to-prevent-high-blood-pressure/">blood-pressure</a> drugs, statins, or lifestyle programs. They also aim to see whether it reduces heart attacks and strokes over time.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-getting-through-to-young-adults">Getting through to young adults</h2>



One finding leapt out of the NHANES analysis: people in their thirties and forties often carried heart ages ten or more years beyond their chronological age. 



Yet they rarely meet intensity thresholds for preventive medications under current guidelines. Khan hopes the metric will spotlight hidden risk among younger adults who still feel invincible.



“The important thing is that we have very good options available in our toolbox to help slow that aging down if we can identify it,” she said. “This may be even more important in younger people who don’t often think about their risk for heart disease.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-heart-age-stats-matter">Why "heart age" stats matter</h2>



The heart-age calculator could also equip public-health agencies and employers to tailor interventions. 



Communities where the average heart age dwarfs chronological age might benefit from subsidized blood-pressure screenings, mobile clinics, or healthier food outlets.



Public health campaigns and community-based programs can emphasize the importance and availability of fast walking to improve health outcomes. 



They can also provide resources and support to facilitate increased fast walking within all communities.



Khan echoes that spirit for heart-age awareness. By translating risk into an easy-to-grasp figure, the team hopes to close gaps in prevention and push heart disease - long the country’s top killer - down the leaderboard at last.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamacardiology/article-abstract/2836740">JAMA Cardio</a><a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamacardiology/article-abstract/2836740" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">l</a><a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamacardiology/article-abstract/2836740">ogy</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



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



-----

Scientists invent new tool that determines your 'heart age' as compared to your actual age

When clinicians talk to patients about preventing heart disease, they...

For many people online gaming is a harmless escape – a chance to unwind with friends, trade tips on strategy, and watch favorite streamers test new releases.



Yet a new study suggests that the same vibrant, hyper-connected space has become fertile ground for extremist recruiters. They see voice chat, livestreams, and in-game banter as open doors to fresh audiences.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gaming-platforms-fly-under-the-radar">Gaming platforms fly under the radar</h2>



Over the past decade, legislators have poured energy into policing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/social-media-pressure-is-straining-teen-friendships/">social media</a> platforms like Facebook, X, TikTok, and YouTube. 



By comparison, gaming-adjacent platforms such as Discord, Steam communities, or Twitch “have largely flown under the radar, while at the same time becoming digital playgrounds for extremists to exploit,” said lead author William Allchorn from Anglia Ruskin University’s <a href="https://www.aru.ac.uk/international-policing-and-public-protection-research-institute" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">International Policing and Public Protection Research Institute</a>.



These services enable real-time chat, meme sharing, and private voice channels - making moderation especially difficult. The research team – Allchorn and senior fellow Elisa Orofino – spoke with content moderators, tech-industry specialists, and practitioners who work on preventing violent extremism.



Interviewees repeatedly described a funneling process: a user first encounters edgy jokes or borderline rhetoric on mainstream services, then an extremist invites them to a more lightly policed space tied to gaming culture.



“That’s where you have matchmaking. It’s where you can build quick rapport with people,” one participant said. “But that’s the stuff that very quickly moves to adjacent platforms, where there’s sort of less monitoring.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-extremist-messages-flood-gaming-platforms">Extremist messages flood gaming platforms</h2>



According to the study, the most common <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-people-believe-they-are-right-even-when-theyre-wrong/">ideology</a> circulating in these spaces is far-right extremism – white-supremacist propaganda, neo-Nazi symbols, Holocaust denial, and an undercurrent of misogyny and anti-LGBTQ rhetoric.



Islamist material appears too, though less frequently, and moderators also reported “extremist-adjacent” content that glorifies school shootings or promotes conspiracy theories such as QAnon. 



All of it violates platform terms of service, yet often evades detection because the language is coded or hidden behind memes.



Hyper-masculine titles – first-person shooters or combat games that prize aggression, quick reflexes, and leaderboards – offer particularly welcoming environments.



Newcomers can slip into a team channel with strangers, bond over shared tactics, then encounter racist or antisemitic slurs delivered as “jokes.” If a young player laughs along, recruiters test deeper waters. They may share links to fringe forums or private Discord servers where rhetoric becomes more explicit.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-moderation-systems-overwhelmed">Moderation systems overwhelmed</h2>



Most gaming companies rely on a mix of automated filters and volunteer or lightly paid moderators. Interviewees told Allchorn and Orofino they feel overwhelmed.



In-game voice chat lacks moderation, while text channels flood with slang and sarcasm that overwhelm AI filters. 



A phrase like “I’m going to kill you” can be normal trash talk during a match but a genuine threat in a different context. Many users don’t know how to report extremist content, and those who do often feel their reports are ignored.



Moderators themselves expressed frustration at “inconsistent enforcement policies” and the heavy burden of deciding when to escalate a user to law enforcement.



Meanwhile, extremists exchange tips on how to dodge bans. These include using numbers or symbols in slurs and encoding messages with historical references or Nordic runes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-younger-gamers-in-the-crosshairs">Younger gamers in the crosshairs</h2>



A recurrent anxiety among professionals interviewed was the vulnerability of minors. Livestreamers who weave extremist talking points into entertaining gameplay accrue followers in the thousands; teenage viewers may tune in daily, forming parasocial bonds. 



Once the streamer invites them to a private server, those young fans are isolated from counter-speech.



Yet parents and teachers rarely recognize gaming platforms as potential vectors of radicalization. The authors argue that digital literacy campaigns must expand beyond traditional social media to cover the unique cultures of gaming.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-solutions-span-tech-and-parenting">Solutions span tech and parenting</h2>



Allchorn believes decisive action is possible. “Strengthening moderation systems, both <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ai-is-taking-scientific-discovery-from-decades-to-minutes/">AI</a> and human, is essential,” he said, but technologies must be paired with clearer platform rules that target content that is harmful but technically lawful.



The paper urges companies to invest in symbol libraries that evolve as extremist language shifts, to give moderators rapid-response channels to local police, and to provide transparent feedback loops when users report violations.



Law enforcement agencies also need to learn how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/disaster-subculture-helps-people-cope-on-the-frontline-of-the-climate-crisis/">gaming subcultures</a> operate so they don’t dismiss genuine threats as mere smack talk. Educators and parents can play a role by discussing with children why hateful messages spread and by encouraging reporting mechanisms within games.



Ultimately, the study paints gaming platforms as a double-edged sword. They build global community, yet also allow fringe movements to thrive unnoticed.



“These gaming-adjacent platforms offer extremists direct access to large, often young and impressionable audiences,” Allchorn warned. 



Recognizing the phenomenon and naming its tactics is the first step toward keeping virtual playgrounds safe for play rather than propaganda.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1537460/full" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Frontiers in Psychology</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



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



-----

Extremists are using gaming platforms to recruit young followers

For many people online gaming is a harmless escape –...

Hibernating animals stretch the limits of biology, surviving for months without food or water. Their muscles stay strong, their body temperature drops to near freezing, and their brain and metabolism slow dramatically. 



Despite these changes, the animals emerge healthy. They recover from conditions that resemble human diseases like Alzheimer’s, stroke, or diabetes.



Now, researchers think we might carry this resilience too. Studies published in the journal Science suggest that the genes powering hibernation might exist in human DNA. These genetic traits, once thought unique to hibernators, may lie dormant within us. 



Understanding and unlocking these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hibernation-allows-lemurs-to-slow-down-their-aging/">genes</a> could lead to treatments for metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-hibernators-use-special-genes">How hibernators use special genes</h2>



Scientists focused on a gene cluster called the fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) locus. Hibernating animals use it to control fat storage and energy during winter. 



“What’s striking about this region is that it is the strongest genetic risk factor for human obesity,” said Dr. Chris Gregg from the University of Utah (<a href="https://www.utah.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">U of U</a>).



The team found nearby DNA regions that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-is-waking-bats-up-too-early-from-hibernation/">hibernators</a> use to switch the activity of genes on or off. These controls don’t change the genes themselves. Instead, they regulate gene behavior, like adjusting volume in an orchestra. 



These non-coding regions help hibernators gain weight before winter and burn fat efficiently while asleep.



Researchers inserted these DNA regions into mice. The results were clear. Some mice gained or lost weight depending on diet. Others had changes in body temperature recovery or overall metabolism. 



“When you knock out one of these elements - this one tiny, seemingly insignificant DNA region - the activity of hundreds of genes changes,” explained Susan Steinwand, a scientist at U of U Health.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hibernation-genes-control-fat-and-energy">Hibernation genes control fat and energy</h2>



These DNA regulators don’t create new <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-squirrels-survive-winter-without-food-or-water/">genes</a>. Instead, they remove blocks that limit flexibility in metabolism. Hibernators may have evolved to lose certain constraints. That allows them to shift between active and dormant states easily. 



“If we could regulate our genes a bit more like hibernators, maybe we could overcome type 2 diabetes the same way that a hibernator returns from hibernation back to a normal metabolic state,” said Elliott Ferris, MS.



The key difference between us and hibernators may be in how we regulate the same set of genes. This insight raises the possibility that humans could someday adjust their metabolism in similar ways.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hibernation-changed-genes-over-time">Hibernation changed genes over time</h2>



To find these genetic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hedgehogs-have-flexible-hibernation-habits-that-help-them-survive/">clues</a>, researchers used several advanced methods. They first searched for DNA regions that remained stable across most mammals for over 100 million years but showed recent and dramatic changes in hibernating species. 



Such sudden shifts in long-conserved DNA strongly suggest adaptations specific to hibernation behavior.



Next, the researchers studied fasting mice. Fasting mirrors certain biological conditions seen in hibernation, including reduced energy intake and slowed metabolism. It triggers a complex cascade of gene activity. 



The team tracked which genes turned on or off during this period and identified “hub” genes that regulate broader gene networks.



Interestingly, many altered regions in hibernators were located near these hub genes. These overlaps imply that evolutionary changes may have modified gene control switches to support hibernation. 



The switches appear crucial for the coordination of metabolic and neurological functions. Scientists now consider these regulatory elements key targets for future genetic and medical research.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-this-could-help-humans">How this could help humans</h2>



Rather than inventing new traits, evolution in hibernators may have broken metabolic locks. Humans still have those locks in place. But our genes hold the same basic tools. 



“Humans already have the genetic framework,” said Steinwand. “We just need to identify the control switches for these hibernator traits.”



The findings hint at future medical possibilities. If we identify and harness these regulatory switches, we may help humans survive extreme metabolic stress, reverse age-related decline, or treat chronic disease.



“There’s potentially an opportunity - by understanding these hibernation-linked mechanisms in the genome - to find strategies to intervene and help with age-related diseases,” noted Dr. Gregg. 



“If that’s hidden in the genome that we’ve already got, we could learn from hibernators to improve our own health.”



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adp4701" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science</a>.



-----



Like what you read?&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a>&nbsp;for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



Check us out on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/author/eralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a>&nbsp;and Earth.com.



-----

Humans carry hidden hibernation genes that could treat diseases

Hibernating animals stretch the limits of biology, surviving for months...

In a lab at ETH Zurich, muscle biologist Ori Bar-Nur is growing beef without the cow. His team cultivates meat from bovine cells using advanced tissue engineering techniques - but regulatory approval is still needed before anyone can take a bite. 



While Bar-Nur hasn’t sampled it himself, some of his colleagues have taken part in official tastings of lab-grown beef under approved conditions. They describe its taste and texture as similar to real meat. After all, it is beef. 



Instead of relying on entire animals, Bar-Nur’s team starts with a small biopsy from a living cow, isolating precursor cells called myoblasts. 



These cells, which naturally develop into muscle fibers, are cultured in the lab to grow tissue from familiar cuts like filet, sirloin, cheek, and flank.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-turning-cells-into-steak">Turning cells into steak</h2>



Scientists had previously managed to generate <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-fat-hidden-in-muscles-weakens-strength-and-healing/">muscle fibers</a> from bovine myoblasts in the lab, but these fibers were thin. The <a href="https://ethz.ch/en.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ETH</a> team has now created three-dimensional muscle tissue with thick fibers from myoblasts.



This tissue more closely resembles natural bovine muscle tissue both molecularly and functionally. It contains the same active genes and proteins as natural muscle and contracts in the same way. 



Older methods failed to produce such qualities because the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/blood-stem-cells-grown-in-the-lab-for-first-time-ever-leukemia-treatment/">lab-grown cells</a> lacked some key proteins. This advancement builds on a better understanding of myogenesis, the process by which muscle precursor cells differentiate into muscle fibers. 



In natural systems, satellite cells activate, become myoblasts, and fuse into myotubes, a process regulated by transcription factors such as MyoD and Myogenin.



Conventional methods often used high-serum growth conditions followed by serum reduction, which led to a loss of myogenic potential and heterogeneous cell populations. 



The ETH team improved on this by applying a refined medium and using molecules that support both progenitor maintenance and robust differentiation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lab-meat-is-spreading-worldwide">Lab meat is spreading worldwide</h2>



Bar-Nur’s research could influence a field poised to change global meat production. Dozens of start-ups worldwide are racing to make lab-grown meat affordable, reducing the need for cow sheds, livestock transport, and slaughterhouses. 



This production method also requires less land. Although its climate impact is still debated, many believe it could be more sustainable.



Singapore has already approved commercially available lab-grown chicken produced from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/frankenfood-beef-grown-inside-rice-cells-that-is-tasty-healthy-and-affordable/">cultured animal cells</a>. Lab-grown beef, however, is still in development. The recent ETH advances could push progress forward in this area.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-recipe-for-lab-meat">New recipe for lab meat</h2>



To create thick, functional muscle fibers, ETH Zurich researchers added a combination of three molecules to the nutrient-rich cell culture medium. These molecules drive cell differentiation, enabling better muscle formation.



Bar-Nur developed this cocktail seven years ago during his postdoctoral work at Harvard University. The same combination - Forskolin, RepSox, and CHIR99021 - was shown in recent studies to encourage the formation of larger, more contractile muscle fibers while maintaining a pool of progenitor-like cells.



At the time, he was working primarily with mice to study muscle cells for treating hereditary muscle diseases. 



Research into muscular dystrophy remains a central focus for Bar-Nur at ETH Zurich. He later discovered that the same method works well for creating higher-quality bovine muscle cells.



Transcriptomic and proteomic studies further confirmed that these improved conditions increase the expression of muscle-specific genes and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sushi-of-the-future-the-first-ever-lab-grown-eel-is-a-success/">proteins</a> linked to contraction and metabolic maturity. They also promote fibre diversity, mimicking slow- and fast-twitch muscle types found in natural beef.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-making-lab-beef-ready-for-everyone">Making lab beef ready for everyone</h2>



The three molecules are necessary only in the early stages of muscle fiber development. They can be removed later, ensuring that any future commercial products will not contain them. Still, more work is needed before lab-grown beef reaches consumers.



“The cell culture medium requires further optimization to make it more affordable and safe for consumption," said Christine Trautmann, a doctoral student and a lead author of the study. "Additionally, we need to explore ways to produce these muscle fibers in larger quantities.” 



At present, the team has only produced a few grams of muscle and is now exploring scale-up strategies. Enhanced media and advanced 3D scaffold technologies could be critical in achieving this, as they allow tissue constructs to form with improved organization and nutritional relevance.



“These innovative new <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/food-products-need-environmental-impact-labels/">food products</a> will have to undergo a prolonged and complex authorization procedure before they reach shop shelves and, ultimately, our plates,” said Adhideb Ghosh, the other lead author in Bar-Nur's group.



To advance this technology and bring it to market, Bar-Nur is considering launching a start-up. His goal is to make ethically sound burgers that are both safe and affordable.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/advs.202413998" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Advanced Science</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



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



-----

Burgers without the cow? Lab-grown beef is closer to reality

In a lab at ETH Zurich, muscle biologist Ori Bar-Nur...

Teen smoking has plummeted over the past 50 years. What once was a common habit has become socially discouraged and heavily regulated. But a new trend is putting that progress at risk.



A recent study shows that teens who regularly use e-cigarettes are just as likely to pick up cigarette smoking as teens were in the 1970s - despite smoking rates among youth being at record lows overall.



The research was conducted by scientists from the <a href="https://umich.edu/">University of Michigan</a>, in collaboration with Penn State University and Purdue University.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-smoking-risk-rises-with-vaping">Smoking risk rises with vaping</h2>



The data paints a sharp contrast between teens who’ve never vaped and those who have. Teenagers with no history of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/electronic-cigarettes-with-games-a-dangerous-innovation/">e-cigarette</a> use have less than a 1 in 50 chance of smoking cigarettes weekly. 



But that risk jumps dramatically for those who’ve used e-cigarettes - even once. If a teen has tried <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/does-vaping-help-people-quit-smoking-cigarettes-new-study-breaks-it-down/">vaping</a>, their chance of weekly cigarette use climbs to over 1 in 10. And for those who vape consistently, the odds approach 1 in 3.



“The use of e-cigarettes and the proliferation of e-cigarettes have really disrupted those awesome trends and improvements,” said Jessica Mongilio, a research fellow at the U-M School of Nursing. “For kids who have never used e-cigarettes, we do see those historic declines in risk." 



"But for kids who do use e-cigarettes, it's almost as if all of those policies and all of those perceptions have done nothing, and they've got a really high risk of smoking cigarettes.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-three-generations-one-troubling-pattern">Three generations, one troubling pattern</h2>



To understand how vaping is changing youth behavior, researchers analyzed data from three generations of British teens. The studies came from the Centre for Longitudinal Studies at University College London.



The Millennium Cohort Study followed kids born in 2000 and 2001 - many of whom grew up just as e-cigarettes were hitting the market. 



The British Cohort Study tracked people born in 1970, who were teenagers in the 1980s when smoking was still widespread. And the National Child Development Study looked at those born in 1958, who were children when <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cigarette-smoking-among-teens-has-declined-dramatically/">cigarette</a> use was still largely unchallenged.



“We took data from different generations of people who live in the U.K., and looked at their probability of smoking cigarettes at least once a week, based on some well-known risk factors,” Mongilio said. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-teen-vaping-reverses-trends">Teen vaping reverses trends</h2>



Smoking was once seen as glamorous. Over time, that perception was dismantled through decades of public health campaigns, legislation, and shifting cultural attitudes. 



By the late 1990s, smoking had become a behavior that was not just discouraged but actively regulated. Youth smoking hit all-time lows in the 2010s.



But now, vapes - especially those marketed with bright packaging and fruity flavors - are being seen as a less harmful alternative to cigarettes. That perception is drawing teens back to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nicotine-pouches-are-a-new-dangerous-trend-among-teens/">nicotine</a>.



According to the researchers, vaping could erase decades of progress by drawing a new generation into nicotine use.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracking-teens-into-adulthood">Tracking teens into adulthood</h2>



One important note: the study does not claim that vaping causes cigarette use directly. But the connection is strong.



Mongilio and her colleagues are continuing to monitor the Millennium Cohort to see how vaping in the teen years plays out over time. This group may reveal more about the long-term effects of early e-cigarette use on health and behavior.



The team is using their findings to advocate for tougher e-cigarette rules on marketing and sales.



“The more you can build evidence - the bigger the pile of support - the harder you can make it to ignore,” Mongilio said. “This will lead toward policy changes and toward increased regulations for e-cigarettes and for producers of e-cigarettes."



"I think we're in a place where change is possible and to have increased regulations and enforcement of those regulations for companies that are producing e-cigarettes.”



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/early/2025/07/23/tc-2024-059212">Tobacco Control</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



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



-----

Vaping may be fueling a teen tobacco comeback

Teen smoking has plummeted over the past 50 years. What...

Cancer sometimes creeps in slowly, other times it bursts onto the scene without much warning. Either way, the disease hijacks the instructions that tell our cells how to behave, turning helpful teammates into troublemakers. 



For decades, oncology has focused on destroying those unruly cells. A new line of work asks a different question: what if we could push them back to their earlier, well-behaved selves instead?



That shift in thinking matters because collateral damage from chemotherapy and radiation can leave patients exhausted, immunocompromised, or facing secondary health problems. 



Turning <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cancer-cells-create-power-waves-to-fuel-invasion/">malignant cells</a> into harmless ones - rather than wiping them out - could soften side effects and open doors for people too frail for aggressive regimens.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-spotting-the-tipping-point">Spotting the tipping point</h2>



Long before a tumor shows up on a scan, genetic and epigenetic tweaks accumulate inside would-be cancer cells. Eventually the balance tips, launching a rapid change known as a critical transition. 



Physicists know a similar tipping point from the way water flashes into steam at 212 °F (100 °C). Biologists, though, have struggled to pin down that instant in living tissue because every cell moves at its own pace.



Researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (<a href="https://www.kaist.ac.kr/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">KAIST</a>) recently reported a method that captures this fleeting window. 



The team at KAIST, led by Professor Kwang-Hyun Cho of the Department of Bio and Brain Engineering, calls its approach REVERT, short for REVERse Transition. 



The idea is to record each cell’s gene activity, reconstruct the internal circuitry, then simulate how the circuitry shifts as cancer sets in.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-revert-kills-cancer-with-math">REVERT kills cancer with math</h2>



Many computational <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/computer-model-can-identify-tumor-fighting-immune-cells/">cancer models</a> rely on differential equations packed with hard-to-measure parameters. 



REVERT keeps the math lean by translating gene networks into <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/computer-science/boolean-logic" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Boolean logic</a>: every gene is either on or off, yes or no. 



That stripped-down map is surprisingly powerful. It lets the software explore all the stable states - called attractors - that a cell might occupy and rate each one with a malignancy score.



A low score reflects orderly growth signals. A high score flags a pattern more typical of tumors, such as constant division or resistance to suicide signals. 



By nudging one switch at a time in the computer, the investigators can ask which combinations shove a high score back down.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pausing-a-rogue-gene-pair">Pausing a rogue gene pair</h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/medicinal-plant-has-great-potential-to-fight-colorectal-cancer/">Colorectal cancer</a> gave REVERT its first real-world test. The researchers fed the program single-cell RNA-sequencing data from patient biopsies, watched the simulated cells cross the transition, and searched for breakpoints. 



One culprit popped up quickly: <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/4609" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MYC</a>, a gene famous for stepping on the gas in many cancers. Shutting off MYC alone, however, did not restore order. The malignancy score fell partway, then stalled.



A second gene, <a href="https://www.genecards.org/cgi-bin/carddisp.pl?gene=YY1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">YY1</a>, changed the picture. Treating MYC and YY1 as a toggle switch produced two stable outcomes. Tip the balance one way and the cell speeds toward malignancy; tip it the other and normal behavior resurfaces. 



“We have discovered a molecular switch that can revert the fate of cancer cells back to a normal state by capturing the moment of critical transition right before normal cells are changed into an irreversible cancerous state,” said Cho.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-from-code-to-colon-organoids">From code to colon organoids</h2>



Finding candidate switches in silico is useful, but genuine tissues decide whether a therapy will fly. The researchers collaborated with <a href="https://en.snu.ac.kr/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Seoul National University</a>, which provided colon organoids grown from patient samples. 



When scientists reduced activity of USP7 - another REVERT-highlighted target - the organoids regained orderly architecture. 



Cells once eager to overgrow instead respected their neighbors’ space and lined up neatly. Those test-tube results hint that similar reversions could emerge in living patients.



“In particular, this study has revealed in detail, at the genetic network level, what changes occur within cells behind the process of cancer development, which has been considered a mystery until now,” Cho explained. 



He added that uncovering those hidden levers marks the first time anyone has shown that “an important clue that can revert the fate of tumorigenesis is hidden at this very critical moment of change.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-using-revert-on-different-cancer-types">Using REVERT on different cancer types</h2>



Colorectal tumors were the proving ground, yet the underlying logic of critical transitions spans many cancers. 



Lung and breast malignancies, for example, also pass through mixed-identity stages where healthy and diseased programs overlap. 



Because REVERT focuses on that limbo period rather than late-stage chaos, it may reveal intervention points earlier than traditional drug screens.



<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single-cell_transcriptomics" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Single-cell transcriptomics</a> keeps improving in depth and speed, so feeding richer datasets into the Boolean engine should sharpen its predictions. 



At the same time, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/crispr-used-to-remove-extra-chromosomes-in-down-syndrome-and-restore-cell-function/">CRISPR-based</a> gene editing has grown precise enough to toggle multiple switches in living tissue. 



Pair those tools and oncologists could one day customize reversion cocktails for each patient, sparing healthy organs the collateral hits of broad-spectrum treatments.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cancer-revert-and-regenerative-meds">Cancer, REVERT, and regenerative meds</h2>



The attractor landscape at the heart of REVERT does more than illuminate cancer. Stem-cell biologists routinely coax cells to choose fates during laboratory reprogramming. 



Errant transitions, however, can derail tissue-engineering projects. A map that catches switches before the wrong fork could refine protocols for growing heart muscle, insulin-producing pancreas cells, or even neurons for spinal-cord repair.



For now, the new framework remains a laboratory concept. Clinical trials that target paired switches must prove safe and durable. 



Tumors also mutate quickly, potentially rewiring the very circuits researchers aim to reset. 



Even so, a strategy that persuades misbehaving cells to stand down - rather than carpet-bombing them - offers a fresh playbook in the long fight against cancer.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/advs.202412503" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Advanced Science</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



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



-----

Scientists discover a molecular switch to turn cancer cells into normal cells

Cancer sometimes creeps in slowly, other times it bursts onto...

All living tissues give off photons as excited molecules shed excess energy. The phenomenon is so subtle - roughly a million times dimmer than the threshold of human vision - that researchers call it ultra-weak photon emission (UPE).



Because the brain consumes an exceptionally high metabolic budget and is packed with photoactive compounds such as flavins and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-dopamine-and-serotonin-shape-behavior/">serotonin</a>, scientists have long suspected it might glow more brightly than other organs. 



What they did not know was whether that ghostly glow fluctuates in ways that reveal real-time neural activity. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-turning-darkness-into-a-laboratory"><a></a>Turning darkness into a laboratory</h2>



To find out, a collaborative team from <a href="https://algomau.ca/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Algoma University</a>, Tufts University, and Wilfrid Laurier University recruited 20 healthy adults and seated them in a light-sealed chamber.



Two photomultiplier tubes - devices capable of counting single photons - were aimed at the back (occipital) and side (temporal) regions of each participant’s head, while a third tube monitored background darkness.



Simultaneously, the researchers fitted the volunteers with a standard electroencephalography (EEG) cap to compare electrical rhythms with any optical rhythms.



The experiment lasted ten minutes and cycled through five simple conditions: eyes open, eyes closed, listening to a repetitive tone, eyes closed again, and finally, eyes open again. 



Each condition lasted two minutes - enough time for the researchers to watch the brain light settle into a steady signal before switching tasks.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-brain-glow-follows-a-rhythm">Brain glow follows a rhythm</h2>



Despite the photons’ extreme faintness, the team, led by Hayley Casey and Nirosha Murugan, successfully separated brain-derived light from background counts by examining complexity and variability.



In brief, the cranial signal showed higher entropy - richer fluctuation - than the near-constant dark noise inside the optics.



Spectral analysis revealed that these emissions waxed and waned at very slow frequencies below one hertz. This means a rise-and-fall cycle occurred every one to ten seconds. 



This low-frequency “heartbeat” was strongest over the occipital cortex, the very region that processes visual input.



Just as important, the photon stream reached a reproducible equilibrium within each two-minute block, then shifted when the task changed. That pattern strongly suggests the glow is not random metabolic chatter but reflects the brain’s moment-to-moment state.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-eyes-shut-photons-rise"><a></a>Eyes shut, photons rise</h2>



Closing one’s eyes is known to boost alpha-band electrical rhythms (8–12 hertz) in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-the-human-brain-processes-visual-information/">visual cortex</a>. This is a signature of relaxed wakefulness first reported in the 1920s.



The new study revealed that occipital photon counts modulated in tandem. Some participants’ emissions rose during eyes-closed periods, while others fell. However, each individual showed a consistent direction across the two eyes-closed blocks.



Occipital UPE also showed modest correlations with alpha power measured by EEG - evidence that the optical signal does tap into neural dynamics. However, the relationship is complex and needs further investigation.



Auditory stimulation, delivered through a simple repeating tone, produced subtler effects. The temporal sensor picked up changes in photon variability that tracked certain EEG rhythms recorded over the same region.



This hints that metabolic shifts linked to processing sound also leave a photonic fingerprint.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-window-into-brain-metabolism">A window into brain metabolism</h2>



Standard brain-monitoring tools, whether MRI, PET, or infrared spectroscopy, rely on sending energy into the skull and measuring what bounces back.



UPE recording, in contrast, is wholly passive: the detectors simply wait in the dark. That makes the technique conceptually similar to EEG or magnetoencephalography (MEG), but tuned to oxidative chemistry rather than electricity or magnetism.



The authors propose “photoencephalography” for a future technology that could use natural brain light as a clinical signal.



“We view the current results as a proof-of-concept demonstration that patterns of human-brain-derived UPE signals can be discriminated from background light signals despite very low relative signal intensity,” explained the researchers.



They speculate that refined detectors - equipped with wavelength-specific filters to isolate, say, green-emitting flavins from red-shifted lipofuscin - might one day diagnose metabolic stress. 



Such tools could also monitor aging or even flag <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/coffee-grounds-could-help-prevent-neurodegenerative-diseases/">neurodegenerative disease</a> before symptoms emerge.



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



The pilot study sampled only 20 people and monitored just two scalp sites. Photomultiplier tubes counted all visible and near-infrared photons, drowning out any subtle color coding of brain chemistry in the noise.



Future setups will deploy arrays of narrow-band detectors to capture spatial and spectral detail, and will compare cranial readings with simultaneous measurements from non-neural tissues to confirm specificity.



The researchers also plan to test broader age ranges and clinical populations. They aim to see whether disorders that alter oxidative metabolism - such as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-blood-test-can-track-the-progression-of-alzheimers/">Alzheimer’s disease</a>, traumatic brain injury, or chronic stress - produce distinctive optical signatures.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-the-brain-glows-at-all"><a></a>Why the brain glows at all</h2>



Though focused on measurement, the study builds on work linking UPE spikes to bursts of reactive oxygen in mitochondria. Those by-products can excite biomolecules; when the molecules relax, they release photons.



If so, the faint light may function as a built-in reporter of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ai-reveals-the-secret-to-keeping-your-brain-young/">brain</a>’s redox balance - a chemical ledger of energy production, stress, and recovery.



Electrical rhythms revolutionized neuroscience a century ago; functional MRI did the same in the 1990s. 



Photoencephalography, though still in its infancy, offers a tantalizing third window. It peers directly at the cell’s metabolic engine without injecting energy or contrast agents.



The current study lights the first path forward: prove the signal exists, show that it changes with mental state, and establish that it differs from background noise. 



The next challenge is to turn those wisps of light into a practical tool for medicine and cognitive science.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/iscience/fulltext/S2589-0042(25)00279-2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">iScience</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



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



-----

Human brains emit light and glow in the dark, revealing our mental state

All living tissues give off photons as excited molecules shed...

A recent study has revealed that immersion in virtual reality (VR) nature scenes can significantly ease the symptoms of chronic pain. 



The strongest benefits appeared in participants who felt deeply present during the experience, enhancing comfort and reducing pain sensitivity effectively over time.



The research, led by the University of Exeter, involved an immersive 360-degree <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-nature-conservation-day-2025-a-healthy-future-for-all/">nature</a> films through VR against standard 2D video images. VR proved almost twice as effective in reducing pain perception.



Chronic pain, which lasts for more than three months, can be challenging to treat. The researchers simulated this condition in healthy participants. 



The experts discovered that VR nature scenes produced pain-relieving effects similar to painkillers. These effects persisted for at least five minutes after the VR experience ended.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-virtual-reality-and-chronic-pain">Virtual reality and chronic pain</h2>



The study was led by Dr. Sam Hughes, senior lecturer in pain neuroscience at the <a href="https://www.exeter.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Exeter</a>. 



“We’ve seen a growing body of evidence show that exposure to nature can help reduce short term, everyday pain, but there has been less research into how this might work for people living with chronic or longer-term pain,” said Dr. Hughes.



“Also, not everyone is able to get out for walks in nature, particularly those living with long term health conditions like chronic pain. Our study is the first to look at the effect of prolonged exposure to a virtual reality nature scene on symptoms seen during long term pain sensitivity.



According to Dr. Hughes, the results suggest that immersive <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earth-day-2025-innovation-takes-the-lead-in-environmental-action/">nature</a> experiences can reduce the development of this pain sensitivity through an enhanced sense of presence and through harnessing the brains in-built pain suppression systems.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-virtual-nature-scenes-as-therapy">Virtual nature scenes as therapy</h2>



The study, funded by the Academy of Medical Sciences, involved 29 healthy participants. The researchers applied pain to the forearm using electric shocks and then measured pain changes over a 50-minute period. 



Participants developed pain sensitivity similar to nerve pain in the absence of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-environment-day-2025-plastic-pollution-is-choking-our-planet/">nature</a> scenes. On a separate visit, the same participants experienced a 45-minute VR nature session featuring the waterfalls of Oregon. 



The scene was selected to enhance therapeutic outcomes. On another occasion, participants viewed the same nature scenes on a 2D screen for comparison.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-feeling-present-in-vr-lowers-pain">Feeling present in VR lowers pain</h2>



The participants also completed questionnaires about their pain experience and how present they felt in each scenario. Additional visits included MRI brain scans at the University of Exeter’s Mireille Gillings Neuroimaging Centre. 



Here, researchers induced ongoing pain using a cold gel and examined how participants’ brains responded.



The immersive VR experience significantly reduced the spread and intensity of pain sensitivity. These benefits lasted through the entire 45-minute session. Participants who felt more present during the VR experience reported greater pain relief.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-virtual-nature-scenes-work">Why virtual nature scenes work</h2>



The brain scans revealed that participants with stronger connections in brain regions regulating pain experienced less discomfort. VR nature scenes altered the way pain signals travel in the brain and spinal cord, especially for chronic pain conditions.



“We think VR has a particularly strong effect on reducing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nature-has-its-own-internet-and-were-only-beginning-to-understand-it/">experience</a> of pain because it’s so immersive. It really created that feeling of being present in nature - and we found the pain - reducing effect was greatest in people for whom that perception was strongest," said Dr. Sonia Medina.



"We hope our study leads to more research to investigate further how exposure to nature effects our pain responses, so we could one day see nature scenes incorporated into ways of reducing pain for people in settings like care homes or hospitals."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-using-vr-to-treat-chronic-pain">Using VR to treat chronic pain </h2>



The findings indicate that VR-based nature experiences could become part of pain management strategies. Future research will explore how this technology could benefit people living with chronic pain, especially those unable to access outdoor environments. 



Researchers hope these immersive experiences can complement existing therapies, improve quality of life, and offer accessible solutions for patients in hospitals, care homes, and other clinical settings where natural outdoor exposure is limited.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.lww.com/pain/abstract/9900/immersion_in_nature_through_virtual_reality.970.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pain</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



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



-----

Virtual nature scenes provide relief from chronic pain

A recent study has revealed that immersion in virtual reality...

More people in the United States now smoke cannabis every day than drink alcohol, with about 17.7 million daily or near daily users recorded in the 2022 <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38775461/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Survey on Drug Use and Health</a>. 



That shift adds urgency to questions about what long term, high frequency use might be doing to the body.



Researchers from the University of California San Diego (<a href="https://ucsd.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UCSD</a>) followed more than 45,000 patients. They found that people diagnosed with cannabis use disorder (<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538131/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CUD</a>) were 3.25 times more likely to develop oral cancer within five years than those without the disorder. 



The elevated <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cannabis-use-in-any-form-directly-linked-to-significant-risk-of-heart-damage/">risk</a> held even after accounting for age, sex, body mass index, and tobacco smoking.



<a href="https://profiles.ucsd.edu/raphael.cuomo" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Raphael E. Cuomo, Ph.D.</a>, an associate professor in the Department of Anesthesiology at UC San Diego School of Medicine and member of the <a href="https://moorescancercenter.ucsd.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Moores Cancer Center</a>, led the analysis. 



He points out that the findings dovetail with toxicology data showing cannabis smoke carries many of the same chemicals blamed for tobacco related malignancies.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cannabis-use-linked-to-oral-cancer">Cannabis use linked to oral cancer</h2>



Legalization has widened access to cannabis, yet roughly <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16854249/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">three-in-ten</a> regular users meet criteria for the disorder, a clinical diagnosis that signals problematic use. 



Unlike casual <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/legal-access-to-cannabis-is-proving-to-be-good-for-both-people-and-society/">consumption</a>, CUD typically involves near daily smoking, deeper inhalation, and higher potency products that bathe oral tissues in combustion by products.



At the same time, the <a href="https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/oral-cavity-and-oropharyngeal-cancer/about/key-statistics.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">American Cancer Society</a> estimates about 59,660 Americans will be told they have cancers of the mouth or throat in 2025. 



Smoking remains a leading risk factor, but human papillomavirus (<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/hpv/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">HPV</a>), heavy drinking, and now cannabis may add new layers to that risk profile.



Oral tumors often begin as painless spots on the lip or tongue, making early detection tricky. By linking CUD and tumor incidence in electronic health records, the <a href="https://ucsd.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UC San Diego</a> team offers clinicians a fresh flag for vigilance.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cannabis-raises-cancer-risk">Cannabis raises cancer risk</h2>



The study drew data from six academic medical centers between 2012 and 2019, then tracked each participant for five years. 



Only 2.1 percent developed CUD, yet that small group accounted for nearly a third of the oral cancer diagnoses observed.



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/smoking-related-deaths-will-surge-by-2030/">Tobacco smokers</a> in the cohort already faced extra danger, but those who both smoked cigarettes and had CUD were six times more likely to be diagnosed than smokers without CUD. 



Because the cannabis signal persisted inside the smoking subgroup, Cuomo’s team suspects mechanisms beyond simple smoke exposure.



The researchers also noted that women, older age, and higher body mass index appeared to slightly temper risk, echoing patterns seen with tobacco related oral cancers. However, those demographic buffers did not erase the impact of CUD.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-smoke-harms-mouth-tissue">Smoke harms mouth tissue</h2>



Laboratory <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18062674/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">analyses</a> show that marijuana smoke contains hundreds of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (<a href="https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2014-03/documents/pahs_factsheet_cdc_2013.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PAHs</a>), benzene, and ammonia, many at concentrations equal to or higher than tobacco sidestream smoke. Several of these compounds directly damage DNA in epithelial cells lining the mouth.



A detailed chemical fingerprint published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-63120-6" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2020</a> cataloged 2,575 distinct compounds in mainstream cannabis smoke, 110 of which are known human toxicants. 



Such particle rich aerosols stick to mucosal surfaces, extending contact time between carcinogens and target cells.



Histology from habitual marijuana smokers has revealed <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9719080/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dysplasia</a> and other precancerous changes in bronchial tissue even when tobacco is absent. Those cellular alterations mirror the earliest steps seen on the path to malignancy.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cannabis-affects-cancer-defense">Cannabis affects cancer defense</h2>



Tetrahydrocannabinol (<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/tetrahydrocannabinol" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">THC</a>), the main psychoactive molecule in cannabis, can impair <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18040791/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">immune suppression</a> pathways that normally patrol for rogue cells. Less immune surveillance could give mutated oral cells a head start toward tumor formation.



Edible or vaporized products bypass the oral cavity, yet frequent users often combine delivery methods, so risk patterns for noncombustible forms remain unclear. 



Future studies that separate smoke exposure from total THC dose may untangle these variables.



Another unknown is whether the rising average potency of commercial <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cannabis-potency-why-you-shouldnt-trust-the-label/">cannabis</a> accelerates carcinogen uptake or immune effects. 



Public laboratories have only begun to simulate how today’s 25 percent THC flower compares with the 4 percent material studied decades ago.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-daily-users-face-big-risk">Daily users face big risk</h2>



People with CUD commonly face co-occurring mental health challenges, alcohol misuse, and lower participation in preventive dental care. These overlapping factors could compound cancer risk and delay diagnosis.



Socioeconomic gaps may also play a role, because uninsured adults are less likely to receive routine oral examinations. Community clinics that integrate substance use counseling with oral screenings could bridge that divide.



For clinicians, the takeaway is straightforward. When a patient meets criteria for CUD, adding a quick inspection of the mouth and a referral to dentistry costs little but may spot trouble early.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-heavy-cannabis-harms-oral-health">Heavy cannabis harms oral health</h2>



Cannabis is not just a milder cousin of tobacco, its smoke delivers a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cannabis-extract-cbd-proven-highly-effective-at-killing-mosquitoes/">complex chemical load</a> with measurable impacts on human tissue. 



The UC San Diego study reminds us that heavy, prolonged use carries consequences that legalization debates often overlook.



Policy makers weighing retail expansion should ensure that cancer prevention messaging keeps pace with marketing. Clear warnings, similar to those on cigarette packs, could help users make informed choices.



For now, anyone lighting up daily can lower potential harm by switching to noncombustible products, spacing out sessions, and keeping regular dental check ups. 



Researchers will continue probing dose, delivery, and biology, but prudence starts with individual habits.



“Cannabis smoke contains many of the same carcinogenic compounds found in tobacco smoke, which have known damaging effects on the epithelial tissue that lines the mouth,” noted Cuomo. 



Staying aware of that simple fact may be the first step toward safer choices.



The study is published in <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211335525002244" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Preventive Medicine Reports</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



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



-----

Cannabis users face a significantly higher oral cancer risk, similar to cigarette smokers

More people in the United States now smoke cannabis every...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prrq8Ql81zk
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Acid rain and a crisis solved.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-don-t-we-ever-hear-about-acid-rain-anymore-the-environmental-crisis-that-was-solved">Why don't we ever hear about "acid rain" anymore? The environmental crisis that was solved</h2>



Remember the 1980s when acid rain dominated headlines? Dire warnings about rain eating buildings, killing fish, and destroying forests filled every news cycle. Then, almost like magic, acid rain vanished from public discourse. What happened? Did we actually solve one of the late 20th century's most pressing environmental challenges?



The answer might surprise you. Unlike many environmental issues that drag on indefinitely, acid rain represents one of modern history's most successful ecological recovery stories. It's a tale of science, politics, and technology working together to tackle what seemed impossible.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What was acid rain?</h2>



Acid rain isn't regular rain having a bad day – it's precipitation that became significantly more acidic due to air pollution. When power plants, factories, and vehicles burn fossil fuels, they release sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) into the atmosphere.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The science behind it</h2>



Think of acid rain as nature's chemistry experiment gone wrong. These compounds react with water, oxygen, and other chemicals to form sulfuric and nitric acids. When mixed with water vapor in clouds, they create precipitation with dangerously low pH levels.



While clean rain has a pH of about 5.6, acid rain could drop as low as 4.2 to 4.4 – roughly as acidic as tomato juice or coffee. According to US Geological Survey documentation, Scottish chemist Angus Smith first coined "acid rain" in 1872, but it didn't become a household phrase until the 1960s and 1970s when Swedish scientist Svante Odén documented its devastating effects on Scandinavian lakes and European forests.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The crisis at its peak</h2>



During the height of public concern, environmental damage was both widespread and visible. This wasn't some abstract future threat – people could see destruction happening in real-time.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Environmental devastation</h2>



The most dramatic impacts were impossible to ignore. Research documented by the Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation shows that in the Adirondack Mountains, more than 200 lakes became so acidic they couldn't support fish life. The Adirondack Council reports that 409 lakes once supported brook trout, but many lost their fish populations due to acid rain.



By 1976, when scientists cataloged all acidified lakes in the Adirondack Park, researchers found that half of the lakes over 2,000 feet above sea level had no fish, according to studies published in environmental journals. The acidification process worked like a slow-motion disaster. As acid rain fell into watersheds, it gradually lowered pH levels. Fish couldn't survive in acidic water, and their food sources died off too.



Trees at high elevations showed stress directly linked to acid rain. It weakened them by leaching nutrients and making them susceptible to disease. Historical records show Germany's Black Forest saw nearly half its trees damaged by the mid-1980s.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Economic impact</h2>



Acid rain wasn't just environmental – it was expensive. Acidic precipitation corroded infrastructure, buildings, and monuments. Historic stone structures deteriorated at accelerated rates. Tourism suffered as lakes became fishless and forests declined. EPA economic analyses from the period documented repair costs mounting into billions annually.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The solution: government action and technology</h2>



Transformation from crisis to success required unprecedented cooperation between governments, industries, and environmental groups.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Clean Air Act of 1990</h2>



The turning point came with the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, signed by President George H.W. Bush. This represented a fundamentally new approach to environmental regulation, as documented in EPA historical records.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Cap-and-trade success</h2>



Instead of mandating specific technologies, the 1990 amendments introduced something revolutionary: a cap-and-trade system for sulfur dioxide emissions. EPA program documentation shows this market-based approach set overall limits but allowed companies to trade emission allowances.



The genius was harnessing market forces to find cost-effective pollution reduction. Companies reducing emissions cheaply could sell excess allowances to those facing higher costs. Research published in environmental economics journals and EPA progress reports shows this resulted in dramatic SO2 reduction at a fraction of projected costs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Technology advances</h2>



Policy provided the framework, but technology made reductions possible. Studies in atmospheric science journals document the widespread adoption of flue gas desulfurization systems ("scrubbers") that removed sulfur dioxide before it reached the atmosphere. By the 2000s, new installations could remove over 95% of SO2 emissions, according to EPA technical reports.



The push coincided with cleaner energy development. Natural gas produces fewer sulfur compounds than coal. Wind and solar, emerging in the 1990s, captured growing market share, reducing reliance on high-sulfur coal.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-we-don-t-hear-about-it-today">Why we don't hear about it today</h2>



Why did acid rain disappear from headlines? Simple: the problem was largely solved.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Success doesn't make news</h2>



There's an old journalism saying: "If it bleeds, it leads." Environmental success stories don't generate urgency like crisis reporting. Media attention shifted to other challenges: climate change, plastic pollution, and biodiversity loss. There's only so much environmental anxiety the public can absorb, and newer concerns replaced acid rain.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Mission accomplished</h2>



The primary reason is beautifully simple: interventions worked. EPA monitoring data shows sulfur dioxide emissions dropped over 90% since 1990. Academic research published in environmental science journals confirms pH levels in formerly affected areas returned closer to normal. This represents one of history's most dramatic environmental recoveries. Studies by the Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation show fishless lakes now support healthy populations. Forests recovered, and building damage slowed dramatically.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-is-it-really-gone">Is it really gone?</h2>



The crisis is largely resolved, but monitoring data shows the problem isn't completely eliminated – it's managed to acceptable levels. Some areas still experience occasional events during high pollution periods. International environmental research indicates that rapidly industrializing Asian countries face similar problems to what we experienced decades ago, though they're implementing successful strategies.



EPA research shows nitrogen oxide emissions proved more challenging than sulfur dioxide, coming from vehicles and mobile sources. Climate science studies suggest changing weather patterns add complexity to how acid rain forms and falls.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What this teaches us</h2>



The acid rain experience proves that seemingly intractable environmental problems can be solved with scientific understanding, political will, and technological innovation. Environmental monitoring data shows recovery speed was remarkable – within a decade, measurable improvements appeared in air quality and ecosystem health.



Success came from bipartisan support across party lines. Policy analysis studies show the market-based approach appealed to those preferring economic incentives while achieving environmental goals. This support created lasting policy surviving political changes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Conclusion</h2>



Acid rain's disappearance from public consciousness represents environmental science's greatest success stories. Through effective regulation, technological innovation, and international cooperation, we transformed an overwhelming crisis into a manageable challenge.



Today's silence isn't because we forgot – it's because we solved it. The 1990 Clean Air Act, combined with technology and energy market changes, reduced acid rain emissions over 90%, according to comprehensive EPA data analysis.



This success offers hope for current challenges. It proves complex problems can be solved when science, policy, and technology work together. As we face climate change and plastic pollution, acid rain reminds us that dramatic positive change is possible.



Next time someone asks whether environmental regulations work, remember acid rain. It's proof that sometimes, we get it right.



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



Sources: This article draws from EPA official documentation and progress reports, peer-reviewed research published in environmental and atmospheric science journals, historical data from the Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation records, US Geological Survey publications, policy analysis studies, and environmental monitoring data collected over three decades.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Frequently Asked Questions</h2>



1. Is acid rain completely gone? No, but EPA monitoring shows it's reduced to manageable levels. US sulfur dioxide emissions dropped over 90% since 1990, making acid rain much less severe than the 1980s crisis.



2. How long did solving take? Environmental monitoring data shows significant improvements began within 5-10 years of 1990s emission controls. Full ecosystem recovery took longer – some areas need 20-30 years for complete recovery.



3. What made the solution successful? Clear scientific understanding, visible damage motivating action, bipartisan support, available technology, and innovative market-based policies like cap-and-trade.



4. Do other countries have acid rain problems? Yes, particularly rapidly industrializing Asian countries. However, international environmental research shows many implement similar successful control strategies.



5. Could acid rain return? Potentially, if regulations weaken or we return to high-sulfur coal without controls, though effects would take years to become severe according to environmental projections.



6. Can you recommend any teaching tools on the subject of "acid rain"? The United States Environmental Protection Agency produced a wonderful teacher's guide for ages 14 and under that you can find on the EPA website here: <a href="https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2017-03/documents/teachersguide.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2017-03/documents/teachersguide.pdf</a>



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



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



-----

The environmental problem we actually solved

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prrq8Ql81zk Acid rain and a crisis solved. Why don't we...

Fresh,Radish,Harvest,On,Soil,In,Garden.

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://youtu.be/Fi2OeEwuzRM?si=vTyd2m9FMmtyWkex
</div></figure>







Mid-July is an opportune time to kick-start a thriving fall garden, and this guide lays out the best vegetables and herbs to plant now for a fruitful autumn harvest. 



Fast-growing leafy greens such as spinach, lettuce, kale, and arugula perform especially well in the waning summer heat, with harvests beginning as soon as 30 days. 



These cool-season crops relish the transition into fall, offering repeated yields with cut-and-come-again methods.



Root vegetables like radishes, carrots, and beets also excel during this period. Radishes deliver satisfaction in under a month, while carrots and beets mature in about two months. Employing succession planting ensures a continuous stream of produce deep into the cooler months. 



For a boost of fresh flavor, herbs like cilantro, basil, dill, and chervil are excellent picks. These heat-loving varieties flourish in July’s warmth and are harvest-ready in about 30 days, especially when sown continuously.



Gardeners in zones 6 through 9 can benefit from planting bush beans and snap peas, which don’t require trellising and are ideal for compact plots. 



Maturing in 50–60 days, they’re a smart choice for quick, protein-rich harvests. For those in hotter regions, heat-tolerant crops such as okra and southern peas provide reliable yields and thrive in scorching conditions.



This guide emphasizes more than crop selection—it highlights the importance of timing, soil preparation, and ongoing sowing techniques. 



With thoughtful planning and attention to regional climate needs, even late-summer gardeners can enjoy fresh salads, hearty stews, and the satisfaction of a robust, homegrown harvest well into fall.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.earth.com/author/eralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



-----

What to plant in your garden in mid-July

https://youtu.be/Fi2OeEwuzRM?si=vTyd2m9FMmtyWkex Mid-July is an opportune time to kick-start a thriving...

Green,Ecoduct,Over,An,Empty,Highway,During,Sunset.

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://youtu.be/XYgiPzmNBTU?si=eFYY7gPHU1JznLvU
</div></figure>



A new long-term study in Monkton, Vermont, reveals that wildlife tunnels significantly reduce amphibian road mortality during seasonal migrations. 



Frogs and salamanders often cross roads to reach breeding ponds each spring, but many are killed by vehicles. 



Researchers from the <a href="https://www.uvm.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Vermont</a>, in collaboration with local citizens and the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, installed two underpass tunnels in 2015. 



Over a 12-year monitoring period, they observed an 80.2% reduction in amphibian deaths, and up to 94% for non-climbing species like salamanders. 



The study used a before-after-control-impact design and documented more than 5,200 amphibians, highlighting the tunnels’ effectiveness even in nearby buffer zones.



Funded at $342,397 - far cheaper than wildlife crossings for large mammals - the project showcased the power of community-led conservation.



Local groups initiated the effort after observing mass amphibian deaths. Wildlife cameras later captured over 2,200 amphibians using a tunnel in just one spring, along with other species like raccoons and bobcats, indicating wider ecosystem benefits.



This marks the first peer-reviewed, long-term data set in the northeastern U.S. confirming amphibian-specific underpasses work. 



The study urges transportation departments to incorporate these designs into road planning and highlights how community action, thoughtful infrastructure, and persistence can make a real difference for biodiversity.



The full study was published in the <a href="https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1617138125000780" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal for Nature Conservation</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



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



-----

Wildlife tunnels save millions of amphibians

https://youtu.be/XYgiPzmNBTU?si=eFYY7gPHU1JznLvU A new long-term study in Monkton, Vermont, reveals that...

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.



<figure class="wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://youtu.be/Ug657J67iEo?si=w96YjGMsg939LD_3
</div></figure>



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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="0ynNMYkMKa-2340414-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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

[sendtonews key="0ynNMYkMKa-2340414-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="G9bUoxcjr4-2511624-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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.

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

[sendtonews key="G9bUoxcjr4-2511624-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="3upvlAaHgO-2256633-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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

[sendtonews key="3upvlAaHgO-2256633-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="LvS8v8bp9z-2564889-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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.

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

[sendtonews key="LvS8v8bp9z-2564889-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="X0f6OHYoI4-2310561-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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?

[sendtonews key="X0f6OHYoI4-2310561-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="JRaP49ISmm-2357509-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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

[sendtonews key="JRaP49ISmm-2357509-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="e4ZG0Jawp3-2374785-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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

[sendtonews key="e4ZG0Jawp3-2374785-12187" type="single"] Astronomers at Johns Hopkins University have created...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="uV9Lh2fQbV-1760058-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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"

[sendtonews key="uV9Lh2fQbV-1760058-12187" type="single"] Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky" Today’s...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="qjvhBOBnY8-2426650-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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

[sendtonews key="qjvhBOBnY8-2426650-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="oL4FnPTGCV-2384527-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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

[sendtonews key="oL4FnPTGCV-2384527-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="0879czfG3k-1785905-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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 rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

[sendtonews key="0879czfG3k-1785905-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from NASA...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="6HyfrAJTBI-1831843-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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

[sendtonews key="6HyfrAJTBI-1831843-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="QIoVYJqRBi-2434608-12187" type="single"]</div>



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)



---



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.

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

[sendtonews key="QIoVYJqRBi-2434608-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from NASA...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="JbW4VsY53O-1632195-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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



---



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.

Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="qARzJPSabQ-2270617-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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...

News coming your way