Your skin protects you from things like dirt, germs, and other harmful things in the environment. But because it’s always exposed, it also gets hit with things like sunlight and UV rays, which can lead to sunburn, long-term skin damage, or even cancer.



We've long believed that stepping out into the sun requires ample sunscreen slathering, shade-seeking, and hat-wearing, especially between the peak hours of 12 noon and 3 p.m.



However, researchers at the <a href="https://www.ku.dk/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Copenhagen</a> and <a href="https://www.ntu.edu.sg/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nanyang Technological University</a> (NTU Singapore) have made surprising new strides in our understanding of sunburn.



As it turns out, the DNA damage we've always associated with sunburn might not be the complete story.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dna-rna-and-sunburn-damage">DNA, RNA, and sunburn damage</h2>



When it comes to sunburn, the prevailing wisdom suggests that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-can-now-collect-human-dna-from-water-air-and-basically-everywhere/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">DNA</a> damage triggers inflammation and subsequent cell death.



However, this recent research suggests that the real offender might be <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rna-world-unraveling-mysteries-life-origin/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RNA</a>, not DNA. 



"Sunburn damages the DNA, leading to cell death and inflammation. So the textbooks say," stated assistant professor Anna Constance Vind from the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine at the <a href="https://researchprofiles.ku.dk/en/organisations/institut-for-cellul%C3%A6r-og-molekyl%C3%A6r-medicin" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Copenhagen</a>. 



"But in this study we were surprised to learn that this is a result of damage to the RNA, not the DNA that causes the acute effects of sunburn." 



But what's the difference between DNA and RNA? While they share similarities, the two aren't interchangeable. 



DNA is a more consistent molecule, whereas RNA is more transitory. 



A particular type of RNA, messenger RNA (mRNA), carries information from DNA to create proteins - the fundamental building blocks of cells.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-rna-the-basics">Understanding RNA -- the basics</h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rna-world-unraveling-mysteries-life-origin/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RNA, or ribonucleic acid</a>, is like the cell’s versatile messenger, playing several key roles in keeping our bodies running smoothly. 



Unlike DNA, which holds the long-term genetic blueprint, RNA is more dynamic and can move around the cell to help build proteins.



RNA essentially acts as the bridge between our genetic code and the actual production of the proteins that do all the work in our cells.



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/can-we-fix-faulty-genes-before-birth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mRNA</a>, or messenger RNA, is a special type of RNA that has gained a lot of attention, especially with the development of mRNA vaccines. 



mRNA carries the instructions from DNA out of the nucleus and into the cytoplasm, where proteins are made. 



Think of mRNA as a temporary copy of a specific gene that tells the cell exactly which protein to produce and when. This makes mRNA incredibly important for everything from growth and repair to responding to infections.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mrna-and-ultraviolet-rays">mRNA and ultraviolet rays</h2>



The importance of mRNA in our body's response to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-does-skin-become-leathery-after-too-much-uv-light-from-sun-exposure/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UV radiation</a> can't be understated. 



"DNA damage is serious as the mutations will get passed down to progenies of the cells, RNA damage happens all the time and does not cause permanent mutations," Vind explained. 



"Therefore, we used to believe that the RNA is less important, as long as the DNA is intact. But in fact, damages to the RNA are the first to trigger a response to UV radiation."



Investigating more deeply into the matter was no small task.



The researchers embarked on a study involving both mice and human skin cells to better understand the consequences of UV radiation on the skin. They discovered a consistent response in both species.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-zak-alpha-and-sunburn-damage">ZAK-alpha and sunburn damage</h2>



RNA damage activates a response in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-discover-the-cellular-mortality-timer-that-dictates-aging/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ribosomes</a> (protein complexes that interpret the mRNA to assemble proteins).



This process is managed by a protein known as ZAK-alpha, which triggers what is referred to as the "ribotoxic stress response."



Think of it like a vigilant watchman, always on the lookout for RNA damage. When it detects any, it won't hesitate to call for backup.



"We found that the first thing the cells respond to after being exposed to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/can-sunbathing-help-you-lose-weight-uv-radiation-triggers-fat-burning/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UV radiation</a> is damage to the RNA, and that this is what triggers cell death and inflammation of the skin," explained Professor Simon Bekker-Jensen, who was also from the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine.



In mice exposed to UV radiation we found responses such as inflammation and cell death, but when we removed the ZAK gene, these responses disappeared, which means that ZAK plays a key role in the skin's response to UV-induced damage.



"So you could say that everything depends on this one response, which monitors all protein translations occurring,” Bekker-Jensen elaborated.



“The cells respond to the RNA damage, realizing that something is wrong, and this is what leads to&nbsp;cell death.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-paradigm-shift">Paradigm shift</h2>



The study's findings question our long-held beliefs about sunburn and how our <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/skins-secret-strength-shields-against-puncture-damage/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">skin</a> safeguards itself. 



It suggests that RNA damage sparks a quicker, more efficient response, which safeguards the skin from additional harm.



"The fact that the DNA does not control the skin's initial response to UV radiation, but that something else does and that it does so more effectively and more quickly, is quite the paradigm shift," reflected Vind.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/sunburn-study_graphical-illustration_credit-Molecular-Cell-Journal_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/sunburn-study_graphical-illustration_credit-Molecular-Cell-Journal_1s.webp" alt="Using ZAK knockout mice, we here show that it is the RSR that is responsible for the early manifestation of UVB-induced skin inflammation and keratinocyte death and subsequent proliferation in vivo. We also show that the RSR controls both p38-mediated pyroptotic and JNK-mediated apoptotic programmed cell death of human keratinocytes in vitro. In sum, our work highlights that skin cells rely on a cytoplasmic and ribosomal stress signal rather than a nuclear and DNA-templated signal for rapid inflammatory responses to UV exposure. Credit: Molecular Cell Journal" class="wp-image-1971003"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Using ZAK knockout mice, we here show that it is the RSR that is responsible for the early manifestation of UVB-induced skin inflammation and keratinocyte death and subsequent proliferation in vivo. We also show that the RSR controls both p38-mediated pyroptotic and JNK-mediated apoptotic programmed cell death of human keratinocytes in vitro. In sum, our work highlights that skin cells rely on a cytoplasmic and ribosomal stress signal rather than a nuclear and DNA-templated signal for rapid inflammatory responses to UV exposure. Click image to enlarge. Credit: Molecular Cell Journal</figcaption></figure>



Knowing how our skin reacts to UV damage at a cellular level could potentially transform prevention and treatment approaches to sunburn and other inflammatory skin conditions.



"Many inflammatory skin diseases are worsened by <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/many-parents-are-not-using-sunscreen-properly/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sun exposure</a>. Thus, understanding how our skin responds at the cellular level to UV damage opens the door to innovative treatments for certain chronic skin conditions," explained Dr. Franklin Zhong, Nanyang assistant professor at NTU's Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine and a co-author of the study.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rewriting-the-textbooks">Rewriting the textbooks</h2>



In closing, it seems now is the time to revise our textbooks and rethink how we perceive the effects of UV radiation on our skin. 



"This new knowledge turns things upside down. I think most people associate sunburn with DNA damage; it is established knowledge," Professor Simon Bekker-Jensen concluded. 



"But now we need to rewrite the textbooks, and it will affect future research on the effects of UV radiation on the skin."



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1097276524008840" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Molecular Cell</a>.



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Main cause of sunburn is finally identified, and it's not what we've been told

Your skin protects you from things like dirt, germs, and other harmful things in the environment. But because it’s always exposed, it also gets hit with things like sunlight and UV rays, which can lead to sunburn, long-term skin damage, or even cancer. We've long believed that stepping out into the sun requires ample sunscreen slathering, shade-seeking, and hat-wearing, especially between the peak hours of 12 noon and 3 p.m. However, researchers at the University of Copenhagen and Nanyang Technological University (NTU Singapore) have made surprising new...

According to the results of a new trial, school district employees who practiced the Transcendental Meditation technique for four months showed significant improvements in emotional intelligence and perceived stress.

Study lead author Laurent Valosek is the executive director of the <a href="http://cwae.org/">Center for Wellness and Achievement in Education</a>.

“Workers, especially in our school districts, are under a growing amount of stress and asked every day to find solutions to increasingly complex problems,” said Valosek.

“This study demonstrates the benefits of meditation in the workplace. And with a growing body of research on the value of emotional intelligence and the harmful effects of psychological stress, organizations are looking to give their employees tools for reducing stress and developing EQ competencies like centeredness, self-awareness, and empathy.”

Psychological stress has a negative effect on organizational commitment, work engagement, and productivity. This condition is also a major contributor to poor mental and physical health. 

Emotional intelligence is the ability to perceive emotions in oneself as well as others, and to use that perception to build healthy relationships. 

Despite the fact that stress threatens the well-being and commitment of employees, emotional intelligence has become a major focus in the workplace due to its positive association with mental and physical health.

Transcendental Meditation is used to boost emotional intelligence and lower perceived stress. The study was focused on 96 school administrators and staff at the San Francisco Unified School District.

The researchers found that, during a four-month period, the individuals practicing the meditation technique had enhanced emotional intelligence and lower perceived stress levels compared to participants who were not practicing <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/meditation-breathing-brain-health/">meditation</a>.

A growing collection of evidence has shown that emotional intelligence can be used as a predictor of important employee dynamics such as stress management, job performance, leadership, emotional labor, trust, and work-family conflict.

The study results have implications for employers who are interested in improving the overall performance of their employees.

The study is published in <a href="http://www.thepermanentejournal.org/issues.html">The Permanente Journal</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Transcendental meditation improves mental health, productivity

According to the results of a new trial, school district...

Microplastics are no longer just a problem for marine wildlife or <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/freshwater-insects-eaten-microplastics/">freshwater insects</a>, as a new study has found that humans are ingesting microplastics all over the world. 

Researchers from the <a href="https://www.meduniwien.ac.at/web/en/">Medical University of Vienna</a> and the <a href="http://www.umweltbundesamt.at/en/">Environment Agency Austria </a>conducted the research to see how widespread microplastic contamination is along the human food chain. 

“This is the first study of its kind and confirms what we have long suspected, that plastics ultimately reach the human gut,” said Philipp Schwabl. “Of particular concern is what this means to us, and especially patients with gastrointestinal diseases.” 

The results, published in The UEG Journal, show that microplastics end up in fecal matter and the researchers found up to nine different types of plastic in every single stool sample tested from people across several countries. 

Microplastics present a major hazard for local ecosystems and the ocean, but this new study raises concerns about gut health in humans as microplastics could limit immune responses in the gastrointestinal tract. 

Eight participants from Finland, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia, the UK, and Austria were asked to keep a food diary for a week leading up to a stool sample.

All of the diaries showed exposure to plastics either by eating food wrapped in plastic or drinking from a plastic water bottle. 

The researchers then tested stool samples from the participants for ten types of plastics following a new analytical procedure. 

There were up to nine different plastics, sized between 50 and 500 micrometers found in the stool samples and the most common plastics were polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). 

Each stool sample had an average of 20 microplastic particles per ten grams of stool. 

“While the highest plastic concentrations in animal studies have been found in the gut, the smallest microplastic particles are capable of entering the bloodstream, lymphatic system and may even reach the liver,” said Schwabl. “Now that we have first evidence for microplastics inside humans, we need further research to understand what this means for human health."

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Humans across the world regularly ingest microplastics, study shows

Microplastics are no longer just a problem for marine wildlife...

<a href="http://www.earth.com/news/mdma-therapy-ptsd/">MDMA</a>, most commonly known as the main component of ecstasy, has been proven to make people more cooperative when interacting with trustworthy people. According to a study conducted by researchers at <a href="https://www.kcl.ac.uk/index.aspx">King’s College London</a>, MDMA also causes change in regions of the brain linked with social processing.

Social processing issues are symptoms of many psychiatric diagnoses, and are often difficult to treat with medication. The study’s findings, published in <a href="http://www.jneurosci.org/">The Journal of Neuroscience</a>, could lead to better treatment of psychiatric conditions like PTSD.

To test the effects of MDMA, a neurotransmitter-releasing compound used to emotionally and socially alter one’s personality, researchers gave 20 adult men either a recreational dose of MDMA or a placebo pill. The men were then tasked with several activities while being monitored via an MRI scanner. One such task was the virtual game “Prisoner’s Dilemma” during which the men were told to either cooperate or compete with another player. Both players are awarded points if they cooperate, however, if one chooses to compete, that player receives all the points while his competitor earns nothing. 

Researchers saw that those under the influence of MDMA became more cooperative, but only when dealing with trustworthy opponents. Said trustworthy or untrustworthy players were actually computer-programmed responses written in a way to make the participant trust or not trust their opponent.

“We asked people what they thought of their opponent and, surprisingly, MDMA did not alter how trustworthy they thought the other players were,” said senior author, Professor Mitul Mehta from the <a href="https://www.kcl.ac.uk/ioppn/index.aspx">Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology &amp; Neuroscience (IoPPN)</a>. He continued, “Untrustworthy players were rated as low on the scale, whether on MDMA or placebo, and trustworthy players were given equally high ratings. Importantly, MDMA did not cause participants to cooperate with untrustworthy players any more than normal. In other words, MDMA did not make participants naively trusting of others.”

Furthermore, the researchers noted that when the trustworthy players betrayed the participants, both those affected by MDMA and those who had taken the placebo experienced equal negative reactions. However, those under the influence of MDMA recovered their cooperative behavior faster and rebuilt relationships with other trustworthy opponents. The team saw that MDMA didn’t affect the participant’s ability to make decisions, but rather had an impact on brain activity when the participant was processing others’ behaviors. 

Professor Mehta concluded, “Understanding the brain activity underlying social behaviour could help identify what goes wrong in psychiatric conditions. Given the social nature of psychotherapy, understanding how MDMA affects social interaction sheds light on why the drug could become a valuable tool in treating patients.”

--

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

MDMA makes people more cooperative, new research finds

MDMA, most commonly known as the main component of ecstasy,...

It’s hard to imagine that the world’s tectonic plates, the movement of which causes earthquakes and continental drift, could be influenced by sediment made up of the skeletal remains of microscopic organisms.

But researchers from the <a href="https://www.utexas.edu/">University of Texas at Austin</a> discovered that sediment full of dead organic matter might play a role in regulating the speed at which <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tectonic-plates-less-stable/">tectonic plates</a> move. 

Previously, it had been thought that sediment only influenced seismic activity and earthquakes. But this new study provides compelling evidence that sediment moving under tectonic plates dictates the movement and growth of the Earth’s crust. 

The research, published in the journal Earth and Planetary Science Letters, describes an important potential link between tectonic movement, climate, and sediment which is made up of organic material.  

Sediment is often a mix of eroded rocks, minerals, and organic remains like shells. Sediment samples from the ocean floor can help researchers understand what life on Earth was like millions of years ago. 

Sometimes sediment slips into and beneath the subduction zone, the area where two tectonic plates meet, and this can cause an increase in earthquakes. 

Subduction drives continental movement, and sediment was thought to have little impact on the rate at which plates move. However, the researchers found that sediment acts as a lubricant and accelerates subduction and plate speed. 

After modeling different kinds of rock-plate interactions, the researchers also found that rock made of sediment created a kind of feedback loop that speeds up and then slows down continental drift based on the amount of sediment in the subduction zone. 

“The feedback mechanisms serve to regulate subduction speeds such that they don't ‘runaway’ with extremely fast velocities,” said Whitney Behr, the leader of the research. 

This speeding up and slowing down of plate movement could also explain how some continents formed and moved the way they did. 

For example, the researchers hypothesize that 70 million years ago, India moved through seas that contained an abundance of sedimentary rock made up of organic matter. 

This sped up India’s march north from five centimeters per year to 16 centimeters per year until the continent eventually slowed down and collided with Asia. 

There are still unanswered questions with this study such as how the feedback loop first originated, but the results provide new insight into Earth’s early years.

“What is becoming clear is that the geological history of the incoming plate matters,” said Thorsten Becker, a co-author of the study. “We will have to study in more detail how those possible feedback processes may work.”

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Image Credit: Nicolas Prieto/Unsplash

Life on Earth impacts the movement of tectonic plates

It’s hard to imagine that the world’s tectonic plates, the...

Exercise is good for you – it’s something you’ve known since you were a kid. There’s very little downside to getting off the couch and finding something active to do rather than spending all day watching Netflix. And while <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/exercise-benefits-alzheimers/">exercise</a> is inherently beneficial to the average person, new research has found that it can be even more helpful for drug addicts who are trying to kick the habit.

A study published in the journal <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/journal/acsodf">ACS Omega</a> has found that exercise may strengthen an addict’s resolve by changing the production of peptides in their brain. 

It’s well known that re-exposure to drug-related cues – like the location where a user took drugs, the people they’ve taken drugs with, or drug paraphernalia can result in even a recovered drug abuser to relapse. But past studies have shown that exercise can reduce both cravings and potential relapse in addicts, as well as in mice. However, up until this point, the mechanism was unknown.

Researchers Jonathan Sweedler and Justin Rhodes, along with their colleagues at the <a href="https://illinois.edu/">University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign</a> wanted to investigate the potential mechanism further. They began a study in which mice were given cocaine injections over four days in special chambers with a distinctive floor texture, which helped produce a drug association with that specific environment. Following this, the mice were then kept for 30 days in cages, some of which contained a running wheel.

In their ensuing analysis, the researchers found that mice that exercised on these running wheels had lower levels of brain peptides related to myelin, which is a substance that is believed to help keep memories in place. Furthermore, re-exposure to the cocaine-associated environment affected the two groups of mice (running and sedentary) quite differently. 

The running mice exhibited a reduced preference for the cocaine-associated environment when compared to the sedentary mice. Additionally, the brains of re-exposed runners had higher levels of hemoglobin-derived peptides, some of which are involved in cell signaling in the brain. On the other hand, re-exposed sedentary mice had decreased levels of peptides derived from actin. This is significant, as actin is involved in learning and memory, and is implicated in drug-seeking behavior. 

The research team hopes that these findings regarding the peptide changes in mice exposed to cocaine could help identify biomarkers in humans for drug dependence and relapse, which could ultimately provide better treatments for former drug abusers.

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Exercise can actually help drug addicts kick the habit

Exercise is good for you – it’s something you’ve known...

Historians refer to the Middle Ages as the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/archaeological-lost-kingdom-dark-ages/">Dark Ages</a> because it was a tumultuous period plagued by war and famine, but also due to a lack of available written records and historical accounts of the time.

But parts of the Dark Ages were also shrouded in literal darkness as well. Now, a new study has found out why Europe, Asia, and the Middle East suffered one of the coldest, darkest decades in the past 2,300 years during the middle of the 6th century. 

It all started in 536 AD, or as one <a href="https://www.harvard.edu/">Harvard</a> professor and historian describes it, the worst year in human history. 

“It was the beginning of one of the worst periods to be alive, if not the worst year,” medieval historian Michael McCormick told <a href="https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2018/11/why-536-was-worst-year-be-alive">Science Magazine</a>.

Researchers and historians know that in the middle of the 6th-century economic progress ground to a halt, crops failed, and much of the world was covered in a mysterious fog for 18 months. 

Temperatures dropped, there was unusual snowfall in China, and a historical record from Ireland states that there was no bread from 536 to 539 because of crop failure. 

On top of all that, in 541 a plague called the Plague of Justinian wiped out almost half of the Eastern Roman Empire. 

Tree-ring analyses in the 1990’s showed that the summer of 540 was colder than average, but the reason for this was a mystery.

McCormick and a team of researchers collected and analyzed ice core samples in an attempt to uncover the catalyst for the worst year on record. 

The cause was likely a massive volcanic eruption in Iceland, according to a study published in the journal Antiquity.

Ice cores act like a backlog of climate records and much like the rings of a tree, layers of packed ice and snow can tell researchers a wealth of climate and environmental information about specific times in history. 

For this study, McCormick and Paul Mayewski, a glaciologist from the <a href="https://climatechange.umaine.edu/">Climate Change Institute of the University of Maine</a>, were looking specifically for sulfur, bismuth and tephra deposits that would indicate volcanic activity that caused the planet to cool. 

The researchers found evidence of not one but two eruptions in 540 AD and 547 AD, and there were also fragments of volcanic glass in the ice core samples dating back to 536. 

The volcanic particles matched volcanic rocks in Iceland which led the researchers to conclude that Icelandic eruptions descended the world into darkness after emitting large amounts of ash into the atmosphere. 

Ice core samples from 640 begin to show the hopeful signs of a world in recovery where evidence of lead and silverpoint to a growing economy.

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Why 536 was named the worst year to be alive

Historians refer to the Middle Ages as the Dark Ages...

The latest report documenting the health impacts of Agent Orange exposure for Vietnam War veterans has added <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/diet-exercise-blood-pressure-medicine/">hypertension</a> to the list of health problems associated with the herbicide. 

The <a href="http://www8.nationalacademies.org/onpinews/newsitem.aspx?RecordID=25137">National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine</a>, a committee that provides independent research and analysis to help guide government policies and initiatives, conducted the report. 

The <a href="https://www.va.gov/">US Department of Veteran Affairs (VA)</a> asked the committee to focus on generational health effects, myeloproliferative neoplasms, and glioblastoma multiforme for this latest update. 

While much of the focus and care has been paid to female victims of Agent Orange exposure, very few studies have been done on male veterans and their children or grandchildren. 

Agent Orange was a herbicide used during the Vietnam War to clear fields and rice paddies that helped serve as hiding places. 

According to the VA, around 20 million gallons of the herbicide were dumped on Vietnam during the war between 1962 and 1971, and the US military used Agent Orange as recently as 1986, according to <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/vietnam-war-veterans-kids-agent-orange-impact-nightmare/story?id=59059570">ABC News</a>.

When the military stopped using the herbicide, and Congress passed “The Agent Orange Act,” the VA began compensating veterans being treated for health problems associated with Agent Orange exposure. 

The Veterans and Agent Orange Update 11, published last Thursday, reviews known medical conditions and other potential impacts of Agent Orange Exposure to ensure that veterans and their families continue to be fairly compensated an informed of the health risks. 

For this report, committee members reviewed all relevant scientific studies and research conducted between 2014 and 2017.

Hypertension was moved to the “sufficient” category, a step up from its previous label, “limited or suggestive.” 

If a condition or health risk is in the sufficient category, it means that the committee found enough evidence to support a strong association between dioxin exposure (the main chemical in Agent Orange) and hypertension in this case. 

The committee remains divided on whether there is enough of a correlation between dioxin exposure and Type 2 diabetes, although there are plenty of studies to suggest that diabetes should be recategorized as “sufficient.” 

MGUS (Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance) where an unusual protein produced in the bone marrow can lead to some kinds of blood cancer, was also linked to some of the toxins in Agent Orange.

As far as the VA’s concerns about glioblastoma multiforme, a kind of brain cancer, the committee wasn’t able to find sufficient evidence to prove dioxin exposure increased the risk of contracting it. 

The report calls for more research on the possible links between Agent Orange exposure and rare diseases and health conditions as well as the generational health effects passed on paternally as there is not enough existing research to support any firm conclusions.

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>,<a href="https://www.earth.com/"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

New report shows Agent Orange exposure linked to hypertension

The latest report documenting the health impacts of Agent Orange...

A new study published by the <a href="https://www.acs.org/">American Chemical Society</a> has revealed that some consumers are exposed to contaminants in their tap water that are not monitored. While the public <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/tap-water-contaminants/">tap water</a> supply in the United States was found to generally meet all of the enforceable standards, routine testing for most contaminants is conducted before the water is distributed and not where it is used.

It is important for water to be tested at the tap due to the potential for various factors to diminish water quality and harm public health, such as leaks, cross-connections, back-siphonage, and corrosion in the distribution system. 

Although more than 40 million U.S. consumers depend on private wells, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is not authorized to monitor them. This means that the responsibility to test private well water falls on the owners, yet many fail to do so.

To investigate water quality at the point of water use, a team that included experts from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the EPA, and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences conducted a pilot-scale survey of tap water across 11 states.

The researchers collected water samples from both home and office sites including private wells and public water supplies. The team tested for a total of 482 organic and 19 inorganic compounds. 

The analysis detected 75 organic and 18 inorganic compounds. There was only one water sample, which came from a private well, that exceeded regulatory standards. In this case, the water was found to contain double the maximum recommended amount of uranium. 

Furthermore, even though the amount of lead that was present in 23 different samples did not exceed current lead regulations, the EPA drinking water goal of zero indicates that no lead exposure is considered safe. Some of the organic compounds detected included pesticides and pharmaceuticals.

According to the study authors, little is known about the cumulative health effects of exposure to mixtures of these low-level contaminants among vulnerable populations like children and pregnant women. Tap water monitoring is needed in order for public health researchers to investigate. 

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/journal/esthag">Environmental Science &amp; Technology</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Tap water can contain contaminants that aren’t monitored in tests

A new study published by the American Chemical Society has...

Why is the consumption of alcohol such a natural occurrence across human cultures? Alcohol itself is – generally speaking – bad for your health in the long run, but it seems that people from America to Africa have all grown up with <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/drinking-alcohol-3-times-week/">alcohol</a> as a part of their communities.

A new theory called the “drunken monkey hypothesis” has scientists saying that our human connection with alcohol is due to apes acquiring a taste for fermented fruit ten million years ago. Apes under the influence tended to have fewer inhibitions, which helped them learn to trust each other and participate in everyday bonding rituals. According to the scientists, this gave apes a key evolutionary advantage.

Archaeologists and anthropologists met at a two-day conference in London to discuss this theory, per a featured report by <a href="https://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/">Morning Advertiser</a>. The “drunken monkey hypothesis” was originally posited by Robert Dudley, a biologist in California. Dudley states that a common ancestor to both apes and humans had a genetic mutation.

“Alcohol consumption is a nearly universal characteristic of human societies, and that suggested to me there's a genetic disposition to drinking – and evolutionary basis,” says Dudley. Other species have been unable to metabolize ethanol (alcohol), making it a poisonous substance to many.

Matthew Carrigan of <a href="https://www.sfcollege.edu/">Santa Fe College</a> in Florida theorized that the evolutionary adaptation occurred roughly ten million years ago, as this was when our common ancestor left the tree canopy and began eating fermented fruit on the forest floor. This fermented fruit could have had an ABV level as high as eight percent.

The alcoholic fruit would have helped individuals become less self-conscious and more social. “Like all monkeys and apes, humans are social. We have an urgent desire to schmooze and an awareness that alcohol helps our cause,” says psychologist Robin Dunbar. “Friendships protect us against outside threats and internal stresses, and this has been key to our evolutionary success. Primate social groups, unlike most other animals, rely on bondedness to maintain social coherence.”

Although this is just a theory, it’s possible that the human species would not have survived – or would have done so less successfully – were it not for the social bonding that alcohol stimulates. So next time someone looks at you sideways for ordering another drink, just tell them it’s in our species’ best interest.

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By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Did alcohol give humans an evolutionary advantage?

Why is the consumption of alcohol such a natural occurrence...

Experts at the <a href="https://www.hss.edu/">Hospital for Special Surgery</a> (HSS) in New York City have found that practices such as meditation and mindful breathing can help patients manage chronic pain. In some cases, patients engaging in these activities were able to skip their medication, including opioids.

Maggie Wimmer is the coordinator of Programs and Outcomes and Public and Patient Education at HSS.

“Opioid misuse and addiction are a major public health issue in the United States, and approximately 70 percent of individuals who use opioids on a long-term basis have a musculoskeletal disorder, such as low back pain or arthritis,” said Wimmer. “To address this epidemic, Hospital for Special Surgery implemented a Pain and Stress Management program in its orthopedic clinic to enhance patient knowledge and encourage complementary practices as alternatives to medication.”

HSS launched the program in 2017 for patients in the hospital's Ambulatory Care Center, which serves a diverse, low income community of individuals living with chronic musculoskeletal conditions. The program featured a monthly workshop, led by a <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/transcendental-meditation-mental-health-productivity/">meditation</a> instructor and a social worker, where participants engaged in mindful breathing techniques and meditation to manage chronic pain and stress.

Researchers evaluated the program by surveying participants after each monthly meeting. Overall, 98 percent of patients either agreed or strongly agreed that they were satisfied with the program, while 95 percent said the program increased their understanding of how to manage pain and stress. In addition, 93 percent of the participants said that they would recommend the program to others.


The study also revealed that one out of three participants used the meditation techniques in place of their medication five or more times in the week prior to being surveyed. Over half of the patients reported that mindful breathing helped them manage their chronic pain and stress.


According to the social worker, many participants experienced improved daily function, calmness, and improved state of mind after practicing the meditation techniques.

Robyn Wiesel is the associate director of Public and Patient Education at HSS.

“The results indicate that alternative approaches are effective in reducing pain and stress, and in improving self-management and general well-being,” said Weisel. “Based on the success of the Pain and Stress Management program in the orthopedic clinic, it has been expanded to include patients in the HSS Rheumatology Clinic, many of whom rely on opioid medication to manage chronic pain.”

The research was presented at the American College of Rheumatology/Association of Rheumatology Health Professionals annual meeting on October 24 in Chicago.

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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

Meditation helps patients manage chronic pain and stress

Experts at the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) in New...

Fruits and vegetables linked to lower risk of memory loss in men. A new study published by the <a href="https://www.aan.com/">American Academy of Neurology</a> has revealed that orange and red vegetables, berry fruits, orange juice, and leafy greens all contribute to a lower risk of memory loss among men.

“One of the most important factors in this study is that we were able to research and track such a large group of men over a 20-year period of time, allowing for very telling results,” said study co-author Changzheng Yuan. “Our studies provide further evidence dietary choices can be important to maintain your brain health.”

The investigation was focused on 27,842 male health professionals with an average age of 51. Over two decades, the men reported every four years on how many servings of fruits, vegetables, and other foods they had each day.

At least four years before the end of the study, the participants were also tested for thinking and <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/stress-affecting-memory/">memory skills</a> using an evaluation that was designed to detect subtle changes that would likely go unnoticed in objective cognitive tests. Any reported changes in memory would be considered precursors to mild cognitive impairment.

Overall, 55 percent of the men had good thinking and memory skills, 38 percent had moderate skills, and 7 percent had poor thinking and memory skills.

The participants were divided into five groups based on their fruit and vegetable consumption. The highest consumption rate of vegetables was about six servings per day, compared to two servings for the lowest. The top group ate about three servings of fruit per day, compared to the lowest rate of half a serving each day.

The study revealed that men who consumed the most vegetables were 34 percent less likely to develop poor thinking skills compared to the group that ate the least vegetables. In addition, men who drank orange juice every day were 47 percent less likely to develop poor thinking skills.

The experts also found that men who ate larger amounts of fruits and vegetables 20 years earlier were less likely to develop cognitive issues, regardless of whether they continued to do so up until the testing took place 16 years later.

The study is published in the journal <a href="http://www.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

Fruits and vegetables linked to lower risk of memory loss in men

Fruits and vegetables linked to lower risk of memory loss...

A new study has revealed that humans actually have two internal clocks that are controlled by neural networks in different parts of the brain. Depending on the situation at hand, the appropriate network kicks in to help us anticipate what is about to happen.

According to the researchers, one of our internal clocks bases its timing on past experiences, while the other relies on rhythm. Study lead author Assaf Breska is a postdoctoral researcher in Neuroscience at <a href="https://www.berkeley.edu/">UC Berkeley</a>.

“Whether it’s sports, music, speech or even allocating attention, our study suggests that timing is not a unified process, but that there are two distinct ways in which we make temporal predictions and these depend on different parts of the brain,” said Breska.

The findings are shedding new light on how humans calculate the timing of their actions. 

“Together, these brain systems allow us to not just exist in the moment, but to also actively anticipate the future,” explained study senior author Richard Ivry.

The study was focused on patients with either Parkinson’s disease or cerebellar degeneration. The researchers tested the anticipatory timing skills of the individuals, evaluating both strengths and deficits. 

The experts found a connection between rhythmic timing and the basal ganglia. They connected interval timing, which is based and memories and experiences, to the cerebellum. 

The results of the study suggest that these <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/low-protein-high-carb-diets-aging/">brain</a> regions, which are both associated with movement and cognition, are interchangeable. In other words, one internal clock could kick in if the other was not functioning properly. 

“We show that patients with cerebellar degeneration are impaired in using non-rhythmic temporal cues while patients with basal ganglia degeneration associated with Parkinson’s disease are impaired in using rhythmic cues,” said Ivry.

Breska added, “Our study identifies not only the anticipatory contexts in which these neurological patients are impaired, but also the contexts in which they have no difficulty, suggesting we could modify their environments to make it easier for them to interact with the world in face of their symptoms.”

According to the study authors, the research confirms that two different mechanisms are used by the brain for anticipatory timing, which contradicts theories that there is a single internal clock that guides timing.

“Our results suggest at least two different ways in which the brain has evolved to anticipate the future,” said Breska. “A rhythm-based system is sensitive to periodic events in the world such as is inherent in speech and music. And an interval system provides a more general anticipatory ability, sensitive to temporal regularities even in the absence of a rhythmic signal.”

The study is published in the <a href="http://www.pnas.org/">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</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

The brain uses two different internal clocks to anticipate the future

A new study has revealed that humans actually have two...

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

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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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

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Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

[sendtonews key="QIoVYJqRBi-2434608-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from NASA...

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

[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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