Obesity is rare among Hadza hunter‑gatherers in Tanzania, Tsimane forager‑farmers in Bolivia, or Tuvan herder‑farmers in Siberia. Yet it’s common across rich, industrialized nations.



For decades, the explanation has been <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/exercising-in-midlife-can-reverse-years-of-inactivity/">inactivity</a>: people in wealthy countries sit too much and therefore burn too few calories. However, a new study argues that this explanation is wrong - or at least badly incomplete.



Researchers analyzed objective metabolic data from 4,213 men and women spread across 34 countries and cultural groups, running the gamut from small‑scale subsistence societies to office‑dwelling professionals in Europe and North America.



The result: people in highly developed nations burn about the same total number of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/spicy-foods-can-slow-down-eating-and-cut-calorie-intake/">calories</a> per day, once you adjust for body size, as people in far more physically demanding settings.



That finding forces a rethink. If most of us burn similar daily energy regardless of lifestyle, then widespread obesity in wealthy nations must come primarily from what we eat, not how little we move.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rethinking-obesity-s-root-cause">Rethinking obesity’s root cause</h2>



“There’s still a lively debate in public health about the role of diet and activity in the development of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-is-obesity-difficult-to-reverse-it-starts-in-the-brain/">obesity</a>," said senior author Herman Pontzer, a professor of evolutionary anthropology and global health at <a href="https://duke.edu/">Duke University</a>.



Untangling the two matters: prevention and treatment strategies hinge on knowing which lever - calories in or calories out - has moved the most.



To tackle the question, Pontzer and more than 80 collaborators pooled gold‑standard measurements collected with “doubly labeled water,” a tracer technique in which volunteers drink water marked with rare, harmless isotopes.



By tracking how those isotopes leave the body in urine or breath, scientists can calculate how much carbon dioxide a person produces - and from that, determine days‑long averages of total energy expenditure. 



The dataset also included basal energy expenditure (calories burned just staying alive) and the extra calories used in physical activity.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-calorie-burn-stays-steady">Calorie burn stays steady</h2>



After statistically adjusting for body size - people in affluent countries tend to be taller and heavier, and bigger bodies naturally burn more - the expected pattern vanished.



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/our-hunter-gatherer-ancestors-did-much-more-gathering-than-hunting/">Hunter‑gatherers</a> who walk miles each day, herder‑farmers who haul and dig, and office workers who sit long hours all landed in roughly the same range for total daily energy burn.



Pontzer interprets this through his “constrained total energy expenditure” model. When physical activity rises, the body trims energy elsewhere (for example, dampening some growth or immune processes) to keep total burn within a narrow band.



The practical takeaway is that ramping up movement does not necessarily translate into a large increase in total calories burned over the long haul.



"There is no effect of economic development on size-adjusted physical activity expenditure,” noted Pontzer. In other words, rich‑country living hasn’t slashed our activity calories the way many assumed.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-food-drives-obesity-now">Food drives obesity now</h2>



When the team compared energy intake estimates, a pattern emerged. “Our analyses suggest that increased energy intake has been roughly 10 times more important than declining total energy expenditure in driving the modern obesity crisis,” the authors wrote. 



More simply put, overeating swamps any small changes in how much we burn.



Diet quality also mattered. In a subset of the sample where dietary data were available, higher intake of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/direct-link-confirmed-between-ultra-processed-foods-upf-serious-health-problems/">ultra‑processed foods</a> correlated strongly with higher body fat percentages.



The study defined these products as “industrial formulations of five or more ingredients.” Think packaged snacks, sugary cereals, instant noodles, processed meats, and ready‑to‑eat meals - items engineered for shelf life and low cost.



“This study confirms what I’ve been saying, which is that diet is the key culprit in our current [obesity] epidemic. This is a well-done study,” said Barry Popkin, a nutrition researcher at the <a href="https://www.unc.edu/">University of North Carolina</a>.



“It’s clear from this important new research and other studies that changes to our food, not our activity, are the dominant drivers of obesity,” added Dariush Mozaffarian, a cardiometabolic expert at <a href="https://www.tufts.edu/">Tufts University</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-exercise-still-improves-health">Exercise still improves health</h2>



“We know that exercise is essential for health. This study doesn’t change that,” Pontzer said. Regular movement improves heart health, mood, blood sugar control, and longevity - even if it doesn’t melt off pounds as easily as hoped.



Still, when the goal is lowering obesity rates, Pontzer argues that nutrition must take center stage. Public guidance, food policy, and healthcare counseling need to tackle obesity by focusing on dietary choices - what’s on the plate, how much is consumed, and how often.



"To address obesity, public health efforts need to focus on diet,” especially on the products “that seem to be really potent causes of obesity," concluded Pontzer.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2420902122">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



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



-----

Obesity is linked more to food than fitness

Obesity is rare among Hadza hunter‑gatherers in Tanzania, Tsimane forager‑farmers in Bolivia, or Tuvan herder‑farmers in Siberia. Yet it’s common across rich, industrialized nations. For decades, the explanation has been inactivity: people in wealthy countries sit too much and therefore burn too few calories. However, a new study argues that this explanation is wrong - or at least badly incomplete. Researchers analyzed objective metabolic data from 4,213 men and women spread across 34 countries and cultural groups, running the gamut from small‑scale subsistence societies to office‑dwelling professionals...

Eating avocados on a daily basis can improve gut health, according to a new study from the <a href="https://illinois.edu/">University of Illinois</a>. A healthy gut is important for maintaining <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/loneliness-strengthens-the-brains-focus-on-imagination-and-planning/">brain</a> function, heart health, effective digestion, and a strong immune system, and may even prevent some cancers and autoimmune diseases.

"We know eating avocados helps you feel full and reduces blood cholesterol concentration, but we did not know how it influences the gut microbes, and the metabolites the microbes produce," said study lead author Sharon Thompson.

The researchers found that people who consumed avocado once per day had a greater abundance of gut microbes that break down fiber and produce beneficial metabolites. Individuals who ate avocados regularly also had greater microbial diversity.

"Microbial metabolites are compounds the microbes produce that influence health," said Thompson. "Avocado consumption reduced bile acids and increased short chain fatty acids. These changes correlate with beneficial health outcomes."

The study was focused on 163 adults between the ages of 25 and 45 who were overweight or obese, but otherwise healthy. The participants received one meal per day as a replacement for either breakfast, lunch, or dinner. One group consumed daily meals that included avocado, while the control group was provided with similar meals that did not include avocado. 

Over the course of 12 weeks, the participants provided blood, urine, and fecal samples. The purpose of the study was to explore the effects of avocado consumption on the gastrointestinal microbiota, explained senior study author Professor Hannah Holscher.

"Our goal was to test the hypothesis that the fats and the fiber in avocados positively affect the gut microbiota. We also wanted to explore the relationships between gut microbes and health outcomes."

The fats in avocados are monounsaturated, which are heart-healthy fats. Soluble fiber content is also very important, noted Professor Holscher. A medium avocado provides around 12 of the 28 to 34 grams of fiber that is recommended each day. 

"Less than 5% of Americans eat enough fiber. Most people consume around 12 to 16 grams of fiber per day. Thus, incorporating avocados in your diet can help get you closer to meeting the fiber recommendation."

According to Professor Holscher, eating fiber is not only good for us, but is also important for the gut microbiome. "We can't break down dietary fibers, but certain gut microbes can. When we consume dietary fiber, it's a win-win for gut microbes and for us."

"Just like we think about heart-healthy meals, we need to also be thinking about gut healthy meals and how to feed the microbiota."

The study is published in the <a href="https://academic.oup.com/jn/advance-article/doi/10.1093/jn/nxaa219/5893497">Journal of Nutrition</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

A daily dose of avocado improves gut health

Eating avocados on a daily basis can improve gut health,...

In a new study, experts describe how drinking water can protect against metabolic syndrome. The researchers discovered that while fructose stimulates the release of vasopressin, a hormone linked to <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/limiting-tv-commercials-could-help-reduce-childhood-obesity/">obesity</a> and diabetes, water can suppress the hormone and alleviate these conditions in mice.

Study lead author Dr. Miguel A. Lanaspa is an associate professor at the <a href="https://www.cuanschutz.edu/">University of Colorado School of Medicine</a> who specializes in renal disease and hypertension.

"The clinical significance of this work is that it may encourage studies to evaluate whether simple increases in water intake may effectively mitigate obesity and metabolic syndrome," said Dr. Lanaspa.

The researchers set out to investigate why vasopressin, which maintains the body's water levels, is elevated in people with obesity and diabetes. 

In an experiment based on a mouse model, the experts fed mice sugar water - specifically fructose - and noticed that it stimulated the brain to make vasopressin. As a result, the vasopressin stored the water as fat, causing dehydration that triggered obesity. When the mice were treated with non-sugary water, their obesity was reduced.

According to Dr. Lanaspa, this is the first time scientists have shown how vasopressin acts on dietary sugar to cause obesity and diabetes.

"We found that it does this by working through a particular vasopressin receptor known as V1b. This receptor has been known for a while but no one has really understood its function. We found that mice lacking V1b were completely protected from the effects of sugar. We also show that the administration of water can suppress vasopressin and both prevent and treat obesity."

The researchers also discovered that dehydration can stimulate the formation of fat. "This explains why vasopressin is so high in desert mammals as they do not have easy access to water," noted study co-author Dr. Richard Johnson. "So vasopressin conserves water by storing it as fat."

The findings support previous observations that obese patients often exhibit signs of dehydration. The research also explains why high salt diets tend to cause obesity and diabetes.

The study revealed that water therapy effectively protects against metabolic syndrome, which is a collection of coexisting conditions including high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and high triglyceride levels. Metabolic syndrome greatly increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.

"The best way to block vasopressin is to drink water," said Dr. Lanaspa. "This is hopeful because it means we may have a cheap, easy way of improving our lives and treating metabolic syndrome."

"Sugar drives metabolic syndrome in part by the activation of vasopressin. Vasopressin drives fat production likely as a mechanism for storing metabolic water," concluded said Dr. Johnson. "The potential roles of hydration and salt reduction in the treatment of obesity and metabolic syndrome should be considered."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/journals/3101/">JCI Insight</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Water is a powerful weapon against obesity and diabetes

In a new study, experts describe how drinking water can...

A simple way to assess your <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/substituting-plant-foods-for-red-meat-reduces-the-risk-of-heart-disease/">heart</a> health is to climb stairs, according to a new study from the <a href="https://www.escardio.org/">European Society of Cardiology</a>. The researchers determined that climbing four flights of stairs in less than a minute indicates good heart health.

Study co-author Dr. Jesús Peteiro is a cardiologist at University Hospital A Coruña in Spain. 

"The stairs test is an easy way to check your heart health," said Dr. Peteiro. "If it takes you more than one-and-a-half minutes to ascend four flights of stairs, your health is suboptimal, and it would be a good idea to consult a doctor."

The researchers set out to investigate the relationship between a common activity like climbing stairs and the results of exercise testing in a laboratory. 

"The idea was to find a simple and inexpensive method of assessing heart health," said Dr. Peteiro. "This can help physicians triage patients for more extensive examinations."

The trial included 165 patients who were referred for exercise testing due to suspected or diagnosed coronary artery disease. Their symptoms included chest pain or shortness of breath during exertion. 

For the tests, the participants walked or ran on a treadmill as the intensity steadily increased, and they continued the activity until exhaustion. The exercise capacity of each individual was measured as metabolic equivalents (METs). 

After resting for 15 to 20 minutes, patients were timed while climbing four flights of stairs, or 60 stairs, at a fast pace without running. The individuals were instructed not to stop moving.

The researchers analyzed the relationship between the METs scores and the time it took to climb the stairs. Patients who climbed the stairs in less than 40 to 45 seconds achieved more than 9 to 10 METs. Previous studies have shown that 10 METs during an exercise test is linked with the low mortality rate of one percent or less per year or 10 percent or less in 10 years. 

By contrast, patients who took 1.5 minutes or longer to climb the stairs achieved less than 8 METs, which translates to a mortality rate of up to four percent per year or 30 percent in 10 years.

During the treadmill test, the researchers used cardiac imaging to assess heart function. If the heart works normally during exercise, this indicates a low likelihood of coronary artery disease. These findings were compared to the results of the stair climbing activity. 

The analysis showed that 58 percent of patients who completed the stair climb in more than 1.5 minutes had abnormal heart function during the treadmill examination. On the other hand, just 32 percent of those who climbed the stairs in less than one minute exhibited abnormal heart function.

Dr. Peteiro noted that the correlation between the stairs time and exercise capacity would be similar in the general population, but the corresponding heart function by imaging would be more favorable for individuals without symptoms of coronary artery disease.

The research was presented at <a href="https://www.escardio.org/Sub-specialty-communities/European-Association-of-Cardiovascular-Imaging-(EACVI)">EACVI</a> - Best of Imaging 2020, a scientific congress of the European Society of Cardiology.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Climbing stairs is a good way to test heart health

A simple way to assess your heart health is to...

Individuals with strong social support have a lower risk of mental <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/ocean-pollution-threatens-the-health-of-more-than-three-billion-people/">health</a> issues. Researchers at <a href="https://www.mcgill.ca/">McGill University</a> have found that the presence and awareness of social support can provide protection against depression, anxiety, and thoughts of suicide. 

In particular, the findings indicate that young adults at the age of 19 who perceived higher levels of social support, or the feeling that there is someone who they can depend on for help if they need it, showed lower levels of depression and anxiety symptoms one year later.

Study lead author Marie-Claude Geoffroy is an assistant professor in the Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology at McGill and holds the Canada Research Chair in Youth Suicide Prevention.

"Our study shows that even in cases where people previously experienced mental health problems, social support was beneficial for mental health later on," said Professor Geoffroy. 

"We discovered potential benefits of promoting and leveraging social support as a means to protect the mental health of young adults, even in individuals who experienced mental health problems at an earlier developmental stage in life. That social support is not only beneficial for depression, but for other salient mental health outcomes as well."

The investigation was focused on data from the Quebec Longitudinal Study on Child Development, which followed over 1,000 participants since their birth in 1997 and 1998. The researchers analyzed levels of perceived social support at the onset of adulthood.

The study revealed that individuals who experienced greater levels of social support experienced 47 percent less severe depression and 22 percent less anxiety. The researchers also found that those who reported higher levels of perceived social support had a 40-percent reduced risk of experiencing suicidal ideation and attempts.

"Our study was conducted before the current COVID-19 pandemic, so we do not know whether our results will apply in the current context," said study co-author Sara Scardera. "However, in a 'normal' context, youth who perceived that they had someone to rely on reported better mental health outcomes. We believe that it is beneficial to offer help to those in need, and to make sure your friends know that they can count on you."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen">JAMA Network Open</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Social support promotes better mental health

Individuals with strong social support have a lower risk of...

Eating certain foods can help protect us from cognitive decline later in life, according to a new study from <a href="https://www.iastate.edu/">Iowa State University</a>. The researchers found that cheese is linked to the greatest long-term protection against age-related cognitive issues, while a daily dose of red wine is associated with improvements in cognitive function.

"I was pleasantly surprised that our results suggest that responsibly eating cheese and drinking red wine daily are not just good for helping us cope with our current COVID-19 pandemic, but perhaps also dealing with an increasingly complex world that never seems to slow down," said Professor Auriel Willette. 

"While we took into account whether this was just due to what well-off people eat and drink, randomized clinical trials are needed to determine if making easy changes in our diet could help our brains in significant ways."

The researchers analyzed data from the UK Biobank on 1,787 aging adults, who were between the ages of 46 and 77 by the conclusion of the study.

The participants were tested on three separate occasions across ten years from 2006 to 2016. The individuals completed the Fluid Intelligence Test (FIT), which provides a real-time overview of an individual's ability to "think on the fly."

The volunteers also answered questions about their food and alcohol consumption during all three assessments. The Food Frequency Questionnaire was used to document the participants' intake of a wide variety of foods including fruit, vegetables, fish, cheese, bread, tea, beer, wine, liquor, and various types of meat. 

The study revealed that cheese was, by far, the most protective food against age-related cognitive decline, even late in life. The daily consumption of alcohol, especially red wine, was related to improvements in cognitive skills. The weekly consumption of lamb - but not other red meats - was also shown to improve long-term cognitive ability. 

"Depending on the genetic factors you carry, some individuals seem to be more protected from the effects of Alzheimers, while other seem to be at greater risk. That said, I believe the right food choices can prevent the disease and cognitive decline altogether," noted study co-author Brandon Klinedinst.

"Perhaps the silver bullet we're looking for is upgrading how we eat. Knowing what that entails contributes to a better understanding of Alzheimer's and putting this disease in a reverse trajectory."

The study is published in the <a href="https://www.j-alz.com/">Journal of Alzheimer's Disease</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Red wine and cheese help prevent cognitive decline

Eating certain foods can help protect us from cognitive decline...

Dog owners are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes if their dog has <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/hot-baths-help-lower-risk-factors-associated-with-type-2-diabetes/">diabetes</a>, according to research from <a href="https://www.uu.se/en">Uppsala University</a>. The researchers report that they found no evidence of a shared risk of diabetes among cats and cat owners. 

Previous studies have suggested a link between obesity in dog owners and their pets, which indicates that these pairs may share common health behaviors like physical activity levels. 

More than 400 million people have type 2 diabetes and this number is expected to increase in the coming decades. The projected increase is partly tied to rising rates of obesity.

The study was focused on Swedish veterinary insurance records combined with Swedish population and health registers. From this data, the researchers extracted information on pet owners throughout the country. Overall, more than 175,000 dog owners, nearly 90,000 cat owners, and all of their pets were included in the study.

The analysis revealed that owning a dog with diabetes was associated with a 38-percent higher risk of type 2 diabetes. This estimate did not significantly change after the team adjusted for a range of other risk factors.

The risk of developing diabetes was also 28 percent higher in dogs with an owner who had type 2 diabetes compared with dogs with an owner who did not have type 2 diabetes. 

"Our results indicate that a dog with diabetes in the household might signal an increased risk of the dog owner developing type 2 diabetes as well," said study co-senior author Beatrice Kennedy. 

"We have not had access to information about household lifestyle behaviours, but we think the association might be due to shared physical activity patterns and possibly also shared dietary habits as well as shared risk of adiposity. If shared exercise habits are indeed a key factor, it might further help explain why we don't see any shared diabetes risk in cat owners and their cats."

Because this was an observational study, the underlying cause between the shared risk of diabetes was not established. In addition, the analysis was limited to pet owners with the financial resources to obtained veterinary insurance and who received drug treatment for their diabetes.

Regardless, the researchers say this was a robust study showing that owning a dog with diabetes was associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes in the owner, which could not be explained by socioeconomic circumstances.

"Humans and dogs have lived together for at least 15,000 years, and continue to share their everyday lives for better or worse," said study co-senior author Professor Tove Fall.

"In this unique study, we show that there might be common lifestyle and environmental factors that influence the risk of diabetes in the household, both in the dogs and in their owners."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.bmj.com/">The BMJ</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Dogs share an increased risk of diabetes with their owners

Dog owners are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes...

Young <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/just-two-minutes-of-exercise-boosts-learning-in-young-adults/">adults</a> who are excessively exposed to social media are nearly three times more likely to develop depression, according to research from the <a href="https://www.uark.edu/">University of Arkansas</a>. The study is the first of its kind to expose a nationwide link between social media use and depression over time.

"Most prior work in this area has left us with the chicken-and-egg question," said study lead author Dr. Brian Primack, who is the dean of the College of Education and Health Professions. 

"We know from other large studies that depression and social media use tend to go together, but it's been hard to figure out which came first. This new study sheds light on these questions, because high initial social media use led to increased rates of depression. However, initial depression did not lead to any change in social media use."

In 2018, Dr. Primack collaborated with experts at the University of Pittsburgh to survey more than 1,000 U.S. adults between the ages of 18 and 30. 

The team measured depression using the validated nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire. Study participants reported on the amount of time they used social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

The analysis revealed that young adults who used social media more than 300 minutes per day were 2.8 times as likely to become depressed within six months compared to those who visited the platforms less than 120 minutes per day.

"One reason for these findings may be that social media takes up a lot of time," said study co-author Dr. Cesar Escobar-Viera. "Excess time on social media may displace forming more important in-person relationships, achieving personal or professional goals, or even simply having moments of valuable reflection."

Another explanation, which has been implicated in previous studies, is that increased use of social media presents the opportunity for social comparisons that can undermine one's sense of satisfaction and well-being.

"Social media is often curated to emphasize positive portrayals. This can be especially difficult for young adults who are at critical junctures in life related to identity development and feel that they can't measure up to the impossible ideals they are exposed to," said study co-author Professor Jaime Sidani.

The World Health Organization recently declared depression as the leading global cause of disability, accounting for more disability-adjusted life years than all other mental disorders. Depression linked to loneliness and isolation has become an even greater public health concern during the COVID-19 pandemic this year.  

"These findings are also particularly important to consider in the age of COVID-19," said Dr. Primack. "Now that it's harder to connect socially in person, we're all using more technology like social media. While I think those technologies certainly can be valuable, I'd also encourage people to reflect on which tech experiences are truly useful for them and which ones leave them feeling empty."

The study is published in the <a href="https://www.ajpmonline.org/">American Journal of Preventive Medicine</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Social media causes depression, not the other way around

Young adults who are excessively exposed to social media are...

The meaning of happiness depends on where you live. In a new study from <a href="https://www.ucr.edu/">UC Riverside</a>, researchers have analyzed how people define and measure happiness across 63 different countries. The experts found that the meaning of happiness varies depending on where you live.

Most happiness studies have been focused on the western world, but these concepts are not universal. According to the researchers, happiness is tied to independence in the West, while Eastern happiness is closely related to interdependence.

"Accordingly, the prevailing conceptualization of happiness is consistent with a historically Protestant, self-centered worldview that emphasizes personal worthiness and hard work to obtain positive outcomes, and sees happiness as a personal achievement," wrote  the study authors.

"The East Asian world view has been described as one in which the self is more entwined with others, such that personal happiness depends on position connections in social relationships," explained study lead author Dr. Gwen Gardiner. 

"The Eastern ideologies of Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism emphasize the interconnectedness of everyone and everything, prioritizing harmony and balance over individual achievement."

For example, Koreans talk about "happiness" and "family" in the same breath. Furthermore, past research has shown that even a smile - the most obvious measure of happiness - takes on a different meaning in the East than it does in the West.

To investigate, the UC Riverside researchers set out to determine which tests of happiness would be most effective among 15,368 participants from 63 countries all over the world, including North and Central America, Canada, Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. 

The study was focused on the Subjective Happiness Scale developed in the United States and the Interdependent Happiness scale developed in Japan. The volunteers were surveyed online in 42 different languages.

The Western measure proved to be the most reliable scale for measuring happiness among people in Western European countries including Belgium, Denmark, and the United Kingdom. On the other hand, the Western scale was not as effective at determining happiness in Eastern countries such as China, Japan, and Vietnam. This subjective measure of happiness also performed poorly in African countries.

The Eastern measure, which was focused on interdependence, was found to be most reliable in Asian countries including Japan and South Korea. The study showed that this interdependent measure of happiness did not vary nearly as much across countries as the independent measure. 

Both measures were highly reliable in the United States and Japan, which was particularly interesting to the researchers. "For us, this result was particularly interesting and surprising because, typically, the U.S. and Japan are the prototypical countries used to highlight cross-cultural differences in cultural psychology," said Dr. Gardiner. "But in this case, they were much more similar to each other."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/">PLOS ONE</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

The meaning of happiness depends on where you live

The meaning of happiness depends on where you live. In...

Replacing red meat with plant foods such as beans and nuts can reduce the risk of heart disease, according to a study published by <a href="https://www.bmj.com/">The BMJ</a>. The research suggests that the risk of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/less-sedentary-time-greatly-reduces-the-risk-of-heart-failure/">heart</a> disease may also be mitigated by substituting whole grains, eggs, and dairy for red meat.

A growing collection of studies show that frequent consumption of red meat is linked to an increased risk of premature death and to serious chronic conditions such as coronary heart disease (CHD). This association is the strongest for processed red meat, such as bacon, hot dogs, and salami. 

According to the experts, studies that have produced inconsistent results often failed to compare red meat with similar protein and energy sources.

To investigate, the researchers analyzed data on more than 43,000 men from the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study who were free from cardiovascular disease and cancer at the time of enrollment. Medical records were used to track both fatal and non-fatal CHD events over a period of 30 years. 

The team examined the relationships between total, processed, and unprocessed red meat and the risk of CHD. The experts also estimated the effects of substituting plant foods for red meat with CHD risk.

During the follow-up period, 4,456 CHD events were documented and 1,860 were fatal. After accounting for other cardiovascular disease risk factors, the researchers determined that for every one serving per day, total red meat was associated with a 12 percent higher risk of CHD. Similar associations were seen for unprocessed and processed red meat

By contrast, intake of one serving per day of plant protein sources - including nuts, beans, and soy - was associated with a 14 percent lower risk of CHD. The risk was reduced even more for men over the age of 65 who replaced red meat with high quality plant foods. 

The study revealed that substituting whole grains and dairy products for total red meat, and swapping eggs for processed red meat, were also associated with lower CHD risk. Among younger men, the replacement of red meat with egg was associated with a 20 percent lower risk of CHD.

"These findings are consistent with the effects of these foods on low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and support a health benefit of limiting red meat consumption and replacement with plant protein sources," said the study authors. They concluded that switching to plant foods would also be very beneficial to the environment.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.bmj.com/">The BMJ</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Substituting plant foods for red meat reduces the risk of heart disease

Replacing red meat with plant foods such as beans and...

Women with PTSD and depression are four times more likely to die prematurely. Women who suffer from post-traumatic <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/tropical-birds-handle-heat-stress-much-better-than-expected/">stress</a> disorder and depression have a risk of premature death that is four times higher compared to women without trauma exposure or depression, according to a study from the <a href="https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/">Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health</a>. 

The researchers found that depression and PTSD greatly increased the risk of early death from cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, type 2 diabetes, accidents, suicide, and other major causes.

"The study examines longevity - in a way, the ultimate health outcome - and the findings strengthen our understanding that mental and physical health are tightly interconnected," said study lead author Andrea Roberts. 

"This is particularly salient during the pandemic, which is exposing many Americans and others across the world to unusual stress while at the same time reducing social connections, which can be powerfully protective for our mental health."

The study is the first of its kind to examine the health outcomes of concurrent PTSD and depression in a large population of civilian women. Previous research on this topic has been primarily focused on men in the military.

The investigation involved more than 50,000 women between the ages of 43 and 64 years old. Over nine years, the subjects with high levels of both PTSD and depression symptoms were nearly four times more likely to die from almost every major cause of death compared to the other women.

The researchers expected that the link between premature death and depression and PTSD could possibly be explained by health risk factors such as smoking and obesity. However, they determined that these types of risk factors only contributed to a relatively small number of the deaths. This particular finding indicates that other factors, such the effect of stress hormones on the body, may account for the higher risk of early death in women with the disorders.

According to the experts, treatment of PTSD and depression in women with symptoms of both disorders may reduce their substantial increased risk of mortality.

"These findings provide further evidence that mental health is fundamental to physical health - and to our very survival," said study senior author Professor Karestan Koenen. "We ignore our emotional well-being at our peril." 

The study is published in the <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen">JAMA Network Open</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Women with PTSD and depression are four times more likely to die prematurely

Women with PTSD and depression are four times more likely...

In a new study from <a href="https://www.uthscsa.edu/">UT Health San Antonio</a>, experts have pinpointed why drinking alcohol interferes with our ability to concentrate. The researchers have found that alcohol blocks the release of norepinephrine, which is needed to help us pay <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/musically-training-children-have-improved-attention-and-memory-skills/">attention</a>.

"When we want to focus on something, or when we stand up from a chair and become active, a brain stem nucleus releases a chemical called norepinephrine. Acute exposure to alcohol inhibits this signal in the brain," said study senior author Dr. Martin Paukert.

When a particular task requires our attention,  norepinephrine is secreted by a brain structure called the locus coeruleus. Dr. Paukert and his colleagues have described, for the first time, what happens next. They discovered that the norepinephrine normally attaches to receptors on cells called Bergmann glia, which elevates calcium levels within these cells. 

Bergmann glia are supporting cells in the cerebellum, a region near the brain stem. "To our knowledge, this paper is the first description that norepinephrine in mammals directly binds to receptors on the Bergmann glia and activates them through calcium elevation," said Dr. Paukert.

Even though the researchers focused primarily on the Bergmann glia, they also demonstrated that the same type of inhibition takes place in cortical astrocytes. "Most likely vigilance-dependent astrocyte calcium activation is inhibited throughout the brain by acute alcohol intoxication."

People tend to lose their balance when they are drinking alcohol. The researchers expected to find that the inhibition of calcium rise in Bergmann glia would explain this as well, but it did not. 

"The calcium elevation in Bergmann glia is not critical for motor coordination, which is somewhat surprising because the cerebellum is classically known for its role in motor control," said Dr. Paukert. "However, our findings are in line with current suggestions that the cerebellum also plays critical roles in non-motor functions, and that astrocytes are not only supporting basic brain maintenance, but they may actively participate in cognitive function."

Study co-author Dr. Manzoor Bhat suggested that the significance of this groundbreaking research is that it was conducted "in real time in living and breathing animals using state-of-the-art technologies." 

"The findings will open up new avenues of defining the brain circuits that ultimately determine the state of alertness, and how chemicals that interfere with those circuits essentially dampen this inherent vigilance system of the brain," said Dr. Bhat. 

The work was funded by the Robert J. Kleberg, Jr. and Helen C. Kleberg Foundation, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, and the National Institute of Mental Health. 

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/ncomms">Nature Communications</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Why drinking alcohol interferes with concentration

In a new study from UT Health San Antonio, experts...

Experts at the <a href="https://www.sydney.edu.au/">University of Sydney</a> have demonstrated for the first time that cannabidiol (CBD) does not impair a person's ability to drive. The research is particularly relevant as CBD is increasingly used to treat anxiety, epilepsy, fibromyalgia pain, sleep disorders, and other medical issues. 

"These findings indicate for the first time that CBD, when given without THC, does not affect a subject's ability to drive. That's great news for those using or considering treatment using CBD-based products," said study lead author Dr. Thomas Arkell.

For the investigation, 26 participants were given four different types of vaporized cannabis in a random order on four separate occasions. The vaporized cannabis contained either: mainly THC, mainly CBD, a combination of THC and CBD, or a placebo cannabis with no active components. The amount of THC inhaled by the volunteers was potent enough to induce strong feelings of intoxication.

The driving tests that followed were conducted on a 100-kilometer stretch of public highway in a dual control car with a driving instructor present. The study participants completed two driving tests, which were conducted 40 minutes and four hours after inhaling the cannabis vapor. The researchers used a well-established scientific test that measures lane weaving, swerving, and overcorrecting. 

The study revealed that cannabis containing mainly CBD did not impair driving, while cannabis containing THC caused mild impairment 40 minutes later. The individuals who were given THC no longer showed signs of impairment four hours after exposure.

"With cannabis laws changing globally, jurisdictions are grappling with the issue of cannabis-impaired driving," said Dr. Arkell.  "These results provide much needed insights into the magnitude and duration of impairment caused by different types of cannabis and can help to guide road-safety policy not just in Australia but around the world."

Dr. Arkell said that road safety is a primary concern, and that the research can support evidence-based laws and regulation for people receiving medical cannabis.

Professor Iain McGregor is the academic director of the Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics at the University of Sydney.

"The results should reassure people using CBD-only products that they are most likely safe to drive, while helping patients using THC-dominant products to understand the duration of impairment," said Professor McGregor.

"With rapidly changing attitudes towards medical and non-medical use of cannabis, driving under the influence of cannabis is emerging as an important and somewhat controversial public health issue."

"While some previous studies have looked at the effects of cannabis on driving, most have focused on smoked cannabis containing only THC (not CBD) and have not precisely quantified the duration of impairment."

"This is the first study to illustrate the lack of CBD effects on driving and to also provide a clear indication of the duration of THC impairment."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/">JAMA</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

CBD does not impair driving ability

Experts at the University of Sydney have demonstrated for the...

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

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://youtu.be/Fi2OeEwuzRM?si=vTyd2m9FMmtyWkex
</div></figure>







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.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.earth.com/author/eralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



-----

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.

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://youtu.be/XYgiPzmNBTU?si=eFYY7gPHU1JznLvU
</div></figure>



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>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



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



-----

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.



<figure class="wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="0ynNMYkMKa-2340414-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="G9bUoxcjr4-2511624-12187" type="single"]</div>



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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="3upvlAaHgO-2256633-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="LvS8v8bp9z-2564889-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="X0f6OHYoI4-2310561-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="JRaP49ISmm-2357509-12187" type="single"]</div>



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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="e4ZG0Jawp3-2374785-12187" type="single"]</div>



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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="uV9Lh2fQbV-1760058-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="qjvhBOBnY8-2426650-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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

[sendtonews key="qjvhBOBnY8-2426650-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="oL4FnPTGCV-2384527-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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

[sendtonews key="oL4FnPTGCV-2384527-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="0879czfG3k-1785905-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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

[sendtonews key="0879czfG3k-1785905-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from NASA...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="6HyfrAJTBI-1831843-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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

Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="QIoVYJqRBi-2434608-12187" type="single"]</div>



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)



---



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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="JbW4VsY53O-1632195-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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



---



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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="qARzJPSabQ-2270617-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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

[sendtonews key="qARzJPSabQ-2270617-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="qas3EhyI0Y-2220951-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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

[sendtonews key="qas3EhyI0Y-2220951-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

News coming your way