Caffeine is woven into daily life, turning up not just in morning coffee but in tea, chocolate, soda, and energy drinks.



Yet the same stimulant that keeps billions of people alert may also be changing the way the sleeping brain resets itself overnight, according to new research from the <a href="https://www.umontreal.ca/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Montréal</a>.



In a recent study, scientists combined electroencephalography with artificial-intelligence tools to reveal that evening caffeine drives the brain into a more active and less restorative mode during <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sleep-rewires-the-brain-to-strengthen-memories/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sleep</a>. Researchers also found the effect is most pronounced in people under 30.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-probing-the-sleeping-brain"><a></a>Probing the sleeping brain</h2>



The research team, led by doctoral trainee Philipp Thölke in the Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience Laboratory (CoCo Lab), recorded the nighttime brain activity of 40 healthy volunteers.



Each participant slept in the lab twice: one night after caffeine and another night after placebo, both taken before bed.



Throughout the night, electroencephalogram (EEG) electrodes tracked the electrical chatter of neurons, while sophisticated algorithms searched for subtle patterns.



“We used advanced statistical analysis and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ai-shows-better-emotional-intelligence-than-humans/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">artificial intelligence</a> to identify subtle changes in neuronal activity,” Thölke said. 



His project involved a collaboration with Karim Jerbi, the director of CoCo Lab and a professor of psychology, and sleep-and-aging specialist Julie Carrier.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-caffeine-heightens-brain-activity">Caffeine heightens brain activity</h2>



When the researchers compared the caffeine nights with the placebo nights, they saw a clear jump in what neuroscientists call signal complexity. The EEG traces looked more intricate, less predictable, and closer to the patterns typical of wakefulness.



The team also measured an increase in “criticality,” a concept that Professor Jerbi likens to an orchestra finding its perfect pitch. “Criticality describes a state of the brain that is balanced between order and chaos,” he said.



“It's like an orchestra: too quiet and nothing happens, too chaotic and there's cacophony. Criticality is the happy medium where brain activity is both organized and flexible. In this state, the brain functions optimally: it can process information efficiently, adapt quickly, learn and make decisions with agility.”



Caffeine, he noted, nudges the brain into that same poised, ready-to-learn condition useful at noon, perhaps unwelcome at midnight.



“Caffeine stimulates the brain and pushes it into a state of criticality, where it is more awake, alert, and reactive. While this is useful during the day for concentration, this state could interfere with rest at night: the brain would neither relax nor recover properly,” Carrier explained.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-caffeine-s-impact-on-sleep">Caffeine's impact on sleep</h2>



Beyond complexity metrics, the EEG recordings showed noteworthy shifts in traditional sleep rhythms.



Under the influence of caffeine, the slow theta and alpha waves crucial for repair and memory were suppressed in non-REM sleep. Meanwhile, faster beta activity, typical of mental engagement while awake, appeared more often.



“These changes suggest that even during sleep, the brain remains in a more activated, less restorative state under the influence of caffeine,” Jerbi said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-age-makes-a-difference"><a></a>Age makes a difference</h2>



The volunteers ranged from 20 to 58 years old, allowing the team to see how age influences caffeine’s punch.



Young adults from 20 to 27 exhibited the strongest boost in criticality and the greatest suppression of slow waves, especially during REM sleep. That age skew likely stems from biology. Youngsters have more <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/damage-from-blue-light-exposure-increases-with-age/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">adenosine receptors</a> in the brain, giving caffeine - an adenosine blocker - extra leverage.



“Adenosine receptors naturally decrease with age, reducing caffeine's ability to block them and improve brain complexity, which may partly explain the reduced effect of caffeine observed in middle-aged participants,” Carrier said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-caffeine-use-at-night">Caffeine use at night</h2>



Taken together, the findings suggest that an after-dinner espresso may not only delay sleep but also reduce its quality. For students and young professionals who lean on late-day lattes, the data raise particular concerns, since their brains appear most sensitive.



Yet the study’s authors are cautious about sweeping prescriptions. They note that caffeine’s popularity - consumed by an estimated 80 percent of adults worldwide - makes nuanced guidance essential.



Future work will need to unravel how the observed neural changes translate into next-day performance, long-term <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mind-diet-may-protect-cognitive-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cognitive health</a>, and individual differences tied to genetics or existing sleep disorders.



Still, the research shows that sleep is not simply unconscious downtime. The brain finely tunes its overnight choreography, and stimulants can shift its rhythm.



As the researchers continue to explore how common substances alter criticality and complexity, they hope to inform personalized recommendations. This could help coffee lovers balance the perks of daytime alertness with the necessity of deep, restorative sleep.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s42003-025-08090-z" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications Biology</a>.



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Caffeine at night disrupts sleep patterns, preventing the brain from resetting

Caffeine is woven into daily life, turning up not just in morning coffee but in tea, chocolate, soda, and energy drinks. Yet the same stimulant that keeps billions of people alert may also be changing the way the sleeping brain resets itself overnight, according to new research from the University of Montréal. In a recent study, scientists combined electroencephalography with artificial-intelligence tools to reveal that evening caffeine drives the brain into a more active and less restorative mode during sleep. Researchers also found the effect is most...

A new study from <a href="https://english.tau.ac.il/">Tel Aviv University</a> reveals that there is a direct link between <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/a-nutritional-diet-maximizes-the-benefits-of-exercise/">diet</a> and cancer risk. An international team of researchers has found that meat and dairy products are associated with the development of antibodies that increase the chances of developing cancer. 

According to the experts, the findings may explain the high incidence of cancer among individuals who consume large amounts of dairy products and red meat, which is similar to the connection between high cholesterol and heart disease.

The investigation was focused on Neu5Gc, a sugar molecule that is found in the tissues of mammals, but not in poultry or fish. Humans develop antibodies to Neu5Gc early in life - when they are first exposed to dairy and meat products. 

Even though these antibodies are known to increase the risk of cancers such as colorectal cancer, they had not been directly linked to meat and dairy consumption prior to the current study.

The team measured the amount of Neu5Gc sugar in a variety of foods that are common in the French diet and calculated the daily Neu5Gc intake of nearly 20,000 adults aged 18 and over. The study subjects had reported all of their food intake online over a period of several days as part of the NutriNet-Santé, a national nutritional survey conducted in France.

A representative sample of 120 participants were selected for blood testing so the researchers could examine the levels of the anti-Neu5Gc antibodies in their blood.

Based on the results, the team created an index called the Gcemic index, which ranks foods that can lead to an increase in the antibodies - and possibly to a subsequent increase in the risk of cancer.

"We found a significant correlation between high consumption of Neu5Gc from red meat and cheeses and increased development of those antibodies that heighten the risk of cancer," said study lead author Dr. Vered Padler-Karavani. "For years there have been efforts to find such a connection, but no one did. Here, for the first time, we were able to find a molecular link thanks to the accuracy of the methods used to measure the antibodies in the blood and the detailed data from the French diet questionnaires."

According to Dr. Padler-Karavani, the researchers predict that individuals who eat a lot of red meat and cheese will develop high levels and different varieties of the antibodies, which may place them at a higher risk for cancer.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.com/">BMC Medicine</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Meat and dairy consumption linked to higher risk of cancer

A new study from Tel Aviv University reveals that there...

The human gut contains about 100 trillion <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/bacteria-may-give-sea-turtles-their-magnetic-sixth-sense/">bacteria</a>, including some microbes that are helpful and others that are harmful to our health. In a new study, scientists at the <a href="https://omrf.org/">Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation</a> have discovered new clues that completely change our understanding about the gut microbiome and its role in protecting the human body from disease.

The groundbreaking research helps explain why antibiotics can cause a range of problems in the digestive system. The findings may ultimately lead to improved treatments for inflammatory bowel disease and for people who have had some of their bowels removed due to conditions like colon cancer. 

The study revealed that the microbiome is responsible for the creation of a sticky layer of sugar-enriched mucus that envelops fecal matter and travels with it. This mucus serves as a barrier between bacteria in feces and the thousands of immune cells in the colon. Without the mucus, the whole system would get thrown off balance.

"The colon is not just a digestive organ, but an immune organ," said study lead author Dr. Lijun Xia. "Our microbiome begins to develop at the moment of birth and evolves throughout our lives. It's essential for the growth and maturation of the acquired immune system in our body. When it's not well developed or cared for, it doesn't operate as it should, which can lead to diseases."

The presence of this mucus determines the overall health of the gut microbiome. The researchers demonstrated that even though the mucus production can be interrupted, it can also be restored.

Experients showed that the fecal matter of mice treated with a broad-spectrum antibiotic had no trace of the mucus sheath. Some of the mice that were lacking the protective mucus barrier received a fecal matter transplant, which triggered mucus production.

According to Dr. XIA, this method may one day be used to treat patients whose microbiome is out of balance.

"Whether because of antibiotics interrupting mucus production or a total colon removal due to ulcerative colitis, painful inflammation can result," said Dr. Xia. "Now that we better understand the role and origin of this mucus, we will study how we can supplement it or restore its production."

OMRF President Dr. Stephen Prescott noted that the gut microbiome has taken on increasing importance in medical research as scientists have recognized the roles its microorganisms play in our overall health.

"Researchers have found these tiny organisms living in our digestive tracts may be key players in obesity, diabetes and a variety of autoimmune and digestive diseases. Dr. Xia's work proves a strong connection between the protective coating driven by the microbiome and the development of a disease like colitis," said Dr. Prescott.

The research may lead to alternatives to colonoscopies for monitoring conditions like inflammatory bowel disease. "Rather than repeated invasive procedures to track the progression of IBD, we may be able to measure the presence of the mucus in a fecal sample and assess a patient's gut health," explained Dr. Xia.

"Our researchers had to understand the origin and function of this mucus and how it relates to the microbiome to learn how it connects with disease, " said Dr. Prescott. "We now understand that the long-term health implications when this pair gets out of balance can be devastating, and Dr. Xia's work can guide us to answers."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencemag.org/">Science</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

How the gut microbiome protects us from disease

The human gut contains about 100 trillion bacteria, including some...

Is it really possible to improve strength in one of your arms without moving it? The answer is yes, according to a surprising new study from <a href="https://www.ecu.edu.au/">Edith Cowan University</a> (ECU). The researchers found that training one arm can increase strength in the other while also minimizing muscle loss. 

The findings could ultimately help to address injury-related muscle weakness by simply using eccentric training on the opposing arm. Eccentric exercises lengthen muscles during contraction, just like what happens when you walk down stairs or lower a dumbbell using your bicep.

In previous studies, experts have determined that eccentric exercises are more effective at growing muscle than concentric exercises, which shorten muscles as they are contracting.

Study co-author Professor Ken Nosaka said that the findings challenge conventional rehabilitation methods and could improve outcomes for post-injury and stroke patients.

"I think this could change the way we approach rehabilitation for people who have temporarily lost the use of one arm or one leg," said Professor Nosaka."By starting rehab and exercise in the uninjured limb right away, we can prevent muscle damage induced by exercise in the other limb and also build strength without moving it at all."

The study was focused on 30 participants who had one arm immobilized for a minimum of eight hours a day for four weeks. The individuals were divided into three groups who either performed a mix of eccentric and concentric exercise, performed only eccentric exercise, or did not exercise at all.

According to Professor Nosaka, the group who used a heavy dumbbell to perform only eccentric exercise on their active arm showed an increase in strength and a decrease in muscle atrophy, or wastage, in their immobilized arm.

"Participants who did eccentric exercise had the biggest increase in strength in both arms, so it has a very powerful cross-transfer effect," explained Professor Nosaka. 

"This group also had just two percent muscle wastage in their immobilised arm, compared with those who did no exercise who had a 28 per cent loss of muscle.

"This means that for those people who do not exercise, they have to regain all that muscle and strength again."

Professor Nosaka pointed out that this type of training is useful for athletes who can begin post-injury recovery sooner. Next, he plans to continue this investigation by expanding the research into other arm muscles and movements.

"In this study we focused on the elbow flexors as this muscle is often used as a model to examine the effects of immobilisation on strength and size, and of course it is an important muscle for arm movement," said Professor Nosaka.

"In the future, we hope to look at how eccentric exercise can help improve motor function, movement and fine muscle control, which is particularly important for stroke and rehabilitation patients."

The study is published in the <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/16000838">Scandinavian Journal of Medicine &amp; Science in Sports</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

You can gain strength in your arm without even moving it

Is it really possible to improve strength in one of...

Climate instability drove early humans to become more adaptable. Early humans in the East African Rift Valley drastically changed their lifestyle to adjust to climate instability 320,000 years ago, according to a new study from the <a href="https://www.si.edu/">Smithsonian</a>. The findings suggest that when faced with uncertainty, humans became more adaptable.

Study lead author Richard Potts is the director of the Human Origins Program at the National Museum of Natural History.

"The history of human evolution has been one of increasing adaptability," said Potts. "We come from a family tree that's diverse, but all of those other ways of being human are now extinct. There's only one of us left, and we may well be the most adaptable species that may have ever existed on the face of the Earth."

The research was focused on the analysis of a new sedimentary drill core, which produced a million-year record of the environmental history of the East African Rift Valley. The scientists discovered that humans had fairly predictable climate conditions and resources for hundreds of thousands of years. 

However, when unpredictable conditions emerged around 400,000 years ago, there was a major behavioral and cultural shift in human evolution. At this time, fluctuations in vegetation and water supply made resources less reliable. Early humans responded by replacing old tools with new technology and expanding their trade networks. 

The analysis of artifacts recovered at an archaeological site known as Olorgesailie showed that early humans in this region relied on the same tools - stone hand axes - for 700,000 years. The evidence suggests that life was remarkably stable during this time period.

Around 320,000 years ago, humans of the East African Rift Valley entered into the Middle Stone Age, when they began to design smaller and more sophisticated weapons, including projectiles. They also began to communicate and trade with distant groups. 

According to Potts, all these changes were a significant departure from their previous lifestyle, likely helping early humans cope with their newly variable landscape.

The team set out to understand the major evolutionary transition discovered at Olorgesailie by extracting and analyzing  a 139-meter sediment core, which has now produced the most precisely dated African environmental record of the past one million years. 

The study revealed that after hundreds of thousands of years of stability, the landscape in this region of Africa was fragmented by tectonic activity about 400,000 years ago. As a result, the vegetation in the region began shifting between grassy plains and wooded areas. Large grazing herbivores were gradually replaced by smaller mammals with more diverse diets.

"There was a massive change in the animal fauna during the time period when we see early human behavior changing," explained Potts. "The animals also influenced the landscape through the kinds of plants that they ate. Then with humans in the mix, and some of their innovations like projectile weapons, they also may have affected the fauna. It's a whole ecosystem changing, with humans as part of it."

Potts concluded that while adaptability is a hallmark of human evolution, that does not mean the species is necessarily equipped to endure the unprecedented change Earth is now experiencing due to man-made climate change and Anthropogenic biodiversity loss. 

"We have an astonishing capacity to adapt, biologically in our genes as well as culturally and socially. The question is, are we now creating through our own activities new sources of environmental disruption that will continue to challenge human adaptability?"

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://advances.sciencemag.org/">Science Advances</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Climate instability drove early humans to become more adaptable

Climate instability drove early humans to become more adaptable. Early...

A new study from the <a href="https://www.cancer.org/">American Cancer Society</a> confirms that older adults can greatly improve their quality of life by staying <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/study-reveals-that-venus-is-still-an-active-planet/">active</a>. The researchers report that even moderate levels of physical activity are associated with healthier aging, and cancer survivors are no exception. 

There are nearly 16.9 million cancer survivors in the United States, and previous studies have shown that exercise may help reduce the risk of recurrence. Furthermore, exercise is known for a range of benefits, such as reducing anxiety, improving sleep, and boosting energy. 

A team led by Dr. Erika Rees-Punia set out to investigate the connection between physical activity and healthier aging. The study was focused on nearly 78,000 participants in the ACS's Cancer Prevention Study II Nutrition Cohort, including cancer survivors and cancer-free adults with an average age of 78.

The analysis showed that regardless of cancer history, there were substantial improvements in the mental and physical health of the most active participants.

The most recent ACS physical activity guidelines recommend that adults get 150-300 minutes of moderate-intensity activity or 75-150 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity each week, while limiting sedentary behaviors such as screen time.

"The findings reinforce the importance of moving more and sitting less for both physical and mental health, no matter your age or history of cancer," said Dr. Rees-Punia. 

"This is especially relevant now as so many of us, particularly cancer survivors, may be staying home to avoid COVID-19 exposure, and may be feeling a little isolated or down. A simple walk or other physical activity that you enjoy may be good for your mind and body."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://acsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10970142">Cancer</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Moving more and sitting less leads to healthier aging

A new study from the American Cancer Society confirms that...

Food and beverages that are high in flavanols such as apples, berries, and tea can help lower <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/high-blood-pressure-doubles-risk-of-death-from-covid-19/">blood pressure</a>, according to a study from the <a href="http://www.reading.ac.uk/">University of Reading</a>. The research is the first of its kind to objectively measure the effect of a specific compound on blood pressure among thousands of people. 

"Previous studies of large populations have always relied on self-reported data to draw conclusions, but this is the first epidemiological study of this scale to objectively investigate the association between a specific bioactive compound and health," said study lead author Professor Gunter Kuhnle. "We are delighted to see that in our study, there was also a meaningful and significant association between flavanol consumption and lower blood pressure."

The researchers compared the diets and blood pressure readings of more than 25,000 adults in the UK. Instead of relying on self-reported flavanol intake, the team analyzed nutritional biomarkers present in the blood.

"This study adds key insights to a growing body of evidence supporting the benefits of dietary flavanols in health and nutrition. But, perhaps even more exciting was the opportunity to apply objective biomarkers of flavanol intake at a large scale," said Hagen Schroeter. "This enabled the team to avoid the significant limitations that come with past approaches which rely on estimating intake based on self-reported food consumption data and the shortcomings of current food composition databases."

The study revealed that participants with the highest levels of flavanol intake had a difference in blood pressure of between 2 and 4 mmHg compared to individuals who had the least flavanols in their diet. This drop in blood pressure is comparable to that observed among people following a Mediterranean diet or Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet. The positive effect of flavanols was found to be even more pronounced in participants with hypertension.

"What this study gives us is an objective finding about the association between flavanols - found in tea and some fruits - and blood pressure," said Professor Kuhnle. "This research confirms the results from previous dietary intervention studies and shows that the same results can be achieved with a habitual diet rich in flavanols. In the British diet, the main sources are tea, cocoa, apples and berries."

"The methodology of the study is of equal importance. This is one of the largest ever studies to use nutritional biomarkers to investigate bioactive compounds. Using nutritional biomarkers to estimate intake of bioactive food compounds has long been seen as the gold standard for research, as it allows intake to be measured objectively." 

"The development, validation and application of the biomarker was only possible because of the long-term commitment of all collaborators. In contrast to self-reported dietary data, nutritional biomarkers can address the huge variability in food composition. We can therefore confidently attribute the associations we observed to flavanol intake."

The findings suggest that if the general public increased its flavanol intake, there could be a significant reduction in the prevalence of cardiovascular disease, which is the leading cause of death worldwide.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/srep">Scientific Reports</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Flavanols in apples, tea, and berries can lower blood pressure

Food and beverages that are high in flavanols such as...

A nutritional <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/shift-in-american-diets-could-greatly-benefit-the-environment/">diet</a> maximizes the benefits of exercise and improves working memory, according to a new study from <a href="https://www.abbott.com/">Abbott</a>. In collaboration with the U.S. Air Force Research Lab and the <a href="https://illinois.edu/">University of Illinois</a>, researchers found a direct link between nutrition and physical and cognitive performance.

"The physical and mental health benefits of exercise are well known, but this study demonstrates how optimal nutrition can help boost brain function as well," said lead study author Dr. Chris Zwilling. "We are excited by the results because they provide critical insights into how simple dietary changes can make a big difference in helping people be as efficient and productive as possible in today's world. "

The investigation was focused on 148 active-duty men and women in the U.S. Air Force, who were divided into two groups. All of the study participants engaged in the same exercise training program five days a week. One group was given a high-protein nutritional drink which contained lutein, omega-3 fatty acids, phospholipids, vitamin D, and beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB).

The nutritional supplement was found to induce statistically significant changes compared to exercise alone. The participants who were given the nutritional drinks showed an 11-percent boost in working memory, including improvements in problem solving and information processing. 

The individuals who received supplements became faster and more accurate in their reaction times and increased their muscle mass by more than two pounds. In addition, they lowered their resting heart rate by 8 percent, which is a sign of increased cardiovascular fitness. 

Study co-author Dr. Matthew Kuchan said that Abbott has been researching the impact of nutrition on brain function for more than a decade. "These results confirm that by combining the right nutrition and exercise, people who are facing high-pressure situations can stay sharp physically and mentally when they need it most."

Healthy adults can prime their bodies and brains to work more efficiently by incorporating exercise with a nutritional diet. The experts shared the following recommendations: consume foods rich in protein to help build muscle after a workout; support memory and multi-tasking by getting enough DHA - an omega-3 fatty acid - in your diet; and boost your working memory by consuming more lutein, which can be found in egg yolks, dark leafy greens, and brightly colored fruits and vegetables like bell peppers, avocados, carrots, corn, and tomatoes.

"It is clear that nutrition is a critical component for developing and maintaining the physical and cognitive performance of the men and women in the U.S. Air Force," said Dr. Adam Strang, the study's lead investigator with the Air Force Research Laboratory. "This research confirms that a nutritional supplement with the right nutrients can support and facilitate those improvements when paired with balanced exercise training. We hope to use this knowledge now and, in the future, to better prepare them for the complex and diverse mission sets they are facing."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/srep">Scientific Reports</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

A nutritional diet maximizes the benefits of exercise

A nutritional diet maximizes the benefits of exercise and improves...

A new study suggests that people who are socially active have improved brain structure. Researchers at the <a href="https://www.pitt.edu/">University of Pittsburgh</a> Graduate School of Public Health found that older adults who report greater levels of social engagement have a healthier volume of gray matter in brain regions associated with reasoning, <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/musically-training-children-have-improved-attention-and-memory-skills/">memory</a> loss, and dementia. 

The findings suggest that socialization could be "prescribed" to help protect older adults from dementia similar to how physical activity is recommended for preventing diabetes or heart disease.

"Our data were collected before the COVID-19 pandemic, but I believe our findings are particularly important right now, since a one-size-fits-all social isolation of all older adults may place them at risk for conditions such as dementia," said study lead author Cynthia Felix. 

"Older adults should know it is important for their brain health that they still seek out social engagement in safe and balanced ways during the pandemic."

The research was focused on relevant data from 293 individuals with an average age of 83 who participated in the Health, Aging and Body Composition (Health ABC) study. The participants received a brain scan that measured the cellular integrity of brain cells used for social engagement.

Based on self-reported levels of social activity, the participants were ranked on a scale developed by Dr. Felix. High scores were obtained by people who participated in church or community activities, traveled over long distances, played board games, attended classes or educational events, volunteered, worked, or lived with others. Individuals also received high scores for getting together with children, friends, relatives, or neighbors at least once a week.

The study revealed that social engagement was associated with greater microstructural integrity of gray matter. Social engagement with at least one relative or friend was found to activate specific brain regions that are needed to recognize familiar faces, make decisions, and feel rewarded. The experts report that even moderate "doses" of social engagement appear to be beneficial.

"We need to do more research on the details, but that's the beauty of this - social engagement costs hardly anything, and we do not have to worry about side-effects," said Dr. Felix. "There is no cure for dementia, which has tremendous costs in terms of treatment and caregiving. Preventing dementia, therefore, has to be the focus. It's the 'use it or lose it' philosophy when it comes to the brain."

According to Dr. Felix, it is still not clear whether greater social engagement keeps these brain regions healthy, or if having a healthy brain results in higher levels of social engagement.

"It would be good if we develop programs across the U.S. through which structured social activities can be prescribed for community-dwelling older adults, aimed at reducing rates of dementia and the resulting health care costs. Existing platforms providing group physical activities can be a good starting point."

The study is published in the <a href="https://academic.oup.com/psychsocgerontology">Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Social engagement linked to healthier brain structure

A new study suggests that people who are socially active...

Network that connects the brain and stomach can predict weight loss. An MRI scan can predict whether you will have success with weight loss, according to a new study from <a href="https://in.bgu.ac.il/en/pages/default.aspx">Ben-Gurion University of the Negev</a> (BGU). The researchers have found that it is not just willpower that motivates us to maintain a healthy weight, but also communication that takes place between the <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/sedentary-behavior-is-not-always-bad-for-the-brain/">brain</a> and the stomach. 

The experts discovered a neural network that connects the brain to the gastric basal electric frequency, and that the connectivity patterns in this region correspond with future weight loss.

The findings support the theory that people with an increased neural response to the sight and smell of food are more susceptible to overeating and gaining weight.

"In this work, we found evidence of a brain subnetwork supporting successful weight loss. Connectivity within this subnetwork, comprised mostly of connections to cortical sensory and motor regions, predicted dietary success in weight loss after 6 months of lifestyle intervention," wrote the researchers.

Study lead author Gidon Levakov is a graduate student in the BGU Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences.

"To our surprise, we discovered that while higher executive functions, as measured behaviorally, were dominant factors in weight loss, this was not reflected in patterns of brain connectivity," said Levakov. "Consequently, we found that weight loss is not merely a matter of willpower, but is actually connected to much more basic visual and olfactory cues."

The stomach's basal electrical rhythm (BER) regulates the gastric waves that are associated with hunger and feeling full. In the newly described neural subnetwork connected to the BER, the most active branch was found to be the pericalcarine sulcus - the anatomical location of the primary visual cortex.

The study was focused on participants in an 18-month lifestyle weight loss intervention led by Professor Iris Shai. Before the intervention, the individuals were given brain imaging scans and behavioral executive function tests. 

According to Professor Shai, maximum weight loss is generally achieved after six months of dieting, which is when the weight of the participants was measured. 

The experts found that the new subnetwork is more closely involved with basic sensory and motor regions rather than more complex brain regions.

"It appears that visual information may be an important factor triggering eating," said study principal investigator Professor Galia Avidan. "This is reasonable, given that vision is the primary sense in humans."

The findings will help experts to gain a better understanding of what causes obesity and the neural response to dieting.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.journals.elsevier.com/neuroimage">NeuroImage</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

Network that connects the brain and stomach can predict weight loss

Network that connects the brain and stomach can predict weight...

A growing collection of studies has linked sedentary behavior to chronic health issues and accelerated signs of aging, such as <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/ants-show-signs-of-cognitive-sophistication/">cognitive</a> decline. But a new study from <a href="https://www.colostate.edu/">Colorado State University</a> shows that not all sedentary behavior is bad for the brain, especially when it is balanced by the right amount of physical activity. 

The research, led by Professor Aga Burzynska in the CSU Department of Human Development and Family Studies, was designed to examine the association between physical activity and cognitive performance. The study was focused on 228 healthy older adults between the ages of 60 and 80.

As expected, participants who engaged in more moderate-to-vigorous activity had better speed, memory, and reasoning skills. On the other hand, the data also showed that adults who engaged in more sedentary behavior performed better on vocabulary and reading tasks.

The findings may come as a relief to people who have sedentary jobs or spend a significant amount of time sitting. Professor Burzynska said that while the association between increased physical activity and improved cardiovascular and metabolic health is well documented, the link between different intensities of daily physical activity and cognitive health is less understood, particularly in older adults.

"We know that as we grow older, even if we do not have any cognitive impairments, people aged 60 and up already show some decreases in speed, executive functioning, and memory. Those decreases are totally within a normal range, but this study was looking to understand how our behaviors and habits may correlate with cognitive outcomes in older age," said Professor Burzynska.

The researchers used advanced sensors that are more accurate than common activity trackers, which sets the research apart from previous studies. Professor Burzynska pointed out that people like to overestimate their daily movement and underestimate the time they spend sitting. "If you ask, 'How long did you sit today?' people will perhaps say 2 to 3 hours when the reality is more like 6 to 8 hours."

The team designed a broad assessment that tested 16 cognitive tasks. The participants wore the sensor on their hip for seven days, and the device captured the time they spent sitting or engaged in various levels of physical activity each day.

The researchers used cognitive assessments to investigate the influence of physical activity on fluid versus crystallized cognition.

Participants in the study who engaged in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity performed better on fluid tasks, such as memory and problem solving tests, suggesting that exercise may prevent some of the effects of brain aging.

However, the study revealed that most of the participants did not spend a significant amount of time engaged in physical activity. The data showed that majority of the adults spent less than 2.7 percent of their time engaged in moderate-to-vigorous activities. These sedentary participants performed better on knowledge-based activities like reading comprehension and vocabulary tests - "crystallized" abilities that tend to strengthen with age.

The experts speculate that when people are sedentary, they are more likely to be engaging in educational, stimulating activities, like reading or solving puzzles, and these activities enhance crystallized skills. 

"There's this big push within health and wellness that sitting is always bad for your body, that being a couch potato is not good, and although our earlier studies indicated that the brains of those who spend more time sitting may age faster, it seems that on the cognitive level, sitting time may also be meaningful," said Professor Burzynska.

"I don't think I would in any way suggest that we should engage in more sitting, but I think trying to be as physically active as possible and making sure that you get stimulated in your sedentary time - that it's not just spent staring at the TV - that this combination might be the best way to take care of your brain. I hope it sends some positive message for those of us who have had limited opportunities to exercise during the pandemic."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/pag">Psychology and Aging</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

Sedentary behavior is not always bad for the brain

A growing collection of studies has linked sedentary behavior to...

Excessive sugar consumption can cause impulsive <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/chimpanzees-respond-to-dynamic-environments-by-learning-new-behaviors/">behavior</a> and may even contribute to certain behavioral disorders, according to a new study from the University of Colorado. The researchers identified a link between high fructose intake and aggression, ADHD, and bipolar disorder. 

The study proposes a new theory that excessive amounts of high fructose corn syrup and sugary foods increase the risk for behavioral disorders. The researchers also theorize that the link between sugar intake and behavioral issues may have an evolutionary basis.

Study lead author lead Dr. Richard Johnson is a professor of Medicine on the <a href="https://www.cuanschutz.edu/">CU Anschutz Medical Campus</a>. In his lab, Dr. Johnson and his colleagues study the role of diet - particularly fructose and uric acid - in the epidemics of obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and kidney disease. For example, Dr. Johnson's team has found evidence that fructose and uric acid promote not only obesity, but also fatigue and decreased exercise.

For the current investigation, the researchers focused on the body's cellular response to fructose and uric acid. "We present evidence that fructose, by lowering energy in cells, triggers a foraging response similar to what occurs in starvation," said Dr. Johnson.

The study summarizes research which shows that this foraging response shifts the body and mind into a survival mode that once evolved in humans to secure food, triggering risk taking, impulsivity, novelty seeking, rapid decision making, and aggressiveness. 

The overactivation of this survival response as a result of excessive sugar intake may cause impulsive behavior ranging from ADHD to bipolar disorder, or even aggression, according to the researchers.

"While the fructose pathway was meant to aid survival, fructose intake has skyrocketed during the last century and may be in overdrive due to the high amounts of sugar that are in the current Western diet," explained Dr. Johnson.

The excessive intake of fructose present in refined sugars and high fructose corn syrup may have contributed to the development of behavioral disorders that are associated with obesity and Western diet.

"We do not blame aggressive behavior on sugar, but rather note that it may be one contributor," said Dr. Johnson. "The identification of fructose as a risk factor does not negate the importance of genetic, familial, physical, emotional and environmental factors that shape mental health."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.journals.elsevier.com/evolution-and-human-behavior">Evolution and Human Behavior</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

High fructose intake may contribute to bipolar disorder and aggression

Excessive sugar consumption can cause impulsive behavior and may even...

In a new study from the <a href="https://illinois.edu/">University of Illinois</a>, experts have found that rituals such as those centered around holidays help <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/having-first-emotional-bond/">couples</a> determine whether they see a future together. The researchers explained that rituals and celebrations play an important role in human relationships, and these experiences can serve as a diagnostic tool for couples. 

Study lead author Chris Maniotes is a graduate student in the U of I Department of Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS).

"Rituals have the power to bond individuals and give us a preview into family life and couple life. We found they help magnify normative relationship experiences," said Maniotes.

Even though rituals are typically associated with holidays or ceremonies, they could be any recurring event or traditional activity, such as a weekly date night. Maniotes explained that these activities have symbolic meaning that goes beyond routine interaction.

"Rituals provide a unique time to review one's partner and relationship; you get to see a host of behaviors and interactions that might normally be obscured. Some of the ways rituals affected commitment to wed with these couples was by altering their view of their partner, giving them a new perspective."

The research team analyzed in-depth interviews with 24 couples in the southwestern region of the United States. The respondents, who were randomly selected from a larger study that examined commitment, had been in their relationship for 2.5 years.

The current analysis revealed that rituals can reinforce bonds and strengthen commitment, but they can also highlight areas of conflict and make people feel less confident in a long-term commitment. 

"Rituals seem to really play a role in pausing and slowing down individuals, helping them take a better look at their relationship. They help them see, 'this is who we are as a couple; this is who we are as a family,'" said Maniotes.

"Just recognizing the importance of rituals in our lives, and the magnitude of the role they play, can help us integrate them in an intentional way."

The study is published in the <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/home/spr">Journal of Social and Personal Relationships</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Rituals can strengthen commitment among couples who are dating

In a new study from the University of Illinois, experts...

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

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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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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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

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

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

[sendtonews key="JbW4VsY53O-1632195-12187" type="single"] Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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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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