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Managing stress may not just calm nerves in the moment, it also appears to nudge a person's personality toward the sunnier side and strengthen long‑term health. That insight comes from a long‑running study that tracked 2,022 Americans from middle age into their late sixties.



Participants who learned to keep daily hassles from rattling them grew steadily more extroverted, agreeable, and open to new experiences.



On the flip side, peers whose reactions worsened became quieter, less friendly, and wary of novelty, explains <a href="https://psychology.msu.edu/directory/chopik-bill.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">William Chopik</a>, associate professor of psychology at <a href="https://msu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Michigan State University</a>, over the years.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-calming-small-stress-helps-personality">Calming small stress helps personality</h2>



Researchers call the immediate surge of frustration, worry, or anger that follows a hassle <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7983854/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stress reactivity</a>. 



High reactivity heightens blood pressure, floods the brain with cortisol, and sets the stage for wear and tear known as <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20707675/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">allostatic load</a>.



Most people face at least one minor stressor, a traffic jam or sharp email, on more than 40 percent of days. How they interpret and dampen those moments predicts nightly mood, sleep quality, and, over years, physical health.



Daily stress also acts like an invisible drill sergeant, rehearsing the nervous system to react the same way the next time unless conscious countermeasures interrupt the script. Coping skills, therefore, become habits just as rigid as any physical routine.



The new study tests whether changing that habit loop can send ripples upward, influencing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/where-does-happiness-come-from-it-depends-on-who-you-are/">stable dispositions</a> rather than simply reflecting them.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracking-stress-and-personality-change">Tracking stress and personality change</h2>



The team mined the <a href="https://sites.psu.edu/nsde/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Study of Daily Experiences</a>, a project that collects eight‑day diary bursts roughly every decade. 



Volunteers noted whether they argued, raced deadlines, or juggled interruptions, and rated negative feelings each evening.



By averaging those daily scores, the researchers built a personal stress‑reactivity profile for each wave, then examined how those scores rose or fell across nearly two decades.



Crucially, the diaries sat alongside annual inventories of the <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6168084/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Big Five personality traits</a>, giving the analysts a rare chance to watch coping shifts and character shifts march forward together.



Sophisticated multilevel structural equation models controlled for age, gender, and baseline personality, reducing the odds that preexisting differences, rather than changing stress skills, explained later trait trajectories.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stress-reactions-changed-personality-traits">Stress reactions changed personality traits</h2>



Across the cohort, reactivity dropped with age, but the pace varied. Adults who cut their emotional spikes the most showed a 4 percent boost in extroversion and a 3 percent rise in agreeableness, compared with peers whose coping stagnated.



“These improvements trickled up to affect how your personality changed over time,” said Chopik. 



Extroversion and agreeableness both predict higher life satisfaction, a pattern confirmed in dozens of studies, including <a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2001-01642-014" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">work</a> that links sociable moments to larger daily happiness gains.



Openness to experience, the third trait boosted by calmer coping, correlates with lifelong learning and cognitive flexibility, qualities that often buffer aging‑related decline, according to personality <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2743415/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">researchers</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-stress-reshapes-the-brain">How stress reshapes the brain</h2>



Stress hormones interact with brain circuits that govern emotion, planning, and reward. When surges repeat, synapses remodel, gradually making threat detection louder and flexible thinking quieter.



Animal and human studies led by neuroendocrinologist Bruce McEwen show that reducing cortisol spikes can restore hippocampal volume and improve executive function, reinforcing healthier coping <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20707675/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">loops</a>.



Functional‑MRI work also finds that people with lower reactivity maintain stronger connectivity between the prefrontal cortex and amygdala, an architecture linked to smoother social interactions.



Over years, that neural rewiring could ease engagement and curiosity, aligning with the trait shifts spotted in the Michigan State dataset.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-simple-ways-to-build-stress-resilience-every-day">Simple ways to build stress resilience every day</h2>



<a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1813588116" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mindfulness</a>, even in brief smartphone‑based courses, cuts perceived stress and boosts daily social contact, according to a two‑week randomized trial in young adults.



Other tactics, such as labeling feelings, reframing hassles as challenges, or taking ten‑minute walks, tap the same regulatory circuits without the need for formal training.



Cognitive‑behavioral therapy teaches people to challenge stress-driven catastrophic thoughts, while biofeedback provides real‑time heart‑rate clues that guide slower breathing, both methods shown to shrink daily spikes and support personality development.



“If people can find ways to regulate their emotions, that might accumulate and translate to changing their personalities,” added Chopik.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-personality-change-matters">Why personality change matters</h2>



Shifts toward extroversion and agreeableness are not just socially pleasant; they predict lower loneliness, better teamwork, and even reduced cardiovascular risk.



<a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2577457/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Meta‑analyses</a> link openness to experience with healthier aging behaviors, from physical activity to medication adherence, giving the trait medical relevance.



Public‑health economists estimate that boosting average agreeableness by a single point on standard scales could save billions in conflict‑related workplace costs each year, though precise figures remain contested.



Recognizing personality as malleable counters fatalism and supports policies that fund stress management in schools, prisons, and elder‑care centers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-questions-for-future-research">Questions for future research</h2>



The diary method captures only eight days per decade, leaving gaps where major life events could shape both stress and character. 



Broader samples that include younger adults and non‑US cultures would clarify just how universal the effects are.



Scientists also want to test whether interventions that directly target reactivity, biofeedback, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mindfulness-meditation-can-rewire-your-brain-for-sharper-focus/">mindfulness</a>, or structured exercise, speed up the desirable personality tilt.



Genetic analyses could reveal whether certain variants make coping skills easier to learn, helping personalize resilience training.



Longer follow‑ups could show whether stress-related gains plateau or cascade, echoing earlier work by Roberts and colleagues indicating that personality traits keep shifting well past retirement age.



The study is published in <a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2026-32285-001?doi=1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Psychology and Aging</a>.



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Study links stress management ability with positive personality traits

Managing stress may not just calm nerves in the moment, it also appears to nudge a person's personality toward the sunnier side and strengthen long‑term health. That insight comes from a long‑running study that tracked 2,022 Americans from middle age into their late sixties. Participants who learned to keep daily hassles from rattling them grew steadily more extroverted, agreeable, and open to new experiences. On the flip side, peers whose reactions worsened became quieter, less friendly, and wary of novelty, explains William Chopik, associate professor of psychology...

Two studies published today in the <a href="https://www.ahajournals.org/journal/jaha">Journal of the American Heart Association</a> conclude that eating more plant foods can be extremely beneficial for heart health, particularly in young <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/adults-are-more-compassionate-when-children-are-nearby/">adults</a> and postmenopausal women.

One study, “A Plant-Centered Diet and Risk of Incident Cardiovascular Disease during Young to Middle Adulthood,” followed the dietary habits and heart health of 4,946 adults who were between 18 and 30 years of age at the start of the study. 

After participants were enrolled in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study, their dietary choices were assessed according to the A Priori Diet Quality Score (APDQS). This index categorizes foods as beneficial (fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts and whole grains), adverse (including fried potatoes, high-fat red meat, salty snacks, pastries and soft drinks), or neutral (including potatoes, refined grains, lean meats and shellfish). Participants’ dietary choices were assessed again after seven years and twenty years.

Throughout the study, participants were not told what to eat, nor were they told their dietary scores. In addition, between the years of 1987 and 2016, the volunteers underwent a total of eight health examinations that involved lab tests and physical measurements, along with assessments of their lifestyle choices and medical histories. 

The findings show that during the 32 years over which the study was conducted, 289 of the participants developed cardiovascular disease. People who scored in the top 20 percent for dietary choices (ate the most nutritious plant foods and the fewest adverse foods) had a 52 percent lower risk of developing cardiovascular disease. 

Moreover, people who improved their dietary choices during the course of the study were 61 percent less likely to develop heart disease when compared to those whose dietary choices became less healthy.

“A nutritionally rich, plant-centered diet is beneficial for cardiovascular health,” said lead author Yuni Choi of the University of Minnesota. “A plant-centered diet is not necessarily vegetarian. We think that individuals can include animal products in moderation from time to time, such as non-fried poultry, non-fried fish, eggs and low-fat dairy.”

The second study, “Relationship Between a Plant-Based Dietary Portfolio and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease: Findings from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) Prospective Cohort Study," was led by Dr. Simin Liu of Brown University.  The researchers investigated whether the “portfolio diet” was successful at reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease in postmenopausal women. 

The portfolio diet is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in lowering the levels of “bad” cholesterol. The diet involves eating mostly plant foods, such as nuts, soy, oats, barley and assorted fruits and vegetables. It also includes limited consumption of saturated fats and dietary cholesterol. 

A total of 123,330 women, who took part in the Women’s Health Initiative study, followed the portfolio diet to varying degrees. When the study commenced, they were between 50 and 79 years old and were free of cardiovascular disease. During the study, which lasted an average of 15 years, the individuals completed questionnaires about their food choices while their cardiovascular health was monitored.

The findings revealed that women who followed the plant-based diet most closely were 11 percent less likely to develop any type of cardiovascular disease. They were also 14 percent less likely to develop coronary heart disease and 17 percent less likely to develop heart failure.

The researchers feel that these results are important because they show that people can benefit from incorporating cholesterol-lowering plant foods into their diets even as mature adults.

“We also found a dose response in our study, meaning that you can start small, adding one component of the Portfolio Diet at a time, and gain more heart-health benefits as you add more components,” said lead author Andrea J. Glenn at the University of Toronto.

Although both of these new studies are observational rather than experimental, and make use of correlations that do not indicate causal relationships, researchers feel that the results are reliable due to the robust experimental designs, large sample sizes and long duration of monitoring.

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By <a href="http://bosman@truewan.co.za">Alison Bosman</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Plant foods linked to drastically lower risk of heart disease

Two studies published today in the Journal of the American...

We all know what it's like to procrastinate exam preparation, finding ourselves in the library all night cramming information. This is not a particularly effective way to remember – as quickly as we learn the information, it seems to disappear. 

Instead, we should take breaks between learning sessions, which can help us retain the information for longer. This raises the question – why are these intervals of rest so effective for our memory?

It is understood that neurons are activated while learning, forming new neural connections. This allows the knowledge to be stored in our brain, and reactivation of these neural pathways will retrieve the information. 

However, this doesn’t explain how intervals of rest affect our ability to learn, despite the occurrence of this effect being explored thoroughly in terms of animals. 

Neurobiologists with the <a href="https://www.mpi.nl/">Max Planck Society</a>, including Annet Glas and Pieter Goltstein, have been investigating the phenomena of how rest helps learning processes in mice. 

The mice had to memorize where the location of a piece of chocolate was within a maze, having three opportunities to explore and relocate their reward. These tests used different learning intervals each time. 

"Mice that were trained with the longer intervals between learning phases were not able to remember the position of the chocolate as quickly," explains Glas. "But on the next day, the longer the pauses, the better was the mice's memory."

The researchers also measured the neural activity within the prefrontal cortex of the mice during the test. The scientists discovered that the deactivation of this brain region, which is involved in the learning process, reduced the mice’s ability to relocate the chocolate piece. 

"If three learning phases follow each other very quickly, we intuitively expected the same neurons to be activated," states Goltstein. "After all, it is the same experiment with the same information. However, after a long break, it would be conceivable that the brain interprets the following learning phase as a new event and processes it with different neurons."

Despite this hypothesis, the researchers discovered that short breaks between tests resulted in new neural pathways being used each time, while longer breaks resulted in the mice activating the same neural pathways each time which was more effective. "That's why we believe that memory benefits from longer breaks," says Goltstein.

The study ultimately provides insight into the neuronal benefits of taking long study breaks. Spaced learning may take longer, but it will be easier to reactivate previous neural pathways. Remember this next time you are cramming for an exam – slow and steady wins the race!

The research is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/home">Current Biology</a>.

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By <a href="http://calumvaughan05@gmail.com">Calum Vaughan</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

You can remember more by taking breaks

We all know what it's like to procrastinate exam preparation,...

Adding colorful foods to your <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/gray-wolves-survived-the-ice-age-by-changing-their-diet/">diet</a> may significantly lower your risk of cognitive decline, according to a new study published by the <a href="https://www.aan.com/">American Academy of Neurology</a>. 

The research suggests that eating at least half a serving per day of strawberries, oranges, peppers - and other foods high in flavonoids - can reduce the risk of cognitive decline by as much as 38 percent.

Flavonoids are naturally occurring compounds in plants that are considered powerful antioxidants. The researchers looked at several types of flavonoids, and determined that flavones and anthocyanins may offer the greatest protection against cognitive decline.

"There is mounting evidence suggesting flavonoids are powerhouses when it comes to preventing your thinking skills from declining as you get older," explained study lead author Dr. Walter Willett of Harvard University. 

"Our results are exciting because they show that making simple changes to your diet could help prevent cognitive decline."

The analysis was focused on nearly 50,000 women with an average age of 48 and nearly 28,000 men with an average age of 51 at the start of the study. The individuals reported on their diet for 20 years.

The study participants also evaluated their own cognitive abilities over the course of the study, answering questions that indicated whether their memory had worsened enough for them to notice. 

The people that represented the highest 20 percent of flavonoid consumers had about 600 milligrams in their diets each day. Per 100 gram serving, strawberries have about 180 mg of flavonoids, while apples have about 113 mg.

According to the study, the flavones found in some spices and yellow or orange fruits and vegetables had the strongest protective effects. This particular class of flavonoids corresponded with a 38 percent lower risk of cognitive decline. 

Anthocyanins - found in blueberries, blackberries, and cherries - were associated with a 24 percent reduced risk of cognitive decline. 

"The people in our study who did the best over time ate an average of at least half a serving per day of foods like orange juice, oranges, peppers, celery, grapefruits, grapefruit juice, apples and pears," said Dr. Willett. 

"While it is possible other phytochemicals are at work here, a colorful diet rich in flavonoids - and specifically flavones and anthocyanins - seems to be a good bet for promoting long-term brain health." 

"And it's never too late to start, because we saw those protective relationships whether people were consuming the flavonoids in their diet 20 years ago, or if they started incorporating them more recently."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://n.neurology.org/">Neurology</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

Colorful foods help prevent cognitive decline

Adding colorful foods to your diet may significantly lower your...

New data from several groups of researchers warns that the number of people with dementia will triple by 2050, and that it will occur in younger and younger individuals. The causes? Demographics and unhealthy lifestyles. 

The different forecasts, reported at the recent <a href="https://www.alz.org/aaic">Alzheimer's Association International Conference</a> in Denver, are intended to warn policymakers and healthcare professionals.

"Improvements in lifestyle in adults in developed countries and other places -l- including increasing access to education and greater attention to heart health issues - have reduced incidence in recent years, but total numbers with dementia are still going up because of the aging of the population," said Dr. Maria C. Carillo, the <a href="https://www.alz.org/">Alzheimer’s Association</a> chief science officer.

The U.S. National Institute on Aging reports that by 2050, people over the age of 65 will make up twice the proportion of the world’s population compared to 2010 - a jump from 8 percent to 16 percent. 

Aging isn’t the only factor, however. Dr. Carillo also lists “obesity, diabetes and sedentary lifestyles in younger people are rising quickly, and these are risk factors for dementia." 

Lifestyle choices can have a big impact early on. Researchers from Maastricht University in the Netherlands, who presented their data at the conference, noted that 350,000 people are diagnosed with younger-onset dementia every year.

Changing demographics and socioeconomic status also appear to be direct indicators of an individual’s risk of dementia. Dr. Ambar Kulshreshtha and other researchers at Emory University found that Alzheimer’s mortality rates were highest in rural areas, and of those rural areas those in the American South were highest. 

“In addition to therapeutics, it's critical to uncover culturally-tailored interventions that reduce dementia risk through lifestyle factors like education, diet and exercise," said Dr. Carillo.

 Kristen Clifford, who is the chief program officer at the Alzheimer’s Association, assures people that support and information are available. "And you have the power to make a new plan and determine how you choose to live your best life with the disease."

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By <a href="http://rugerpaleo@gmail.com">Alex Ruger</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Dementia cases expected to triple over the next three decades

New data from several groups of researchers warns that the...

Moderate drinking may lower the risk of a fatal cardiovascular event among individuals with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/coffee-may-lower-the-risk-of-heart-problems/">heart</a> disease, according to a new study published by <a href="https://www.biomedcentral.com/journals">BMC</a>.

"Light-to-moderate alcohol consumption has been reported to be cardio-protective among apparently healthy individuals; however, it is unclear whether this association is also present in those with disease," wrote the study authors.

To investigate, the researchers analyzed data from 48,423 adults with cardiovascular disease (CVD) who participated in the UK Biobank, the Health Survey for England, the Scottish Health Survey, and 12 previous studies. 

The individuals, who reported their average alcohol consumption, were followed for up to 20 years. Based on this data, the study authors estimated the risk of CVD-related death.

Drinking up to 15 grams of alcohol per day was associated with a reduced risk of heart attack, stroke, or death, but the lowest risk was found among CVD patients who drank between six and eight grams of alcohol per day.

Individuals who drank six grams of alcohol per day had a 50 percent lower risk of recurrent heart attack, angina or stroke compared to those who did not drink. 

The researchers also found that those who drank more than 62 grams of alcohol per day did not have an increased risk of a recurrent or fatal CVD incident compared to individuals who did not drink alcohol.

"Our findings suggest that people with CVD may not need to stop drinking in order to prevent additional heart attacks, strokes or angina, but that they may wish to consider lowering their weekly alcohol intake," said study co-author Chengyi Ding of University College London.

"As alcohol consumption is associated with an increased risk of developing other illnesses, those with CVD who do not drink should not be encouraged to take up drinking."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.com/">BMC Medicine</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

Light drinking lowers risk of fatality from heart disease

Moderate drinking may lower the risk of a fatal cardiovascular...

Why do some people infected with COVID-19 seem to get by with minor symptoms, while others become critically ill? A new collaborative study led by researchers at <a href="https://www.childrenshospital.org/">Boston Children's Hospital</a> suggests that the severity of COVID-19 symptoms may be linked to how cells in the nose and throat respond to the virus.

"Many studies looking for risk predictors have looked for signatures in the blood, but blood may not really be the right place to look,” said study co-author José Ordovás-Montañés. 

For the current investigation, the experts looked at nasal swabs from 35 adults infected with COVID-19, whose symptoms ranged from mild to severe. Each swab yielded about 562 epithelial cells, and the researchers diligently sequenced the RNA of each and every one. 

The researchers found that these cells changed dramatically post-exposure, with mucus-secreting goblet cells increasing in number while mature ciliated cells dwindled. This is notable because the function of mature ciliated cells is to move microbes and debris out of the respiratory organs. Multiple kinds of cells were infected - including goblet cells, immature ciliated cells, and epidermal cells. 

The cells sampled from people who exhibited critical symptoms displayed delayed interferon response. Interferons are somewhat like the alarm bell for the immune system, and if they don’t signal to the cells that they’re in danger, the whole immune system may be sluggish to counteract viral infection. 

According to Ordovás-Montañés, having the right amount of interferon at the right time could be at the crux of dealing with SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses.

Why and how COVID-19 causes this delayed antiviral signal in the nasopharynx is still unclear. Early evidence suggests that the new COVID variants work in a similar manner. It will be up to future studies to untangle the source of COVID-19’s dangerous inner-workings.

However, the new study does provide some hope. Perhaps if symptoms are recognized early on, interferons could be activated with a nasal spray or drops. "The question is, 'How do you make these cells more responsive?'” said Ordovás-Montañés.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/">Cell</a>.

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By <a href="http://rugerpaleo@gmail.com">Alex Ruger</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Severity of COVID-19 may be tied to nasal cells

Why do some people infected with COVID-19 seem to get...

Research published in the <a href="https://www.ahajournals.org/journal/jaha">Journal of the American Heart Association</a> has found that babies who were breastfed in the first few days of life had lower blood pressure as toddlers. While it is well-known that sustained and exclusive breastfeeding lowers the risk of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/eating-fish-lowers-risk-of-recurrent-cardiovascular-events/">cardiovascular</a> disease in adulthood, it was not known at what stage or for how long breastfeeding should take place in order to provide this health benefit.

"This is the first study to evaluate the association of breastfeeding in the first days of life and blood pressure in early childhood," said lead study author Dr. Kozeta Miliku of McMaster University. 

Data for this study came from over 2,400 children (born between 2009-2012) who are part of the ongoing Canadian CHILD Cohort Study. The experts focused on factors that affect the health and development of children. 

The children’s early feeding records were collected from hospitals and divided into three categories of breastfeeding. The overwhelming majority (98 percent) of children were breastfed to some extent; this includes four percent who received only limited breast feeding while in the hospital and none thereafter. Only two percent of children received no breastfeeding at all.

The researchers found that, at three years of age, blood pressure was lower in children who had been breastfed than in those who had not. This result was irrespective of the child’s body mass index, the duration of breastfeeding or whether the child received other nutrition at the same time.

Even the children who had only been breastfed for a few days before leaving hospital showed a lower average blood pressure. This indicates that the benefits to the cardiovascular system are derived from breastfeeding in the very first few days of life. 

"Our study suggests that for cardiovascular outcomes such as blood pressure, even a brief period of breastfeeding is beneficial,” said study senior author Dr. Meghan B. Azad, who is an associate professor of Pediatrics and Child Health at the University of Manitoba.

“This points to colostrum as a key factor in shaping developmental processes during the newborn period. For many reasons, sustained breastfeeding should be strongly supported, and it is also important to understand that 'every drop counts,' especially in those critical first few days of life."

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By <a href="http://bosman@truewan.co.za">Alison Bosman</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Just a few days of breastfeeding can lower baby's blood pressure

Research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association...

New research from <a href="https://www.ohsu.edu/">Oregon Health &amp; Science University</a> suggests that older people have less antibodies to fight <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/covid-19-antibodies-persist-for-at-least-nine-months/">COVID-19</a>. The scientists measured the immune response of fifty people two weeks after their second dose of COVID-19 vaccination.

Among test groups, people in their twenties had about seven times the response to vaccination compared to people between 72 and 80 years of age. The lab results produced a clear pattern - the younger a participant, the stronger the antibody response.

Study senior author Dr. Fikadu Tafesse is an assistant professor of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology in the OHSU School of Medicine.

"Our older populations are potentially more susceptible to the variants even if they are vaccinated," said Dr. Tafesse.

The researchers stress that even though there is less of an immune response in older people to the COVID vaccine, it is usually still enough to be effective. 

Older people are more susceptible to coronavirus variants than younger people, making the situation even more dangerous. 

There is a solution, scientists say. Vaccination, they point out, is key to ending the pandemic. Although seniors are less protected by the vaccine, vaccination can stop the spread of the virus, thus protecting everyone, older and younger. 

"The vaccine still produces strong immune responses compared with natural infection in most older individuals, even if they are lower than their younger counterparts," said study co-author Dr. Marcel Curlin.

"Vaccination in this group may make the difference between serious and mild disease, and likely reduces the chances of transmitting SARS-CoV-2 to another person."

"The good news is that our vaccines are really strong," noted Dr. Tafesse.

Even if an older person contracts COVID-19 after being vaccinated, the vaccine provides some protection and can be the difference between mild symptoms and something much more serious. 

The study is published in the <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/">Journal of the American Medical Association</a>.

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By <a href="http://zachfitzner@yahoo.com">Zach Fitzner</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Our body's immune response weakens with age

New research from Oregon Health &amp; Science University suggests that...

Among many demanding habitats in which humans can survive, high-altitude environments are one of the most challenging. This is due to oxygen being less abundant in human tissues at high altitudes, a state known as hypoxia. 

Despite the challenges, several civilizations across Earth have managed to settle happily at high altitudes for several millennia, with some showing signs of evolving to this environment biologically. A new study from the <a href="https://www.etag.ee/en/estonian-research-council/">Estonian Research Council</a> concludes that highlanders from Papua New Guinea may be another example of a population physically adapted to high altitudes. 

The new discovery is based on a database of physiological and morphological data from New Guinean populations, recently collected by the <a href="https://papuanpast.hypotheses.org/">Papuan Past Project</a>. The project has brought together researchers from the Estonian University of Tartu, the French university of Toulouse, and researchers from Papua New Guinea. 

"We measured phenotypic traits in Papua New Guineans from two altitude ranges. 89 people originated from Daru (Western Province), a low altitude location, and 73 individuals from villages on the slope of Mount Wilhelm (Chimbu Province), the highest peak of Papua New Guinea (4500 m above sea level)," explained study co-author François-Xavier Ricaut of the <a href="https://edb.cnrs.fr/">Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique</a>. 

Previous research on altitude adaptation has focused on Tibetan, Ethiopian and Andean populations. "Measured phenotypes related to altitude have been shown to differ in several high-altitude populations worldwide but their variation among Papuan populations have been understudied," said study co-author Nicolas Brucato. 

However, Papua New Guinea has been continuously inhabited for 20,000 years, which may explain the favoritism of specific adaptations to live at high altitudes.

Study lead author Mathilde André, an expert in the Institute of Genomics at the <a href="https://www.ut.ee/en">University of Tartu</a>, explained that the researchers filled these gaps by exploring the similarities between Papua New Guinean lowlanders and highlanders across 13 phenotypes. 

"We found that highlanders have a smaller height and waist, larger lung volume and chest depth, and higher haemoglobin concentration compared with lowlanders," said André.

"All of these traits have also been observed in other high-altitude populations worldwide, but for the first time our results may hint to altitude adaptation in Papua New Guinean highlanders," 

The new conclusions show great potential for future studies. "Our work enables us to plan further physiological and genetic analyses to confirm the existence of positive selection to hypoxia in Papua New Guinean highlanders," said co-author Mayukh Mondal. 

"Papua New Guinea has a unique demographic history and genetic diversity. This uniqueness might also be reflected in the way populations adapted to altitude."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/">PLOS ONE</a>.

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By <a href="http://calumvaughan05@gmail.com">Calum Vaughan</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Papua New Guineans have biologically adapted to high altitudes

Among many demanding habitats in which humans can survive, high-altitude...

Coffee and caffeine in general have been suspected of causing heart arrhythmias, but the results of a new study suggest that this reputation is unwarranted. In fact, the research shows that coffee consumption may even lower the risk of arrhythmias and other common heart ailments. 

Study lead author Dr. Gregory Marcus is a professor of Medicine at <a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/">UCSF</a> who specializes in the treatment of heart arrhythmias.

"Coffee is the primary source of caffeine for most people, and it has a reputation for causing or exacerbating arrhythmias," said Dr. Marcus. "But we found no evidence that caffeine consumption leads to a greater risk of arrhythmias."

The research was focused on data in the UK Biobank involving 386,258 coffee drinkers - a larger sample size than any previous study of its kind. 

“Our population-based study provides reassurance that common prohibitions against caffeine to reduce arrhythmia risk are likely unwarranted," said Dr. Marcus.

The experts used genetics to account for people that naturally metabolize caffeine faster. Overall, they said that higher amounts of coffee were actually associated with a three percent reduced risk of developing an arrhythmia.

The study authors admit there are some limitations to their research. For example, self-reported data is not the most reliable. This means that even with a massive sample size, further research is needed to confirm the effect of coffee on heart health. Dr. Marcus still emphasizes the evidence found in the research. 

"Only a randomized clinical trial can definitively demonstrate clear effects of coffee or caffeine consumption...But our study found no evidence that consuming caffeinated beverages increased the risk of arrhythmia." 

"Coffee's antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties may play a role, and some properties of caffeine could be protective against some arrhythmias."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine">JAMA International Medicine</a>.

---

By <a href="http://zachfitzner@yahoo.com">Zach Fitzner</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Coffee may lower the risk of heart problems

Coffee and caffeine in general have been suspected of causing...

A growing collection of research shows that animals with much less complex minds than <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/humans-and-livestock-create-the-perfect-storm-for-pandemics/">humans</a> are surprisingly connected on a social level. A new study reveals that reef fish and other types of social fish depend on friendships for their very survival. 

Study lead author Dr. Lauren Nadler is an assistant professor in the (NSU) Halmos College of Arts and Sciences at the <a href="https://www.nova.edu/">Nova Southeastern University</a>.

"We studied how the presence of 'friends' versus 'strangers' affected how fish responded to a predator threat," said Dr. Nadler.

"The presence of 'strangers' seemed to distract fish, making them react more slowly and greatly increasing the chance that they would become lunch for a hungry predator when in the wrong social scene."

To investigate how familiarity may influence groups of social fish, the researchers focused on schooling coral reef fish.

Dr. Nadler and her colleagues believe that their results come down to trust. The experts found that reef fish rely on alerts from their trusted friends to avoid predators. 

According to the researchers, the fish must balance the risk of being attacked with the possibility of wasting their energy in response to inaccurate information. It appears that reef fish adjust their reactions to social information based on the level of familiarity in the group.

"Trust among individuals is critical. This is true for humans as well as many other species, including fishes," said study co-author Dr. Jacob Johansen of the University of Hawaii Manoa. 

"Our research in fishes shows that when accurate information transfer breaks down, so too does the chance of survival for the individual and the group as a whole."

The researchers found that the first fish to detect the predator exhibits the greatest amount of vigilance, and that the most useful information is shared among neighboring fish.

"Our work shows that readiness to react to a threat depends on who is around you, if you are a fish," said Dr. Paolo Domenici. "If you are in an unfamiliar social environment, this is already something you need to pay attention to. If you are surrounded by familiar individuals, then you will be able to pay attention to any external threat more readily."

The findings suggest that animals have evolved to associate with friends over strangers to promote survival in the wild. 

"Friendship networks matter, both for humans and for less evolved taxa like fishes," said Dr. Mark McCormick. "The more you can rely on your friends, the easier and more fulfilling your life will be."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/commsbio/">Communications Biology</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Depending on friends makes life easier for reef fish

A growing collection of research shows that animals with much...

A new study from <a href="https://www.ucl.ac.uk/">University College London</a> has produced evidence that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/adults-are-more-compassionate-when-children-are-nearby/">children</a> who live near woodlands have better cognitive development and a lower risk of emotional and behavioral problems. The research may ultimately influence planning decisions in urban areas.

"Previous studies have revealed positive associations between exposure to nature in urban environments, cognitive development and mental health. Why these health benefits are received remains unclear, especially in adolescents," said study lead author Mikaël Maes.

"These findings contribute to our understanding of natural environment types as an important protective factor for an adolescent's cognitive development and mental health and suggest that not every environment type may contribute equally to these health benefits."

"Forest bathing, for example (being immersed in the sights, sounds and smells of a forest), is a relaxation therapy that has been associated with physiological benefits, supporting the human immune function, reducing heart rate variability and salivary cortisol, and various psychological benefits. However, the reasons why we experience these psychological benefits from woodland remain unknown."

The study was focused on data involving 3,568 children and teenagers in 31 schools across London. The subjects ranged in age from 9 to 15, which is a key time in the development of thinking and reasoning.

The researchers used satellite data to estimate each child's daily exposure rate to "green spaces" such as woods, meadows and parks, and to "blue spaces" such as rivers, lakes, and the ocean. 

The goal was to examine the links between natural urban environments and and the children's cognitive development, mental health, and overall well-being.

The analysis revealed that higher daily exposure to woodland - but not grassland - was associated with higher scores for cognitive development. Wooded areas were also associated with a 16 percent lower risk of emotional and behavioral problems two years later. Other green spaces produced a similar effect.

"It's been suggested previously that the benefits of natural environments to mental health are comparable in magnitude to family history, parental age and even more significant than factors like the degree of urbanisation around you, but lower than your parents' socio-economic status," said study co-senior author Professor Mireille Toledano.

"Sensory and non-sensory pathways have been suggested as potentially important for delivering cognition and mental health benefits received from exposure to nature."

"It's critical for us to tease out why natural environments are so important to our mental health throughout the life course - does the benefit derive from the physical exercise we do in these environments, from the social interactions we often have in them, or from the fauna and flora we get to enjoy in these environments or a combination of all of these?"

Study co-senior author Professor Kate Jones said that one possible explanation for the findings may be that audio-visual exposure through vegetation and animal abundance provides psychological benefits. 

"Even though our results show that urban woodland is associated with adolescent's cognitive development and mental health, the cause of this association remains unknown," said Professor Jones. "Further research is fundamental to our understanding of the links between nature and health."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/natsustain/">Nature Sustainability</a>.

 ---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Children who live near woodlands have better mental health

A new study from University College London has produced evidence...

Fresh,Radish,Harvest,On,Soil,In,Garden.

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Mid-July is an opportune time to kick-start a thriving fall garden, and this guide lays out the best vegetables and herbs to plant now for a fruitful autumn harvest. 



Fast-growing leafy greens such as spinach, lettuce, kale, and arugula perform especially well in the waning summer heat, with harvests beginning as soon as 30 days. 



These cool-season crops relish the transition into fall, offering repeated yields with cut-and-come-again methods.



Root vegetables like radishes, carrots, and beets also excel during this period. Radishes deliver satisfaction in under a month, while carrots and beets mature in about two months. Employing succession planting ensures a continuous stream of produce deep into the cooler months. 



For a boost of fresh flavor, herbs like cilantro, basil, dill, and chervil are excellent picks. These heat-loving varieties flourish in July’s warmth and are harvest-ready in about 30 days, especially when sown continuously.



Gardeners in zones 6 through 9 can benefit from planting bush beans and snap peas, which don’t require trellising and are ideal for compact plots. 



Maturing in 50–60 days, they’re a smart choice for quick, protein-rich harvests. For those in hotter regions, heat-tolerant crops such as okra and southern peas provide reliable yields and thrive in scorching conditions.



This guide emphasizes more than crop selection—it highlights the importance of timing, soil preparation, and ongoing sowing techniques. 



With thoughtful planning and attention to regional climate needs, even late-summer gardeners can enjoy fresh salads, hearty stews, and the satisfaction of a robust, homegrown harvest well into fall.



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What to plant in your garden in mid-July

https://youtu.be/Fi2OeEwuzRM?si=vTyd2m9FMmtyWkex Mid-July is an opportune time to kick-start a thriving...

Green,Ecoduct,Over,An,Empty,Highway,During,Sunset.

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A new long-term study in Monkton, Vermont, reveals that wildlife tunnels significantly reduce amphibian road mortality during seasonal migrations. 



Frogs and salamanders often cross roads to reach breeding ponds each spring, but many are killed by vehicles. 



Researchers from the <a href="https://www.uvm.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Vermont</a>, in collaboration with local citizens and the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, installed two underpass tunnels in 2015. 



Over a 12-year monitoring period, they observed an 80.2% reduction in amphibian deaths, and up to 94% for non-climbing species like salamanders. 



The study used a before-after-control-impact design and documented more than 5,200 amphibians, highlighting the tunnels’ effectiveness even in nearby buffer zones.



Funded at $342,397 - far cheaper than wildlife crossings for large mammals - the project showcased the power of community-led conservation.



Local groups initiated the effort after observing mass amphibian deaths. Wildlife cameras later captured over 2,200 amphibians using a tunnel in just one spring, along with other species like raccoons and bobcats, indicating wider ecosystem benefits.



This marks the first peer-reviewed, long-term data set in the northeastern U.S. confirming amphibian-specific underpasses work. 



The study urges transportation departments to incorporate these designs into road planning and highlights how community action, thoughtful infrastructure, and persistence can make a real difference for biodiversity.



The full study was published in the <a href="https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1617138125000780" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal for Nature Conservation</a>.



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-----

Wildlife tunnels save millions of amphibians

https://youtu.be/XYgiPzmNBTU?si=eFYY7gPHU1JznLvU A new long-term study in Monkton, Vermont, reveals that...

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



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



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https://youtu.be/Ug657J67iEo?si=w96YjGMsg939LD_3
</div></figure>



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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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

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



---



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

[sendtonews key="G9bUoxcjr4-2511624-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

[sendtonews key="LvS8v8bp9z-2564889-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

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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



---



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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;



---



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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"

[sendtonews key="uV9Lh2fQbV-1760058-12187" type="single"] Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky" Today’s...

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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



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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



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The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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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

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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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