A new study led by the <a href="https://med.nyu.edu/">NYU Grossman School of Medicine</a> has found that running increases the levels of a chemical involved in brain cell growth – the so-called “brain-derived neurotrophic factor” (BDNF) - that triggers the release of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dopamine-plays-a-central-role-in-songbird-mating/">dopamine</a>, a hormone which plays a crucial role in motivation, movement, and learning.&nbsp;



Scientists have long known that regular running raises dopamine activity in the brain, and could protect nerve cells from damage. Moreover, previous research has found correlations between exercise-driven boosts of BDNF and dopamine levels and significant improvements in learning and memory. However, the precise ways in which these factors interact has remained a mystery.



In the new study, researchers provided dozens of male mice with unlimited access to either a freely rotating wheel or a locked, immobile wheel.&nbsp;



After a month, they measured BDNF and dopamine levels in the mice’s brains, and found that running on a wheel for 30 days led to a 40 percent increase in dopamine release in the dorsal striatum – a part of the brain involved in movement – and a nearly 60 percent increase in BDNF levels, compared to their non-running counterparts.&nbsp;



The dopamine levels remained high even after a week of rest. However, when BDNF levels were artificially reduced, running did not result in additional dopamine release.



“Our findings suggest that BDNF plays a key role in the long-lasting changes that occur in the brain as a result of running,” said study lead author Guendalina Bastioli, a postdoctoral fellow in Neurobiology at<a href="https://nyulangone.org/"> NYU Langone Health</a>. “Not only do these results help explain why exercise makes you move, think, and feel better, they also show that these benefits continue even if you do not work out every day.”



Since patients with Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders are often treated with drugs mimicking the effect of dopamine on motor neurons, the results of this study could open paths for non-pharmaceutical treatment of such disease.&nbsp;



“Our results help us understand why exercise alleviates the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, as well as those of neuropsychiatric disorders such as depression,” said study senior author Margaret Rice. “Now that we know why physical activity helps, we can explore it as a means of augmenting or even replacing the use of dopamine-enhancing drugs in these patients.”



Further research is needed to investigate whether these findings could be easily translated from rodents to humans, and to fully understand the role of BDNF and dopamine in movement disorders.



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2273-21.2022">JNeurosci</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Why running can help you move, think, and feel better

A new study led by the NYU Grossman School of Medicine has found that running increases the levels of a chemical involved in brain cell growth – the so-called “brain-derived neurotrophic factor” (BDNF) - that triggers the release of dopamine, a hormone which plays a crucial role in motivation, movement, and learning.&nbsp; Scientists have long known that regular running raises dopamine activity in the brain, and could protect nerve cells from damage. Moreover, previous research has found correlations between exercise-driven boosts of BDNF and dopamine levels and...

A new study presented at <a href="https://digital-congress.escardio.org/Heart-Failure">Heart Failure 2022</a> - a conference organized by the European Society of Cardiology (<a href="http://www.escardio.org/">ESC</a>) – has found that levels of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/even-light-alcohol-intake-can-damage-the-heart/">alcohol</a> consumption currently considered safe by many countries are associated with the development of heart failure. The results suggest that consuming more than 70 grams of alcohol per week is linked to worsening pre-heart failure or progression to symptomatic heart failure in European populations.



“This study adds to the body of evidence that a more cautious approach to alcohol consumption is needed,” explained study author Dr. Bethany Wong, an expert on the relationship between alcohol use and heart hearth at <a href="https://www.stvincents.ie/">St. Vincent's University Hospital</a> in Dublin, Ireland. “To minimize the risk of alcohol causing harm to the heart, if you don’t drink, don’t start. If you do drink, limit your weekly consumption to less than one bottle of wine or less than three-and-a-half 500 ml cans of 4.5 percent beer.”



While it is well-recognized that long-term heavy alcohol intake can lead to a type of heart failure called alcoholic cardiomyopathy, evidence from Asian populations suggests that even lower amounts may negatively impact heart health. Since there are genetic and environmental differences between Asian and European populations, Dr. Wong and her colleagues enrolled a cohort of 744 Europeans over 40 years of age either at-risk of developing heart failure due to pre-existing conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity, or diagnosed with pre-heart failure (risk factors and heart abnormalities but no symptoms) in order to investigate the effect of alcohol consumption on their heart health.



By following the participants over a period of 5.4 years, the scientists found that, in the pre-heart failure group, moderate or high-alcohol intake (over 7 units of alcohol per week, or more than one bottle of wine/3.5 beers) was associated with a 4.5-fold increased risk of worsening heart health. However, in the at-risk group, no association between moderate or high alcohol use with progression to pre-heart failure or symptomatic heart failure was discovered. While some previous studies have argued that low alcohol intake could have health benefits, the current investigation found no evidence for this.



“Our results indicate that countries should advocate lower limits of safe alcohol intake in pre-heart failure patients,” said Dr. Wong. “In Ireland, for example, those at risk of heart failure or with pre-heart failure are advised to restrict weekly alcohol intake to 11 units for women and 17 units for men. This limit for men is more than twice the amount we found to be safe. More research is needed in Caucasian populations to align results and reduce the mixed messages that clinicians, patients, and the public are currently getting,” she concluded.&nbsp;&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Alcohol is riskier to the heart than previously thought

A new study presented at Heart Failure 2022 - a...

A new study led by the <a href="https://www.osu.edu/">Ohio State University</a> (OSU) has shed more light on the structure and functioning of plastins – a type of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plant-cells-message-each-other-using-rna-and-escort-proteins/">proteins</a> found in many life forms (from yeast and plants to animals and humans) that have a role in ensuring that various cells move or maintain their shape. By binding to and bundling other proteins, plastins can be considered the bones and muscles of cells. Better understanding what drives their activities could help explain their surprising links to diseases such as cancers, congenital osteoporosis, or spinal muscular atrophy.



Scientists described their discoveries about plastin behavior in terms of a “work-life balance” metaphor. While in their “at-home” mode, the protein’s two main segments strongly bond to each other, they are often forced to separate when their bundling responsibilities in the cellular “workplace” increase, such as when cells start to migrate. According to the researchers, if their structure experiences unexpected changes, plastins keep doing aggressive bundling work, even if it is not needed anymore. Although experts discovered at least one mistimed enzymatic activity that seemed to contribute to this problem, further research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms behind the switch between the protein's “weekend” and “workaholic” modes.



“We need to know this information so we can figure out how to regulate plastins,” said study senior author&nbsp;Dmitri Kudryashov, an associate professor of&nbsp;Chemistry and Biochemistry at OSU.&nbsp; “Because plastins are involved in disease, we see the manifestation of that, but we don’t know how precisely mutations lead to disease. In cancer, or certain autoimmune reactions, knowing exactly what plastins do and how to control their activity could be highly beneficial. If we could manage to inhibit this protein in cancer, it’s likely the cells would become less invasive.”



Actins – abundant proteins helping cells unite their contents, maintain their shape, divide, and migrate – are clustered together by plastins configured with two binding sites, each of which can bind to actin filaments. However, when these binding domains are tightly joined, they can connect only weakly to actins. If cells are stable, connecting in this way is sufficient, but when cells start to migrate, actins pushed in the direction of cell movement are situated in a less organized way that requires strong connections to plastins. In such a case, plastin’s binding domains have to separate from each other to form a stronger bond to actins. Eventually, actins shifting away from the cell’s edge no longer need a strong plastin bond, so plastin can return to its self-engaged “weekend” mode.



By introducing a mutation to plastin which mimics molecular changes detected in cancer cells, the scientists found that such a mutation prolonged plastin binding sites’ disengagement, and caused plastins to keep try to bundle up actins that don’t need to be bundled anymore. In such a case, plastin’s lack of response to what cells need could have undesirable downstream effects.



Further research is needed to clarify which factors may lead to this “irrational” behavior of plastins in order to shed more light on how these essential proteins contribute to disease.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41594-022-00771-1">Nature Structural &amp; Molecular Biology</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer&nbsp;&nbsp;

Plastins stuck in “workaholic” modes can lead to disease

A new study led by the Ohio State University (OSU)...

According to a new report published by WHO’s <a href="https://theindependentpanel.org/">Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response</a>, governments around the world are no better prepared to face a new pandemic than they were at the end of 2019, when <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nearly-60-percent-of-people-in-the-us-have-had-covid-19/">Covid-19</a> struck. Although the panel – established in July 2020 – made recommendations for improving political leadership, financing, and surveillance system, it seems that little has changed, and the world remains highly vulnerable to the emergence and spread of infectious diseases.



“One year on, and political focus to prepare for more waves is flagging,” wrote the report authors. “Work has begun to prevent the next pandemic, but at the current pace, the transformative change required will take years to complete.”



The scientists discussed the uneven distribution of vaccines around the globe as one of the main problems that needs to be overcome, if we are to avoid situations such as the current <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/9b0ab399-b545-4433-81a7-bfd710598760">Covid catastrophe</a> in North Korea - a country that adamantly refused vaccination and is now facing a frightening Omicron surge that infected almost ten percent of the country’s population in less than two weeks.&nbsp;



Such uncontrolled spread of the virus could easily lead to the emergence of new, more dangerous variants. “Variants may still emerge that our vaccines cannot manage,” wrote the study authors. “The more quickly we vaccinate now, the less likelihood there is of ever more variants emerging.”



Currently, rich countries have more vaccines than they could possibly use, leaving many low- and middle-income countries without adequate supplies of vaccines. WHO estimates that fewer than 13 percent of the people in low-income countries have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19. 



Since vaccine production is now close to its limits, new manufacturing capacity for both mRNA and other types of vaccines must be urgently built in places such as Africa and Latin America in order to prevent future waves. “Boosting production takes time, so enabling it must begin now,”&nbsp;the experts wrote.



In order to guard against new Covid variants as well as other viruses with pandemic potential, the panel recommends stronger leadership and better coordination at regional, national, and international levels. 



The experts also emphasize the need for investment in preparedness now instead of when the next crisis hits, an improved system for surveillance and alert, a pre-negotiated platform able to produce vaccines, diagnostics, therapeutics, and supplies and secure their fast and equitable distribution as essential global common goods, and increased access to financial resources both for preparedness operations and for urgently tackling any emerging threats.



The full report can be found <a href="https://theindependentpanel.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/COVID-19-Make-it-the-Last-Pandemic_final.pdf">here</a>.



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By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer&nbsp;

The world is still unprepared for the next pandemic

According to a new report published by WHO’s Independent Panel...

Flavonoids are compounds produced by <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-grow-plants-in-lunar-soil-for-the-first-time/">plants</a> and thought to confer significant health benefits on humans. In plants, they act as essential pigments and are responsible for the colors found in buds, petals, fruits and autumn leaves. Flavonoids are found in many brightly colored fruits and vegetables, including blueberries, parsley, red grapes, cranberries, cherries and citrus fruits.



Research conducted by scientists from the <a href="https://www.uea.ac.uk/">University of East Anglia</a> set out to test whether supplementing people’s diets every day with cranberries (Vaccinium macrocarpon) could help improve memory and brain function in older individuals, and thereby reduce age-related neurodegeneration. Cranberries are rich in anthocyanins, a particular group of plant flavonoids that act as antioxidants.



“Dementia is expected to affect around 152 million people by 2050. There is no known cure, so it is crucial that we seek modifiable lifestyle interventions, such as diet, that could help lessen disease risk and burden," explained lead researcher Dr. David Vauzour.



“Past studies have shown that higher dietary flavonoid intake is associated with slower rates of cognitive decline and dementia,” he continued. “And foods rich in anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins, which give berries their red, blue, or purple colour, have been found to improve cognition. Cranberries are rich in these micronutrients and have been recognized for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.”



The researchers investigated the impact of eating 100g of cranberries each day for 12 weeks. The 60 participants, all cognitively healthy individuals between the ages of 50 and 80, were divided into two groups. One group took 100g of freeze-dried, powdered cranberry (equivalent to 1 cup of berries) as a supplement every day, while the other group received a placebo.&nbsp;



After 12 weeks, it was found that participants who had consumed the cranberry powder showed significantly improved memory of everyday events (visual episodic memory), neural functioning and delivery of blood to the brain (brain perfusion). These results have been published by the researchers in the journal <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition">Frontiers in Nutrition</a>.



“We found that the participants who consumed the cranberry powder showed significantly improved episodic memory performance in combination with improved circulation of essential nutrients such as oxygen and glucose to important parts of the brain that support cognition – specifically memory consolidation and retrieval," said Dr. Vauzour.



“The cranberry group also exhibited a significant decrease in LDL or ‘bad’ cholesterol levels, known to contribute to atherosclerosis – the thickening or hardening of the arteries caused by a build-up of plaque in the inner lining of an artery,” he added. “This supports the idea that cranberries can improve vascular health and may in part contribute to the improvement in brain perfusion and cognition.”



This study is one of the first to examine cranberries and their long-term impact on cognition and brain health in humans, and the researchers hope that their findings will be used to inform future strategies for the prevention of neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia.&nbsp;



“Demonstrating in humans that cranberry supplementation can improve cognitive performance and identifying some of the mechanisms responsible is an important step for this research field,” said Dr. Vauzour. "The findings of this study are very encouraging, especially considering that a relatively short 12-week cranberry intervention was able to produce significant improvements in memory and neural function."



The experts feel that their study establishes an important foundation for future research in the area of cranberries and neurological health.



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By <a href="mailto:bosman@truewan.co.za">Alison Bosman</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Cranberries help improve memory and brain function in older adults

Flavonoids are compounds produced by plants and thought to confer...

Compared to factors such as education or occupation, fertility has not yet received much scientific attention as a potential predictor of late-life cognition. However, a team of researchers led by the <a href="https://www.publichealth.columbia.edu/">Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health</a> has now found that having three or more children has a marked negative effect on late-life cognition, by speeding-up parents’ age-related cognitive decline due to factors including financial difficulties and increased <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stress-may-be-linked-to-female-fertility-issues/">stress</a>. The experts found that this effect was stronger in Northern Europe, where higher fertility rates significantly deplete financial, social, and psychological resources.



“Understanding the factors that contribute to optimal late-life cognition is essential for ensuring successful aging at the individual and societal levels - particularly in Europe, where family sizes have shrunk and populations are aging rapidly,” said study co-author Vegard Skirbekk, a professor of Population and Family Health at Columbia Mailman School.



&nbsp;“For individuals, late life cognitive health is essential for maintaining independence and being socially active and productive in late life. For societies, ensuring the cognitive health of the older population is essential for extending work lives and reducing health care costs and care needs,” added study lead author Eric Bonsang, a professor at the <a href="https://dauphine.psl.eu/">Paris Dauphine University</a>.&nbsp;



The scientists analyzed data from the <a href="http://www.share-project.org/">Survey of Health, Aging and Retirement in Europe</a> (SHARE) to compare the effects of having two versus three or more children in a cohort of participants aged 65 or older. By using advanced econometric methods able to disentangle causality from simple associations, the researchers found that having more than two children leads to significant cognitive decline in both men and women, having similar effects to an additional 6.2 years of aging.&nbsp;



Having a third child often leads to considerable financial costs, reduces family income, and increases the chance of families falling below the poverty line, thus decreasing the standard of living for all family members and promoting cognitive deterioration. Moreover, having more children can be highly stressful, which affects health risk behaviors and impairs adult cognitive development. Finally, an additional child is causally related to women’s lower labor market participation, fewer hours worked, and lower earnings.



“Given the magnitude of the effect, future studies on late-life cognition should also examine fertility as a prognosticator alongside more commonly researched predictors, such as education, occupational experiences, physical exercise, and mental and physical health,” said Professor Skirbekk.&nbsp;



“In addition, future studies should address the potential effects of childlessness or having one child on late-life cognition. We also need more information on the types of interactions, supports, and conflicts that occur between parents and children, which may influence cognitive outcomes,” he concluded.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://read.dukeupress.edu/demography/article/doi/10.1215/00703370-9930490/299390/Does-Childbearing-Affect-Cognitive-Health-in-Later">Demography</a>.----



By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

Parents with more children risk faster cognitive decline

Compared to factors such as education or occupation, fertility has...

Alternative,Medicine.,Rosemary,,Mint,,Chamomile,,Thyme,In,A,Glass,Mortar.

Herbal supplements may not always be safe, according to a new study published by <a href="https://www.elsevier.com/">Elsevier</a>. The research highlights how serious side effects can result from the imprudent use of herbal supplements.



The report describes a case in which a patient was diagnosed with a dangerous cardiac arrhythmia after taking hemp oil containing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cbd-improves-eases-arthritis-symptoms-in-dogs/">CBD</a> and CBG along with berberine supplements.



“More and more people are taking herbal supplements for their potential benefits. Yet their ‘natural’ character can be misleading, since these preparations can have serious adverse side effects on their own or if combined with other supplements or medications,” said Dr. Elise Bakelants, an expert in the Department of Cardiology at the University Hospital of Geneva. “Their use should not be taken lightly, and dosing recommendations should always be respected.”



The study examined the case of a 56-year-old woman who experienced dizziness and fainting without warning. After physical exams came back as normal, doctors determined that the condition was caused by the herbal supplements she was taking to cope with stress.&nbsp;



Four months earlier, the patient had started taking six times the recommended dose of hemp oil, and had recently added berberine to the mix. She was then diagnosed with a life-threatening cardiac arrhythmia.



During her hospital stay, all supplements were stopped resulting in positive changes, which strongly validated a link between the supplements and the arrhythmia.



The popularity of herbal supplements has grown in recent years, especially those containing CBD (cannabidiol). This particular supplement is very accessible and available without any prescription.&nbsp;



CBD has been promoted for its anti-inflammatory, antipsychotic, and immunomodulatory properties. The products do not contain THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) - therefore, it is not subjected to scrutiny by drug regulatory agencies.&nbsp;



Berberine, found in many medicinal plants, is frequently used in traditional Chinese and ayurvedic medicine for various types of treatment.&nbsp;



The preparation of herbal supplements is largely unregulated. Exact composition can vary greatly from one distributor to another, and properties of these substances are not well known. There are limited data on their effectiveness and toxicity, making it&nbsp; difficult to predict potential side effects.



Dr. Bakelants cautioned patients and physicians to follow dosing recommendations and consider possible interactions with other medications, particularly in patients with underlying cardiac disease or those already taking QT-prolonging medication.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.heartrhythmcasereports.com/">HeartRhythm Case Reports</a>.



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By <a href="mailto:katherinebucko@gmail.com">Katherine Bucko</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Herbal supplements are not always safe

Herbal supplements may not always be safe, according to a...

Scientists have long tried to understand “the paradox of stress behavior:” why humans – as well as other <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/baboons-sacrifice-sleep-to-meet-lifes-daily-demands/">primates</a> – show signs of stress (fidgeting, scratching, nail-biting, touching their face or hair), which could show others that they are in a weakened state. 



Now, a research team led by <a href="https://www.ntu.ac.uk/">Nottingham Trent University</a> (NTU) and the <a href="https://www.port.ac.uk/">University of Portsmouth</a> has found that showing signs of stress could make us more likeable and prompt other people to act more positively towards us. The study revealed that, besides being able to quickly and accurately identify when someone is stressed, people usually reacted more positively to those exhibiting more signs of stress.



The researchers filmed a group of participants while taking part in a mock presentation and interview. These videos were then presented to raters, who were asked to assess how stressed they thought the participants were. People who reported feeling more stressed during the task, as well as those who exhibited signs of stress such as nail-biting or scratching, were also perceived to be more stressed by the raters. These findings suggest that humans can accurately detect when others are stressed from their behaviors.



Interestingly, the participants who were identified to be more stressed were also perceived as more likeable by others, which may offer a clue regarding why humans have evolved to display stress signals. “We wanted to find out what advantages there might be in signaling stress to others, to help explain why stress behaviors have evolved in humans,” said study lead author Jamie Whitehouse, a research fellow in Psychology at NTU.



“If producing these behaviors leads to positive social interactions from others who want to help, rather than negative social interactions from those who want to compete with you, then these behaviors are likely to be selected in the evolutionary process. We are a highly cooperative species compared to many other animals, and this could be why behaviors which communicate weakness were able to evolve.”



“If the individuals are inducing an empathetic-like response in the raters, they may appear more likeable because of this, or it could be that an honest signal of weakness may represent an example of benign intent and/or a willingness to engage in a cooperative rather than competitive interaction, something which could be a ‘likable’ or preferred trait in a social partner,” added study senior author Bridget Waller, a professor of Evolution and Social Behavior at NTU.



“This fits with current understanding of expressivity, which tends to suggest that people who are more “emotionally expressive” are more well-liked by others and have more positive social interactions.”



The researchers are now investigating whether young children also show a similar sensitivity to stress states. In addition, they aim to clarify how exposure to adults’ stress may impact children.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1090513822000162?via%3Dihub">Evolution and Human Behavior</a>.



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By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Showing signs of stress could make you more likeable

Scientists have long tried to understand “the paradox of stress...

A research team led by the <a href="https://www.unibe.ch/index_eng.html">University of Bern</a> has recently identified how the brain triages emotions during <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/strange-dreams-help-us-organize-our-experiences/">dreaming</a> in order to consolidate the storage of positive emotions while dampening the consolidation of negative ones. This study highlights the importance of sleep for mental health and opens new therapeutic pathways for a wide range of psychological disturbances.



REM (rapid eye movement) sleep is a mysterious sleep stage during which most of the dreams occur, together with intense emotional contents. Scientists have long puzzled how and why these emotions are activated during REM sleep. While the prefrontal cortex plays a fundamental role in integrating emotions during wakefulness, it remains surprisingly quiescent during REM sleep. “Our goal was to understand the underlying mechanism and the functions of such a surprising phenomenon,” said study senior author Antoine Adamantidis, a neuroscientist at the University of Bern.



Professor Adamantidis and his colleagues had first conditioned mice to recognize auditory stimuli associated with safety and others associated with danger, and afterwards recorded the mice’s brain activity during sleep-wake cycles. Neurons are composed of a cell body (soma) which integrates information coming from dendrites and sends signals to other neurons via their axons. The researchers found &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; that, during REM sleep, cell somas are kept silent while their dendrites are activated.



“This means a decoupling of the two cellular compartments, in other words soma wide asleep and dendrites wide awake,” explained Professor Adamantidis. Such a decoupling is important because the strong activity of dendrites allows the encoding of both safety and danger emotions, while the inhibition of the soma blocks any output during REM sleep. Thus, the brain seems to favor the discrimination of safety versus danger in the dendrites, but blocks any over-reactions to danger.



According to the scientists, the coexistence of both mechanisms is crucial for the stability and survival of the organism. “This bi-directional mechanism is essential to optimize the discrimination between dangerous and safe signals,” said study lead author Mattia Aime, a neuroscientist at the University of Bern. In cases when such discrimination mechanisms are missing, excessive fear reactions are often generated, leading to anxiety disorders. In post-traumatic stress disorder, for instance, traumatic experiences are over-consolidated in the prefrontal cortex during sleep.&nbsp;



Other mental health issues involving this somatodendritic decoupling include acute and chronic stress, anxiety, depression, and anhedonia. Better understanding how the brain helps to reinforce positive emotions and weaken negative or traumatic ones during REM sleep may open new therapeutic pathways for a wide range of mental illnesses.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abk2734">Science</a>.&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Deep sleep helps us process our emotions

A research team led by the University of Bern has...

A new study led by the <a href="https://www.udel.edu/">University of Delaware</a> has found that increasing our daily intake of apiaceous vegetables, such as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/colorful-foods-can-prevent-cognitive-decline/">celery</a>, carrots, and parsley, could mitigate the effects of air pollutants in our bodies. According to the experts, these vegetables protect the body from the accumulation of acrolein, an irritant of the lungs and skin with a strong unpleasant smell, which is abundantly found in cigarette smoke and automobile exhaust.



Through a series of laboratory tests, study senior author Jae Kyeom Kim (an assistant professor of Behavioral Health and Nutrition at the University of Delaware) and his team analyzed how apiaceous vegetables mitigated acrolein-induced toxicities and reduced the oxidative stress triggered by these harmful substances.



“Kim’s research discovered that apiaceous vegetables supported detoxification through an increase in antioxidant enzyme activity,” said study co-author Jillian Trabulsi, an associate professor of Nutrition at the University of Delaware. “The results suggest that apiaceous vegetables may provide protection against acrolein-induced damages and inflammation because, in the liver, the vegetables enhance conversion of acrolein into a water-soluble acid for bodily excretion.”



In a next step, the scientists investigated what is a reasonable dosage amount for human consumption in order to fully benefit from these vegetables. 



“When we calculated this, we determined the actual daily calorie amount of apiaceous vegetables for humans is roughly 1 and 1/3 cups per day,” Professor Kim said. “It doesn’t require a high intake to see a difference, and this is an achievable amount in daily life.”



In future studies, Professor Kim and his team plan to integrate human intervention trials to better understand the health benefits of apiaceous vegetables. For the moment, they stress the importance of implementing behavioral changes in diet as a solution for combating the buildup of toxic substances derived from air pollution.



“Research has identified that it is the totality of nutrients in fruits and vegetables that support beneficial health outcomes, rather than a single nutrient. Focusing on a healthy whole food diet is more impactful than relying on individual supplements,” Professor Trabulsi concluded.



The study is published in the <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0955286322000109#!">Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry</a>.&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Eating vegetables can protect us against air pollutants

A new study led by the University of Delaware has...

Time spent in front of a screen is part of the modern child’s everyday life. Children aged 8 to 12, for example, spend an average of 4 to 6&nbsp;hours each day watching videos, gaming and socializing using the screens of their digital <a href="https://www.earth.com/video/screen-time-does-not-inhibit-social-skills-among-kids/">devices</a>. Although digital media brings a variety of new experiences to children, it is not known what the effects of these experiences are on the developing minds and cognitive abilities of young people. Although much research has been done, this topic remains hotly debated.&nbsp;



A recent study by researchers from the <a href="https://ki.se/en">Karolinska Institutet</a> in Sweden has focused specifically on the impact of screen time on children’s intelligence, in particular their ability to learn effectively, think rationally, understand complex ideas, and adapt to new situations. The researchers used a sample of just over 9,000 US boys and girls, aged 9 to 10, to investigate how screen habits correlate with the development of cognitive abilities over time.



The team identified three different types of screen time usage: time spent watching&nbsp;TV and online videos;&nbsp;time spent socializing&nbsp;via social media, text, and video chat; and time spent&nbsp;gaming. They estimated the effect of each type of activity on intelligence after accounting for the critical confounding influences of genetic and socioeconomic backgrounds.



At the age of nine or ten, the children performed a battery of psychological tests to gauge their general cognitive abilities (intelligence). The children and their parents were also asked about how much time the children spent watching TV and videos, playing video games and engaging with social media. Then, two years later, just over 5,000 of the children repeated the cognitive tests. This allowed the researchers to study how the children’s performance on the tests varied from the one testing session to the other, and to control for individual differences in the first test.&nbsp;&nbsp;



The results, published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-11341-2">Scientific Reports</a>, showed that the children spent an average of 2.5 hours a day watching TV, half an hour on social media and one hour playing video games. They also showed that gaming positively impacted the amount of change in intelligence between the two sets of tests, so that children who played more video games at 9 to 10&nbsp;years showed the greatest gains in intelligence two years later. Children who played more games than average showed an increase in their intelligence scores of approximately 2.5 IQ points more than the average increase.&nbsp;



This result was the same for boys and for girls. Surprisingly, watching TV also showed a positive effect on the change in intelligence but, less shockingly, socializing had no effect on cognitive change. No significant effect was observed, positive or negative, for TV-watching or for social media use.



“We didn’t examine the effects of screen behavior on physical activity, sleep, wellbeing or school performance, so we can’t say anything about that,” said Torkel Klingberg, professor of cognitive neuroscience at the Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet. “But our results support the claim that screen time generally doesn’t impair children’s cognitive abilities, and that playing video games can actually help boost intelligence. This is consistent with several experimental studies of video-game playing.”



A fascinating finding of the study is that intelligence is not a constant but can vary during a person’s lifetime. This is in line with other recent research showing that intelligence is not fixed, but is influenced by environmental factors. More profoundly, the positive cognitive impacts of watching videos and playing video games could partially explain the worldwide gradual increase in intelligence scores over the decades, known as the Flynn effect.&nbsp;The authors state that it is probably not a coincidence that the introduction of video games and computer technologies in the 1970s and 1980s coincides with a slight but discernible increase in the measured rate of increase in IQ scores.&nbsp;



“We’ll now be studying the effects of other environmental factors and how the cognitive effects relate to childhood brain development,” said Professor Klingberg.



One limitation of the study is that it only covered US children and did not differentiate between different types of video games, which makes the results difficult to transfer to children in other countries with other gaming habits. There was also a risk of reporting error since screen time and habits were self-rated.



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By <a href="mailto:bosman@truewan.co.za">Alison Bosman</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Video games can help boost children’s intelligence

Time spent in front of a screen is part of...

Beautiful,Field,View,,As,A,Spiritual,Person,,Nature,For,Me

It's been long believed that the first farmers originated 11,000 years ago in the Fertile Crescent in the Near East. Still, researchers were not sure whether Europe's first farmers <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/unraveling-one-of-the-greatest-feats-of-human-migration/">migrated</a> from the Fertile Crescent or learned it through cultural dissemination.&nbsp;&nbsp;



While previous research implied that Europe's farmers came from hunter-gatherers in Anatolia, a new study led by the <a href="https://www.unibe.ch/index_eng.html">University of Bern</a> suggests that farming did not come from a single region.&nbsp;



Earlier studies indicated that the first agriculturalists were genetically different from other human groups. However, this study implies that there was a genetic mixing of hunter-gatherers from Europe and Anatolia approximately 14,000 years ago, which was 3,000 years before the first farmers.&nbsp;



"We now find that the first farmers of Anatolia and Europe emerged from a population admixed between hunter-gatherers from Europe and the Near East," said study co-author Nina Marchi.



The genetic mixing was followed by thousands of years of extreme genetic differentiation. Perhaps one of the most impressive aspects of this study is the interdisciplinary work that brings us these results.&nbsp;



The researchers used high-quality genetic material from prehistoric skeletons and analyzed demographic data to gather the necessary data. The team labeled this method "demogenomic modeling."&nbsp;



"It is necessary to have genome data of the best possible quality so that the latest statistical genomic methods can reconstruct the subtle demographic processes of the last 30 thousand years at high resolution," said study senior author Laurent Excoffier.



It took the researchers almost ten years to gather and study the skeletons. They also consulted with several anthropologists and archeologists.



"Simply comparing the similarity of different ancient genomes is not enough to understand how they evolved," said Marchi. "We had to reconstruct the actual histories of the populations studied as accurately as possible. This is only possible with complex population genetic statistics."



The discoveries made by the team only further their desire to learn more, as demonstrated by Excoffier, who wants to explore other time gaps and geographic areas. "Of course, spatial and temporal gaps remain, and this does not imply the end of studies on the evolution of humans in this area."



This study is published in <a href="https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(22)00455-X?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS009286742200455X%3Fshowall%3Dtrue">Cell</a>.



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By <a href="mailto:nire518@gmail.com">Erin Moody </a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Study sheds new light on the origins of the first farmers

It's been long believed that the first farmers originated 11,000...

A nationwide study monitored <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/vegetable-consumption-before-pregnancy-lowers-risk-of-preterm-birth/">pregnant</a> women for chemical exposure over 12 years. Disturbingly, the research showed an increased exposure to harmful chemicals, including those from plastics and pesticides. Many of these chemicals were meant to replace other chemicals which are banned. Ironically, some of these replacements are as dangerous as the originals.&nbsp;



The scientists tested the women for 103 chemicals using a urine sample. Chemicals from pesticides, plastics, and replacements for BPA were among those that were tested for.&nbsp;



Overall, 171 women tested were from California, Georgia, Illinois, New Hampshire, New York and Puerto Rico. Over 80 percent of the chemicals were detected in at least one of the women, and more than one third of the chemicals were found in most of the women. Some of the chemicals were also detected at higher than historic levels.



Study senior author Dr. Tracey J. Woodruff is the director of the <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/">University of California, San Francisco</a> (UCSF) Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment and co-director of the UCSF EaRTH Center.



“This is the first time we’ve been able to measure the amounts of chemicals in such a large and diverse group of pregnant women – not just identify chemicals,” said Dr. Woodruff. “Our findings make clear that the number and scope of chemicals in pregnant women are increasing during a very vulnerable time of development for both the pregnant person and the fetus.”



Unsurprisingly, the researchers found that non-white women had higher exposures to chemicals. Women with lower education, were single parents or exposed to tobacco also had higher exposure levels. Latinas, in particular, had high levels of exposure to parabens, phthalates and bisphenols.&nbsp;



“While pesticides and replacement chemicals were prevalent in all women, we were surprised to find that Latinas had substantially higher levels of parabens, phthalates and bisphenols,” said study first author Dr. Jessie Buckley. “This could be the result of higher exposures to products with chemicals, such as processed foods or personal care products."



The research is published in the journal <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/journal/esthag">Environmental Science &amp; Technology</a>.



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By <a href="mailto:zachfitzner@yahoo.com">Zach Fitzner</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Chemical exposure is increasing among pregnant women

A nationwide study monitored pregnant women for chemical exposure over...

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.nsf.gov/">National Science Foundation</a> describes a big data study by experts at UT Austin that could revolutionize earthquake science.&nbsp;The research is focused on a massive rock called the Kumano Pluton, which is buried miles beneath the coast of southern Japan.&nbsp;



Based on 20 years of seismic data processed through one of the world's most powerful supercomputers, the scientists have developed the first complete, 3D visualization of Kumano Pluton.



The results of the analysis suggest that the mountain-sized rock now may be acting like a "lightning rod" that channels energy into the megaquakes seen in the this region.&nbsp;



While scientists have known about thy existence of Kumano Pluton for years, they were only aware of small sections of it. The UT Austin study provides a view of the entire rock formation. This will enable experts to study the pluton's effect on regional tectonics.&nbsp;



According to study co-author Shuichi Kodaira, director of the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, the findings will provide critical information for a major new Japanese government-funded project to find out whether another major earthquake is building in the Nankai subduction zone, where the pluton is located.



"We cannot predict exactly when, where, or how large future earthquakes will be, but by combining our model with monitoring data, we can begin estimating near-future processes," said Kodaira, who was among the scientists who first discovered the Kumano Pluton in 2006. "That will provide very important data for the Japanese public to prepare for the next big earthquake."



"The fact that we can make such a large discovery in an area that is already well studied is, I think, eye opening to what might await at places that are less well monitored," said study lead author Adrien Arnulf, a research assistant professor at the University of Texas Institute for Geophysics.



Image/ Video Credit: National Science Foundation/ UT Austin&nbsp;



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

Kumano Pluton could be a magnet for megaquakes

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Bonn, a city in western Germany that straddles the Rhine river. The city is located in the Rhine-Ruhr region, the country's largest metro area with over 11 million inhabitants.



Bonn is one of the oldest cities in Germany, and is the birthplace of Ludwig van Beethoven. The memorial and museum honoring the composer’s birthplace, Beethoven House, is one of the most visited music museums in the world.



In 2022, ESA’s Living Planet Symposium is being held May 23 to 27 in Bonn. This is one of the largest Earth observation conferences.



"Held every three years, the symposium brings together scientists and researchers, as well as industry and users of Earth observation data, from all over the world to present and discuss the latest findings on Earth science," explains ESA.



"Organized with the support of the German Aerospace Center, the week-long event focuses on how Earth observation contributes to both science and society. With over 240 scientific sessions on Earth observation science and satellite missions, there will also be a wide range of sessions focusing on advances in artificial intelligence, digital twins of Earth, commercial opportunities thanks to the space industry, the upcoming ESA Ministerial Council in 2022, and much more."



Video Credit: ESA



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

Bonn, Germany: Host of this year's Living Planet Symposium

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.nsf.gov/">National Science Foundation</a> explores how rising sea levels and increasing levels of salinity are impacting coastal wetlands.



The salinity of ocean water is 400 times that of fresh water, and the salt water that is left behind after an ocean intrusion can lead to intolerable salt levels for the plants and animals in a wetland ecosystem.&nbsp;



The Discovery Files video focuses on the work of Dr. Sparkle Malone, a professor in the Department of Biological Science at Florida International University.&nbsp;



In the Florida Everglades, Dr. Malone is taking measurements to assess how plants and animals are responding to changes in salt levels. High salt levels reduce vegetation cover and have a negative effect on productivity throughout the entire wetland ecosystem.&nbsp;



Video &amp; Image Credit: National Science Foundation/Florida International University



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

Coastal wetlands are threatened by salt water intrusion

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Closeup,Of,Fresh,Green,The,Napier,Bush,Grass,As,Animal

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Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="http://www.ntu.edu.sg/">NTU Singapore</a> reveals that some plants can remove toxic heavy metals from soil.&nbsp;



The researchers analyzed samples of various tropical plant species to test for levels of heavy metals and metalloids. The study showed that there are existing plants with high levels of these contaminants, which means that these species are great candidates for drawing pollutants out of the soil.&nbsp;



Among the plants examined in the study, 12 species had accumulated several types of heavy metals and metalloids. These plants are widely available, including species that are native to Singapore.



“In a small nation like Singapore, land may be repurposed to support new development plans, so it is important that we have a green and sustainable way to remediate land that is contaminated," said Professor Lam Yeng Ming.



"We set out to uncover how to better make use of tropical plants to do phytoremediation and through advanced characterization techniques, we showed how some of these tropical plant species can be an environmentally friendly and literally a 'green' way to remove contaminants in soil."&nbsp;



"Phytoremediation also has benefits of cost effectiveness, simplicity of management, aesthetic advantages, and long-term applicability and sustainability. The strategy prevents erosion and metal leaching by stabilizing or accumulating heavy metals, so that helps reduce the risk of contaminant spread.”



Video Credit: NTU Singapore



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

Plants help remove heavy metals from contaminated soil

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France. The arch is an iconic symbol of French national identity. It is also one of the best-known commemorative monuments in the world.&nbsp;



The Arc de Triomphe was commissioned by Napoleon I in 1806 to celebrate the country's military achievements, and to honor those who fought and died in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. The construction of the monument began on August 15, 1807, and it took 30 years to build.&nbsp;



"The arch stands at the center of the Place Charles de Gaulle, the meeting point of 12 grand avenues which form a star (or étoile), which is why it is also referred to as the Arch of Triumph of the Star. The arch is 50 meters high and 45 meters wide," reports ESA.



"The names of all French victories and generals are inscribed on the arch’s inner and outer surfaces, while the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from World War I lies beneath its vault. The tomb’s flame is rekindled every evening as a symbol of the enduring nature of the commemoration and respect shown to those who have fallen in the name of France."



"The Arc de Triomphe’s location at the Place Charles de Gaulle places it at the heart of the capital and the western terminus of the Avenue des Champs-Élysées."



"Often referred to as the ‘most beautiful avenue in the world,' the Champs-Élysées is known for its theatres, cafés and luxury shops, as the finish of the Tour de France cycling race, as well as for its annual Bastille Day military parade."



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

The Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.acs.org/">American Chemical Society</a> describes the science behind the process of making maple syrup.&nbsp;



"Are you a grade B maple syrup fan? For a lot of maple syrup connoisseurs, grade B was always the go-to syrup. It’s dark, caramelly, rich, complex. But unfortunately, you can’t get it anymore," reports ACS. "To understand why, we have to look at the science behind the whole process, from sap to syrup."



Video Credit: ESA



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

The science behind making maple syrup

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.bath.ac.uk/">University of Bath</a> confirms, for the first time, that there is a link between the diets of birds and their social and mating behavior. The existence of such a link was first proposed in 1964 by British ethologist, John Crook



According to the study, weaver birds that eat seeds are more likely to flock together and nest in colonies than the species that live in the forest and eat insects. Weaver birds in forest habitats were found to be solitary hunters.&nbsp;



Furthermore, the researchers observed that seed-eating birds are often polygamous, pairing with multiple mates during each season. By contrast, the forest birds with insect diets tend to be monogamous.



The study was led by Professor Tamás Székely, an expert in the Milner Centre for Evolution at the University of Bath.&nbsp;



“For birds that feed on seeds in the open savannah, flocking together improves feeding efficiency because it makes it easier to locate patches where there are abundant seeds," explained Professor Székely.



“Flocking also lowers the risk of predation out in the open by providing them safety in numbers. However, in open habitats such as the savannah there are limited nesting sites, meaning the birds live together in a colony and this often leads to polygamous breeding."



“On the other hand, forest-dwelling, insect-eating birds must search a wider area for food as insects are more widely distributed. The relatively safer, closed habitat of the forest provides lots of suitable nesting sites, so the birds don’t need to live close together."



“This more solitary social system also means they are more likely to stick with the same mate during the breeding season. The associations between diet, habitat and social behavior in weavers have been suspected for decades, but this is the first time they have been proven by statistical analysis."



“This study is particularly exciting because we’ve also shown the complex links for the first time between food type, grouping behaviour and mating systems using phylogenetic analysis in an unusually diverse group of songbirds.”



Video Credit: University of Bath&nbsp;



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

You are what you eat: diet influences the social lives of birds

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Bingen,Am,Rhein,And,Rhine,River,In,Rheinland-pfalz,,Germany

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features the longest river in Germany, the Rhine River. The city of Bonn, which is the host of this year’s Living Planet Symposium, is located along the river.&nbsp;



The Living Planet Symposium brings together scientists and researchers from all over the world to discuss the latest findings in Earth science.



The Rhine River flows from the Swiss Alps to the North Sea through Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, France, Germany, and the Netherlands.



"The river is an important waterway with an abundance of shipping traffic, with import and export goods from all over the world," reports ESA.



"The picturesque Rhine Valley has many forested hills topped with castles and includes vineyards, quaint towns and villages along the route of the river. One particular stretch that extends from Bingen in the south to Koblenz, known as the Rhine Gorge, has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site."



Video Credit: ESA



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

Earth from space: Rhine River

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.acs.org/">American Chemical Society</a> describes a wearable sensor to help monitor the water levels of plants. 



When plants are in need of water, there are not always obvious signals. Plant leaves do not turn brown or shrivel until most of the water is gone.&nbsp;



The new system is designed to detect water loss earlier. According to ACS, the system can wirelessly transmit data to a smartphone app, allowing for remote management of drought stress in gardens and crops.



The experts have published their research in the ACS journal <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/journal/aamick">Applied Materials &amp; Interfaces</a>.



Video Credit: ACS



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

Plant sensor can remotely track water levels

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Today’s Video of the Day from Pensoft Publishers describes the <a href="https://www.claim-h2020project.eu/">CLAIM Project</a>, which is funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program.



The CLAIM project has been actively pursuing the EU target to improve water quality by reducing marine plastic litter by 50 percent and microplastics by 30 percent by 2030.



"The EU Horizon 2020 project CLAIM has been working to prevent and manage both micro- and macroplastics through the development of new cleaning technologies and redefined methodological approaches. Formed by a consortium of leading international experts from 15 countries in Europe and beyond, CLAIM succeeded in delivering qualitative research with the capacity to reduce the amount and impact of plastic pollution on the ecosystem-based services of the Mediterranean and Baltic Seas."&nbsp;



George Triantafyllou, a project&nbsp; coordinator from the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), said that what was accomplished in CLAIM will have an impact on the entire society, as the plastic pollution issue affects the health of every creature.



“We hope that our long-lasting legacy has set a good example and paved the way for further research and policy change,” said Triantafyllou.



Video Credit: CLAIM Project



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

CLAIM project tackles the issue of marine plastic pollution

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Batura Glacier in the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features the Batura Glacier, which is located in the upper Hunza Valley in the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan. Batura is one of the largest and longest glaciers in the world outside of the polar regions.



According to ESA, the glacier flows from west to east and feeds the Hunza River in north Pakistan, then joins the Gilgit and Naltar Rivers before it flows into the Indus River.



Batura Glacier is just north of the Batura Muztagh, a sub-range of the Karakoram mountain range. Unlike many glaciers around the world, the glaciers in the mountain ranges of Karakoram are not shrinking in response to climate change. Some are retreating less than the global average, while others are even growing in size. This exceptional behavior is referred to as the "Karakoram Anomaly."



Located in the upper Hunza Valley, in the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan, the Batura Glacier is visible in the centre of the image and is approximately 57 km long. It flows from west to east and feeds the Hunza River in north Pakistan, then joins the Gilgit and Naltar Rivers before it flows into the Indus River. 



Video Credit: ESA



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

Batura Glacier in the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan

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Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/">NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory</a> describes all of the fascinating sights to be seen in the night sky throughout the month of May 2022.



"May begins and ends with a couple of great planet-spotting opportunities. On May 2nd, look to the west about 45 minutes after sunset to find Mercury about 10 degrees off the horizon, accompanied by a slim crescent moon," reports NASA. "Just to the south of the Moon is the brilliant red giant star Aldebaran, which should be roughly the same brightness as Mercury. And by the way, this is the only chance to spot a naked-eye planet in the early evening until August."



During the last week of May, Jupiter and Mars will appear increasingly close in the early morning sky before dawn. These two planets will have a close conjunction on the 28th through the 30th.&nbsp;



In the Western Hemisphere, a total lunar eclipse will be visible in mid-May. "The event will be visible across the Americas, Europe, and Africa - basically anywhere the Moon is above the horizon at the time."



Video Credit: NASA JPL



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

NASA skywatching tips for May 2022

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features San Francisco Bay in California. The shallow estuary is surrounded by an extensive metropolitan area that includes major cities like San Francisco and Oakland. In the image, green forests and parks are easy to distinguish from urban areas.



The Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta appears brown from sediment as it flows into San Pablo Bay. In the bottom right portion of the photo, salt ponds in the Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuge appear bright green and yellow.&nbsp;



The Golden Gate Bridge is visible crossing the opening of the bay into the Pacific Ocean between Marin County and San Francisco. The bay was searchable as far south as San Jose until the 1850s, when hydraulic mining released large amounts of sediment from the rivers that settled in those parts of the bay that had little or no current.&nbsp;



Later on, the wetlands and inlets were deliberately filled in, reducing the Bay’s size since the mid-19th century by as much as one third. Recently, large areas of wetlands have been restored, further confusing the issue of the Bay’s size.



Despite its value as a waterway and harbor, many thousands of acres of marshy wetlands at the edges of the bay were, for many years, considered wasted space. As a result, soil excavated for building projects or dredged from channels was often dumped onto the wetlands and other parts of the bay as landfill.



Treasure, Angel and Alcatraz islands can also be seen in the photo, along with several bridges connecting the eastern and western shores of San Francisco Bay.



Video Credit: ESA



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

San Francisco Bay in western California

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Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard</a> describes some of the most fascinating observations captured by the Hubble Space Telescope. The telescope was first launched into low Earth orbit in 1990, and has now been orbiting in space for 32 years. 



"The Hubble Space Telescope celebrated its 32nd year in orbit by premiering a stunning new Hubble image of a collection of five galaxies, known as Hickson Compact Group 40," reports NASA. "Even after all these years, Hubble continues to uncover the mysteries of the universe. These are a few science achievements from Hubble’s latest year in orbit."



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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

Celebrating 32 years of the Hubble Space Telescope

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features a closer look at <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/for-earth-day-lets-make-our-planets-heartbeat-louder/">planet</a> Earth on the 52nd anniversary of Earth Day. 



The incredible photo of Earth featured in today's video was captured on March 23, 2022 by Meteosat Second Generation series of missions.



"Satellites provide essential information for everyday applications, improving agricultural practices, to help when disasters strike, and thanks to the Meteosat series, provide crucial data for weather forecasting," reports ESA.



"Given that extreme weather and severe storms pose significant and increasing hazards to society, the Meteosat satellites provide detailed, full disc imagery over Europe and Africa every 15 minutes and rapid scan imagery over Europe every five minutes."



"This imagery is crucial for nowcasting, which is about detecting rapidly high impact weather and predicting its evolution a few hours ahead, in support of the safety of life and property. These observations are also used for weather forecasting and climate monitoring."



According to ESA, the Meteosat missions have guaranteed the continuous flow of data for weather forecasting since 1977,&nbsp; and will soon usher in a new era of weather and climate monitoring with Meteosat Third Generation (MTG).



"The third generation will not only guarantee the continuity of data for weather forecasting, but offer significant enhancement of the current imager capabilities, an all-new infrared sounding capability and real-time lightning imaging for early detection of severe storms as they develop."



Video Credit: ESA



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

Every Day is Earth Day at the European Space Agency

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.nsf.gov/">National Science Foundation</a> describes how lizards could provide new insight into how species have evolved over centuries.&nbsp; Understanding how environmental changes have affected animals in the past can help predict how they will be affected in the future.



A research team led by Dr. Melissa Kemp, a paleobiologist at the University of Texas at Austin, is studying lizards to find out more about a process called "adaptive radiation," or how organisms evolve to adapt to changing environments. The research is focused on lizards in the&nbsp; Caribbean.



"If we can gain any insights from past instances of extinction, it might be informative of what communities might look like in the future as these communities undergo future environmental changes," Dr. Kemp said in a profile piece by UT Austin.&nbsp;



Image/ Video Credit: National Science Foundation/ UT Austin&nbsp;



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

Lizards hold secrets of how animals evolve

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features the Scandinavian Peninsula in northern Europe. The peninsula includes the mainlands of Sweden, Norway and the northwestern area of Finland.



Spanning about 1,150 miles, the Scandinavian Peninsula is the largest peninsula in Europe.



"The name of the peninsula is derived from the term Scandinavia, the cultural region of Denmark, Norway and Sweden," reports ESA.



The peninsula is surrounded by the Barents Sea in the north, the Norwegian sea to the west and the Gulf of Bothnia and the Baltic Sea to the east. Most of the population is concentrated in the southern part of the peninsula, which is the agricultural region.&nbsp;



Around 25 percent of the peninsula is located north of the Arctic Circle, and the northernmost point is Cape Nordkyn.



Image/ Video Credit: ESA



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

The Scandinavian Peninsula in northern Europe

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.usgs.gov/">USGS</a> features Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellite view of flooding in the town of Tweed Heads in New South Wales, Australia.&nbsp;



Days of torrential rainfall in late February led to widespread and deadly flooding on Australia's east coast.



In southern Queensland and northern New South Wales (NSW), more than a year’s worth of rain had fallen by the end of the first week in March.



Heavy rainfall returned to Australia’s east coast on March 30, and thousands of people were forced to evacuate their homes for the second time within weeks.&nbsp;



Yet another round of torrential rainfall struck the region again on April 7. In Sydney, the system dumped nearly a month's worth of rainfall overnight.&nbsp;



Image/ Video Credit: USGS



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

Satellites capture flooding on Australia's east coast

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