Heart disease, not suicide or overdose, is the leading killer of people living with serious mental health conditions. This is the conclusion of a sweeping review led by Viola Vaccarino of Emory University.



The experts report that adults with depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and anxiety die, on average, 10 to 20 years earlier than their peers - largely because of cardiovascular disease.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mental-health-and-life-expectancy">Mental health and life expectancy </h2>



The cardiovascular penalty attached to common psychiatric diagnoses is substantial. Depression raises the risk of heart disease by roughly 72 percent.&nbsp;



For <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/psychedelic-use-linked-to-higher-risk-of-schizophrenia/">schizophrenia</a>, the risk nearly doubles - up to about 95 percent. Bipolar disorder increases cardiovascular risk by 57 percent, PTSD boosts coronary heart disease risk by 61 percent, and anxiety disorders are associated with a 41 percent higher risk of dying from cardiovascular causes. 



These numbers help explain why <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/human-life-expectancy-faces-a-triple-threat/">life expectancy</a> shrinks so dramatically for this population.



Despite the elevated risks, people with mental health conditions routinely receive worse heart care than the general public. Screenings are missed and risk factors go unmanaged. Evidence-based treatments are offered less often and followed up less reliably.&nbsp;



The result is a widening survival gap affecting a vast swath of society: roughly one in four people will experience a mental health disorder during their lifetime.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mental-illness-and-heart-disease">Mental illness and heart disease</h2>



Mood and thought disorders don’t just coincide with heart disease; they help cause it - and cardiovascular events can in turn trigger new psychiatric illness. That feedback loop runs through behavior and biology.&nbsp;



Higher rates of smoking, physical inactivity, and poor diet are part of the story. So are the physiological effects of chronic stress: systemic inflammation, elevated <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/blood-pressure-treatment-efficacy-calculator-revolutionize-measurement-and-treatment/">blood pressure</a>, arrhythmias, and insulin resistance all nudge the cardiovascular system toward failure.



The relationship is equally visible in reverse. About 18 percent of people with cardiovascular disease live with depression; after an acute event such as a heart attack, that figure climbs to roughly 28 percent. 



Nearly one in four stroke survivors develops depression in the aftermath, and around 12 percent of heart attack survivors go on to meet criteria for PTSD. Treating either condition in isolation misses the way each amplifies the other.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-existing-systems-miss-what-matters">Existing systems miss what matters</h2>



The review highlights a pattern of structural neglect. Mental health and cardiology are typically staffed, funded and measured as separate domains, with little coordination between them.&nbsp;



Many cardiology clinics don’t routinely screen for depression, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/witnessing-trauma-may-cause-ptsd-in-a-different-way/">PTSD</a>, or anxiety. Many psychiatric services don’t monitor blood pressure, lipids, or glucose as systematically as cardiovascular teams would.



Access gaps compound the problem. In a 2023 U.S. survey cited by the authors, 54 percent of people who met criteria for a mental health disorder received no treatment at all.



Even in countries with universal coverage, patients with serious mental illness are less likely to receive recommended medications, procedures and follow-up for heart disease. 



Poverty, unstable housing, and social isolation make adherence and clinic attendance harder, turning health inequities into entrenched mortality.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mental-and-physical-health-gains">Mental and physical health gains</h2>



The good news is that several familiar tools carry cardiovascular benefits alongside mental health gains.&nbsp;



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/exercise-in-a-pill-is-now-closer-to-reality/">Exercise</a> is one of the most effective treatments for depression and also directly improves blood pressure, insulin sensitivity, and endothelial function. The review argues it should sit alongside psychotherapy and antidepressants as core treatment - not an optional add-on.



Mind-body practices such as yoga, tai chi, and meditation can reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression and improve some risk factors (for example, heart rate variability and stress biomarkers). Evidence that they prevent heart attacks or strokes remains limited, but early signals are encouraging and warrant larger trials.



Integrated care models - where mental health and cardiovascular teams coordinate around the same patient - consistently improve psychiatric outcomes in clinical studies. The next step is proving that these collaborative approaches also cut hard cardiac endpoints like myocardial infarction and cardiovascular mortality.&nbsp;



To do that, researchers will need to stop excluding people with mental health disorders from cardiovascular trials, a longstanding practice that has left clinicians without robust, disorder-specific guidelines for high-risk patients.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-improving-life-expectancy-outcomes">Improving life expectancy outcomes</h2>



The authors call for changes that are as practical as they are profound. Medical schools and residency programs should train clinicians to recognize and manage the bidirectional links between mental and physical illness.&nbsp;



Health systems and payers need to expand mental health coverage while embedding routine cardiovascular screening and risk management into psychiatric care - and, conversely, embedding mental health screening into cardiology.



Community-level solutions matter, too. Making exercise accessible and safe, addressing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/smoking-related-deaths-will-surge-by-2030/">tobacco</a> use with tailored support, improving food access and tackling social isolation are public-health interventions that serve both the heart and the mind.&nbsp;



And because the burden is unequally distributed, equity must be a design principle: culturally competent care, outreach in underserved neighborhoods and policies that reduce financial and logistical barriers will save the most lives.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-treat-the-whole-person">Treat the whole person</h2>



Taken together, the evidence reframes a familiar crisis. Mental health disorders are common. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/a-century-of-progress-in-the-fight-against-cardiovascular-disease/">Cardiovascular disease</a> is common. When they collide, lives are cut short - not by inevitability, but by gaps we can close.&nbsp;



If roughly a quarter of us will face a mental health condition in our lifetime, preventing the downstream heart damage is not a niche priority; it’s a population-wide imperative.



The path forward is clear enough: measure risk where it’s highest, treat depression and anxiety as cardiac risk factors, deploy exercise and integrated care as first-line tools, and build research and reimbursement structures that reflect how tightly the mind and heart are tied. 



Stop treating mental and cardiovascular health separately, and that 10- to 20-year life-expectancy penalty starts to look less like fate - and more like a fixable failure.



The research is published in the journal <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanepe/article/PIIS2666-7762(25)00165-6/fulltext" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Lancet Regional Health - Europe</a>.



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Mental health disorders reduce life expectancy by up to 20 years

Heart disease, not suicide or overdose, is the leading killer of people living with serious mental health conditions. This is the conclusion of a sweeping review led by Viola Vaccarino of Emory University. The experts report that adults with depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and anxiety die, on average, 10 to 20 years earlier than their peers - largely because of cardiovascular disease.&nbsp; Mental health and life expectancy The cardiovascular penalty attached to common psychiatric diagnoses is substantial. Depression raises the risk of heart...

A mother’s genes may influence a child’s weight more strongly than a father’s genes. This is the conclusion of a major study led by researchers at University College London. 



The analysis combines deep genetic data with insights from the Millennium Cohort Study, which tracked <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/green-spaces-have-a-major-impact-on-child-development/">children</a> in the UK from birth to age 17.



The researchers examined how parental BMI and genetics affected children’s weight, diet, and birthweight. They analyzed data at six stages: ages 3, 5, 7, 11, 14, and 17.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-moms-affect-kids-beyond-just-genes">Moms affect kids beyond just genes</h2>



The researchers used Mendelian Randomization (MR) with polygenic scores to untangle direct inheritance from indirect effects. These indirect effects are called “genetic nurture.” 



A parent’s genes may shape a child’s weight not through inheritance, but by creating a certain environment - through eating habits, health during pregnancy, or household norms.



“Mothers’ genetics appear to play an important role in influencing her child’s weight over and above the child’s genetics,” explained Dr. Liam Wright from the <a href="https://www.ucl.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University College London</a>.



“In addition to the genes mums directly pass on, our findings suggest that maternal genetics are instrumental in shaping the environment in which the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/social-curiosity-starts-young-and-helps-us-survive/">child</a> develops, therefore indirectly influencing the child’s BMI too.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dads-mostly-pass-down-genes-only">Dads mostly pass down genes only</h2>



Both parents’ BMI were initially linked to higher BMI in children. But when adjusted for genetic transmission, only the mother’s BMI remained consistently associated. 



The father’s BMI, in contrast, showed little to no effect once inherited genes were taken into account.



This suggests that prior studies linking fathers’ weight to children’s weight may have overestimated the impact. Those links likely came from shared <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-disasters-are-fueling-a-child-exploitation-crisis/">genes</a> rather than parenting behaviors.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pregnancy-and-child-s-future-weight">Pregnancy and child's future weight</h2>



The study supports the "developmental overnutrition hypothesis." This theory says that high maternal BMI can affect the fetus by exposing it to higher levels of glucose, fatty acids, and inflammatory signals. This may permanently alter appetite control and fat storage.



Birthweight data backs this up. Children of mothers with higher BMI had higher birthweights, regardless of genetics. The link was not observed for fathers. 



This connection could reflect how the prenatal environment contributes to long-term weight trends, noted the researchers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mom-s-weight-linked-to-child-s-diet">Mom's weight linked to child’s diet</h2>



Mother’s BMI was linked to poorer <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/screen-time-and-mental-health-a-vicious-cycle-for-kids/">child</a> diets, especially during adolescence. Children of mothers with higher BMI reported eating more fast food and sugary drinks and less fruit. These effects were subtle but present even after accounting for direct inheritance.



Interestingly, father's BMI showed almost no consistent link to children’s diets. Even where slight effects appeared - like at age 14 - they were weaker than the maternal patterns.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-big-is-the-genetic-nurture-effect">How big is the genetic nurture effect?</h2>



The indirect effects of maternal genetics were found to be between 20 and 50 percent the size of direct inherited effects. That is a significant influence. For diet, the effect of the mother’s genes sometimes exceeded that of the child’s own.



These patterns reinforce the idea that maternal influence is not just about passing on DNA. It includes how mothers eat, behave, and care for themselves and their children - during pregnancy and beyond.



“This isn’t about blaming mothers, rather, supporting families to make a meaningful difference to children’s long-term health. Targeted interventions to reduce maternal BMI, particularly during pregnancy, could reduce the intergenerational impacts of obesity,” said Dr. Wright.



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



This research shows that helping mothers achieve healthier weights could benefit their children - now and decades later. 



The results of the study highlight the need for maternal-focused health programs during and before pregnancy. These programs can reduce long-term risks for the next generation.



At the same time, the research challenges assumptions about how fathers influence their children’s health. The findings emphasize the importance of using genetically informed methods when exploring these questions.



As childhood obesity continues to rise, understanding these hidden influences becomes essential. This study brings new clarity - and new directions for preventing obesity from one generation to the next.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.03.07.24303912v1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PLOS Genetics</a>.



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Mother’s genes may hold the key to childhood obesity

A mother’s genes may influence a child’s weight more strongly...

Fast food in hospitals sounds like a contradiction, but in many U.S. medical centers, it’s still on the menu. Walk through the food court and you’ll see signs for fried chicken, burgers, and pizza - foods known to fuel the very health problems hospitals are meant to treat.



A new poll and report from the <a href="https://www.pcrm.org/">Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine</a>, a nonprofit backed by 17,000 doctors, finds that many Americans don’t believe fast food belongs in hospitals.



The poll, conducted in early July 2025, surveyed 2,202 U.S. adults. Over half (52%) said fast food shouldn’t be sold in hospitals. Nearly 6 in 10 said hospitals shouldn’t make money from it, and 85% agreed these foods don't support good health.



The same report revealed that Chick-fil-A is operating in at least 20 hospitals or medical centers across the country. That data comes from the fast-food chain’s own website.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-counts-as-fast-food-really">What counts as fast food, really?</h2>



Fast food isn’t just about speed. It’s a category of food known for being heavily processed, high in saturated fat, sugar, and sodium, and low in fiber and nutrients. 



Fast food options include fried chicken sandwiches, cheeseburgers, pizza, fries, soda, and milkshakes - staples of chains like Chick-fil-A, McDonald’s, Wendy’s, and others.



These meals are designed for convenience, not nutrition. They often come packed with calories and additives, and they’re rarely made from whole, unprocessed ingredients. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-foods-of-convenience">Foods of convenience </h2>



Even the “healthier” options, like grilled chicken sandwiches or salads, can come with high-fat dressings, processed meats, or refined grains.



The issue isn’t just indulgence - it’s habit. Many people eat fast food multiple times a week, and for some hospital visitors or staff working long shifts, these meals are the only options available. 



That’s where the problem grows. What’s convenient in the moment may be contributing to long-term health issues that land people in hospitals in the first place.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fried-chicken-versus-chickpeas">Fried chicken versus chickpeas</h2>



“While many people consider chicken to be a healthier option than red meat, consuming chicken can increase cholesterol just as much as eating red meat,” said Anna Herby, nutrition education specialist for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. 



“Hospital staff, visitors, and patients would benefit by choosing more chickpeas and other plant-based foods instead of chicken.”



This isn’t just a personal opinion - it’s based on research. Eating chicken has been tied to higher cancer risk. Fried chicken, in particular, has been linked to heart disease.



One study earlier this year showed that eating just 300 grams of poultry per week - roughly a large chicken breast - was associated with increased risk of gastrointestinal cancers and higher all-cause mortality.



Another study, published in The BMJ, found that women who ate fried chicken once or more a day had a 13% higher risk of death from any cause and a 12% higher risk of death from heart disease compared to those who avoided fried food entirely.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hidden-health-effects-of-fast-food">Hidden health effects of fast food</h2>



Fast food isn’t just tied to heart disease and cancer - its effects reach much further, often in ways that aren’t immediately obvious.



Regular fast food consumption is strongly tied to obesity, a condition that increases the risk of nearly every major chronic illness. 



These meals are energy-dense but nutritionally poor, delivering lots of calories with little actual nourishment. That makes it easy to overeat and hard to feel full.



Fast food is also a major contributor to type 2 diabetes. High levels of refined carbs and added sugars can spike blood sugar and insulin, leading to insulin resistance over time. Even a seemingly small meal - a muffin, a sweetened coffee - can contain more sugar than a can of soda.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-liver-and-brain-health">Liver and brain health</h2>



There are also effects on the liver. Diets heavy in trans fats and sugar can cause non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, now increasingly common even in kids and teens.



And then there’s mental health. Studies have linked high consumption of fried and processed foods with increased rates of depression and anxiety. 



The nutrients we don’t get from fast food - like omega-3s, fiber, and key vitamins - play a big role in brain health. Fast food isn’t just a quick meal. It can quietly affect nearly every system in the body.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-time-to-lead-by-example">Time to lead by example</h2>



This issue is not new. In 2017, the American Medical Association urged hospitals to offer plant-based meals and stop serving processed meats like chicken nuggets. The goal is to make food part of the solution, not the problem.



“Hospitals should set an example by ensuring that their restaurants serve more menu items that are cholesterol-free, low in saturated fat, and high in fiber-rich vegetables, grains, beans, and fruit,” said Dr. Herby. 



“Meals like these have been shown to help prevent or improve the chronic diseases that bring people to the hospital.”



Public support is already there. The majority of Americans agree: fast food doesn’t belong in a place that’s supposed to promote health. 



As research continues to highlight the risks of meat-heavy, fried diets, many are calling for hospitals to make the same shift they ask of their patients.



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Fast food in hospitals? Most agree it doesn't belong

Fast food in hospitals sounds like a contradiction, but in...

Every time you eat, trillions of microbes in your gut spring into action, fermenting dietary scraps your own body can’t digest. In return, they churn out small molecules - short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) - that slip into your bloodstream and quietly influence your immune system, appetite, and even mood.



Until now, no one had precisely calculated how much of this microbial output reaches the body - but a new study led by Markus Arnoldini at <a href="https://ethz.ch/en.html">ETH Zurich</a> offers the most detailed accounting yet.



“Our findings provide a detailed picture of how intensively the gut microbiota and the host exchange substances,” he said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-measuring-gut-s-hidden-traffic">Measuring gut's hidden traffic</h2>



Researchers from ETH Zurich and <a href="https://www.stanford.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stanford</a> set out to count this molecular freight with simple arithmetic anchored in diet records and stool output. 



By balancing how many bacteria are shed each day with how many must regrow, they calculated the carbon budget that keeps the community humming.



Laboratory assays then revealed how many fermentation products each bacterial gram must generate to rebuild that lost biomass. 



The final tally suggests that an adult following a typical Western diet absorbs roughly 1.5 ounces of these acids every 24 hours.



That flow is far larger than earlier textbook estimates. Those estimates relied on indirect breath or blood tests and missed material swiftly metabolized by the liver. It shows that gut chemistry is not a trickle but a steady stream.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fiber-boosts-gut-microbes">Fiber boosts gut microbes</h2>



Fiber content turned out to be the strongest dial on that stream. When the team plugged in data from the Hadza people of Tanzania, who gather tubers and berries rich in resistant starch, acid production doubled.



Under those ancestral conditions, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/brewing-beer-in-space-the-future-of-fermentation/">fermentation</a> products can supply up to 10 percent of daily energy needs, a notable windfall in food-scarce settings. 



Modern Western diners, by contrast, glean just 2 to 5 percent of calories from the same pathway because refined grains and sugars leave little work for fermenters.



That finding supports earlier work showing hunters and subsistence farmers host bulkier microbial communities geared to fiber digestion. 



It also hints that energy balance models need to account for changing microbial efficiency when people switch diets.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-microbial-acids-act-as-signals">Microbial acids act as signals</h2>



Energy is only half the story, because these acids act as messengers that bind receptors on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/study-changes-our-understanding-of-the-immune-system/">immune cells</a>, fat tissue, and the nervous system. 



Animal experiments show butyrate enhances gut barrier repair, while propionate moderates gluconeogenesis in the liver.



Human observational studies back that up, linking higher circulating acetate with better insulin sensitivity. Because the new study quantifies daily dose, clinicians can now align intake ranges with biomarker shifts seen in trials.



The map is useful for nutritionists designing fiber interventions and for drug developers testing synthetic analogs that mimic microbial messages. 



It also challenges the common practice of measuring stool acids alone, since absorption soaks up most of the pool before it exits.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gut-microbes-may-shape-mood">Gut microbes may shape mood</h2>



Beyond metabolism, SCFAs instruct the immune system to stay calm. They enhance regulatory T-cell development, dampening gut inflammation in mice predisposed to colitis.



Clinical researchers are testing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/want-to-lose-weight-try-eating-more-protein-and-fiber/">high-fiber diets</a> or encapsulated butyrate as adjunct therapy for inflammatory bowel disease. 



If the Arnoldini framework proves accurate in patients, dosing can be personalized rather than guessed.



Neurologists are equally interested because propionate crosses the blood–brain barrier and modulates dopamine pathways tied to motivation. 



Small trials report improved emotional regulation after fiber supplementation, though cause and effect remain under study.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fiber-may-aid-treatment">Fiber may aid treatment</h2>



Because composition plays a smaller role than diet in total acid output, swapping <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-probiotic-could-make-it-safer-to-eat-seafood/">probiotic strains</a> alone may not move the needle. 



Instead, results argue for feeding existing microbes with complex carbohydrates they can ferment.



Cancer biologists note that butyrate has antiproliferative effects on colon epithelial cells, raising hopes for prevention strategies. 



A quantitative scaffold now exists to test whether meeting a threshold intake - say 20 grams of fermentable fiber - yields protective colonic concentrations.



Precision matters in diabetes - too little propionate harms glucose control, while too much acetate may trigger fat buildup. Dose-response curves need real numbers, and this study finally supplies them.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-testing-gut-microbes-in-disease">Testing gut microbes in disease</h2>



Future projects will marry the carbon budget with real-time metabolic flux analysis, using isotope-labeled fibers to trace individual molecules. 



Such work could reveal whether morning oatmeal and evening salad each spark discrete acid pulses or blend into one continuous wave.



“The precise quantification of these molecular signals forms an important basis for future research,” explained Arnoldini. 



Investigators also plan to test patients with ulcerative colitis, colorectal cancer, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/obesity-is-much-more-complicated-than-we-thought-manifesting-in-11-different-forms/">obesity</a> to see if disease shifts the daily harvest upward or downward.&nbsp;



Companies already market designer fibers that promise targeted butyrate release in the right colon. With hard numbers in hand, regulators can demand evidence that claimed doses match physiological realities.



Public health guidelines may eventually express recommended fiber in terms of expected SCFA yield. 



This would mirror how vitamin advice links to functional outcomes. That shift would translate the microbiome from a black box into a measurable partner in nutrition.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0092867425007949" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cell</a>.



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How many microbes live in the human gut? The number is staggering

Every time you eat, trillions of microbes in your gut...

Why do young children struggle to grasp the emotions behind adult facial expressions? A study led by Xie Wanze of Peking University and Professor Seth Pollak from the University of Wisconsin sheds light on this developmental shift. 



The research reveals that between the ages of 5 and 10, children begin to move beyond instinctive reactions to facial cues and start relying more on learned understanding to interpret <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/animal-characters-boost-social-and-emotional-skills-in-children/">emotions</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-kids-use-more-than-faces">Kids use more than faces</h2>



Interpreting facial emotions is essential for social <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/experts-identify-the-simple-emotion-that-gives-life-meaning-and-its-not-happiness/">connection</a>, but children often misread them. Earlier studies suggested that kids gradually move from simple positive or negative assessments to nuanced emotion recognition. 



But this new study shows that children don’t rely solely on visual cues. Instead, their developing brains combine perceptual data with conceptual insights shaped by culture, language, and experience. 



Even young children start to build emotional concepts through stories, labels, and social situations.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-testing-brain-and-behavior">Testing brain and behavior</h2>



The researchers used a three-part experiment on children aged 5 to 10. First, they measured spontaneous brain responses using a visual EEG task. Even the youngest group could distinguish different emotional expressions - happiness, anger, sadness, and fear. 



Their brains reacted more strongly to shifts between these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/social-stress-harms-the-brains-of-low-status-fish/">emotions</a>, confirming early discrimination ability.



Second, a conceptual word-emotion rating task revealed that older children showed clearer, more complex emotional associations. 



They viewed happiness as increasingly distinct from negative emotions and began grouping negative emotions like anger and fear more closely.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-children-s-brains-process-emotions">How children’s brains process emotions</h2>



The team found that perceptual and conceptual abilities both contribute to emotion judgment, but not equally. Younger kids rely more on what they see. As they grow, they shift toward what they’ve learned. 



This aligns with the theory of constructed emotion, which proposes that emotional understanding relies more on concepts than raw feelings over time.



The study used Representational Similarity Analysis and statistical modeling to track this transition. 



The analysis revealed that conceptual knowledge predicts emotional accuracy better in older children and adults. In contrast, perceptual discrimination plays a stronger role in younger kids.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-behavior-shows-emotion-growth">Behavior shows emotion growth</h2>



In behavior-based sorting and matching tasks, younger children showed clear struggles. They often sorted emotions broadly - positive vs. negative - without grasping nuances. 



Older children were more precise, identifying subtle differences between similar expressions like fear and anger.



Interestingly, these two tasks revealed different strengths. The sorting task depended more on labels and categories. The matching task leaned on visual cues. This shows how children’s emotion understanding may vary based on how they are asked to respond.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-children-s-emotions-become-more-complex">Children’s emotions become more complex </h2>



As children grow, they not only get better at telling faces apart but also begin to understand emotional complexity. 



With age, children grasp that anger and fear may share traits or appear together in certain situations. This reflects a maturing emotional framework where emotions are not just labels but dynamic states tied to context and culture.



Children learn that the same expression may mean different things in different situations. This flexibility marks the rise of true emotional reasoning.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-helping-children-understand-emotions">Helping children understand emotions</h2>



This research has practical value. It suggests that helping children grow emotionally means more than showing them faces. 



Teaching emotional language, using stories, and helping them understand context can build strong conceptual knowledge.



Children who gain these tools are more likely to manage emotions, understand others, and thrive in social settings. The study supports using both visual and conceptual strategies in emotional education, tailored to age and developmental stage.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-new-perspective">A new perspective</h2>



The study from <a href="https://english.pku.edu.cn" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Peking University</a> and <a href="https://www.wisc.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Wisconsin</a> reminds us that emotion understanding is not fixed. It evolves through exposure, language, and thought. While a child may first recognize a smile, they later learn that not every smile means happiness.



As one grows older, it becomes clear that knowing how someone feels takes more than just looking – it requires thinking. This research shows how that journey unfolds, step by step, in every child’s mind, shaped by experience, culture, language, and social learning. 



Over time, children learn that emotions are not fixed or universal - they depend on situations, relationships, and context. What begins as a simple reaction to a face slowly becomes a deeper understanding of human feelings and how they work in real life.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-62210-1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications</a>.



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How children learn to read emotions as they grow older

Why do young children struggle to grasp the emotions behind...

Imagine getting your next flu shot not through a syringe, but with something as familiar as flossing your teeth. 



A new proof-of-concept study led by Harvinder Singh Gill, a professor of nanomedicine at <a href="https://www.ncsu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">North Carolina State University</a> brings that vision to life.



The team has shown, in mice, that unwaxed dental floss coated with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/powerful-ai-algorithm-can-predict-a-persons-attitude-towards-vaccines/">vaccine</a> can be gently threaded between the teeth and gums. This sparks a powerful immune response where pathogens often strike first - the moist linings of the nose, throat, and lungs.



“Mucosal surfaces are important because they are a source of entry for pathogens, such as influenza and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-the-covid-19-virus-travels-deep-inside-our-lungs/">COVID</a>,” Gill explained. 



“However, if a vaccine is given by injection, antibodies are primarily produced in the bloodstream throughout the body, and relatively few are produced on mucosal surfaces.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-hidden-vaccine-gateway">A hidden vaccine gateway</h2>



Conventional epithelium - the skin-like tissue that lines much of the body - forms a tight barrier. The junctional epithelium, tucked deep in the gum pocket where a tooth meets the jaw, is different. 



Lacking some of the usual protective proteins, it allows immune cells to patrol the area and intercept <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bacteria-in-your-mouth-multiply-in-a-very-unique-way/">bacteria</a> that lurk in dental plaque.



“Because the junctional epithelium is more permeable than other epithelial tissues - and is a mucosal layer - it presents a unique opportunity for introducing vaccines to the body in a way that will stimulate enhanced antibody production across the body's mucosal layers,”&nbsp; Gill said.



Delivering antigen there, the researchers reasoned, might train the immune system without needles, sprays, or oral drops.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-floss-rivals-nasal-spray">Floss rivals nasal spray</h2>



The team compared three ways of vaccinating mice against <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-does-the-influenza-virus-hack-our-cells/">influenza</a>: flossing the gum pocket, dripping vaccine under the tongue (the current oral-cavity standard), and instilling it in the nose.



The researchers discovered that flossing outperformed the sublingual route and matched the nasal route. This is notable because intranasal vaccination often requires specially formulated antigens and carries a theoretical risk of delivering particles too close to the brain.



“Applying the vaccine via the junctional epithelium produces far superior antibody response on mucosal surfaces than via the oral cavity, which involves placing vaccine under the tongue,” reported first author Rohan Ingrole, who completed the work as a doctoral student in Gill’s lab.



“The flossing technique also provides comparable protection against flu virus as compared to the vaccine being given via the nasal epithelium.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-safe-even-near-brain">Safe, even near brain</h2>



Researchers say this new approach is extremely promising because the nasal lining blocks absorption, preventing most vaccines from being delivered through the nose.



“Intranasal delivery also has the potential to cause the vaccine to reach the brain, which can pose safety concerns. However, vaccination via the junctional epithelium offers no such risk,” said Ingrole.



Better still, the new approach worked with multiple vaccine types - proteins, inactivated viruses, and even mRNA - each time generating strong antibody levels in blood and mucosal secretions.



Whether mice nibbled food or drank water right after flossing made no difference, suggesting that ordinary eating habits would not blunt effectiveness.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-testing-floss-on-humans">Testing floss on humans</h2>



Unwinding floss around tiny mouse incisors is one thing; asking people to maneuver drug-soaked thread is another.



To gauge feasibility, the researchers dipped the filament of commercial floss picks in fluorescent <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fda-faces-scrutiny-over-synthetic-food-dyes/">food dye</a> and asked 27 adult volunteers to aim for their gum pockets.



“We found that approximately 60 percent of the dye was deposited in the gum pocket, which suggests that floss picks may be a practical vaccine delivery method to the epithelial junction,” Ingrole said.



The pilot study, while small, hints that ordinary oral-care tools might one day double as do-it-yourself vaccine applicators - no medical training required.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-no-needles-no-stress">No needles, no stress</h2>



Freedom from needles could ease anxieties and speed mass immunization campaigns. “For example, it would be easy to administer, and it addresses concerns many people have about being vaccinated with needles,” Gill noted.



“And we think this technique should be comparable in price to other vaccine delivery techniques.” The method would also bypass cold sprays, which can fail if the antigen cannot cross the nasal barrier.



Limits include toothless toddlers and adults with gum disease or oral infections that may hinder vaccine uptake. The researchers need to refine dosage, ensure consistent coating of floss material, and run larger safety trials. Yet the early data encourage them.



“We're optimistic about that work and - depending on our findings - may then move toward clinical trials,” Gill said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-floss-vaccines-of-the-future">Floss vaccines of the future</h2>



If future studies confirm the promise, dental-floss vaccination could shift routine immunizations from clinics to bathrooms, adding a simple daily habit to global public health arsenals.



Beyond flu, the group plans to explore vaccines against respiratory viruses and perhaps oral boosters that top up <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/strong-immune-resilience-in-midlife-reduces-risk-of-early-death/">immunity</a> months or years after a primary shot.



By turning a humble hygiene tool into an immune ally, Gill and colleagues have opened an unexpected channel to the body’s frontline defenses. It’s a reminder that innovation can begin with nothing more than a spool of floss and a curious mind.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41551-025-01451-3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Biomedical Engineering</a>.



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Dental floss delivers vaccines without needles

Imagine getting your next flu shot not through a syringe,...

Stroke remains one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. Despite advancements in emergency care and rehabilitation, many survivors still face long-term health issues, including cognitive decline, seizures, and even death. 



Research presented at the Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery's 22nd Annual Meeting reveals an exciting new discovery. The study suggests that GLP-1 inhibitors, drugs used for type 2 diabetes and obesity, may reduce the severity or risk of strokes.



The diabetes drugs include semaglutide, marketed as Ozempic, which is known for lowering blood sugar and promoting weight loss. The researchers described three studies investigating how these drugs might help the brain during and after <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stroke-risk-is-elevated-by-air-pollution-and-traffic-noise/">stroke</a>. 



The studies covered different patient populations and medical events. They all pointed in one direction: people on GLP-1 inhibitors had better survival odds and fewer long-term complications.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-diabetes-drug-helped-stroke-survival">Diabetes drug helped stroke survival</h2>



In the first study, researchers from the <a href="https://www.wisc.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Wisconsin-Madison</a> examined stroke patients on Ozempic. They compared data from their hospital and a global health network. Out of over 2 million stroke patients, 43,338 had used Ozempic.



The results showed a significant survival boost for Ozempic users. In the global data, 5.26% of users died after stroke, compared to 21.61% of non-users. 



Long-term survival stood at 77.5% for Ozempic users versus 30.95% for non-users. The university’s dataset also reflected this <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/eyes-serve-as-an-early-warning-system-for-stroke-risk/">benefit</a>. Ozempic users had lower death rates (5.26%) compared to those who did not use the drug (26.57%).



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fewer-emergency-stroke-cases">Fewer emergency stroke cases </h2>



The second study, also by the University of Wisconsin-Madison, looked at nationwide emergency department records. 



The research team examined the relationship between Ozempic use and stroke incidents. They found that people likely on Ozempic had much lower odds of experiencing a stroke.



However, the study was based on indirect data sources. So, the researchers recommend analyzing pharmacy records next. This could clarify how Ozempic might prevent strokes, not just lessen damage.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-brain-hemorrhages-and-long-term-effects">Brain hemorrhages and long-term effects</h2>



The third study came from the <a href="https://www.utexas.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Texas</a> Medical Branch. It focused on GLP-1 agonists and their effect on hemorrhagic strokes and brain bleeds. 



The researchers analyzed patient records at multiple points - six and twelve months after hemorrhage, one and two years post-stroke.



They found that patients using GLP-1 inhibitors had a lower risk of seizures, cognitive decline, and death after their stroke or hemorrhage. 



Additionally, these patients experienced fewer future brain bleeds. This pattern suggests that the benefits of these drugs may extend beyond stroke prevention.



GLP-1 inhibitors could play a broader role in protecting the brain and improving long-term recovery after injury.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-using-diabetes-drugs-for-stroke">Using diabetes drugs for stroke</h2>



Dr. Ahmed Elbayomy, a research fellow and data scientist from the University of Wisconsin, led two of the featured studies and emphasized the exciting implications of their findings. 



According to Dr. Elbayomy, these early results reveal a new and unexpected benefit of GLP-1 inhibitors. “More research is certainly needed, but seeing the potential protection offered by these medications is a fascinating finding."



Dr. Matias Costa, lead author of the third study, expressed similar optimism. He believes these results open up important conversations about <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cause-of-strokes-cervical-artery-dissection-has-increased-400-percent-since-2005/">stroke</a> care. 



“This research could introduce a new perspective to the discussion of preventing and mitigating the devastating effects of stroke and related brain injuries,” noted Dr. Costa.



Both researchers agree that while the data looks promising, it remains essential to test these outcomes in future clinical trials. Doing so will determine if these diabetes drugs can safely be used to support brain health in stroke patients.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-path-in-stroke-prevention">New path in stroke prevention</h2>



GLP-1 inhibitors, commonly used for diabetes and weight loss, may have a new role in stroke care. Collectively, the studies suggest these drugs could help prevent strokes and improve stroke recovery.



This potential crossover between metabolic treatment and brain health is promising. While the findings are still early, they point toward a future where one class of medication supports both physical and neurological health. 



Researchers are now planning prospective trials to confirm these results and better understand how GLP-1 drugs protect the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/17-best-strategies-to-protect-your-brain-from-stroke-dementia-and-depression/">brain</a>. If successful, this could shift how doctors approach stroke prevention and treatment in at-risk patients.



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Weight loss drug Ozempic may protect the brain from stroke

Stroke remains one of the leading causes of death and...

<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>.



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

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

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>.



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Your DNA may explain why you love or hate certain smells

You probably don’t think twice about smelling a jug of...

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>.



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"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>.



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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>.



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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>.



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Extremists are using gaming platforms to recruit young followers

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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Worms dominated seas before dinosaurs

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



The full study was published in the journal Current Biology.



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Earth's oldest forest found in the United States

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

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



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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.



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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>.



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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



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

[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



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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...

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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...

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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