An analysis from several comprehensive long-term studies led by an international team of scientists has revealed that a healthy <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/eight-healthy-lifestyle-habits-could-extend-your-life-by-decades/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">lifestyle</a> may counteract the life-shortening effects of certain genes by more than 60 percent. 



The findings of the study underscore the combined influence of genetics and lifestyle on lifespan, where an unhealthy lifestyle alone is associated with a 78-percent increased risk of premature death, regardless of genetic background.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lifestyle-factors-and-lifespan">Lifestyle factors and lifespan</h2>



The studies employed a polygenic risk score (PRS) to assess each individual's genetic risk of having a shorter or longer lifespan, factoring in multiple genetic variants.&nbsp;



Lifestyle factors such as tobacco use, alcohol consumption, diet quality, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sleeping-less-than-seven-hours-high-blood-pressure-risk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sleep duration</a>, and physical activity levels also played a crucial role.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-healthy-lifestyle-versus-genetics-nbsp">Healthy lifestyle versus genetics&nbsp;</h2>



The researchers aimed to quantify how much a healthy lifestyle could potentially offset the genetic risk of a shortened lifespan. They utilized data from 353,742 adults enrolled in the <a href="https://www.ukbiobank.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UK Biobank</a> between 2006 and 2010, tracking their health until 2021. 



The participants were divided based on their PRS into groups indicating long (20%), intermediate (60%), and short (20%) lifespan risks, derived from the LifeGen cohort study data.



Lifestyle scores were assigned based on criteria including non-smoking status, moderate alcohol consumption, regular physical activity, healthy body shape, sufficient sleep, and a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/feeding-children-healthy-diets-can-be-very-challenging/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">nutritious diet</a>. These were categorized as favorable (23% of participants), intermediate (56%), and unfavorable (22%) using data from the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes/index.htm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">US NHANES</a> study.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-genetic-risk-and-unhealthy-lifestyle-nbsp">Genetic risk and unhealthy lifestyle&nbsp;</h2>



Over an average follow-up period of nearly 13 years, 24,239 participants passed away. The results of the analysis showed that individuals genetically predisposed to a shorter lifespan were 21 percent more likely to die early compared to those with a genetic predisposition to a longer life, irrespective of lifestyle.&nbsp;



Additionally, those with an unfavorable lifestyle had a 78 percent higher risk of premature death than those with a favorable lifestyle, regardless of genetic factors.



Participants facing both a high genetic risk and an unfavorable lifestyle were twice as likely to die early compared to those with a low genetic risk and a favorable lifestyle. Key components of a beneficial lifestyle included non-smoking, engaging in regular physical activity, getting adequate sleep, and maintaining a healthy diet.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-healthy-lifestyle-mitigates-genetic-risk-nbsp">Healthy lifestyle mitigates genetic risk&nbsp;</h2>



While this is an observational study with inherent limitations - such as assessing lifestyle at a single point and the exclusion of non-European ancestries - the findings suggest that a favorable lifestyle can substantially mitigate the genetic risk of a shortened <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/extended-human-lifespans-could-be-catastrophic-for-our-planet/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">lifespan</a> by about 62 percent. 



According to the experts, individuals at high genetic risk could potentially extend their life expectancy by nearly 5.5 years at the age of 40 through healthy living. They highlight the importance of establishing healthy habits early in life, given that lifestyle patterns tend to solidify before middle age.



“This study elucidates the pivotal role of a healthy lifestyle in mitigating the impact of genetic factors on lifespan reduction. Public health policies for improving healthy lifestyles would serve as potent complements to conventional healthcare and mitigate the influence of genetic factors on human lifespan,” the authors concluded.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-aspects-of-a-healthy-lifestyle">Aspects of a healthy lifestyle</h2>



A healthy lifestyle is centered around habits that enhance physical, mental, and emotional well-being. It generally includes a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains which provides the necessary nutrients and energy.&nbsp;



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-exercise-nbsp">Exercise&nbsp;</h3>



Regular <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/exercise-boosts-health-and-lifespan-regardless-of-intensity/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">physical activity</a>, whether it's through structured exercise like jogging or informal activities like walking, helps maintain a healthy weight, strengthens the heart, and boosts mood.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sleep">Sleep</h3>



Good sleep is another pillar of a healthy lifestyle, with most adults benefiting from seven to nine hours per night. Sleep aids in recovery, cognitive function, and emotional regulation. Stress management through techniques such as meditation, yoga, or simply dedicating time to hobbies, helps maintain mental health and reduces the risk of various physical health issues.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-healthy-habits">Healthy habits</h3>



Avoiding harmful habits such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and drug use is also crucial. Instead, forming positive relationships that support a healthy lifestyle and seeking regular medical advice to monitor health conditions and prevent diseases are beneficial practices.



Overall, maintaining a healthy lifestyle is about making consistent, daily choices that lead to long-term benefits for both body and mind.



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjebm-2023-112583" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BMJ Evidence Based Medicine</a>.



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Lifespan is influenced more by lifestyle than genetics

An analysis from several comprehensive long-term studies led by an international team of scientists has revealed that a healthy lifestyle may counteract the life-shortening effects of certain genes by more than 60 percent. The findings of the study underscore the combined influence of genetics and lifestyle on lifespan, where an unhealthy lifestyle alone is associated with a 78-percent increased risk of premature death, regardless of genetic background. Lifestyle factors and lifespan The studies employed a polygenic risk score (PRS) to assess each individual's genetic risk of having...

Voters approve measure to decriminalize magic mushrooms in Denver. Denver, Colorado has now become the first city in the United States to pass a ballot measure that decriminalizes psilocybin mushrooms, commonly known as magic mushrooms. 

When Initiative 301 was put on the ballot, there was clear support for the campaign, but at the beginning of the three week voting period, it seemed like the referendum wouldn’t pass. 

That all changed on Tuesday, according to the <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/crime-law/2019/05/08/denver-voters-apparently-reject-decriminalization-magic-mushrooms/?utm_term=.f2fbb270922c">Washington Post</a> which reported on the landmark vote, and the measure passed with 50.6 percent of 176,000 Denver citizens voting yes, and 49.4 voting no. 

The <a href="https://www.denverpost.com/2019/05/08/denver-psychedelic-magic-mushroom/">Denver Post</a> reports that the final votes were 89,320 in favor and 87,341 against. The vote will be certified on May 16th as the city is still accepting ballots from overseas and military personnel. 

The vote won’t make magic mushrooms available in dispensaries or legal in the city limits. Instead, the ballot is aimed at law enforcement officials directing police to make psilocybin possession the lowest priority when it comes to law enforcement. 

Psilocybin mushrooms will still be illegal in Denver, and Colorado and keep their Schedule 1 classification under Federal law. 

Part of Initiative 301 is the implementation of a review panel that will examine the impacts of decriminalization on public safety and health. 

“We’re sending a clear signal to the rest of the country that America is ready to talk about psilocybin,” Kevin Matthews, the leader of the Decriminalize Denver movement, told the Washington Post. “We have work to do, we’re ready for it and we couldn’t be happier.” Voters approve measure to decriminalize magic mushrooms in Denver

Psilocybin has been found to help treat <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/magic-mushrooms-vote-medicinal-benefits/">treatment-resistant depression</a> and a range of mental disorders. 

More and more research is being done on the potential treatment options that psilocybin and other psychedelics offer, and measures to decriminalize may help make research and studies more feasible in the future.

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Voters approve measure to decriminalize magic mushrooms in Denver

Voters approve measure to decriminalize magic mushrooms in Denver. Denver,...

A team of neurobiologists at the <a href="https://ucsd.edu/">University of California San Diego</a> has identified the region of the brain that is responsible for making decisions based on value. These types of choices are influenced by our past experiences.

Study senior author Professor Takaki Komiyama explained that data from tens of thousands of neurons pointed to an area of the <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/different-tastes-neurons-brainstem/">brain</a> called the retrosplenial cortex (RSC). This brain region was not previously known for “value-based decision-making,” which is an essential animal behavior that is impaired in neurological conditions such as dementia and addiction.

Value decisions become necessary when we decide where to buy our morning coffee, for example. According to the study authors, we assign a value to a certain coffee shop based on our experience, and this value is stored in the RSC as a reference for the next time we go out for coffee. 

“When you have two coffee shops to choose from, no one is telling you which one to go to - you rely on the internal value in order to choose one over the other,” said Professor Komiyama. “How the brain maintains this value information - and how it might be different in healthy and disease states - could be relevant in clinical applications.”

[caption id="attachment_1872413" align="aligncenter" width="650"]<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/brain-neurons.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1872413" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/brain-neurons.jpg" alt="" width="650" height="597" /></a> Neurons in the brain, Image Credit: Komiyama Lab, UC San Diego[/caption]

The research team obtained more than 45,000 images of neurons across six brain regions in mice. By comparing how value-related information was processed in each brain region, the data led the researchers to the RSC. 

“We found that the RSC, which previously had not been studied in the context of value-based decision-making, showed the strongest value information most persistently over time. These were unique characteristics,” said Professor Komiyama.

Professor Komiyama’s lab generates nearly a terabyte of data in a single day. She explained that science's recent capacity to record and study massive data sets opens new windows to our understanding of basic neurological functions.

“Previously these types of experiments were with one neuron at a time, which was simple to analyze,” said Professor Komiyama. “Technological advances are allowing new experiments with thousands and thousands of recordings of neuronal activity that can be related to various features of behavior. I'm sure we're still just scratching the surface of these complex data so the next new challenge has become big data analysis.”

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/">Cell</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Scientists identify the brain region that processes value decisions

A team of neurobiologists at the University of California San...

A new study from the <a href="https://www.exeter.ac.uk/">University of Exeter</a> has found that “robopets” can reduce feelings of loneliness and agitation among older adults in care homes. The researchers are reporting that interactions with small, animal-like robots may even provide comfort and pleasure. 

A review of nearly 20 studies involving 900 care home residents has revealed that robotic pets can increase <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/older-adults-anger-harmful-health/">social interaction</a> with other residents, family members, and staff by serving as a stimulus for conversation.

“Although not every care home resident may choose to interact with robopets, for those who do, they appear to offer many benefits,” said study lead author Dr. Rebecca Abbott. 

“Some of these are around stimulating conversations or triggering memories of their own pets or past experiences, and there is also the comfort of touching or interacting with the robopet itself. The joy of having something to care for was a strong finding across many of the studies.”

In their appearance and behavior, robopets mimic the characteristics of pets and companion animals. Five different types of robopets were examined in the studies, including a dog named Aibo, a baby seal named Paro, a bear named Cuddler, and two cats named Necoro and Justocat.

According to the researchers, staff training may help residents get the most out of their robopet. Individuals who have a special regard for animals or who previously had pets of their own are more likely to engage with the robots. 

“It is not always possible to have a cat or a dog come into a care home, so robopets can offer a good alternative,” said study co-author Dr. Noreen Orr. “Of course robopets are no substitute for human interaction, but our research shows that for those who choose to engage with them, they can have a range of benefits. A new wave of more affordable robopets may make them more accessible to care homes.”

The experts said that further research is needed to determine whether the benefits of robotic pets are short-term or long-term.

“Modern technology has the amazing capacity to improve people's health and wellbeing and revolutionise the care they receive. Technology can never replace human interaction, but this kind of research is incredibly important to help us assess its benefits,” said Caroline Dinenage.

“I want older people to have healthier, more connected and independent lives - we are investing £98 million to develop innovative new products - like robopets - services and treatments through our Ageing Society Grand Challenge."

The study is published in the <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/17483743">International Journal of Older People Nursing</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Robotic pets could make great companions for care home residents

A new study from the University of Exeter has found...

According to a new <a href="https://www.aaas.org/">American Association for the Advancement of Science</a> study on traffic patterns in San Francisco, ride-sharing companies like Uber and Lyft worsened traffic in the city between 2010 and 2016.

The results contradict claims that transportation network companies (TNCs) are actually alleviating the <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/self-driving-cars-traffic-snarls/">traffic</a> issue.

TNCs have grown at a rapid pace in urban areas nationwide. In New York City alone, ridership doubled between 2014 and 2016. And although TNCs are marketed as solutions to roadway congestion, research into this claim has yielded mixed results.

Researcher Gregory Erhardt and his team compiled information from the two largest TNCs including pick-up and drop-off volumes, and applied it to roadway conditions in San Francisco between 2010 and 2016. They found that TNCs were actually the largest cause of congestion in the city. 

In fact, with TNC vehicles on the road during weekday vehicle hours, congested travel time increased by 62% compared to free-flow traffic travel, and speed of travel decreased 13% during weekday vehicle hours. 

A model that showed traffic conditions without TNC vehicles on the road only showed that congested travel time only increased 22% during the same time period, and average speed only decreased 4%.

The hope is that these findings will encourage lawmakers to tailor TNC regulations to improve roadway conditions in already congested cities.

--

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Major city study reveals ride-sharing companies made traffic worse

According to a new American Association for the Advancement of...

Part of aging is coming to terms with challenges like loss of mobility, loss of loved ones, chronic health issues and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/social-isolation-health-risk/">feeling isolated</a>. 

Because of this, older adults may experience anger and sadness which can also impact physical health as well as wellbeing. 

In a new study, researchers from <a href="https://www.concordia.ca/">Concordia University</a> found that anger can increase inflammation in older adults 80 years or older, which in turn increases the risk of heart disease and cancer. 

Inflammation is an important biological immune response that can help with healing or fighting infection, but long-lasting inflammation increases the risk of chronic disease in older adults. 

Sadness was not associated with any harmful negative physical impacts and may help older adults process difficult emotions and experiences. 

The study was published in the journal Psychology and Aging by the <a href="https://www.apa.org/">American Psychological Association</a>.  

“As most people age, they simply cannot do the activities they once did, or they may experience the loss of a spouse or a decline in their physical mobility and they can become angry,” said Meaghan A. Barlow, the lead author of the research. “Our study showed that anger can lead to the development of chronic illnesses, whereas sadness did not.”

For the study, 226 adults aged 59-93 participated in a week-long survey answering questionnaires about their moods and medical history. The researchers also collected blood samples from the participants to measure inflammation. 

After analyzing the data, the researchers discovered a link between inflammation and anger in the participants who were in advanced old age (80 years or older). 

“We found that experiencing anger daily was related to higher levels of inflammation and chronic illness for people 80 years old and older, but not for younger seniors,” said Carsten Wrosch, a co-author of the study. “Sadness, on the other hand, was not related to inflammation or chronic illness.”

No such link was found for sadness, and some anger appeared to be beneficial for the participants who were in early old age (59 to 79), helping to motivate and increase determination to overcome a challenge. 

“Anger is an energizing emotion that can help motivate people to pursue life goals,” said Barlow. “Anger becomes problematic for adults once they reach 80 years old, however, because that is when many experience irreversible losses and some of life’s pleasures fall out of reach.”

The results show that anger may increase the risk of inflammation but not all negative emotions negatively impact health and wellbeing for older adults. 

“If we better understand which negative emotions are harmful, not harmful or even beneficial to older people, we can teach them how to cope with loss in a healthy way,” said Barlow. “This may help them let go of their anger.”

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com </a>Staff Writer

For older adults, anger is more harmful to health than sadness

Part of aging is coming to terms with challenges like...

Depression can cause a whole host of symptoms and can impact sleep, mood, and weight. 

One of the common ailments that accompany depression is stomach trouble like constipation, and now a new study has provided an explanation and potential treatment for this problem. 

Nearly a third of all people suffering from depression also deal with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/gut-health-depression/">chronic constipation</a>, and many people report that gastrointestinal distress significantly reduces their quality of life. 

A queasy stomach and constipation can be a nuisance, but severe constipation can lead to obstructions and pain. Each year 100,000 people are hospitalized because of severe constipation. 

Given the prevalence of constipation among people dealing with depression, researchers from <a href="https://www.columbia.edu/">Columbia University</a> conducted a study to better explain this relationship and find potential treatments that would effectively help reduce stomach distress in people with treatment-resistant depression. 

The study was published in the journal Gastroenterology. 

“Ultimately, many patients with depression are faced with limited treatment options and have to suffer with prominent GI dysfunction,” said study leader Kara Gross Margolis, the leader of the study. 

Both the brain and gut contain neurons which led the researchers to wonder if there was a similar cause linking depression and constipation. 

“The gut is often called the body’s second brain,” said Margolis. “It contains more neurons than the spinal cord and uses many of the same neurotransmitters as the brain. So it shouldn’t be surprising that the two conditions could be caused by the same process.”

For the study, the researchers used mice that carried a genetic mutation which reduced the amount of serotonin in both brain and gut. Low serotonin levels in the gut caused constipation in the mice’s GI tract. 

“Basically, the mice were constipated, and they showed the same kind of GI changes we see in people with constipation,” said Margolis. 

The results show that neurons in the gut are impacted by low serotonin levels the same way the neurons in the brain are which means that increasing gut serotonin may help alleviate gastrointestinal distress. 

Two of the study’s co-authors invented a slow release drug treatment to help increase gut serotonin which helped relieve constipation in the mice. 

The treatment is a drug that slowly releases 5-HTP in the gut. 5-HTP is a precursor of serotonin and helps increase the number of neurons in the GI tract and serotonin levels. 

A slow release 5-HTP drug may help treat other GI tract problems not linked to depression. 

“We see a reduction of neurons in the GI tract with age, and that loss is thought to be a cause of constipation in the elderly,” said Margolis. “The idea that we may be able to use slow-release 5-HTP to treat conditions that require the development of new neurons in the gut may open a whole new avenue of treatment.”

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Why gastrointestinal trouble often accompanies depression

Depression can cause a whole host of symptoms and can...

Researchers at the <a href="https://www.nips.ac.jp/eng/">National Institute for Physiological Sciences</a> in Japan have identified neurons in the brainstem that are responsible for relaying sweet taste signals to the gustatory thalamus and cortex in mice.

Despite extensive research in the past, the contribution of CNS gustatory neurons in the sensation of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/coffee-beer-taste-genetic/">taste</a> has remained largely unknown. 

In mice, the parabrachial nucleus of the pons in the brainstem is a critical site that receives sensory information about hunger and taste information, which is transported to the cortex through the gustatory thalamus. 

Ken-ichiro Nakajima and his colleagues investigated the role of neurons in the parabrachial nucleus that possess the SatB2 transcription factor. The study revealed that the SatB2-expressing neurons encode sweet tastes. The experts also found that the presence of these neurons in the gustatory thalamus caused appetitive licking behavior in mice. 

“We've known about the presence of taste-responsive neurons in the parabrachial nucleus for over 40 years,” said Nakajima. “Only recently have we had the appropriate molecular markers and imaging methods to properly characterize these neurons - we used cell ablation, in vivo calcium imaging, and optogenetics to define the role of SatB2-expressing neurons is in the sensation of taste.”

The selective destruction of SatB2-expressing neurons caused the mice to lose their ability to sense sweet tastes, but did not affect their sensitivity to bitter, sour, and salty tastes. 

“Our findings indicate that different taste qualities are processed by different types of neurons, at least in the brainstem,” said study lead author Ou Fu. “The next important step will be to identify a whole set of gustatory neurons, including SatB2 neurons, in the mouse parabrachial nucleus. This will allow us to understand how their assemblage forms complex flavors.”

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/cell-reports/home">Cell Reports</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Different tastes are processed by different neurons in the brainstem

Researchers at the National Institute for Physiological Sciences in Japan...

Researchers from <a href="http://www.ox.ac.uk/">Oxford University</a> recently examined the disproportionate economic gains that counterterrorism efforts provide developed countries versus developing countries.

The study, published in the journal Oxford Economic Papers, shows how global welfare is impacted by counterterrorism, an important security measure that does not benefit each country equally. 

While developed countries like the United States or the UK are often targets of terrorist organizations, the researchers found that counterterrorism efforts in these countries can generate significant economic gains.

In developing countries like Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Yemen where resources are more scarce and terrorist organizations like can more easily operate and recruit disaffected people, counterterrorism efforts negatively impact the economy and trade operations.  

The United States responds to terrorism by beefing up counterterrorism efforts which benefits both security and trade, but ultimately disrupts the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/trade-war-us-china-deforestation/">global supply and demand of goods</a>, according to the researchers. 

Defensive counterterrorism may decrease terrorism in a targeted country like the US but could potentially increase terrorism in other countries as terrorist groups shift their targets. 

For this study, the researchers focused on trade, specifically how terrorism impacts free trade between developing and developed countries. 

The demand for counterterrorism goods like surveillance equipment and weapons decreases the demand for other goods that developing countries may manufacture or produce. 

Exports from developing countries decrease in response to the lowered demand and price of exports, which in turn, decreases home counterterrorism efforts. 

For developing countries, the researchers found that counterterrorism measures are weighed against potential trade loss. In other words, developing countries have to consider the economic risks of pursuing local counterterrorism measures. 

This is not the case for developed countries where counterterrorism efforts are coupled with more expensive manufactured goods and exports. 

According to the researchers, developed countries have more incentive to increase counterterrorism efforts, and this study is the first of its kind to identify such a disproportionate relationship between developing and developed countries. 

“This article shows that counterterrorism must be investigated in a way that accounts for subtle, but important, trade consequences,” said Todd Sandler, an author of the paper. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>,<a href="https://www.earth.com/"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Paid for by <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a>

Developed countries benefit economically from counterterrorism efforts

Researchers from Oxford University recently examined the disproportionate economic gains...

A <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2019.02.011">new study</a> by <a href="https://www.elsevier.com/">Elsevier</a> has found that teaching children healthy eating habits through repetition is the best way to help them understand the benefits of increased consumption and nutrition. This study is published in the <a href="https://www.jneb.org/">Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior</a>.

"Because preschool children rely on other people to provide food, it is important to understand best practices to improve healthy eating," said lead author Jane Lanigan, PhD, from the Department of Human Development at <a href="https://hd.vancouver.wsu.edu/department-human-development">Washington State University Vancouver</a>. "This study shows the value of creating consistent nutrition phrases to use in the home and in child care and healthcare settings during meal time."

The study recruited 98 families from two early-education programs that taught 3- to 6-year-olds. The first program took part in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), which served <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/educating-kids-climate-change/">kids</a> breakfast, lunch, and snacks. And the second program only served kids the food they brought from home.

The researchers introduced tomatoes, bell peppers, lentils, and quinoa and assigned kids one of the foods for repeated exposure, one for repeated exposure plus child-centered nutrition phrases, and two foods for no intervention.

During the six-week study, kids took part in tasting sessions two days per week. In these sessions, children would visit stations and were offered food to try out. On the days that child-centered nutrition phrases plus repeat exposure were in use, researchers introduced kids to food-related phrases like “Whole grains help you run fast and jump high," and "Fruits and vegetables help keep you from getting sick."

Children were then asked to describe the food they were tasting by selecting a face that showed how they think the food tastes. The foods were later given out to kids as snacks and researchers noted which foods were selected.

They found that repeated exposure, as well as repeated exposure with child-centered nutrition phrases, increased the kids’ willingness to try foods and positively shifted preference and consumption. In fact, those who heard the child-centered nutrition phrases consumed twice as much of the foods after the intervention even if their stated liking or willingness to try remained at the same level.

"Mealtime conversations can be a time to encourage food exploration and develop healthy eating behaviors with young children," Dr. Lanigan concluded. "Both parents and child care providers would benefit from learning and using developmentally appropriate, accurate nutrition messages when introducing new foods."

--

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Repetition makes a difference when teaching kids healthy eating habits

A new study by Elsevier has found that teaching children...

Although Coca-Cola funds health research at public universities in the United States and Canada, a new study has revealed that the company reserves the right to review findings early and to “terminate without reason.” The investigation also found that Coca-Cola has a clause which allows any data and intellectual property associated with the research to be intercepted.  

The team reviewed over 87,000 documents that were obtained through Freedom of Information requests submitted by <a href="https://usrtk.org/">US Right to Know</a>, a non-profit consumer and public health research group. According to the study authors, many of the clauses they found in the legal documents enable Coca-Cola to suppress “critical health information.”

The experts said that the clauses are not in compliance with Coca-Cola's commitment to transparent and “unrestricted” support for science, and they are calling for corporate funders to publish lists of terminated research.

Study lead author Dr. Sarah Steele is a policy researcher in the Department of Politics and International Studies at the <a href="https://www.cam.ac.uk/">University of Cambridge</a>.

“It is certainly true that the contracts we have found allow for unfavorable developments or findings to be quashed prior to publication,” said Dr. Steele. “Coca-Cola have declared themselves at the forefront of transparency when it comes to food and beverage giants funding health research. In fact, our study suggests that important research might never see the light of day and we would never know about it.”

“We are already hearing accusations from experts in nutrition that the food industry is copying tactics from big tobacco's playbook. Corporate social responsibility has to be more than just shiny websites stating progressive policies that get ignored.”

Coca-Cola's own transparency website claims that scientists retain full control over their research and the company has no right to prevent the publication of any findings. However, the company retains a strong level of control throughout the process, including the right to receive updates and the power to terminate studies early without reason.

Within the documents, one scientist expressed concern over intellectual property and uncertainty over his study termination. Another scientist argued that his contract was “very restrictive for an ‘unrestricted grant.’”

“These contracts suggest that Coke wanted the power to bury research it funded that might detract from its image or profits,” said Gary Ruskin, co-director of US Right to Know. “With the power to trumpet positive findings and bury negative ones, Coke-funded science seems more like an exercise in public relations.”

The researchers acknowledge that the food and <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/sugary-beverages-premature-death/">beverage industry</a> may be updating research contracts as new public commitments are made, but without access to those contracts it is not clear. 

“Journals should require authors of funded research to upload the research agreements for studies as appendices to any peer-reviewed publication,” said Dr. Steele. “The lack of robust information on input by industry and on studies terminated before results are published, makes it impossible to know how much of the research entering the public domain reflects industry positions.”

The study is published in the <a href="https://www.palgrave.com/41271">Journal of Public Health Policy</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Shutterstock

Coca-Cola reserves the right to suppress the health research it supports

Although Coca-Cola funds health research at public universities in the...

Soy is a staple ingredient in the diets of many vegetarians and vegans.  It seems there’s nothing you can’t do with soy, from simple edamame to the gelatinous wonder of tofu and milk replacements.  It is true that eating less animal products can reduce your carbon footprint, help lessen your culpability for deforestation, and de-incentivizes the slaughter of bison and wolves.  The unfortunate reality of all agriculture is that it requires a certain amount of land as well as potential inputs such as fertilizer and water. 

As a human enterprise requiring resources, any type of agriculture has some environmental impact.  Soy is no different. Sometimes <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/lightening-soybean-supply-food/">soy</a> can even drive the deforestation of tropical rainforest. It’s also worth noting that soy is often used for <a href="https://animalsmart.org/species/cattle/what-do-beef-cattle-eat-">livestock feed</a>.

Soybeans are a major component of global trade and agriculture.  According to the <a href="https://www.soymeal.org/soy-meal-articles/world-soybean-production/">Soybean Meal Info Center</a>, the global production of soybeans reached an estimated 346.92 million metric tons in 2017-18.  The US leads soy production with an estimated 119.52 million metric tons of production in the same year.  Brazil comes in second with an estimated 112 million metric tons, followed by Argentina, putting China in fourth place with 14.2 million metric tons of estimated production.  Interestingly, China is also a leading consumer of soy meal. China consumes an estimated 73.87 million metric tons of soymeal, compared with the US in second place at 31.12 million metric tons. This disparity between production and usage of soy and soy products has far reaching and unintended global consequences.

President Donald Trump has been open with his dissatisfaction with trade between the US and China, even before he took office.  Now, the US and China is locked into a mutual trade war. The <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/business-45899310">BBC</a> reports that so far, the US has imposed three rounds of tariffs over a wide variety of imports from China, mainly manufactured goods.  The tariffs range from 10 to 25% and total to more than $250 billion. China has responded to these broad tariffs by imposing its own targeted taxes on imports from the US, intending to specifically punish areas that voted largely for Trump.  One of the taxes is on imported soybeans from the US. The result has been a 50% decline in soy exports from the US to China in 2018.

China has been looking at other countries to supply more soy while relying less on US sources, decreasing taxes on imported soy from five Asian countries.  It’s also likely that Argentina and Brazil will be supplying more of China’s demand for soy. Unfortunately, an increase in soy from South America might also mean an increasing destruction of some of the most biodiverse and striking areas of the planet.  

A paper published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-00896-2">Nature</a> by Richard Fuchs and colleagues predicts massive deforestation in the Amazon region in response to a greater demand for soy from non-US sources.  According to Yale’s <a href="https://globalforestatlas.yale.edu/amazon/land-use">Global Forest Atlas</a>, Brazil contains 350 million hectares of the Amazon rainforest.  110 million hectares of that land is designated as Indigenous Reserves, something that Brazil’s recently elected President Bolsonaro promised to do away with while campaigning.  

Already, Bolsonaro has weakened indigenous land protections by transferring management of the reserves to the Department of Agriculture, a government agency friendly with agribusiness, <a href="https://news.mongabay.com/2019/01/bolsonaro-hands-over-indigenous-land-demarcation-to-agriculture-ministry/">Mongabay</a> reported earlier this year.  An additional 25 million hectares of Brazil’s Amazon is set aside for sustainable use, mainly extraction of rubber.  70 million hectares are protected as parks in Brazil’s Amazon. How much these protections will mean under the rule of President Bolsonaro remains to be seen, and corruption under his predecessor already threatened protected lands. Former president Michel Temer allowed forest protected under the law to be cleared and turned into cattle pasture.  So far, ranching is responsible for the majority deforestation compared to other agriculture within Brazil’s Amazon basin but that may change. 

Until recently, 62% of recently cleared Amazon land within Brazil ended up as cattle pasture, equally approximately 45 million hectares.  Permanent agriculture, such as soy crops, occupy only 3.5 million hectares within the Amazon region. Most of the soy production in Brazil comes from outside of the Amazon region.

With little standing in its way and demand growing, Brazil may be set to destroy greater areas of the Amazon to grow more soy.  As of 2016, Brazil supplied almost half of China’s demand for soy. The researchers <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-00896-2#ref-CR1">estimate</a> that the land used for soybean production in Brazil could increase by 39%, that’s 13 million hectares.  For comparison, the researchers pointed out that the worst two years for deforestation in Brazil, 1995 and 2004, cleared almost 3 million hectares of land.  This would be a historical destruction of one of the greatest forests on Earth. 

To be clear, China’s demand for soy comes from a growing consumption of meat.  According to the paper in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-00896-2#ref-CR1">Nature</a>, just a 2% decrease in soy used for livestock feed would result in 10 million tons less meat produced in China per year.  Globally, 71% of Brazil’s soy is used as animal feed. Influence from the west, whether it’s a more westernized diet or higher tariffs, is driving China’s demand and in turn destruction of Brazil’s Amazon.

But there is also some historic precedent for this. A 1980 US embargo on exporting soy to the Soviet Union drove up production of soy in Brazil.  Land used for soy in Brazil more than doubled between 1990 and 2010 to a total of 24.2 million hectares.  More land used for soy pushed cattle ranching deeper into the Amazon region, where slash and burn pasture practices use increasingly large portions of land in a wasteful practice.  

In one scenario, all 94 countries that produce soy would help make up for China’s 22.6 million to 37.6 million ton shortage of soybeans.  In this scenario, Brazil would have to increase it’s land dedicated to soy production by 5.7 million hectares. It’s unclear whether this scenario is likely but it’s quite obvious that with current trends continuing, global consumption of meat - and thus soy - will continue to increase with growing populations. The question lingers – how long can we chew at our world before it’s gone? 

--

By <a href="mailto:zachfitzner@yahoo.com">Zach Fitzner</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Contributing Writer           

Paid for by <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com </a>

Trade war between the US and China may prompt Amazon deforestation

Soy is a staple ingredient in the diets of many...

A floral scent in perfume may be pleasant, overpowering, or barely register depending on the nose that sniffs the fragrance. 

While researchers have known that people are more sensitive to certain scents than others, a new <a href="https://www.pnas.org/content/early/2019/04/29/1804106115">study</a> has found that subtle genetic variations in individual <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/smell-receptors-tongue/">olfactory receptors</a> explain why people perceive smells differently. 

For example, the compound 2-ethylfenchol which is found in beets can be so overpowering to some people that eating beets is like eating forkfuls of dirt, while for others, their olfactory receptors don’t pick up on the soil-like scent at all. 

Researchers from <a href="https://www.rockefeller.edu/">Rockefeller University</a> and the <a href="http://www.monell.org/">Monell Chemical Senses Center</a> conducted the study which was published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 

The researchers examined the genetic variations in olfactory receptors to see if these slight changes impacted perceptions of odors for different people. 

Overall, people have about 400 olfactory receptors. 

“We still know very little about how olfactory receptors translate information from an odor molecule into the perception of an odor’s quality, intensity, and pleasantness,” said Joel Mainland, a senior author of the study. “By examining how variation in an olfactory receptor gene changes odor perception, we can begin to understand the function of each receptor.” 

332 participants were asked to rate the intensity and strength of 70 odors, many of which were popular food flavorings and additives. 

The researchers also collected DNA samples from the participants and used sequencing technology to identify variations in the olfactory receptor genes of each participant. 

“We used people’s genes to identify who has a broken form of a given receptor and compared their odor perception to that of individuals having the more functional version of that receptor,” said Cassey Trimmer, the lead author of the study. “Is the odor less strong? Is it more pleasant? Is it both?” 

Surprisingly, a variation in just one receptor was enough to impact odor perception the researchers found. 

“Because most odors activate several receptors, many scientists thought that losing one receptor wouldn’t make a difference in how we perceive that odor. Instead, our work shows that is not the case, and changes to a single receptor can make a big difference in how you perceive an odor,” said Mainland.

The study provides insight into the underlying mechanisms that impact our sensory perceptions through our day to day lives. Since smell and taste are so closely tied together, the study could help future research into how our noses impact dietary choices. 

“By taking advantage of the natural variation in the olfactory receptor family, we can gain crucial insight into how the olfactory system works and how differences in this system may impact food choice, nutritional health, and overall well-being,” said Trimmer. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Genetic variations explain why people smell things differently

A floral scent in perfume may be pleasant, overpowering, or...

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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

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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?

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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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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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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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> describes why satellite images and measurements of our planet have become "essential to our survival, offering a new outlook of our world."&nbsp;



Rising sea levels pose one of the biggest societal threats associated with climate change. According to ESA, satellite altimeter missions such as Copernicus Sentinel-6 are essential in monitoring global and regional changes in sea level.



"Unbeknown to many, the island of Crete, Greece, plays an important role in the Copernicus satellite altimetry constellation and on an international stage," reports ESA.



"Satellite altimetry data have to be continuously monitored at the ESA’s Permanent Facility for Altimetry Calibration where different techniques have pioneered the use of transponders to provide the best measurements to validate satellite altimeters in space soon after launch."



Dr. Craig Donlon explains that, by understanding planet Earth through satellite measurements, we are able to find evidence of change.&nbsp;



Video Credit: European Space Agency&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

Satellites have become essential to our survival

[sendtonews key="761m2QQvR1-2035772-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...