Flat,Lay,Composition,With,Tasty,Maple,Syrup,And,Dry,Leaves

Sweet treats come with strings attached. Added sugar pushes blood pressure higher, drives visceral fat, and nudges blood glucose past healthy limits. For most people, swapping table sugar for something less taxing could be a small shift with outsized benefits.



A new study suggests that the switch might already be sitting on the breakfast table. 



Researchers looked at what happens when adults trade two tablespoons of refined sugar for an equal amount of pure maple syrup, and the results point to improvements in several early warning signs of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/strawberries-promote-cardiometabolic-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cardiometabolic</a> trouble.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sugar-has-invaded-our-lives">Sugar has invaded our lives</h2>



Americans swallow about 17 teaspoons of added sugar each day, roughly two to three times the <a href="https://www.heart.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">American Heart Association</a>’s recommended cap for men and women. 



Health guidelines urge keeping added sugars below ten percent of daily calories and, ideally, closer to six percent for better heart health.



Cutting back is easier when the replacement tastes familiar. Maple syrup fits the bill but offers more than sweetness. 



Scientists have cataloged more than 67 <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-polyphenols-promote-heart-health-youthful-skin-and-a-healthy-waistline/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">polyphenols</a> in the amber liquid alongside minerals, vitamins, and amino acids.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-maple-syrup-vs-sugar-the-test">Maple syrup vs. sugar - the test</h2>



The latest work, led by Dr. André Marette at Laval University’s <a href="https://www.iucpq.ca/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Quebec Heart and Lung Institute</a> and Dr. Marie-Claude Vohl at the Institute of Nutrition and Functional Foods (<a href="https://www.inaf.ulaval.ca/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">INAF</a>), enrolled 42 volunteers aged 18 to 75 with body mass index values between 23 and 40. 



Each person replaced five percent of daily calories - about two tablespoons - with either Canadian maple syrup or a flavored sucrose syrup for eight weeks. After a four-week washout, the groups switched syrups so every participant served as their own control.



“We know from decades of research that maple syrup is more than just sugar. It contains over 100 natural compounds, including polyphenols, that are known to prevent disease in part through their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/coffee-with-milk-has-powerful-anti-inflammatory-properties/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">anti-inflammatory effects</a>,” remarked Dr. Marette. 



Because the fundamental chemistry of maple syrup is unique, they wondered if ingesting maple syrup instead of an equivalent amount of refined sugar would differently impact cardiometabolic health and the intestinal microbiota in humans. 



According to Dr. Marette, "The results were extremely encouraging. I did not expect to see so many improvements of risk factors within a relatively short treatment period.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-surprising-shifts-in-key-markers">Surprising shifts in key markers</h2>



After eight weeks on maple syrup, participants handled an <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/meal-time-has-a-major-influence-on-our-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">oral glucose</a> tolerance test far better than when they consumed the sucrose syrup, showing a change of -50.59 versus +29.93. 



Systolic blood pressure edged down by -2.72 millimeters of mercury, while it crept up +0.87 millimeters on the sucrose phase. 



Android fat mass - deep abdominal fat linked to heart disease - dropped -7.83 grams on maple syrup but rose +67.61 grams with refined sugar.



“Both individually and collectively, the study findings are quite significant. The combined decrease of such key risk factors may help to reduce the risk of diabetes and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/a-century-of-progress-in-the-fight-against-cardiovascular-disease/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cardiovascular disease</a>," Dr. Marette enthused. 



"Making a commitment to lifestyle changes and small adjustments to our everyday diets is important and can be a powerful tool in preventing future diseases.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-maple-syrup-is-different">Why maple syrup is different</h2>



Blood tests were only half the story. Stool samples showed fewer Klebsiella species and Bacteroides pectinophilus - microbes tied to inflammation - after maple syrup consumption. 



At the same time, Lactocaseibacillus casei and Clostridium beijerinckii flourished. These shifts hint that maple’s natural compounds may influence metabolism partly through the gut.



Pure maple syrup brings trace nutrients along for the ride. 



Two tablespoons supply about 35 percent of a day’s manganese, 15 percent of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/low-carb-diets-have-more-nutritional-value-than-expected/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">riboflavin</a>, eight percent of copper, and small but measurable amounts of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/amaranth-seeds-rich-in-calcium-and-iron-prevents-tumors-and-keeps-bones-strong/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">calcium</a>, thiamin, and potassium, all while carrying roughly twelve percent fewer calories than light corn syrup. 



Refined sugar, in contrast, arrives stripped of such extras.



“With each new study, we learn more about the benefits that natural products from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/many-plant-species-show-great-promise-in-fight-against-cancer/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">medicinal plants</a> and functional foods, like maple syrup, provide,” noted Dr. Navindra Seeram. 



“The promising results of this first human trial provide more reasons to educate consumers about maple syrup’s many health benefits. It is truly a ‘smarter sweetener’ and a healthier alternative to refined sugar.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-maple-syrup-data-is-needed">More maple syrup data is needed</h2>



The sample size was modest, and the trial lasted just eight weeks. Even so, the consistency across multiple risk factors stands out.



“While this study was limited to a relatively small sample size (42 men and women) and took place during a relatively short period, the results are still significant,” Dr. Marette remarked. 



“We now have human evidence to support replacing refined sugars with maple syrup, a natural sweetener, for preventing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/christensenella-minuta-gut-bacteria-linked-obesity-different-men-women/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">metabolic diseases</a>."



The scientists' next goal is to conduct larger studies with other populations to explore how replacing refined sugars with maple syrup might impact their unique health conditions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-to-make-the-swap">How to make the swap</h2>



Swapping maple syrup for sugar in your diet is as simple as it sounds.



“Before the study, I would consume pure maple products regularly but not consistently," one study participant shared. 



"I have always enjoyed it. Today my routine is to replace refined sugars with two tablespoons of pure Canadian maple syrup daily."



Small swaps add up. Cutting just two tablespoons of refined sugar trims roughly 96 calories and more than 24 grams of straight sucrose.



By choosing pure maple syrup in place of refined sugar, you enact a modest dietary change backed by evidence of healthier glucose responses, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/common-foods-might-work-like-medicines-to-lower-blood-pressure/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">lower blood pressure</a>, diminished visceral fat, and a more favorable gut microbiome.



While larger studies will refine these insights, the present trial already encourages individuals, clinicians, and food producers to rethink sweetening habits and embrace this nutrient-rich natural syrup as a wiser everyday indulgence.



For anyone edging toward metabolic trouble, that simple switch may be one easy step toward better numbers at the next check-up.



The full study was published in the <a href="https://jn.nutrition.org/article/S0022-3166(24)00465-6/abstract" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of Nutrition</a>.



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This sugar substitute has surprising health benefits, including weight management

Sweet treats come with strings attached. Added sugar pushes blood pressure higher, drives visceral fat, and nudges blood glucose past healthy limits. For most people, swapping table sugar for something less taxing could be a small shift with outsized benefits. A new study suggests that the switch might already be sitting on the breakfast table. Researchers looked at what happens when adults trade two tablespoons of refined sugar for an equal amount of pure maple syrup, and the results point to improvements in several early warning signs...

<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pomegranates-contain-an-anti-aging-substance/">Aging</a> is considered to be a biological process that is subject to metabolic control. Not everyone ages in the same way, and the reasons for this are not yet clear, even though the process has been intensely investigated by those seeking to understand it better.&nbsp; A team of scientists in the&nbsp;Department of Biological Sciences at <a href="https://www.lsu.edu/">Louisiana State University</a> has now published a landmark study showing that a botanical extract can extend longevity in roundworms by improving their metabolic health.&nbsp;



Although the roundworms (Caenorhabditis elegans) may not appear to have much in common with humans, the investigation supports the results of previous work involving mice, which was conducted at LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center under Professor Jacqueline Stephens.&nbsp;



“The reason this study made so much sense to do in worms is because worms live for only about three weeks, so in a month or two, we had definite results,” said Bhaswati Ghosh, LSU student and lead author of the recently published study.



Both the initial study on mice, and the current study on C. elegans, investigated how the consumption of Artemisia scoparia (an extract named SCO) affected the laboratory organisms. Commonly known as wormwood, A. scoparia is an aromatic herb that is widely distributed across Asia. It is a member of the sunflower family, and an important plant in traditional Chinese medicine. It is known to have many bioactive constituents, including flavonoids, coumarins, phenolic acids and terpenoids.&nbsp;



In the lab of Professor Adam Bohnert, the researchers made an extract from the plant’s leaves and fed worms with this in various doses. They found that the worms fed the highest, and second-highest doses, showed immediate improvement in their metabolic health. They showed heightened levels of unsaturated fat, rather than accumulating saturated fat, which is not as healthy. The treated worms lived 40 percent longer than the untreated worms.&nbsp;



Although the worms that received the extract grew fat and became less mobile, they also became healthier and more resistant to stress. The researchers found that&nbsp;SCO&nbsp;helped convert unhealthy fat stores into healthy fat stores in the worms’ bodies. These findings, published in the <a href="https://academic.oup.com/biomedgerontology">Journal of Gerontology</a>, suggest that diet is an important factor that can influence aging at a cellular level. The research indicates that the extract from Artemisia scoparia&nbsp;can activate many pro-longevity pathways in the body, and effectively turn on multiple genes involved in regulating lifespan.



“Until recently, it wasn’t really known how aging could be modified through diet, or how core metabolic signaling pathways influence longevity,” said Bohnert. “What we’ve been able to show is that a natural extract can come in and influence these pathways in much the same way as a genetic mutation would.”



The finding that a dietary supplement (SCO) can have such a significant effect on longevity suggests that we have a certain amount of control over our own aging.&nbsp;



“Importantly, it gives us a therapeutic standpoint,” Bohnert said. “We know age is the primary risk factor for many diseases, such as cancer and cardiovascular disease, but if you think of aging as a treatable disease, you can actually treat many diseases at once.”



The worms that showed the greatest improvement in lifespan were fed the A. scoparia&nbsp;extract during the time before they reached reproductive maturity. However, Bohnert’s team also observed significant effects in worms treated for the first time in middle age. Instead of a 40 percent increase in lifespan, these worms still managed to live about 20 percent longer.



This result is important because it emphasizes the important connection between metabolic health, fat regulation and longevity. The worms that benefited from the SCO treatment not only lived longer, but also became fatter. This indicates that the presence of fat may enhance some aspects of physiological health in older age, as long as it involves healthy, unsaturated fats.&nbsp;



“Usually people think of fat as ‘bad,’ but in these cases, it seems good, and actually pro-longevity,” said Bohnert. “Artemisia scoparia&nbsp;could have some exciting potential as a dietary supplement.”



“Also, the simple fact that an organism is short, fat&nbsp;and slow-moving does not necessarily qualify it as in poor health,” Ghosh added. “These phenotypes must be considered in the full context of other parameters, including lifespan.”



Artemisia scoparia extract is not currently recommended for humans to take as a life-extending dietary supplement, and there is no understanding of what would be a safe or effective dosage. However, the properties of the extract do seem to have had significant impacts. The researchers also investigated the effects of extracts from several other, related plant species, but only observed positive effects on fat regulation and longevity with&nbsp;the A. scoparia extract.&nbsp;



The study authors conclude that the A. scoparia extract is a natural product that can modify fat regulation and benefit longevity by altering core metabolic parameters. They propose that natural products like this may provide a means to extend animal lifespan and promote healthy aging.&nbsp;&nbsp;



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

Could a botanical extract extend the lifespan of humans?

Aging is considered to be a biological process that is...

A new study published by <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/">Frontiers</a> upsets assumptions about what needs to be taught in math class. Most of us think that skills like multiplication and division are learned, but a growing body of evidence suggests that some math skills are inherent.&nbsp;



The study findings indicate that even division is something <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/lack-of-green-space-linked-to-adhd-in-children/">children</a> can do before formal education begins. This clearly has implications in how math may be taught in the future.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



The foundation of the research is the approximate number system (ANS), a theory which states that humans and other primates have the ability to approximate large sets of objects without language or other symbolic interpretation. For example, a child or a chimpanzee can look at three apples and know there are less than 30 apples. The ability to make smaller distinctions four versus three apples, improves into adulthood.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Study co-author Dr. Elizabeth M. Brannon is the head of the Developing Minds Laboratory at the University of Pennsylvania.



“The ANS is universal, and finding ways to harness the ANS might be one of many important avenues to closing the achievement gap,” said Dr. Brannon.



The study was focused on a group of children aged six to nine years, and on another group of college students. Each group was asked to do approximate division both symbolically and non symbolically. The goal was to answer the questions of whether children have an innate ability for division, and also whether this ability grows with education over time.&nbsp;



“This question is controversial because the existing data are mixed,” said Dr. Brannon. “However, our study gives some hope for that enterprise by showing that children can flexibly divide quantities and even symbols before they learn about formal division.”



When division was represented on a screen with dots and flower petals or with numbers, children performed well above chance in their calculations, getting the right answer between 73 and 77 percent of the time, while adults scored around 90 percent.



Perhaps the most interesting finding of the study is that children who could not answer symbolic problems with numbers scored well in the non-symbolic or pictorial math problems.&nbsp;



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://reports.frontiersin.org/reports/frontiers-in-human-neuroscience-report.html">Frontiers in Human Neuroscience</a>.



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

Children may have an “instinct” for solving math problems

A new study published by Frontiers upsets assumptions about what...

People feel an emotional connection with their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pet-ownership-has-mental-health-benefits/">pets</a> and this bond is known to have a variety of potential health benefits for the owners, such as reduction in stress and lowering of blood pressure. This connection also extends beyond actual ownership, such that pet owners respond to images of dogs and cats, and feel the emotional bond and connection, even if it doesn’t involve their own pet. Marketing professionals know this, and often use animals in their advertisements in order to convey a message about a product and influence consumer behavior.&nbsp;



A new study, published recently in the <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/home/jmx">Journal of Marketing</a>, compares the consumer-related decisions made by dog owners and cat owners, in response to marketing adverts in which pets are shown as mascots, characters or “spokespersons.” The study was carried out by researchers from the University of Massachusetts Lowell, the University of South Carolina, and Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and is authored by Lei&nbsp;Jia, Xiaojing&nbsp;Yang, and Yuwei&nbsp;Jiang.



Pets have assumed increasing importance in households during the COVID-19 pandemic and pet adoptions in the U.S. have risen; about one in five households has acquired a dog or cat since the start of the pandemic. Currently, 68 percent of U.S. households (84.6 million homes) own a pet. Of these, 48 percent (60 million homes) own at least a dog and 37 percent (47 million homes) own at least a cat.



Pets frequently appear in mass media and marketing communications, even in cases where the product advertised is not related to pets or pet ownership. For example, Target chose a dog as its brand mascot, Microsoft featured dogs in its 2020 holiday commercial to inspire people to find joy, and Wells Fargo used a cat in its commercial to advertise its suspicious card activity alert services.&nbsp;



The findings of the study show that exposure to dogs and cats, in the form of recalling experience interacting with these animals, or viewing ads featuring a dog or a cat as the spokesperson, had different effects on consumers’ subsequent judgments and decisions. In each case, adverts reminded consumers of the stereotypical temperaments and behaviors of the pet species, and these attributes activated different mindsets in the pet owners. Dogs stereotypically symbolize loyalty, human interaction and family, whereas cats are seen as inquisitive, aloof and smart.&nbsp;



In the study, exposure to dogs made consumers more promotion-focused, meaning that they were more eager in pursuing a goal and more risk-seeking when making decisions. By contrast, exposure to cats made consumers prevention-focused, which meant they were more cautious in pursuing goals and more risk-averse when making decisions. Jia explains that “These effects occur because pet exposure experiences remind consumers of the stereotypical temperaments and behaviors of the pet species.”



The results&nbsp;were supported&nbsp;across multiple product and service contexts. For example, exposure to dogs led research participants to choose the riskier stock investment option, while exposure to cats led participants to choose the mutual fund investment option, which was less risky. Exposure to dogs was also associated with willingness to risk monetary compensation for a chance to win an even bigger payment. In addition, exposure to dogs led participants to prefer ad messages that&nbsp;are framed&nbsp;with a promotion focus, or messages that appeal to eagerness. Exposure to cats had the opposite effect, leading participants to prefer ad messages with a prevention focus or messages appealing to vigilance.&nbsp;



These effects of pet exposure on consumers were only seen to the extent that the marketing material reminded them of the stereotypical traits and behaviors of the pet species.&nbsp;The results offer some important insights into how marketers could best incorporate pets into advertisements or use them to get the message across. For products or services mainly perceived as promotion-focused (e.g., stock investments, sports cars), featuring dogs in the ad is likely to increase the ad’s persuasiveness. On the other hand, for products or services that are prevention-focused (e.g., mutual fund investment, insurance), featuring cats may increase the ad’s appeal.&nbsp;



“Marketers should ensure that stereotypical pet temperaments are made salient in the message. For example, the eagerness aspect of the dog or the cautiousness aspect of the cat should be highlighted. Otherwise, the intended effects of featuring pets in the ad&nbsp;may not be achieved," said Jiang.



Yang describes the novel implications of these findings to marketers. “First, marketers should consider&nbsp;crafting&nbsp;their advertising messages differently or recommending different products and services when they target consumers depending on their pet exposure situations. For example, to enhance the effectiveness of advertising appeals or communication messages, marketers should emphasize promotion-focused goals such as gains and&nbsp;non-gains&nbsp;if they are targeting dog owners or after consumers are exposed to dogs or dog-featuring stimuli,&nbsp;such as in an advertisement."



"Conversely, they should focus on prevention-focused goals such as losses and&nbsp;non-losses&nbsp;if they are pursuing cat owners or after consumers are exposed to cats or cat-featuring stimuli. Importantly, our findings show that this advice holds even when the advertised product or service has nothing to do with pets or pet products,” said Yang.



Another aspect of the research found that people in U.S. states with a higher percentage of dog ownership were more likely to get COVID-19 during the pandemic. This implied higher transmission rates between dog owners and, according to the authors, could help develop policies related to the prevention of COVID-19 and potentially other infectious diseases. For example, policymakers in states with more dog owners could design customized educational programs and materials related to the diseases. Alternatively, when designing ads to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases, cats&nbsp;could be incorporated&nbsp;as a spokesperson and/or the cat temperament could be referenced in the message to enhance the effectiveness of the ad.



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

Consumer choices are influenced by ads with cats and dogs

People feel an emotional connection with their pets and this...

A new large-scale study led by the <a href="https://www.ox.ac.uk/">University of Oxford</a> has found that eating meat five times or less per week is associated with a lower overall risk of developing cancer. Moreover, eating only fish, or following a fully <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/vegetarian-diet-lowers-the-risk-and-severity-of-covid-19/">vegetarian</a> or vegan diet could reduce cancer risks even more.



The researchers investigated the relationship between diet and cancer risk by analyzing <a href="https://www.ukbiobank.ac.uk/">UK Biobank</a> data collected from 472,377 British adults between 2006 and 2010. The participants - aged between 40 and 70 years – had to report how often they ate meat or fish. 247,571 (52 percent) of them ate meat more than five times per week, 205,382 (44 percent) ate meat five or less times per week, 10,696 (two percent) ate fish but not meat, and 8,685 (less than 2 percent) were vegetarian or vegan. During the study period, 54,961 participants (12 percent) of the participants developed cancer.



After accounting for other factors such as diabetes status or sociodemographic, socioeconomic, and lifestyle factors, the scientists found that the overall cancer risk was two percent lower among people who ate meat less than five times per week, 10 percent lower for those who ate fish but not meat, and 14 percent lower for vegetarians and vegans, compared to those who ate meat five or more times per week.



In terms of specific types of cancer, the scientists found that low meat-eaters had lower risk of colorectal cancer, vegetarian women had a lower risk of postmenopausal breast cancer, and vegetarian or fish-eating men had a lower risk of prostate cancer.&nbsp;



While the reduced risk of colorectal cancer in low meat-eaters is consistent with previous findings, it is not yet clear if the other correlations reflect any causal relationships or are due to confounding factors. For instance, the lower risk of postmenopausal breast cancer in women could also be explained by their lower body mass index (BMI).&nbsp;



&nbsp;“It is not clear if the other associations are causal or a result of differences in detection between diet groups or unmeasured and residual confounding. Future research assessing cancer risk in cohorts with large number of vegetarians is needed to provide more precise estimates of the associations and to explore other possible mechanisms or explanations for the observed differences,” concluded the authors.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12916-022-02256-w">BMC Medicine</a>.



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

Eating less meat may lower the risk of cancer

A new large-scale study led by the University of Oxford...

New research reveals that pet ownership may have some benefits to mental health benefits. The results of the study suggest that owning a cat, dog or other animal may slow <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/colorful-foods-can-prevent-cognitive-decline/">cognitive decline</a> in older adults.



“Prior studies have suggested that the human-animal bond may have health benefits like decreasing blood pressure and stress,” said study author Dr. Tiffany Braley of the University of Michigan Medical Center. “Our results suggest pet ownership may also be protective against cognitive decline.”&nbsp;&nbsp;



The researchers collected cognitive data from 1,369 adults with an average age of 65 and normal cognitive abilities at the start of the study. Overall, 53 percent of the participants had pets and 32 percent of the whole group were long term pet owners.&nbsp;



Long term pet ownership was defined as owning a pet for five or more years. Cognitive tests were obtained through the Health and Retirement Study, a large study of medicare beneficiaries was used.&nbsp;



The cognitive test included a composite of simple tests including basic mathematics and language skills. Each participant was given a cognitive score from zero to 27. The association between cognitive score and pet ownership was then estimated by the scientists.&nbsp;



Over six years, cognitive test scores declined at slower rates among pet owners compared to those without pets. This benefit was most pronounced for long term pet owners. Taking other factors into account, the study showed that long term pet owners were still scoring an average of 1.2 points higher on cognitive function after six years.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



“As stress can negatively affect cognitive function, the potential stress-buffering effects of pet ownership could provide a plausible reason for our findings,” said Dr. Braley. “A companion animal can also increase physical activity, which could benefit cognitive health. That said, more research is needed to confirm our results and identify underlying mechanisms for this association.”



Interestingly, the study showed that pet ownership was more beneficial to black adults, those who were college educated and men. The study also had the weakness of questioning the study participants about pet ownership only at one point. More research is needed to address this weakness and also to explain why some groups benefit more from pet ownership than others.&nbsp;&nbsp;



The research will be presented at the annual meeting of the <a href="https://www.aan.com/">American Academy of Neurology</a>.



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

Pet ownership has mental health benefits

New research reveals that pet ownership may have some benefits...

New research led by <a href="https://nau.edu/">Northern Arizona University</a> has found that global warming is causing the Earth’s coldest forests to shift northward. This phenomenon raises concerns about biodiversity, increased risks of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wildfires-will-increase-by-50-percent-by-the-end-of-the-century/">wildfires</a>, and mounting impacts of climate change on northern communities.&nbsp;



The boreal forest is a belt of cold-tolerant conifer trees stretching nearly 9,000 miles across North America and Eurasia. It accounts for almost a quarter of our planet’s forest area and is the coldest forest biome.



In order to assess climate change’s impact on the boreal forest, researchers used 40 years of moderately fine resolution satellite observations and a variety of geospatial climate-related datasets of this forest. They found that vegetation became greener across most of the cold northern margins of the boreal forest, and browner along parts of the warm southern margins of this biome due to hotter and drier conditions which increased tree stress and death.



“There is emerging evidence that climate change is causing boreal trees and shrubs to expand into arctic and alpine tundra, while at the same time causing trees to become more stressed and die along the warm southern margins of the boreal forest,” said study lead author Logan Berner, an assistant professor of Forest Ecology and Ecoinformatics at the Northern Arizona University. 



“These dynamics could lead to a gradual northward shift in the geographic extent of the boreal forest biome, but the extent to which such changes are already underway has remained unclear.”



Intriguingly, vegetation seems more likely to become greener in regions with high soil nitrogen, suggesting that soil nutrient availability is an important constraint on the response of boreal vegetation to global warming.



These changes could affect local plant and animal biodiversity, especially species such as caribou and moose that have highly specific foraging preferences (deciduous shrubs and trees), as well as impact wildfire regimes, most likely increasing the risks of more frequent and severe fires. Moreover, changes in vegetation will affect carbon-rich permafrost soils and the absorption of solar energy by the land surface in ways that can accelerate global warming.



&nbsp;“To minimize adverse impacts of climate change, efforts are needed to dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions, especially related to fossil fuel consumption and deforestation. Furthermore, northern communities need to plan for potential changes in vegetation that could impact resource availability (e.g. wildlife, timber) and wildfire risk,” Professor Berger concluded.&nbsp;



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/gcb.16121">Global Change Biology</a>.



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

Climate change is shifting the Earth’s coldest forest northward

New research led by Northern Arizona University has found that...

Recent advances in medical science have resulted in vastly improved life expectancies for people all over the world. However, this has created the new challenge of how to promote healthy <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/natural-disasters-may-lead-to-premature-aging/">aging</a> and reduce disability risk. To achieve this, health policies need to focus on helping older adults maintain their functional capacity, without disability, for as long as possible.



In Japan, data collected as part of a community-wide intervention trial (the Ota Genki Senior Project), were used to assess the relationships between ownership of a dog or cat, the onset of disability, and mortality along the senior population in Ota City, Tokyo. The study was led by Yu Taniguchi of the National Institute for Environmental Studies in Tsukuba.&nbsp;



Taniguchi and colleagues used the information from questionnaires completed by 11,233 Japanese seniors (aged between 64 and 84) who were part of the Ota Genki Senior Project. The respondents answered questions pertaining to pet ownership, and stated whether they owned a dog or a cat currently, had owned these pets in the past, or had never been a pet owner.&nbsp;



The participants also reported on their health, physical activity levels, social connectedness and disability status. The participants were then followed for 3.5 years (June 2016 to January 2020) and their general health was monitored.



Previous research has linked pet ownership to many different positive outcomes for older people. For example, owning a pet has been linked to lower mortality rates, fewer visits to the doctor and a greater capacity to carry out the ordinary activities of daily living.&nbsp;



The authors of the current study previously linked dog ownership with a lower risk of frailty among Japanese seniors. Since physical frailty greatly increases the risk falls and future disability, the researchers hypothesized that owning a pet would also be associated with reduced risk of developing a disability.



Overall, 8.6 percent of the survey respondents currently owned a dog, 22.6 percent were past owners and 68.8 percent had never owned a dog. The figures were slightly lower for owners of cats.&nbsp;



During the study period, older adults who currently owned a dog were half as likely to suffer the onset of a disability compared to those who had never owned a dog. In addition, dog owners who exercised regularly had an even lower risk of developing a disability.



Regular exercise is important for preserving physical strength and preventing the advent of frailty. Dog owners are likely to be more physically active when taking their dog for a walk. The findings of the study also showed that dog owners had better relationships with their neighbors and were more socially active.&nbsp;&nbsp;



The analysis indicated that cat ownership was not associated with any difference in disability risk, and neither dog nor cat ownership was associated with reduced risk of death from any cause.



The study suggests that dog ownership – especially combined with regular exercise – may protect against disability for older Japanese adults. These findings could help inform efforts to promote successful aging. Meanwhile, future research could investigate physical or psychological mechanisms by which dog ownership might provide benefits, or examine relationships between dog ownership and disability risk in other countries.



“Dog ownership protects against the onset of disability in older adults," wrote the study authors. "The daily care, companionship and exercise of a pet dog&nbsp;may have an important role to play in successful aging.”



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/">PLoS ONE</a>.



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

Dog ownership linked to lower disability risk

Recent advances in medical science have resulted in vastly improved...

In a new study led by <a href="https://www.byu.edu/">Brigham Young University</a>, researchers have analyzed the impact and value of school field trips. The experts report that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/video-games-linked-to-unhealthy-habits-among-male-college-students/">students</a> who participate in multiple field trips throughout the school year have better academic performance, higher test scores, and increased cultural conscientiousness.



“Field trips have been non-existent for the last two years, and many cultural institutions like museums and science centers were closed. Schools want to make up learning loss from the pandemic and might feel pressure to sacrifice a well-rounded education for increased seat-time,” said study lead author Professor Heidi Holmes Erickson.



“Field trips might be the first thing to go. Addressing student learning loss is crucial, but schools should be thoughtful in their approach.”



For the investigation, fourth- and fifth-grade students from 15 elementary schools were randomly assigned to participate in three culturally enriching outings during a school year. The students visited an art museum and attended a play and a symphony concert.



The study revealed that students who attended all three field trips scored higher on final exams, received better course grades, and had fewer absences.



“We anticipated that field trips wouldn’t harm test scores. However, we started seeing academic improvements and realized that students who participated in these field trips were doing better in class,” said Professor Erickson.&nbsp;



“One potential reason for this is that field trips expand students’ world concept and expose them to new ideas. Similarly, students might be more engaged in school thanks to field trips. Students find school more exciting and want to try harder in class.”



According to the researchers, the study provides more evidence that field trips are beneficial not only for academic success but for individual character development as well.



“Parents are very interested in the academic quality of their child’s school, but they’re also interested in the social skills and social engagement habits they develop. Cultural field trips are easy ways to help facilitate both.”



Professor Erickson hopes that this study will be a resource for policymakers and school principals who are interested in improving children’s growth during the children’s school experience.&nbsp;



“Contrary to practice where schools, facing accountability pressures, trade extracurriculars for increased seat time, we found that there’s no harm to academics by taking time out of the classroom,” said Professor Erickson. “It’s possible to expose students to a broader world and have culturally enriching curriculum without sacrificing academic outcomes, and it may actually improve academic outcomes.”



The study is published in the <a href="http://jhr.uwpress.org/">Journal of Human Resources</a>.



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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

School field trips linked to better student performance

In a new study led by Brigham Young University, researchers...

Experts at <a href="https://ucsd.edu/">UC San Diego</a> have demonstrated that there are major differences in the psychological effects of listening to audio through headphones or speakers. According to the researchers, headphones have a much more powerful influence on the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/expectations-change-perception-reality/">perception</a> and behavior of the listener. 



The average American spends about four hours per day listening to audio. Understanding which mediums are the most effective in delivering content could be very useful for advertising campaigns or remote work and training programs.



“We find that headphones produce a phenomenon called in-head localization, which makes the speaker sound as if they’re inside your head,” said study co-author Professor On Amir.



“Consequently, listeners perceive the communicators as closer - both physically and socially. As a result, listeners perceive the communicator as warmer, they feel and behave more empathically toward them and they are more easily persuaded by them.”



A new research paper combines the findings of five different studies from UC San Diego’s Rady School, UCLA and UC Berkeley. The studies involved fieldwork and online surveys with more than 4,000 participants. The collective results show that headphones make listeners feel closer to the speaker, induce feelings of empathy, and have an overall more persuasive effect that promotes action.&nbsp;



“If the aim is to have listeners feel close to the communicator, or be particularly persuaded by their message, such as in a public service announcement, managers should consider placing their advertisement or message on a program often consumed via headphones, like a podcast,” said UCLA Professor Alicea Lieberman.



“On the other hand, if a message does not require listeners to experience any feelings of closeness to the communicator, then where the message is placed (e.g., podcast vs. talk radio) would be less essential.”



In one experiment, listeners were presented with a tragic example of the dangers of texting while driving. After the presentation, participants who used headphones expressed that texting while driving was more dangerous and caused more deaths than those who listened to the same message through speakers.



In another experiment, participants were randomly assigned to listen to audio either on headphones or on speakers as a mother and daughter described what it is like to be homeless. Headphone listeners expressed more empathy toward the speakers, and felt that the mother and daughter came across as more genuine compared to people who listened to the story on speakers.



In a field study conducted on the UC San Diego campus, researchers set out to examine how headphones and speakers may influence behavior. Random people were presented with a segment of a podcast, and then were given the opportunity to write a letter in support of nominating the speaker for an award. Those who listened to the podcast via headphones were much more likely to write an award nomination letter.



“Organizations may consider this research when designing their trainings or webinars,” said Professor Juliana Schroeder of UC Berkeley. “For example, managers might encourage employees to listen to safety trainings or webinars using headphones, which may more effectively change their attitudes and behaviors, compared to listening via speakers.”



According to Professor Amir, companies could send employees headphones to encourage their use in phone conversations, as the medium could increase collaboration, especially in the era of remote work.



“Clearly, our research suggests that influencers, bloggers and podcasters want to try to make sure that people listen by headphones because that creates that attachment,” said Professor Amir. “Our research proposes that it is not only what or whom people hear that influences their judgments, decisions and behaviors, but also how they hear the message.”



The research is published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/organizational-behavior-and-human-decision-processes">Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes</a>.



---



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

Headphones have a powerfully persuasive effect on listeners

Experts at UC San Diego have demonstrated that there are...

Sad,Woman,With,Clown,Mask

According to UK-based author and “leadership mindset strategist” Frederique Murphy, although hiding our feelings is sometimes useful during social interactions, doing this too often can be emotionally straining and have negative effects on our <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/loneliness-is-a-global-health-issue-that-must-be-addressed/" data-type="news" data-id="1904004">health</a>.&nbsp;



While many people think they can benefit from pretending that everything is fine when it actually isn’t, such actions are highly energy-consuming, and thus both cognitively and emotionally draining.&nbsp;



“Faking a response requires more energy from you because your brain must further engage to make it work for you in a way that it is unusual for you. This means that cognitively, more effort is needed, and this is emotionally straining,” explained Murphy.



Besides overworking our brain, pretending for the sake of appearances can increase the production of cortisol, a stress-related hormone. Higher stress, in its turn, weakens the immune system, making us more prone to various illnesses.



Finally, according to Murphy, people can often feel when someone is pretending. “In those situations, your gut feeling is actually telling you that something is off; indeed, the person is faking their response. So, if you know you’ve had this happen to you, you know this has happened to other people about you. So, stop doing that as in the long-term, it harms you and the people around you,” she said.



In order to quit this damaging form of behavior, Murphy argues that we should increase our self-awareness and learn how to “catch ourselves in the act.” Moreover, keeping a journal – a process she calls “affect labeling” – can help us diminish the intensity of our feelings and make sure that we are not bottling up our emotions.



Breathing exercises can also be useful for managing our feelings, since they can help us regulate our autonomic nervous system, and thus increase our calmness and wellbeing. Overall, learning how to control our emotions can help us stop self-damaging behaviors, and lead more fulfilling lives.



More details about Frederique Murphy’s activities and works can be found on her <a href="https://frederiquemurphy.com/">website</a>.



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

Hiding your feelings can damage your health

According to UK-based author and “leadership mindset strategist” Frederique Murphy,...

Local,Market,Fresh,Vegetable,,Garden,Produce,,Clean,Eating,And,Dieting

Eating enough <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fruit-vegetables-and-exercise-can-increase-life-satisfaction/">vegetables</a> is important for maintaining a balanced diet and avoiding a wide range of diseases. Until recently, scientists have assumed that a diet rich in vegetables significantly lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). 



However, a new study led by the <a href="https://www.ox.ac.uk/">University of Oxford</a>, the <a href="https://www.cuhk.edu.hk/">Chinese University of Hong Kong</a>, and the <a href="https://www.bristol.ac.uk/">University of Bristol</a> found no strong evidence for this, and argued that a variety of confounding factors, such as socio-economic status, physical activity, and other dietary factors might have explained previous spurious, positive correlations between vegetable intake and lower risk of CVD.



To reach this conclusion, the researchers used the large <a href="https://www.ukbiobank.ac.uk/">UK Biobank</a>, which follows the health of half a million adults in the UK by linking to their healthcare records. Upon their enrollment between 2006 and 2010, the participants were asked about their lifestyle, diet, medical and reproductive history, and other factors. In the new study, scientists used this data to investigate the connection between vegetable consumption and risk of hospitalization or death from myocardial infarction, stroke, and other major CVD.



“The UK Biobank is a large-scale prospective study on how genetics and environment contribute to the development of the most common and life-threatening diseases. Here we make use of the UK Biobank’s large sample size, long-term follow-up, and detailed information on social and lifestyle factors, to assess reliably the association of vegetable intake with the risk of subsequent CVD,” explained study co-author Naomi Allen, a chief scientist at the UK Biobank.



Although the data analysis suggested that the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease was about 15 percent lower for participants with the highest vegetable intake compared to those with the lowest, this apparent effect was substantially weakened (by over 80 percent) when other socio-economic, nutritional, and health- and medicine-related confounding factors were taken into account. 



“Our large study did not find evidence for a protective effect of vegetable intake on the occurrence of CVD. Instead, our analyses show that the seemingly protective effect of vegetable intake against CVD risk is very likely to be accounted for by bias from residual confounding factors, related to differences in socioeconomic situation and lifestyle,” said study lead author Dr. Qi Feng, an epidemiologist at the University of Oxford.



Further research is needed to assess whether particular types of vegetables or their method of preparation might affect the risk of CVD. However, even if vegetable intake does not directly affect CVD, it remains important for a balanced diet that could reduce the risk of other major diseases, including some forms of cancer. Consuming at least five portions of fruits and vegetables per day can significantly contribute to better health.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2022.831470">Frontiers in Nutrition</a>.



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

Vegetables may not protect against cardiovascular disease

Eating enough vegetables is important for maintaining a balanced diet...

A recent study conducted by researchers at Washington <a href="https://www.slu.edu/medicine/index.php">Saint Louis University School of Medicine</a> has investigated the antibody response to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. The experts found that antibodies produced by immune cells become steadily more formidable and more precisely targeted against the virus that causes <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/many-older-adults-develop-medical-conditions-after-covid-19/">COVID-19</a> for at least six months after vaccination.



Immunologists are familiar with the concept that antibody quality improves as antibody number decreases. In 1964, Washington University immunologists Dr. Herman Eisen and Dr. Gregory Siskind confirmed this phenomenon in rats. The current study is the first to follow the maturation of the antibody response in humans in great detail.



According to the research, decreased antibody levels in the months following vaccination are mostly due to a change to a more stable immune response. It takes a lot of energy to make a large number of antibodies. Because the immune system can no longer maintain such a high level of activity, it gradually changes to making lesser numbers of more effective antibodies.



The researchers explained that even very low levels of antibodies will provide some protection against sickness as long as the virus does not alter.



“If the virus didn’t change, most people who got two doses of this vaccine would be in very good shape. The antibody response we saw is exactly what we’d expect from a robust immune response," explained study senior author Dr. Ali Ellebedy.



"We never thought that six months following that second injection, many people would still be actively improving the quality of their antibodies. To me, that is remarkable. The problem is that this virus keeps evolving and producing new variants. So, the antibodies are getting better at recognizing the original strain, but unfortunately the target keeps changing."



The B cell family includes immune cells that generate antibodies. The B cell response involves maximum antibody production to the development of memory cells that may quickly churn out new antibodies the next time the body meets the same virus.&nbsp;



To follow the complex response of B cells, samples must be collected from difficult-to-reach areas of the body. Key members of the B cell family can be found in the blood, lymph nodes, and bone marrow at various phases of the process. Obtaining B cells from lymph nodes requires the use of ultrasonography to find microscopic immunological structures known as germinal centres within the lymph nodes. The samples are extracted by inserting a needle into the pelvic bone.



For the investigation, blood samples were collected from 42 participants and lymph node samples were collected from 15 participants. Samples were obtained before each individual received an initial dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, and at various times over the following weeks. Bone marrow samples were also taken from 11 subjects 29 and 40 weeks after the first immunization dosage.



The researchers were able to trace the antibody response over time in eight participants who submitted all three types of samples. Because none of the eight had been infected with the COVID-19 virus, their antibody responses were solely attributable to vaccination.&nbsp;



The experts discovered that anti-SARS-CoV-2 B cells remained in the germinal centers of all subjects for months. B cells were still present in the germinal centers of 10 out of 15 participants six months following vaccination.&nbsp;



Germinal centers are similar to boot camps where B cells are taught how to create higher-quality antibodies. The longer B cells stay in germinal centers, the stronger their antibodies become. Because germinal centers were assumed to last only a few weeks, finding these boot camps continually training B cells in the majority of patients so long after vaccination was unexpected, according to Dr. Ellebedy, and an indicator of a strong antibody response that continued to grow and strengthen.



The antibodies were significantly better six months after immunization than they were at the start. Only 20 percent of early antibodies bonded to a viral protein in one set of testing, yet samples from the same individuals showed that nearly 80 percent of antibodies linked to viral proteins six months later.



“When you look at antibodies, quantity should not be your only concern. The antibodies at six months might be less in quantity, but they are much better in quality. And that refinement of the antibody response happens on its own. You get your shot, maybe your arm hurts for a day, and then you forget about it. But six months later your germinal centres are still ongoing and your antibodies are still getting better and better.” explained Dr. Ellebedy.



“Everything changes when a new variant comes. You have to retrain your immune system. It’s like updating your anti-malware software to make sure it matches the newest computer viruses that are going around. It doesn’t mean the old software was bad. It just means it no longer completely matches the viruses it is going to encounter.”&nbsp;



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/">Nature</a>.



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By <a href="http://mailto:ashikha92@gmail.com">Ashikha Raoof</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Antibodies improve in quality for months after COVID-19 vaccination

A recent study conducted by researchers at Washington Saint Louis...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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...

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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...

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> 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

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

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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

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

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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 



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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

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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"

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

The history of Mars is much more complex than we thought

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research



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



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

Cavefish are healthy despite their sedentary lifestyle

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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites capture the world's biggest and fastest waves

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