Carrying a reusable water bottle is a smart habit. It saves money. It cuts down on single-use plastic. It keeps you hydrated. There’s a catch, though. 



Many of us don’t clean our bottles nearly as well or as often as we think we do, and the germs that hitch a ride on our hands, rims, and lids can stick around.



In 2024, the global market for reusable water bottles was valued at about $10 billion, with surveys of university students reporting usage rates ranging from 50% to 81%.



A study on the campus of <a href="https://www.purdue.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Purdue University</a> put everyday bottles under the microscope to see how clean they really are and which habits help or hurt. The takeaway is a reality check with simple fixes that anyone can put into practice.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-studying-reusable-water-bottles">Studying reusable water bottles</h2>



The research team kept the question simple: "How clean are the bottles that students actually use all day?" 



To get real-world answers, they collected 90 bottles directly from students. They asked owners how they used and cleaned their bottles, then tested the bottles in two ways.



First, they swabbed the outer surfaces using a rapid hygiene test called ATP that lights up when organic residue remains. This signal is widely used in food safety as a quick screen for whether a surface is truly clean after washing. 



Second, they rinsed the insides and counted bacteria clinging to water-contact surfaces. They measured common water-loving bacteria and checked for coliforms, an indicator group that can signal when conditions could support more concerning contamination.



The study was led by Carl Behnke from <a href="https://www.purdue.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Purdue University</a> with a cohort of academics and scientists. Later in the process, Dr. Yuriko Fukuta, an assistant professor of medicine (infectious diseases) at <a href="https://www.bcm.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Baylor College of Medicine</a>, added clinical context.



Their goal wasn’t to name and shame anyone’s bottle. It was to map daily habits to measurable cleanliness, so people could tweak what they do and keep their bottles safer.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-on-the-outside">What's on the outside</h2>



The outsides of bottles were dirtier than they looked. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ATP_test" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ATP readings</a> indicated that the exterior surfaces of all the water bottles collected (including two new bottles that were purchased from a local retailer as controls) were considered "dirty" and failed the ATP test.



That’s not surprising in daily life, where hands move from phones to doorknobs to laptop keyboards to bottle caps. Residue left behind gives microbes places to hang on to.



More frequent refills were associated with dirtier outer surfaces. Each refill adds touchpoints: your hands, the cap, counter edges, and faucet areas. The rim matters here because it is where hands and mouths meet.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-on-the-inside">What's on the inside</h2>



Scientists tested the inside of people’s reusable bottles to see how many live bacteria were inside. Think of the number they report - CFU per milliliter - as how many tiny bacterial “colonies” can grow from a small sip of liquid rinsed off the bottle’s inner walls. 



Many places set the bar for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nearly-100-million-americans-exposed-to-contaminated-drinking-water/">drinking water</a> at below 100–500 CFU/mL. In this study, about 7 out of 10 bottles cleared 100, about 2 out of 3 topped 200, and 3 out of 5 exceeded 500. In plain English: most bottles carried more bacteria than you’d want in clean drinking water.



Researchers also checked for “<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/coliform-bacteria">coliforms</a>,” the bacteria we use as a red flag for sanitation. For bottled water, the rule of thumb is basically “none detected” (no more than 1 per 100 mL). Here, roughly 1 in 4 bottles broke that limit, and a few were sky-high.



Bacteria need three things: moisture, nutrients, and time. A bottle provides moisture by design. Nutrients show up when anything other than water goes in, and time accumulates when a bottle sits in a warm car, on a desk, or by the bed overnight.



One clear pattern stood out. Bottles used strictly for water tended to have lower bacterial counts. Bottles that also held sports drinks, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bvo-highly-toxic-soda-ingredient-banned-by-the-fda-in-2024-still-being-used-today/">soda</a>, or sweetened tea or coffee with cream often had much higher counts. 



Sugars feed bacteria. Proteins and fats can leave a film that helps cells attach and form biofilms, which are much harder to remove than free-floating cells.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cleaning-reusable-water-bottles">Cleaning reusable water bottles</h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/drinking-from-plastic-bottles-raises-your-blood-pressure/">Material</a> played a limited role. Glass tended to look cleaner on the quick outside test, likely because its surface is smoother and nonporous. But no material gets a free pass. 



Design features - narrow necks, flip tops, straws, bite valves, and silicone gaskets - create nooks where residue and biofilms hide. Those tucked-away spots are often the last to be disassembled and scrubbed.



People who cleaned more often generally had better results, but intentions didn’t always match outcomes. 



A quick rinse can leave sticky films intact. Dishwashers vary in heat and spray coverage; water may not reach beneath threads, seals, and straw assemblies.



Washing without separating the different parts of the bottle lets biofilms survive in hidden crevices.



“Do you wash your dishes after dinner?” Behnke asked. “Yes. But with water bottles, we often take them all over the place and don’t properly clean them.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-human-health-concerns">Human health concerns</h2>



Fukuta suggested that bacteria might include <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/staph-infections/symptoms-causes/syc-20356221" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">staphylococcus bacteria</a> or <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/group-a-strep/about/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">strep</a>. And there’s this, from the cohort study: “More than 20% of our samples had coliform bacteria, which is fecal matter,” says Behnke.



A bottle can act as a fomite - a surface that helps move microbes from place to place - when it isn’t kept clean. Hands touch the cap and rim. 



Mouths contact the same areas. If the outside is grimy, it can become the pathway for microbes to reach the drinking surfaces.



Dr. Yuriko Fukuta agrees. “We’re constantly touching our water bottles with our mouths and hands, so it’s easy to transmit bacteria to them, and then it just grows,” she says. “In some cases this can make you sick, especially if you have a weaker immune system.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reusable-water-bottle-tips">Reusable water bottle tips</h2>



Treat a reusable bottle like a food-contact surface. Use hot water and dish soap. Scrub the walls with a bottle brush. 



Use a small brush, skewer, or toothpick for threads and tiny crevices. Take lids, straws, bite valves, and silicone rings apart and scrub them individually. 



Let everything dry completely with the cap off. Drying breaks the moisture part of the bacteria formula and prevents the musty smell that appears when water lingers.



If you use sweet or creamy drinks, wash the bottle the same day. If your current bottle has many small parts and you often skip steps, a simpler design with a wide mouth can help you stick with the routine. 



Avoid sharing bottles. Saliva adds new microbes that can seed later growth, even if nothing seems wrong at the time. 



If you often set your bottle on public surfaces, wipe the outside periodically, paying special attention to the rim and cap.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-it-all-means">What it all means</h2>



Reusable bottles are still a smart, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hundreds-of-thousands-of-nanoplastics-found-in-bottled-water/">sustainable choice</a>. They just need real cleaning. 



The inside isn’t sterile, and the outside picks up residue fast. Pair frequent refilling with a consistent cleaning routine. 



That set of small steps turns your bottle back into what you intended it to be: a safe hydration tool, not a traveling microbiology project.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.foodprotection.org/files/food-protection-trends/nov-dec-17-sun.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Food Protection</a>.



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Reusable water bottles are a breeding ground for strep and fecal bacteria, study warns

Carrying a reusable water bottle is a smart habit. It saves money. It cuts down on single-use plastic. It keeps you hydrated. There’s a catch, though. Many of us don’t clean our bottles nearly as well or as often as we think we do, and the germs that hitch a ride on our hands, rims, and lids can stick around. In 2024, the global market for reusable water bottles was valued at about $10 billion, with surveys of university students reporting usage rates ranging from 50% to...

Everyone’s tried a diet at some point - counting calories, skipping dessert, cutting carbs. But here’s the catch: most of it doesn’t last. That’s where intermittent fasting comes in. Instead of limiting what you eat, it focuses on when you eat.



Now, scientists have tested whether it really works. A huge review published in&nbsp;The BMJ&nbsp;looked at 99 trials. Over 6,500 adults took part. Most had health issues. Most were women. Their average body mass index was 31, which falls under <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/secrets-of-a-popular-weight-loss-drug-are-finally-revealed/">obesity</a>.



This wasn’t a small review. It compared different types of fasting with standard calorie-cutting diets and unrestricted eating. And the results? Pretty interesting.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-these-diets-work">How these diets work</h2>



Let’s break down the main strategies. Time-restricted eating (TRE) means eating during a set time window each day, like 8 hours on, 16 off.



Alternate-day fasting (ADF) is exactly what it sounds like: you fast one day, eat the next. Whole-day fasting (WDF) usually follows a 5:2 plan - five days of regular eating, two days of fasting.



These were compared with daily calorie restriction and completely unrestricted <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/weight-loss-drugs-unexpectedly-help-people-drink-less-alcohol/">diets</a> (called ad-libitum). 



Participants followed these plans for anywhere from three weeks to a year. Most trials lasted about three months. Some were high quality. Others, less so. But together, they gave us a clearer picture.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-alternate-day-fasting-works-best">Alternate-day fasting works best</h2>



Among all the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/weight-loss-drugs-could-save-an-enormous-number-of-lives/">diets</a>, alternate-day fasting came out on top. People following ADF lost around 3.4 kg more than those who ate freely. Compared to daily calorie restriction, ADF showed an extra 1.29 kg drop in weight. That’s not a huge difference, but it’s something.



ADF also did better than the other fasting types. It beat TRE by 1.69 kg and WDF by 1.05 kg. But here’s the twist: none of these differences reached 2 kg. That’s the threshold researchers say matters for people that are above weight.



Still, ADF had some extra perks. It helped lower triglycerides and “bad” cholesterol more than the other diets. Blood sugar? No changes there. Same for “good” cholesterol. But weight and lipids did shift a bit.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-result-fades-over-time">Result fades over time</h2>



For the first few months, all fasting plans helped people lose <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plant-based-foods-promote-weight-loss-regardless-of-processing/">weight</a>. But after six months, those differences faded. Only people eating without restrictions kept showing a clear gap.



Longer trials also showed another pattern: people dropped out. ADF had the highest dropout rate. In one year-long trial, only 22% stuck with it. The rest gave up.



Were there side effects? Yes. Mild ones. Hunger, constipation, maybe some dizziness. Nothing dangerous, but not exactly fun either.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-food-quality-matters">Food quality matters</h2>



Here’s what the team from Colombia pointed out. A diet isn’t just a plan. It’s also the support, the structure, the advice, and what you eat on non-fasting days.



“The current evidence provides some indication that intermittent fasting diets have similar benefits to continuous energy restriction for weight loss and cardiometabolic risk factors. Longer-duration trials are needed to further substantiate these findings,” noted the study authors.



“Intermittent fasting does not aim to replace other dietary strategies but to integrate and complement them within a comprehensive, patient centered nutritional care model.”



In other words, it’s not about picking sides. Intermittent fasting isn’t better or worse by itself. It can work - if it fits the person.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-reality-of-alternate-day-fasting">The reality of alternate-day fasting</h2>



Intermittent fasting works. So does <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/spicy-foods-can-slow-down-eating-and-cut-calorie-intake/">calorie</a> restriction. ADF may give you a slight edge. But none of these are magic. And none of them guarantee long-term success without real change and support.



The numbers aren’t mind-blowing, but they tell us something. If you can stick with fasting, especially ADF, you may lose a little more weight and lower some risk markers. If you can’t, you’re not alone.



In the end, the most effective diet isn’t the trendiest or the one that shows the biggest weight drop in studies. It’s the one you can keep doing without burning out. 



If you can follow a plan for a week, then a month, then maybe a year - without feeling miserable or deprived - then that’s a good sign.



The meals you eat should feel normal, not like a punishment. Your routine should fit around your life, not take it over. When your eating habits make sense, and you don’t dread sticking to them, that’s when real, lasting change has a chance to happen.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/389/bmj-2024-082007" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The BMJ</a>.



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Alternate day fasting might be worth trying for weight loss

Everyone’s tried a diet at some point - counting calories,...

Pregnancy is a delicate time, and fresh evidence shows that wildfire smoke and extreme heat may add extra risk - especially for families in climate-stressed neighborhoods. 



The study suggests that exposure even a month before conception can shape a baby's weight at birth.



Researchers at the University of Southern California tracked more than 700 pregnancies across Los Angeles between 2016 and 2020. 



Study lead author Roxana Khalili is a researcher in the Department of Population and Public Health Sciences at the Keck School of Medicine of USC.



“We already know that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/poor-air-quality-linked-to-cognitive-problems-in-infants/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">poor air quality</a> is associated with adverse health outcomes, and that pregnant women and fetuses are especially vulnerable,” said Khalili.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-location-impacts-pregnancy-outcomes">Location impacts pregnancy outcomes</h2>



“Where you live makes a difference in your health,” said Khalili. “So does the timing of your exposure during or immediately before pregnancy."



"We wanted to better understand how these risks might differ for women who lived in neighborhoods that experience more <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mental-health-the-hidden-casualty-of-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate related stressors</a> and have fewer resources to deal with them.”



Using detailed smoke maps from CalFIRE and NOAA, the team estimated how much <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fine-particle-pollution-may-cause-children-to-develop-asthma/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fine particle pollution</a> reached each participant’s home on every day. 



The researchers paired the fire pollution data with weather data to capture heat, humidity, and wind. Together, those numbers revealed when each mother faced high smoke or heat stress.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pregnancy-risks-rise-with-wildfire-days">Pregnancy risks rise with wildfire days</h2>



“Overall, we found consistent associations between increased exposure to wildfire smoke and heat stress during preconception and the first trimester with the odds of having an SGA infant,” Khalili said. 



Babies classified as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/planting-new-trees-brings-hope-for-healthier-babies/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">small-for-gestational-age</a> (SGA) weigh below the 10th percentile for their age.



The team linked moderate smoke exposure in early pregnancy to low birth weight under five pounds, eight ounces.



Living in the hottest, most climate-vulnerable parts of the city raised the stakes. For women in these areas, the effect of heat stress before <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/moms-health-shapes-how-well-an-embryo-develops/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">conception</a> on the chance of an SGA birth nearly doubled. 



Fenton Z-scores, a marker of how an infant’s size differs from the average, also fell as wildfire days piled up during pregnancy.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-than-just-staying-indoors">More than just staying indoors</h2>



“Understanding what’s happening to women during <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wildfires-threaten-the-recovery-of-the-ozone-layer/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wildfires</a> and excessively hot days could help us identify protective measures, develop guidance, and plan interventions,” said Khalili.



Staying indoors, running air filters, and using air conditioning can help. However, the researchers stress that broader community solutions are needed.



“As the recent Los Angeles fires have demonstrated, infrastructure, socioeconomic, and health vulnerabilities can combine with excessive climate and environmental factors to magnify health risks,” said Rima Habre, director of USC’s&nbsp;CLIMA Center. 



“It is only by looking at the cumulative impacts of burdens communities are facing, now and into the future, that we can start to truly quantify health risks of climate hazards and target interventions to strengthen community resilience.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pregnant-stress-linked-to-surroundings">Pregnant stress linked to surroundings</h2>



Pregnancy is shaped by more than genetics or individual behavior. The surrounding environment - both physical and social - plays a powerful role in maternal and infant health. 



Factors like air quality, temperature, housing conditions, and access to health care can all affect outcomes.



For families in under-resourced communities, these stressors often overlap, compounding the risks during pregnancy.



Public health experts are increasingly calling for a more holistic approach to prenatal care. This means looking beyond clinical checkups to also consider neighborhood-level interventions. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-better-planning-protects-expectant-mothers">Better planning protects expectant mothers</h2>



Expanding access to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/safe-levels-of-air-pollution-can-negatively-impact-the-developing-brain/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">clean air</a>, cool spaces, nutritious food, and mental health support can help ease the burden on expectant mothers. 



Another crucial step is preparing communities for climate-related challenges with better urban planning and emergency response systems.



Pregnancy is a vulnerable time, but it’s also an opportunity to make meaningful change. By protecting the health of pregnant people today, we’re investing in the well-being of future generations. 



As climate-related hazards grow more frequent, ensuring healthier pregnancies will require more than individual action. 



Protection for expecting mothers will demand community-wide support, informed policies, and sustained attention to the environments in which people live, work, and grow families.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.4c10194">Environmental Science &amp; Technology</a>.



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Pregnancy risks rise with heat and smoke exposure

Pregnancy is a delicate time, and fresh evidence shows that...

Brain,Neurons,,Synapses,,Reasoning

When you juggle a phone number, an address, and directions - all while driving - you will notice that stray memory details, like the jingle on the radio, try to muscle their way in and vie for space and attention in your brain.



Neuroscientists have long suspected that the brain employs an internal "memory janitor" that's able to sweep that clutter away, and a new study finally catches the cleanup crew in action.



The evidence comes from cognitive neuroscientists <a href="https://postlab.psych.wisc.edu/staff/shan-jiangang/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jiangang Shan</a> and <a href="https://psych.wisc.edu/staff/postle-brad/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bradley Postle</a> at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, who traced how volunteers intentionally dropped one memory item to make room for another and then mapped the electrical ripple that followed the internal command.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-the-brain-clears-memory-space">Why the brain clears memory space</h2>



<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11515286/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Working memory</a> is famously stingy, holding only about four independent chunks before performance crashes. Because that ceiling never grows across adulthood, clearing stale or distracting content is the only way to keep goals on course.



The idea that we can store seven plus or minus two items dates to <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4486516/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">George Miller’s 1956 essay</a>, but later work shows that number shrinks once chunking tricks and rehearsal are stripped away. 



Active deletion therefore matters even more than passive forgetting when the cognitive stakes are high.



Failing to clear the cache can feed <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11122689/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">rumination</a> and other intrusive thought loops tied to depression, anxiety, and hallucinations. 



Pinning down the neural broom that prunes irrelevant data may expose a direct <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/our-brain-has-a-meal-memory-that-controls-hunger/">therapeutic target</a> for disorders that hijack the mind’s limited spotlight.



A 2019 <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31054444/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">meta‑analysis</a> found that intrusive memories dog 76 percent of adults with major depressive disorder, underscoring how common and stubborn unwanted recollections can be. An efficient erase signal could help break that cycle.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-brain-waves-that-erase-memory">Brain waves that erase memory</h2>



Using scalp electroencephalogram (<a href="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.01.09.632207v1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EEG</a>) sensors, Shan and Postle spotted an anterior‑to‑posterior traveling wave that surged down the cortex roughly 160 milliseconds after a “forget” cue. 



The rapid sweep looked like a top‑down shout from executive regions toward the visual areas that first encoded the now‑irrelevant detail.



That directional burst was markedly stronger than the weak hum seen when participants simply ignored an item, hinting that active deletion is a distinct operation rather than a slow fade powered by neglect. 



A separate analysis showed that stronger waves predicted <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/your-brain-literally-changes-based-on-daily-activities-and-lifestyle/">cleaner recall</a> of the surviving item, tying the electrical surge to practical memory benefits.



Early animal studies link traveling waves to attention shifts, but the new human data confirm that the same mechanism can serve a more radical purpose, silencing content outright. 



By converting an attention tool into a forgetting tool, the cortex re‑uses existing circuitry instead of inventing a bespoke system.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-the-test-showed-memory-deletion">How the test showed memory deletion</h2>



Twenty‑nine adults stared at two colored bars on a screen, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-discover-a-better-way-for-kids-to-learn-math/">memorizing</a> their orientations, and then received a cue naming which bar to discard before a third bar appeared. 



The tricky part: all bars shared the same format, so participants had to surgically erase only the flagged target while preserving everything else.



Because EEG captures brain rhythms at millisecond resolution, the team watched the decision and its aftermath unfold in real time. 



They also fired a brief “ping,” a flash matching the banished color, during the delay to probe any lingering excitability in the relevant neural channels.



A control condition left forgetting to happen passively, giving the researchers a baseline trace for comparison. That contrast let them separate mere inattention from the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sleep-prepares-the-brain-for-the-future-while-protecting-memories-of-the-past/">active‑removal process</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-the-brain-silences-old-info">How the brain silences old info</h2>



“Active removal led to decreased excitability in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-time-and-space-interact-in-the-brain/">perceptual circuits</a> centered on the unwanted information,” report Shan and Postle. 



After active removal, the <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482504/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">visual cortex</a> barely flinched at the ping, evidence that its circuits had been deliberately dampened. 



That engineered silence contrasts with passive forgetting, where the same probe evokes a modest after‑shock that slowly decays, suggesting the trace lingers and can still meddle with new material. 



The neural hush also predicts smaller interference effects on later trials, confirming that the brain’s tidy‑up translates into cleaner behavior.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-active-brain-memory-deletion-beats-fading">Active brain memory deletion beats fading</h2>



Passive forgetting starves a detail of attention until it slips below awareness, much like muting a television you no longer watch. 



Active forgetting uses the <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36072093/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">adaptation‑hijacking</a> mechanism, throttling neuronal gain so the discarded feature cannot compete later.



Behaviorally, items erased in this way leave a measurable repulsive after‑effect on subsequent perception, a fingerprint that never appears after passive withdrawal and one that further underscores the existence of two cleanup tools inside the same brain.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-it-matters-for-mental-health">Why it matters for mental health</h2>



People who ruminate struggle to swap out emotional memory information and commit more false alarms in brain memory tasks, underscoring how sticky thoughts hamper cognitive control. 



Training the brain’s active‑removal memory circuit could give these individuals a concrete method to quench spirals of negativity.



<a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10658640/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hallucinations</a> in psychosis, intrusive memories in post‑traumatic stress disorder, and even compulsive cravings might also flare when unwanted content refuses eviction. 



Boosting the frontal wave, or mimicking its effect with targeted stimulation, could tip the balance back toward flexible, goal‑directed thinking.



Clinical teams already experiment with cognitive‑control exercises and non‑invasive brain stimulation; the new findings supply a physiological marker to gauge whether those interventions truly engage the forgetting pathway.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-this-works-in-daily-life">How this works in daily life</h2>



The <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9400626/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ABC‑retrocuing task</a> uses abstract shapes, yet the principle probably scales to everyday situations, such as clearing a coworker’s outdated instructions before a meeting pivots to a new agenda. 



Ordinary forgetfulness may hinge less on storage capacity and more on how quickly the cleanup signal fires when priorities flip.



Understanding that signal could even inform workplace design: regular micro‑breaks might allow the brain to issue its erase order before the next demand floods in, shaving off mistakes rooted in lingering clutter.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-next-in-brain-and-memory-research">What’s next in brain and memory research</h2>



Shan and Postle now plan to pair <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/transcranial-magnetic-stimulation/about/pac-20384625" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">transcranial magnetic stimulation</a> with EEG to test whether amplifying the anterior‑to‑posterior wave speeds forgetting and improves downstream recall accuracy. 



Meanwhile, computational neuroscientists are adding adaptive gain control to artificial networks, hoping to build machines that forget with the same finesse as humans.



“It is surprisingly hard to teach an algorithm to know what not to remember,” Postle notes in a university briefing. 



If that memory challenge is cracked, voice assistants and self-driving cars could avoid brain overload by erasing sensor snapshots the instant they become obsolete.



The study is published in the <a href="https://www.jneurosci.org/content/early/2025/06/04/JNEUROSCI.2414-24.2025" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of Neuroscience</a>.



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Scientists find a built-in 'memory janitor' that helps your brain forget some things on purpose

When you juggle a phone number, an address, and directions...

Feeling fulfilled and in control might help preserve memory as you age. A major study tracking over 10,000 UK adults aged 50 and older for 16 years found a clear trend. Those with higher well-being consistently scored better on memory tests.



The research used data from the English Longitudinal Study of Aging (ELSA). Participants without dementia at baseline were tested every two years on memory and self-reported well-being. 



The results showed that higher well-being predicted better memory, but not the other way around.



“In the context of an aging population, understanding factors that may protect and maintain healthy cognitive <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/where-does-happiness-come-from-it-depends-on-who-you-are/">function</a> is critical for enhanced population health and health policy development,” said lead author Dr. Amber John from <a href="https://www.ucl.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UCL</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-emotional-well-being-supports-memory">Emotional well-being supports memory</h2>



Well-being included four dimensions: control, autonomy, self-realization, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/judging-your-happiness-makes-you-less-happy/">pleasure</a>. Each domain had its own influence on memory.



Control was consistently tied to both immediate and delayed recall across nearly all time points. Autonomy and self-realization followed a similar pattern, with strong ties to future memory performance. Pleasure also showed predictive value, especially in delayed recall.



This adds nuance. It's not just “feeling good” in general that matters. Specific aspects of well-being, like having choices or enjoying life, each play roles in protecting memory.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-good-memory-does-not-boost-well-being">Good memory does not boost well-being</h2>



The team used cross-lagged models to check whether memory influenced <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/happiness-influences-online-shopping-habits/">well-being</a>. Their results showed no consistent evidence that memory scores predicted later well-being.



Dr. John explained this in the paper. The lack of evidence may reflect that memory loss must reach a certain threshold before it affects well-being. People in this study had healthy brain function when it started.



Delayed memory scores at a few early waves did predict well-being at the next round, but the pattern was not stable across all nine waves.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-memory-link-remains-after-adjusting-factors">Memory link remains after adjusting factors</h2>



One key strength of the research is its handling of other influencing factors. The authors adjusted for depression, age, gender, ethnicity, and education. They also excluded participants who later developed dementia or died during the follow-up.



Even after these adjustments, the link between higher <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/who-is-happier-being-single-men-or-women/">well-being</a> and better memory was consistent. This suggests that the association is not merely due to low mood or health decline.



The study authors also noted that people with lower baseline well-being, poorer memory, and lower education were more likely to drop out. This highlights the real-world challenge of studying ageing populations over time.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-protecting-against-memory-loss">Protecting against memory loss</h2>



The results support the view that emotional and psychological resources matter for brain health. They add to earlier findings that link positive mental health with lower dementia risk.



Well-being may serve as a protective buffer against memory decline. It may support brain health through biological mechanisms like reduced inflammation or healthier cardiovascular systems.



This finding echoes previous studies showing that depression and anxiety speed up cognitive decline. Promoting well-being might serve as a protective measure.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-study-limitations-and-future-research">Study limitations and future research </h2>



Although the study spans 16 years and includes over 10,000 participants, it has limits. The well-being measure was self-reported, and the memory tests were simple.



The results show association, not causation. As the authors note, future research could use methods like Mendelian randomization to explore causality. Genetic data may reveal whether well-being plays a direct role in protecting memory.



Also, third factors such as lifestyle habits or socioeconomic background might influence both well-being and memory.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-targeted-mental-wellness-programs">Targeted mental wellness programs</h2>



“This study represents an important step toward understanding the interplay between wellbeing and memory over time,” said Professor Joshua Stott.



“Going forwards it would be fantastic if this research can build on the foundations of ongoing memory research to potentially inform strategies supporting cognitive health in aging populations - that is the aim,” noted Dr. Emily Willroth.



The findings open up the possibility of designing targeted mental wellness programs. Structured mindfulness, increased social connection, and life-purpose coaching could become tools for healthy cognitive aging.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13607863.2025.2468408" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Aging &amp; Mental Health</a>.



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Positive life outlook helps protect memory in later life

Feeling fulfilled and in control might help preserve memory as...

Every parent remembers the first cry of their newborn - a sound that seems to carry both the spark of life and a hint of distress. Does this cry reflect pain? And if so, is that pain anything like what an adult feels?



Pain is not simply a physical sensation. It also involves emotional distress and cognitive evaluation. To feel pain in the way adults understand it, the brain must process it through multiple networks.



A recent study by <a href="https://www.ucl.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UCL</a> and <a href="https://www.kcl.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">King’s College London</a> maps how babies’ brains develop the ability to sense and interpret pain. The work reveals that these abilities do not all appear at once. 



The experts scanned 372 preterm and term <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-do-infants-connect-with-the-world-it-all-starts-with-the-feet/">infants</a> between 26 and 42 weeks postmenstrual age. The brain activity of the babies was compared to adults using MRI data from two massive neuroimaging databases.



“Pain is a complex experience with physical, emotional, and cognitive elements - each part responsible for different aspects of it,” explained lead researcher Professor Lorenzo Fabrizi.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pain-networks-develop-at-different-times">Pain networks develop at different times</h2>



Pain involves three networks: sensory-discriminative, affective-motivational, and cognitive-evaluative. These networks connect different brain regions that identify, respond to, and interpret pain. 



The research shows that these networks mature at different rates. The sensory-discriminative network develops first; by 34 to 36 weeks, infants can detect the location and intensity of pain. 



The affective-motivational network matures between 36 to 38 weeks, enabling emotional responses to painful stimuli. 



The cognitive-evaluative network develops last, only after 42 weeks, meaning that even full-term infants lack a complete understanding of pain.



According to the study, sensory connections rapidly strengthen from 34 weeks, affective ones follow, while cognitive links remain sparse even at <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/singing-to-babies-is-a-powerful-way-to-boost-their-mood/">term</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pain-sensitivity-grows-fast">Pain sensitivity grows fast</h2>



The research also&nbsp;shows a strong increase in both the number and strength of brain connections from 26 to 42 weeks. Still, only the oldest <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/caffeine-offers-new-hope-for-preventing-sudden-infant-deaths/">infants</a> reached adult-like proportions in any network.



By 38 to 40 weeks, sensory pathways exceeded adult connection strength. Affective pathways also strengthened sharply. 



However, cognitive pathways - those tied to conscious thought - were weaker than adult levels in 40 percent of cases. This confirms that infants may feel pain but struggle to understand it.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-preterm-babies-respond-more-to-pain">Preterm babies respond more to pain</h2>



A 2023 study had shown that preterm infants do not habituate to repeated painful procedures. The new study explains this with brain development. Preterm babies may lack the cognitive tools to make sense of pain or modulate it.



“Preterm babies may be particularly vulnerable to painful medical procedures during critical stages of brain development... including the role of tailored pain management,” noted Professor Fabrizi.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-pain-networks-form-in-a-baby-s-brain">How pain networks form in a baby's brain</h2>



The sensory network matures earlier due to early development of spinal nociceptive circuits. These help babies sense noxious input quickly. 



According to the authors, axonal growth, synaptogenesis, and myelination start in sensory areas before spreading to others.



The affective network, which processes emotional pain, matures later. Connections involving the amygdala and anterior cingulate cortex appear only after 32 weeks.



Cognitive networks, involving the prefrontal cortex, are the last to mature. These support conscious awareness and memory of pain. Some frontal <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/even-before-they-crawl-babies-can-feel-their-own-heartbeat/">connections</a> are still missing at birth, especially in preterm babies.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-this-matters-for-neonatal-care">Why this matters for neonatal care</h2>



This study makes it clear: term infants are not mini-adults in how they feel pain. Their brains are still forming essential networks. 



The researchers show that even full-term babies have weaker cognitive pain processing than adults. That means clinical teams must time procedures carefully. 



For preterm infants especially, poorly timed painful interventions can have lasting consequences.



The brain’s pain-processing systems continue developing after birth. Full maturation, especially in the cognitive domain, may take months or even years.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-babies-feel-pain-differently-from-adults">Babies feel pain differently from adults</h2>



This research shifts how we understand infant pain. Newborns feel it, but they experience it differently. Recognizing this gap between sensory input and cognitive processing is vital.



Caregivers and clinicians must act with this knowledge, protecting newborns during this delicate stage of neural development.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.lww.com/pain/fulltext/9900/differential_maturation_of_the_brain_networks.919.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pain</a>.



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Babies can feel pain before they know what it means

Every parent remembers the first cry of their newborn -...

Many people worry about their online privacy and try to protect it by deleting cookies - but new research reveals this method is no longer effective.



A study led by <a href="https://www.tamu.edu/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Texas A&amp;M University</a> exposes how modern websites quietly track users with a technique called browser fingerprinting.



Unlike cookies, fingerprinting doesn’t leave traces you can erase. It works silently, building a detailed profile based on how your <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/social-media-pressure-is-straining-teen-friendships/">browser</a> behaves and what kind of device you use. 



Most users don’t even know this type of surveillance exists. Even more troubling, some companies may be doing it without consent - ignoring privacy laws completely.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-websites-track-you-even-after-deleting-cookies">Websites track you even after deleting cookies</h2>



Every time you open a website, your browser leaks <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/gen-ai-and-social-media-divert-peoples-attention-from-climate-crisis/">information</a>. It shares your time zone, screen size, operating system, and device type. These details might seem harmless. But combined, they create a unique fingerprint that identifies you, even if you don’t log in or accept cookies.



Dr. Nitesh Saxena is a cybersecurity researcher, professor of computer science and engineering, and associate director of the Global Cyber Research Institute at Texas A&amp;M.



“Fingerprinting has always been a concern in the privacy community, but until now, we had no hard proof that it was actually being used to track users,” said Dr. Saxena. “Our work helps close that gap.”



This fingerprint acts like a digital signature. It silently follows you from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/social-media-is-helping-save-wild-animals-like-caracals/">site</a> to site. And unlike cookies, which you can remove or block, fingerprints are almost impossible to avoid. Even privacy-focused browsers like Tor or Brave struggle to fully mask them.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-devices-leave-behind-a-digital-trail">Devices leave behind a digital trail</h2>



Most people assume that browsing in incognito mode or using privacy <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/social-media-use-increases-smoking-vaping-risks-among-youth/">tools</a> keeps them safe. But the Texas A&amp;M study shows that assumption is flawed. You might feel hidden, but your device keeps leaving tracks behind.



“Think of it as a digital signature you didn’t know you were leaving behind,” explained co-author Zengrui Liu, a former doctoral student in Saxena’s lab. “You may look anonymous, but your device or browser gives you away.”



That silent trail means advertisers and websites can continue identifying you. And because you never directly share your name or login information, you’re unlikely to know it’s happening.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-connecting-fingerprints-to-advertising">Connecting fingerprints to advertising</h2>



What makes this research different from past work is its real-world approach. It doesn’t just look at whether fingerprinting exists. It examines how fingerprinting connects to digital advertising and user tracking.



Study co-author Dr. Yinzhi Cao is an associate professor of computer science and technical director of the Information Security Institute at <a href="https://www.jhu.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Johns Hopkins University</a>.



“While prior works have studied browser fingerprinting and its usage on different websites, ours is the first to correlate browser fingerprints and ad behaviors, essentially establishing the relationship between web tracking and fingerprinting,” said Dr. Cao.



To test this, the researchers developed a measurement system called FPTrace. It assesses whether advertising systems respond to changes in a browser’s fingerprint. By altering the fingerprint and observing how ads behave, the researchers uncovered the role fingerprinting plays in digital surveillance.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-website-tracking-to-target-users">Website tracking to target users</h2>



With FPTrace, the research team went beyond surface-level code. They analyzed how ad systems changed their behavior in response to fingerprint alterations. The idea was simple: if fingerprinting truly influences ad tracking, changing the fingerprint should affect how advertisers bid for space.



“This kind of analysis lets us go beyond the surface,” said co-author Jimmy Dani, Saxena’s doctoral student. “We were able to detect not just the presence of fingerprinting, but whether it was being used to identify and target users - which is much harder to prove.”



The team found that changing the fingerprint reduced syncing events and affected the value advertisers were willing to pay. This meant advertisers were using fingerprint data in real time to determine how valuable a user was.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-stealthy-system-of-website-tracking">A stealthy system of website tracking</h2>



One of the study’s most surprising findings was how fingerprinting worked even after users deleted cookies. This is important because it shows fingerprinting does not rely on traditional tracking tools. It survives across sessions and devices.



The team noted shifts in HTTP records and bidding behavior when fingerprints changed, meaning users were being re-identified without their consent. This suggests a new method of tracking that’s stealthier and more durable than anything cookies could offer.



Even more, fingerprint-based data may be passed along during backend ad bidding. This process happens in milliseconds and can share your browser fingerprint with third parties without your knowledge.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-limits-of-privacy-laws">The limits of privacy laws</h2>



One of the most alarming aspects of the research is how fingerprinting bypasses privacy laws. Even when users opt out under strict laws like Europe’s GDPR or California’s CCPA, fingerprinting continues silently.



The law requires companies to respect a user’s decision not to be tracked. But fingerprinting falls into a gray zone. It happens in the background, with no visible alert or consent prompt. That makes enforcement difficult and user awareness nearly impossible.



This kind of invisible tracking undermines the very laws created to protect consumers. The researchers warn that current regulations need to expand to address fingerprinting directly.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-time-for-stronger-privacy-protections">Time for stronger privacy protections</h2>



The study doesn’t just expose a problem. It also points toward solutions. The team believes browsers need to take a stronger stance against fingerprinting. Current anti-tracking tools don’t go far enough.



The experts also hope FPTrace can help regulators audit companies and websites that use fingerprinting without permission. With the right tools, oversight agencies could start identifying violations more clearly and taking action.



Based on their results, the researchers call for a deeper look at how fingerprinting is used, especially in the ad tech industry. They argue that privacy protections must evolve to keep up with these new forms of tracking.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-your-browser-s-digital-fingerprint">Your browser's digital fingerprint </h2>



This breakthrough research, presented at the ACM Web Conference (<a href="https://www2025.thewebconf.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">WWW</a>) 2025, shows how far online tracking has come - and how little most users know about it.



Clearing cookies used to feel like enough. But browser fingerprinting proves that companies have developed new ways to follow you, even when you try to disappear.



As companies find creative ways to bypass privacy protections, new tools and updated laws must respond. Until then, the digital fingerprint your browser leaves behind will continue to tell more about you than you ever intended to share.



This research was a collaboration between Texas A&amp;M University and Johns Hopkins University. Funding came from the Texas A&amp;M Engineering Experiment Station (<a href="https://tees.tamu.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TEES</a>).



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3696410.3714548" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ACM digital library</a>.



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Websites are secretly tracking you using your browser’s 'fingerprint'

Many people worry about their online privacy and try to...

New research reveals how the brain assigns emotional value to smells - and why it matters for health and happiness.



If you've ever recoiled from the smell of microwaved fish or smiled at the scent of fresh bread, you’ve experienced just how powerfully odors can stir emotions. But what makes our brains decide that a smell is pleasant - or downright awful?



A new study from researchers at the <a href="https://ufhealth.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Florida Health</a> reveals the neural pathways that give odors their emotional charge.



The findings provide the first detailed insight into how the brain categorizes smells as good or bad. This sheds light on why certain odors evoke such visceral reactions - and how that knowledge could eventually improve health outcomes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-smell-s-path-to-the-brain">Smell's path to the brain</h2>



Dan Wesson is senior author of the study and a professor of pharmacology and therapeutics. He's also the interim director of the <a href="https://fcs.institute.ufl.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Florida Chemical Senses Institute</a>.



“Odors are powerful at driving <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-emotions-build-in-the-brain-and-why-they-linger/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">emotions</a>," he said. "It’s long been thought that the sense of smell is just as powerful, if not more powerful, at driving an emotional response as a picture, a song, or any other sensory stimulus.” 



The research focused on the amygdala - the brain’s emotional command center - which interacts with all of our senses. It has especially close ties to smell. In fact, the olfactory system has a more direct route to the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/lizard-brain-shapes-social-abilities-in-humans/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">amygdala</a> than any other sense.



“This is, in part, what we mean when we say your sense of smell is your most emotional sense,” said first author Sarah Sniffen, a graduate research fellow.



“Yes, smells evoke strong, emotional memories, but the brain’s smell centers are more closely connected with emotional centers like the amygdala.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-good-vs-bad-smells">Good vs. bad smells</h2>



To understand how this connection works, researchers studied <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mice-use-scent-to-determine-whos-the-boss/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mice</a> - animals whose brains share many neurochemical similarities with humans. Like us, mice can learn to associate smells with positive or negative experiences.



By analyzing the mice’s brain activity, the researchers identified two genetically distinct types of brain cells in the amygdala that play a key role in determining the emotional value of a smell.



Surprisingly, they found that both cell types could be involved in generating either positive or negative responses. It all depended on where those cells were sending signals.



“It can make an odor positive or negative to you,” Wesson said. “And it all depends upon where that cell type projects in your brain and how it engages with structures in your brain.”



In other words, the same type of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/brain-cell-origins-traced-to-creatures-that-lived-800-million-years-ago/">brain cell</a> could contribute to opposite emotional outcomes depending on its connections.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-odors-shape-daily-experience">Odors shape daily experience</h2>



Understanding smell responses may seem niche, but it has big implications - especially for those with heightened sensory sensitivity.



“We’re constantly breathing in and out and that means that we’re constantly receiving olfactory input,” Sniffen said.



“For some people that’s fine, and it doesn’t impact their day-to-day life. They might even think, ‘Oh, odors don’t matter that much.’ But for people who have a heightened response to sensory stimuli, like those with PTSD or <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/gut-microbes-have-an-unexpected-link-to-anxiety/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">anxiety</a> or autism, it’s a really important factor for their day-to-day life.”



Scents associated with trauma, illness, or discomfort can trigger disproportionately strong responses in certain individuals. These reactions can sometimes interfere with routine activities or medical treatment.



Wesson noted how a patient’s negative association with the smell of a clinic - tied to previous transfusions - could cause intense distress.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-scent-based-therapies">Future scent-based therapies</h2>



Understanding the specific brain circuits behind these reactions may open the door to targeted therapies. According to the researchers, it may one day be possible to modulate the activity of these odor-processing pathways with medications.



This could either dampen distressing responses or help restore emotional enjoyment in cases like appetite loss.



“Emotions in part dictate our quality of life, and we’re learning more about how they arise in our brain,” Wesson said. “Understanding more about how our surroundings can impact our feelings can help us become happier, healthier humans.”



By demystifying the deep link between scent and emotion, this research not only advances neuroscience - it also offers a potential path toward better mental and physical <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-environment-day-the-critical-role-of-nature-in-human-well-being/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">well-being</a>.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-025-03075-0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature: Molecular Psychiatry</a>.



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How your brain decides what smells good or bad

New research reveals how the brain assigns emotional value to...

Woman,Hand,Holding,Pre-rolled,Cones,For,Smoking,Cannabis,With,Cannabis

Cannabis is everywhere now. It’s in pharmacies, parties, pain clinics, and political speeches. Many use it to sleep better, relax, or deal with pain. Some cannabis users even see it as a natural alternative to pills.



However, while the world embraced cannabis, heart doctors started noticing something else. A new study published in the journal Heart, based on data from over 432 million people, has revealed a clear <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cannabis-extract-cbd-proven-highly-effective-at-killing-mosquitoes/">connection</a>. 



People who use cannabis have a much higher risk of heart attacks, strokes, and even dying from heart disease. That’s not fear-mongering - it’s data from .



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-people-are-using-stronger-cannabis">More people are using stronger cannabis </h2>



In over half of the states in the U.S., and in some countries in Europe, like France, doctors can give cannabis to patients as medicine, but using it just for fun is still illegal. 



Even though it's not allowed for fun, many young people in France still use it a lot. Germany recently changed its laws and now lets people use cannabis recreationally, starting in April 2024.



Now more people use cannabis, and the products they’re using are stronger than before. Today’s cannabis has more <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-reveal-the-most-complete-cannabis-genome-yet/">THC</a>. That means stronger effects on the brain and body - especially the heart.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cannabis-linked-to-heart-problems">Cannabis linked to heart problems</h2>



The researchers looked at 3,012 studies. Among them, 24 studies were focused on the link between cannabis and major heart problems.



An analysis of the research showed that people who use <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cbd-reduces-the-unwanted-side-effects-of-thc/">cannabis</a> have a 29 percent higher risk of heart attack, a 20 percent higher risk of stroke, and more than double the risk of dying from heart disease.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-regular-use-raises-stroke-risk">Regular use raises stroke risk</h2>



Stroke risk didn’t look the same in every study. A few didn’t find strong links, especially in people who used cannabis once or twice. But when the researchers zoomed in on heavy users or younger adults, the risk became clearer.



In Australia, one study found that people who used <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cannabis-use-in-any-form-directly-linked-to-significant-risk-of-heart-damage/">cannabis</a> weekly were nearly five times more likely to suffer a stroke or mini-stroke. A U.S. hospital database also found increased risk, especially in people aged 25 to 34.



These results suggest that occasional cannabis use may not be a red flag. But regular use, especially while young, is when things start looking risky.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cannabis-linked-to-more-heart-attacks">Cannabis linked to more heart attacks</h2>



One study showed that cannabis users aged 15 to 22 were 36 percent more likely to have a heart attack. Another found that people using cannabis <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cannabis-use-directly-linked-to-head-and-neck-cancer/">more than once a week</a> had more than double the odds.



That’s after adjusting for tobacco, cocaine, and other drugs. Cannabis came out as the strongest predictor in a French hospital study - even stronger than <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-cocaine-tricks-and-hijacks-the-brain/">cocaine</a>.



That’s not the story we usually hear about cannabis. But these numbers speak louder than opinions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-higher-death-risk-from-heart-disease">Higher death risk from heart disease</h2>



The risk of fatal cardiovascular events was also investigated. In one study, young patients who had heart attacks and also used cannabis were far more likely to die. The link remained consistent even after controlling for smoking and other conditions.



Another study conducted in the United States confirmed that cannabis users had a much higher chance of dying from heart-related causes. 



In the UK, a 2024 study revealed an unexpected twist. Women, not men, faced higher risks of heart-related death from heavy cannabis use.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-about-the-benefits-of-cannabis">What about the benefits of cannabis?</h2>



Cannabis has shown several proven medical benefits, especially when used under a doctor’s guidance. One of its most recognized uses is for managing chronic pain. 



People with conditions like arthritis, multiple sclerosis, or nerve-related injuries often find relief through cannabis-based treatments. 



The plant's compounds - mainly THC and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cannabis-extract-cbd-proven-highly-effective-at-killing-mosquitoes/">CBD</a> - can interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system to reduce pain signals and inflammation. 



Medical cannabis also <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cannabis-may-ease-cancer-symptoms-like-pain-and-nausea/">helps cancer patients</a> by easing nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy, and in some cases, it can stimulate appetite for those struggling with weight loss due to illness.



Doctors have also used cannabis to help patients with neurological disorders. In certain forms of epilepsy, especially in children, CBD-based medications have reduced the number and severity of seizures.



These examples reflect how cannabis, when used appropriately, can provide real and sometimes life-changing benefits for patients, making it easier for some to ignore the overall health implications attached to cannabis use.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-experts-urge-tobacco-style-warnings">Experts urge tobacco-style warnings</h2>



“Cannabis needs to be incorporated into the framework for prevention of clinical cardiovascular disease. So too must cardiovascular disease prevention be incorporated into the regulation of cannabis markets,” noted Professor Stanton Glantz and Dr. Lynn Silver.



The experts emphasized that today's cannabis is not what it used to be. It now includes potent concentrates, synthetic versions, and a growing variety of edible and inhalable forms. These may carry risks beyond the cannabinoids themselves.



“How these changes affect cardiovascular risk requires clarification, as does the proportion of risk attributable to cannabinoids themselves versus particulate matter, terpenes or other components of the exposure,” the authors noted.



“Specifically, cannabis should be treated like tobacco: not criminalized, but discouraged, with protection of bystanders from secondhand exposure.”



Doctors should ask about cannabis use, particularly when it comes to patients with heart problems. For people using cannabis regularly, it’s time to rethink the idea that it is harmless.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://heart.bmj.com/content/early/2025/06/10/heartjnl-2024-325429" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Heart</a>.



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Cannabis is worse for heart health than cocaine, according to a startling new study

Cannabis is everywhere now. It’s in pharmacies, parties, pain clinics,...

Humans do more than share food, songs, and stories. Across every continent, people spend real energy making sure those same songs and stories outlive them. This deep investment in preserving tradition isn’t just sentimental - it may be vital for mental health and community resilience.



“These cultural aspects likely give people within that culture a sense of belonging and identity,” explained Cory Cobb of Texas A&amp;M University’s <a href="https://public-health.tamu.edu/">School of Public Health</a> after unveiling the new <a href="https://reviewboard.ca/upload/project_document/Chandler_and_Lalonde_1998_Paper__1265041839.PDF" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cultural continuity</a> hypothesis.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-holding-on-to-heritage">Holding on to heritage</h2>



The idea is simple: when a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/elephant-culture-could-be-lost-forever-if-elders-disappear/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">community</a> defends its language, rituals, or land, younger members see a future they want to join. 



Work with First Nations communities in British Columbia showed suicide rates plunge where elders keep control of schools, health care, and cultural programs.



A 2024 scoping review of 34 studies found that holding on to heritage customs often tracks with lower depression and better life satisfaction in <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11528972/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">migrant adolescents</a>. Not every paper agrees on the size of the benefit, yet the protective trend shows up on every inhabited continent.



Continuity is flexible, not fossilized. Groups routinely drop practices that no longer serve and elevate others that still feel useful. 



Cobb’s team argues that preserving a few high‑value traits is enough to satisfy deep psychological needs for identity and predictability. When those anchors vanish, people can feel unmoored and anxious.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-babies-show-early-cultural-leanings">Babies show early cultural leanings</h2>



Hints of this motive appear within days of birth. Two‑day‑old <a href="https://infantstudies-psych.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2015/03/Moon-et-al.-1993.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">infants</a> suck longer on a pacifier to hear recordings in their native language than to hear a foreign tongue.



By<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16246233/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> three months</a>, babies stare longer at faces matching the ethnic group they see most at home, yet newborns show no such bias. Culture, then, begins shaping preferences almost as soon as sensory systems come online.



Researchers see parallel effects in music exposure. Lullabies familiar to the mother’s culture calm infants faster than unfamiliar <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mutual-relationships-with-nature-offer-hope-for-a-sustainable-future/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">melodies</a>. 



These early preferences suggest that the brain tags familiar patterns as safe. Later in life the same circuitry likely scales up, nudging adults to conserve the customs that made them feel secure as children.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mental-health-and-cultural-retention">Mental health and cultural retention</h2>



Community‑wide data echo those cradle studies. In a landmark <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228465754_Aboriginal_language_knowledge_and_youth_suicide_Cognitive_Development_22_393-399" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">survey</a> of 150 First Nations bands, youth suicide dropped to nearly zero wherever at least half the residents could carry on a conversation in their ancestral language. Language is only one marker. 



Groups that manage their own schools, police, and child‑welfare agencies also record lower rates of violence and addiction.



Psychologists link these outcomes to <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4241300/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">psychological well‑being</a>: the sense that life is coherent and worth planning for. When continuity is strong, adolescents report higher self‑esteem and lower hopelessness. Loss, by contrast, can act like chronic stress. 



Communities stripped of land or policy control often watch mental‑health indicators deteriorate within a generation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-teens-caught-in-cultural-transition">Teens caught in cultural transition</h2>



Moving to a new country complicates continuity. Studies of Chinese American families show that when teens adopt U.S. norms faster than their parents, a pattern called the <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2746862/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">acculturation gap</a>, depressive symptoms rise sharply. 



The trouble is less about change itself and more about mismatch. Parents cling to rules they trust; teens chase acceptance at school, and both sides feel misunderstood.



Successful immigrant families create hybrid traditions. Friday night might feature salsa <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/partners-who-view-the-world-the-same-way-feel-more-secure/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">lessons</a> followed by Thanksgiving‑style pumpkin pie. 



Those mash‑ups give young people continuity in a language they can live with. They also prove that culture is not a zero‑sum game.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-when-traditions-feel-threatened">When traditions feel threatened</h2>



“Perceived threats against a population’s cultural heritage often lead to greater efforts to retain important cultural aspects,” Cobb noted. 



People work hardest to defend heritage when they sense it is under attack. Anthropologists document <a href="https://oxfordre.com/anthropology/display/10.1093/acrefore/9780190854584.001.0001/acrefore-9780190854584-e-601" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">language‑revival classes</a> springing up after political upheaval. Sociologists see similar surges in folk‑dance clubs and craft cooperatives during economic downturns.



Threat can even come from success. Urbanization pulls young adults toward big‑city jobs, prompting rural elders to organize festivals that lure them home once a year. 



These efforts may look nostalgic, yet they serve concrete social functions. They rebuild networks that buffer against <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/people-are-falling-in-love-with-ai-companions-and-it-could-be-dangerous/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">loneliness</a> and poverty.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-culture-health-and-digital-life">Culture, health, and digital life</h2>



Cobb and colleagues want to know which traditions matter most for health. Is it stories, land rights, or food rules? 



The researchers also plan experiments to test whether continuity satisfies needs beyond identity, such as control or existential meaning. Long‑term studies tracking children into adulthood could clarify causal links.



Another open question involves digital life. Do online communities provide enough continuity, or must practices be embodied? Policymakers have a role, too. 



Funding local language programs may cost less than treating the mental‑health fallout of cultural loss.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2Frev0000561" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Psychological Review</a>.



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Preserving your cultural traditions drastically improves mental health

Humans do more than share food, songs, and stories. Across...

Space may feel weightless, but its effect on oral health can be heavy. A new animal study shows that near-weightlessness speeds up gum disease - the kind that eats away at bone and can eventually cause teeth to fall out.



Researchers from the <a href="https://www.sharjah.ac.ae/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Sharjah</a> published these findings after using a lab setup to mimic space conditions. They placed mice in a simulated <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/myotonpro-device-helps-astronauts-maintain-their-muscles-microgravity/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">microgravity</a> environment and compared the results with a group that remained under normal gravity on Earth.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-simulating-space-without-leaving-earth">Simulating space without leaving Earth</h2>



To create these conditions, the team used a “hind-limb unloading” model. It’s a common method for simulating microgravity in rodents. 



The researchers placed the mice in tilted positions to remove weight from their back legs. Meanwhile, gum disease was induced placing ligatures around their molars.



“Six male C57BL/6J mice (3–4 months, ~30 g) were randomly divided into two groups (n=3 each): (a) ground control with ligature-induced periodontitis and (b) hindlimb unloaded with ligature-induced periodontitis," explained the study authors.



"All procedures followed ethical approval (ACUC-02-02-2023). Mice were anesthetized (100 mg/kg ketamine/5–10 mg/kg xylazine, intraperitoneally) prior to ligature placement between the first and second left maxillary molars."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gum-disease-in-space">Gum disease in space </h2>



The changes were clear. “Mice exposed to simulated microgravity showed much worse <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/citrus-drink-that-helps-remove-tartar-and-whitens-teeth-helps-bad-breath/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">gum inflammation</a> and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/special-lettuce-could-protect-astronauts-from-bone-loss/">bone loss</a> compared to mice with induced periodontitis on the ground," said lead author Zahi Badran, a professor of periodontology at the University of Sharjah.



"They had higher levels of disease markers, more severe tissue damage, and more immune cells in the affected areas.” 



Additionally, the microgravity group exhibited a marked increase in CEJ-ABC distance, indicating significant bone resorption. 



They also showed elevated levels of alkaline phosphatase activity (ALP), a common marker of bone turnover, further suggesting heightened inflammation and accelerated bone loss linked to altered gravity.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-beyond-oral-health">Beyond oral health </h2>



While the experiment focused on gum disease in space, the implications stretch further. “It also opens the door to better understanding how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fasting-helps-the-body-fight-inflammation-and-chronic-diseases/">inflamma</a><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fasting-helps-the-body-fight-inflammation-and-chronic-diseases/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">t</a><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fasting-helps-the-body-fight-inflammation-and-chronic-diseases/">ion</a> works in the body, both in space and on Earth,” said Dr. Badran.



The authors also note that researchers have largely overlooked oral health in space. “To the best of our knowledge, this is the first in vivo pilot study to investigate microgravity's effects on periodontitis progression using the combination of the hindlimb unloading,” they wrote.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-planning-for-the-next-space-frontier">Planning for the next space frontier</h2>



This research is especially timely as plans for longer space missions - such as journeys to Mars - move closer to reality.



Dr. Badran said the study highlights the importance of rethinking <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/flexible-wearable-devices-could-track-astronaut-health-in-space/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">astronaut health</a> protocols. “This calls for the integration of dental medicine, particularly periodontology, into astronaut/future space colonies' inhabitants' health protocols," he noted.



Specialized prevention and treatment strategies, along with in-mission monitoring tools, most probably will be essential in case of prolonged space stays.



Simultaneously, the model offers terrestrial benefits, providing insights into the periodontal status of immobilized bed patients, who experience similar effects of microgravity.



This model will be extensively studied to better understand the biological pathways underlying these outcomes. Researchers will also explore how periodontitis may influence other systemic diseases under microgravity.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-research-directions">Future research directions </h2>



Although the study involved a small sample of six mice, the researchers believe it’s a strong start. They plan to expand the model and continue a new line of research on oral health and disease in microgravity. This work will shed more light on space medicine in general.



The experts also aim to study links between gum and systemic diseases in space by assessing more microbiological and immune factors in microgravity.



Future investigations may explore how prolonged space travel affects oral microbiomes,<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/some-people-have-unique-immune-responses-that-block-covid/"> immune response</a>, and tissue regeneration. Such insights could lead to the development of targeted countermeasures to protect astronauts on long-duration missions.



Space missions may be cutting-edge, but without proper dental care, astronauts could end up paying for it in plaque and pain. This study is a reminder that when it comes to space travel, even your gums aren’t immune to gravity - or the lack of it.



The full study was published in the <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jre.70000">Journal of Periodontal Research</a>.



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Plaque in orbit: Gum disease gets worse in space

Space may feel weightless, but its effect on oral health...

Pressure can come from all directions - authority figures, peers, or the setting we find ourselves in. Most of us believe we’re strong enough to resist it. We think we’d stand up to an unjust command. We picture ourselves pushing back, refusing to cross ethical lines, and walking away with our values intact.



But a new study suggests this confidence may be misplaced. Scientists at <a href="https://www.osu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Ohio State University</a> tested how people judge their own willingness to follow an immoral order. Their work echoes the classic Milgram obedience experiments while adding a modern twist.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-modern-shock-experiment">A modern shock experiment</h2>



The team asked more than 400 adults to read a first-person account of the famous 1960s shock study. Half of the volunteers were told that 65 percent of the original participants obeyed every instruction from the authority figure.



The rest were given no extra facts. Each person then guessed when they would quit the experiment and when an “average participant” would quit.



Using a dial ranging from 1 (quitting after the first shock) to 31 (complete obedience), participants placed themselves around level 7. 



In contrast, they expected the average person to continue until about level 12. Interestingly, even those told that 65 percent of people fully obeyed still did not think their own obedience would be much higher.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-when-pressure-overrides-values">When pressure overrides values</h2>



This gap between “me” and “most people” is a classic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/teens-with-overbearing-parents-lack-self-esteem-in-adulthood/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">self-esteem</a> buffer. It helps protect how we see ourselves but it can leave us blind to real-world pressure.



“Social pressures are way more powerful and impactful than we give them credit for,” said Philip Mazzocco, the study’s lead author.



“If you fall under the sway of these pressures, you could end up engaging in behavior inconsistent with your values and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/online-avatars-sway-our-morals-through-social-influence/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">morals</a>.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reading-about-danger-vs-feeling-it">Reading about danger vs. feeling it</h2>



Simply imagining the situation was not enough to break the illusion. Participants still underpredicted their obedience - a finding that fits earlier research.



“Just reading about a situation is not sufficient, as doing so doesn’t really internalize the point that we're all really susceptible to these pressures,” Mazzocco explained.



The study compares this mental distance to watching a horror movie from the couch versus running for your life outside.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-personality-traits-and-obedience">Personality traits and obedience</h2>



The researchers also looked at <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/personality-traits-are-not-strongly-inherited-from-parents/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">personality</a> tests. Conscientious people - those who like rules and routines- were more likely to follow the authority figure all the way. Yet no single trait guaranteed resistance.



“Studies like these are relevant to society because if we all assume we’re so resistant to obedience, we are not going to immunize ourselves against authority figures who want to take advantage of us,” Mazzocco noted.



To help protect against this vulnerability, the team suggests a few practical strategies. One is to avoid high-pressure settings when possible. Another is to have an exit plan or coping strategy ready when pressure arises. 



And when leaving the situation isn’t an option, they recommend staying curious - asking questions, slowing things down, and checking whether what’s being asked truly aligns with your <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/peoples-moral-values-literally-change-with-the-weather/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">values</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-social-pressures-in-the-real-world">Social pressures in the real world</h2>



Social pressure isn’t limited to dramatic lab experiments or extreme situations. It shows up in daily life - at work, in families, in classrooms, and online.



People may go along with group opinions they privately disagree with, follow workplace practices they find questionable, or stay silent during conversations that challenge their values. These choices aren’t always driven by fear or weakness but by a deep desire to belong, fit in, or avoid conflict.



Social pressure can be subtle, even invisible, but its effects are powerful. What makes it especially tricky is that it often feels normal. Most people don't realize they're being influenced until much later - if at all.



Understanding that social pressure often operates quietly in the background can help us take it more seriously. Rather than assuming we’re immune, it’s more useful to accept that everyone is vulnerable - then plan accordingly.



Awareness isn’t about being perfect; it’s about being prepared. In the end, resisting pressure doesn’t always mean grand defiance. Sometimes, it just means pausing long enough to think for ourselves.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12144-025-07962-1#Abs1">Current Psychology</a>.



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Social pressure alters how you make decisions

Pressure can come from all directions - authority figures, peers,...

Alcohol addiction has long resisted easy treatment. Many people try to quit. Some succeed, but most relapse. The current medications on the market work for only a few. 



Other drugs cause side effects that are bad enough to make people quit treatment altogether. For decades, scientists have searched for something better, something more effective, something people can actually stick with.



Now, a team of researchers from Sweden might have found a new path. Not with a brand-new molecule or an expensive designer drug. Instead, they reached into the medicine cabinet and pulled out two drugs we already know well. 



Varenicline is used to help smokers quit and Bupropion is used for depression and nicotine withdrawal. Neither of these drugs were designed to treat alcohol <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/more-americans-now-link-alcohol-consumption-to-cancer/">use</a> disorder, but something remarkable happened when researchers combined them.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-alcohol-addiction-treatments">Alcohol addiction treatments </h2>



Alcohol use <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/heavy-drinking-among-students-is-fueled-by-misperceptions/">disorder</a> kills. Not slowly, either. Severe cases can cut lifespans by more than 25 years. Treatments exist, but they’re not doing enough. 



Medications like disulfiram and naltrexone have been available for years, but their impact is limited. They help some people, but not the majority. The effects are modest, and many patients either don’t begin treatment or fail to stick with it.



Doctors and researchers have been hunting for something better. This time, they looked at the brain’s dopamine system. People with AUD may not get enough dopamine. That shortage could be what drives them to drink. So, what if we boosted dopamine instead?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-testing-the-drugs-for-alcohol-addiction">Testing the drugs for alcohol addiction </h2>



That’s where varenicline and bupropion come in. Varenicline nudges nicotine receptors, releasing dopamine. Bupropion stops dopamine from fading too fast. Put them together and you get a one-two punch.



Bo Söderpalm, co-lead author of the study, is an expert in the Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology at the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gu.se/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Gothenburg</a>.



“We observed approximately twice the effect compared to currently available medications, which is highly promising. However, additional studies are required before the combination treatment can be approved for alcohol use disorder,” noted Söderpalm.



The researchers recruited 384 adults with moderate to severe alcohol use <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/alcohol-related-cancer-deaths-rise-steeply-in-the-united-states/">disorder</a>. The individuals received one of four treatments: varenicline plus bupropion, one of the two drugs, or a placebo.



The trial lasted 13 weeks. The scientists didn’t just ask people how much they drank. They tested blood for B-PEth, a marker that tracks alcohol use. They also looked at how many days people drank heavily.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-drug-combo-reduced-drinking">Drug combo reduced drinking</h2>



In nearly every measure, the drug duo outperformed the rest. In the group that followed treatment closely, alcohol addiction symptoms dropped the most. Blood tests showed significant improvements.



Self-reports did too. Total drinking went down, along with the number of heavy drinking days. Varenicline alone worked, but not as well. Bupropion alone did not make a meaningful difference.



Varenicline works, but it makes people nauseous. The study revealed something interesting. Bupropion seems to take the edge off. Fewer people got nauseous when they took both drugs. When they did feel sick, it didn’t last as long.



“Nausea is a well-known and troublesome side effect of treatment with varenicline. It was surprising but very encouraging to see that nausea decreased when bupropion was added," noted study co-lead author Andrea de Bejczy.



"The fact that the combination treatment is more tolerable for patients increases the chances that they will complete the full course of treatment."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-drinking-less-alcohol-lowered-health-risks">Drinking less alcohol lowered health risks</h2>



The team went further. They used earlier research to estimate what the drop in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/even-small-amounts-of-alcohol-increase-cancer-risk/">drinking</a> means for health. 



The analysis showed that if the average person kept drinking less, their risk of dying from alcohol-related causes could fall by as much as 70 to 76 percent.



Individuals tolerated the drug combo well, and serious side effects were rare. The most common complaints were headache, insomnia, and fatigue, and they happened about equally in all groups.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-two-old-drugs-offer-new-hope">Two old drugs offer new hope</h2>



The study didn’t include people fresh out of detox, so we don’t know how well the combo helps folks stay sober. Also, the team didn’t get to track nicotine use the way they planned. Supply issues blocked testing.



Still, the study stands out. It’s the first to use B-PEth as a main measure in a human trial for AUD. That matters. People often underreport drinking. Blood doesn’t lie.



These two drugs were never meant for alcohol addiction. But together, they just might be what many people need. The results show strong effects, fewer side effects, and better chances that people will actually finish treatment.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanepe/article/PIIS2666-7762(25)00102-4/fulltext" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Lancet Regional Health - Europe</a>.



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Common medications may treat alcohol addiction

Alcohol addiction has long resisted easy treatment. Many people try...

<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://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Y4eLFNYrKE
</div></figure>



On the unforgiving landscape of North Greenland, temperatures drop and sunlight barely penetrates through the polar winter. It was here, however, that an international team of scientists found <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/predatory-worms-were-terror-beasts-half-a-billion-years-ago/#google_vignette" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">evidence of sea monsters</a> that would change our understanding of ocean life in the past.



This video captures the discovery of Timorebestia fossils that had been hidden for more than 500 million years in the Sirius Passet formation. The "terror beasts," as they are called, are a hidden chapter in the evolutionary history of <a href="https://www.earth.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earth</a>, showing that sophisticated predator-prey interactions occurred much earlier than previously envisioned.



Dr. Jakob Vinther and his research team at the <a href="https://www.bristol.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Bristol</a>, in collaboration with researchers at the <a href="https://eng.kopri.re.kr/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Korean Polar Research Institute</a>, braved extreme weather conditions at 82.5 north latitude to locate these giant creatures. Using sophisticated electron microprobe analysis, they revealed the detailed anatomy of the animals, including their muscle and nerve tissues.



The find upsets the traditional timeline of sea predators. Although we've long appreciated that Cambrian oceans were at one time ruled by <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWI3-UgA3_o&amp;list=PL1QLQMW9MWDwpkFOnvgAmu7wT6rZmYqdJ&amp;index=19" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">arthropods</a>, these discoveries indicate that relatives of arrow worms were first to dominate the seas. These worms were building sophisticated food webs several million years before other predator groups arose.



Each fossil is a story of ancient hunger, with fossil stomach contents revealing these meter-long beasts dined on heavily armored arthropods regularly, cementing their place as the ocean's first apex predators.



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Worms dominated seas before dinosaurs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Y4eLFNYrKE On the unforgiving landscape of North Greenland, temperatures drop...

<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://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow3JH03PqEQ
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">New York is the site of the world's oldest forest.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-385-million-year-old-trees-discovered">385-million-year-old trees discovered</h2>



Scientists have uncovered something extraordinary just two hours north of New York City. The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/worlds-oldest-forest-discovered-close-to-new-york-city/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">world's oldest forest</a>, dating back 385 million years, offers a window into how Earth's first complex forests shaped our planet's atmosphere.



Located near <a href="https://townofcairo.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cairo, New York</a>, in Greene County, these weren't merely primitive plants struggling to survive. These were sophisticated trees with root systems remarkably similar to modern forests. This ancient woodland predates dinosaurs by 140 million years.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-cairo-forest-discovery">The Cairo forest discovery</h2>



385 million years ago, upstate New York was a tropical paradise near the equator. Thanks to continental drift, this ancient forest has traveled thousands of miles to its current location.



The fossil forest sits in an abandoned quarry, roughly half the size of a football field. This represents just a slice of what was likely a massive forest system stretching from New York into Pennsylvania.



Charles Ver Straeten, curator of sedimentary rocks at the <a href="https://www.nysm.nysed.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New York State Museum</a>, made the discovery in 2009. While scouting the former highway department property, his trained eye spotted wandering patterns in the stone that looked like marine features.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-revolutionary-age-and-preservation">Revolutionary age and preservation</h2>



The site contains 385-million-year-old rocks with fossilized woody roots forming horizontal patterns up to 18 feet (5.5 meters) wide. As Christopher Berry, a paleobotanist at Cardiff University, explains: "You are walking through the roots of ancient trees."



This discovery pushes back advanced tree evolution by millions of years. The research, published in <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/home" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Current Biology</a> in December 2019, fundamentally changes our understanding of when complex forests first emerged.



Researchers believe a massive flood buried the forest floor, creating perfect fossilization conditions. Over millions of years, sediment hardened into rock, preserving these root patterns like nature's time capsule.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-meet-archaeopteris-the-first-modern-tree">Meet Archaeopteris: the first modern tree</h2>



The star of this ancient forest is Archaeopteris – not to be confused with the feathered dinosaur Archaeopteryx. This tree was far older and more revolutionary.



William Stein from <a href="https://www.binghamton.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Binghamton University</a> describes the roots as "strikingly modern, essentially what you'd see outside in my yard right now." These weren't simple root systems you'd expect from ancient plants.



Some fossilized roots are six inches (15 centimeters) in diameter, forming 36-foot-wide (11-meter) patterns. These giants grew up to 65 feet (20 meters) tall with five-foot-diameter (1.5-meter) trunks.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-changing-impact">Climate-changing impact</h2>



These trees fundamentally changed Earth's environment. Kevin Boyce, a Stanford University geoscientist, explains how their deep roots triggered "weathering," chemical reactions that pulled carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.



This process dropped atmospheric CO2 levels from 10-15 times higher than today to roughly modern concentrations. These ancient trees helped create atmospheric conditions that made complex life possible.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ancient-forest-ecosystem">Ancient forest ecosystem</h2>



The forest was remarkably diverse. Scientists identified Eospermatopteris, palm tree-like plants with short roots that reached 30 feet (9 meters) tall but lacked woody structure. The forest also housed cladoxylopsids and a mysterious third species still being studied.



All reproduced through spores rather than seeds – millions of years before seeds evolved. This tropical environment had no grass, flowers, or flying insects, just towering trees creating Earth's first complex forest canopy.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scientific-significance">Scientific significance</h2>



Before this finding, the Gilboa forest, located 25 miles (40 kilometers) away, held the "oldest forest" title. Cairo's trees are 2-3 million years older, showing that complex forest ecosystems developed much faster than scientists believed possible.



Patricia Gensel, a <a href="https://www.unc.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of North Carolina</a> paleobotanist, notes: "The size of those root systems is really changing the picture. Even 20 years ago, researchers assumed trees with such complex root systems didn't evolve so early."



The Cairo site presents three unique root systems, suggesting Devonian period forests were diverse ecosystems with different trees occupying different environmental niches, much like today's forests.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-modern-preservation-efforts">Modern preservation efforts</h2>



In 2022, New York State Senator Michelle Hinchey secured a $170,000 grant for the town of Cairo to construct specialized fencing around the fossil forest site. The town plans to conduct a feasibility study exploring the possibility of creating an educational center and working lab on-site.



Joe Hasenkopf, chair of the Cairo Planning Board, hopes to partner with educational institutions to create a research facility serving scientists, students, and the public.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lessons-for-today-s-climate">Lessons for today's climate</h2>



Why does a 385-million-year-old forest matter today? It shows how dramatically forests can change Earth's climate. These ancient woodlands created the atmospheric conditions supporting complex life.



Understanding how prehistoric forests transformed the planet helps us appreciate modern forests' critical role in addressing climate change. Forests remain Earth's most effective carbon capture systems.



These prehistoric trees changed Earth's atmosphere by pulling massive amounts of carbon dioxide from the air. As we face modern climate challenges, this ancient forest reminds us of trees' incredible power to transform our planet's environment.



The next time you walk through a forest, remember you're experiencing an ecosystem whose blueprint was established 385 million years ago in upstate New York. These ancient pioneers didn't just survive – they thrived and changed the world forever.



The full study was published in the journal Current Biology.



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Earth's oldest forest found in the United States

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow3JH03PqEQ New York is the site of the world's oldest...

<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://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prrq8Ql81zk
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Acid rain and a crisis solved.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-don-t-we-ever-hear-about-acid-rain-anymore-the-environmental-crisis-that-was-solved">Why don't we ever hear about "acid rain" anymore? The environmental crisis that was solved</h2>



Remember the 1980s when acid rain dominated headlines? Dire warnings about rain eating buildings, killing fish, and destroying forests filled every news cycle. Then, almost like magic, acid rain vanished from public discourse. What happened? Did we actually solve one of the late 20th century's most pressing environmental challenges?



The answer might surprise you. Unlike many environmental issues that drag on indefinitely, acid rain represents one of modern history's most successful ecological recovery stories. It's a tale of science, politics, and technology working together to tackle what seemed impossible.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What was acid rain?</h2>



Acid rain isn't regular rain having a bad day – it's precipitation that became significantly more acidic due to air pollution. When power plants, factories, and vehicles burn fossil fuels, they release sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) into the atmosphere.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The science behind it</h2>



Think of acid rain as nature's chemistry experiment gone wrong. These compounds react with water, oxygen, and other chemicals to form sulfuric and nitric acids. When mixed with water vapor in clouds, they create precipitation with dangerously low pH levels.



While clean rain has a pH of about 5.6, acid rain could drop as low as 4.2 to 4.4 – roughly as acidic as tomato juice or coffee. According to US Geological Survey documentation, Scottish chemist Angus Smith first coined "acid rain" in 1872, but it didn't become a household phrase until the 1960s and 1970s when Swedish scientist Svante Odén documented its devastating effects on Scandinavian lakes and European forests.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The crisis at its peak</h2>



During the height of public concern, environmental damage was both widespread and visible. This wasn't some abstract future threat – people could see destruction happening in real-time.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Environmental devastation</h2>



The most dramatic impacts were impossible to ignore. Research documented by the Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation shows that in the Adirondack Mountains, more than 200 lakes became so acidic they couldn't support fish life. The Adirondack Council reports that 409 lakes once supported brook trout, but many lost their fish populations due to acid rain.



By 1976, when scientists cataloged all acidified lakes in the Adirondack Park, researchers found that half of the lakes over 2,000 feet above sea level had no fish, according to studies published in environmental journals. The acidification process worked like a slow-motion disaster. As acid rain fell into watersheds, it gradually lowered pH levels. Fish couldn't survive in acidic water, and their food sources died off too.



Trees at high elevations showed stress directly linked to acid rain. It weakened them by leaching nutrients and making them susceptible to disease. Historical records show Germany's Black Forest saw nearly half its trees damaged by the mid-1980s.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Economic impact</h2>



Acid rain wasn't just environmental – it was expensive. Acidic precipitation corroded infrastructure, buildings, and monuments. Historic stone structures deteriorated at accelerated rates. Tourism suffered as lakes became fishless and forests declined. EPA economic analyses from the period documented repair costs mounting into billions annually.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The solution: government action and technology</h2>



Transformation from crisis to success required unprecedented cooperation between governments, industries, and environmental groups.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Clean Air Act of 1990</h2>



The turning point came with the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, signed by President George H.W. Bush. This represented a fundamentally new approach to environmental regulation, as documented in EPA historical records.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Cap-and-trade success</h2>



Instead of mandating specific technologies, the 1990 amendments introduced something revolutionary: a cap-and-trade system for sulfur dioxide emissions. EPA program documentation shows this market-based approach set overall limits but allowed companies to trade emission allowances.



The genius was harnessing market forces to find cost-effective pollution reduction. Companies reducing emissions cheaply could sell excess allowances to those facing higher costs. Research published in environmental economics journals and EPA progress reports shows this resulted in dramatic SO2 reduction at a fraction of projected costs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Technology advances</h2>



Policy provided the framework, but technology made reductions possible. Studies in atmospheric science journals document the widespread adoption of flue gas desulfurization systems ("scrubbers") that removed sulfur dioxide before it reached the atmosphere. By the 2000s, new installations could remove over 95% of SO2 emissions, according to EPA technical reports.



The push coincided with cleaner energy development. Natural gas produces fewer sulfur compounds than coal. Wind and solar, emerging in the 1990s, captured growing market share, reducing reliance on high-sulfur coal.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-we-don-t-hear-about-it-today">Why we don't hear about it today</h2>



Why did acid rain disappear from headlines? Simple: the problem was largely solved.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Success doesn't make news</h2>



There's an old journalism saying: "If it bleeds, it leads." Environmental success stories don't generate urgency like crisis reporting. Media attention shifted to other challenges: climate change, plastic pollution, and biodiversity loss. There's only so much environmental anxiety the public can absorb, and newer concerns replaced acid rain.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Mission accomplished</h2>



The primary reason is beautifully simple: interventions worked. EPA monitoring data shows sulfur dioxide emissions dropped over 90% since 1990. Academic research published in environmental science journals confirms pH levels in formerly affected areas returned closer to normal. This represents one of history's most dramatic environmental recoveries. Studies by the Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation show fishless lakes now support healthy populations. Forests recovered, and building damage slowed dramatically.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-is-it-really-gone">Is it really gone?</h2>



The crisis is largely resolved, but monitoring data shows the problem isn't completely eliminated – it's managed to acceptable levels. Some areas still experience occasional events during high pollution periods. International environmental research indicates that rapidly industrializing Asian countries face similar problems to what we experienced decades ago, though they're implementing successful strategies.



EPA research shows nitrogen oxide emissions proved more challenging than sulfur dioxide, coming from vehicles and mobile sources. Climate science studies suggest changing weather patterns add complexity to how acid rain forms and falls.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What this teaches us</h2>



The acid rain experience proves that seemingly intractable environmental problems can be solved with scientific understanding, political will, and technological innovation. Environmental monitoring data shows recovery speed was remarkable – within a decade, measurable improvements appeared in air quality and ecosystem health.



Success came from bipartisan support across party lines. Policy analysis studies show the market-based approach appealed to those preferring economic incentives while achieving environmental goals. This support created lasting policy surviving political changes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Conclusion</h2>



Acid rain's disappearance from public consciousness represents environmental science's greatest success stories. Through effective regulation, technological innovation, and international cooperation, we transformed an overwhelming crisis into a manageable challenge.



Today's silence isn't because we forgot – it's because we solved it. The 1990 Clean Air Act, combined with technology and energy market changes, reduced acid rain emissions over 90%, according to comprehensive EPA data analysis.



This success offers hope for current challenges. It proves complex problems can be solved when science, policy, and technology work together. As we face climate change and plastic pollution, acid rain reminds us that dramatic positive change is possible.



Next time someone asks whether environmental regulations work, remember acid rain. It's proof that sometimes, we get it right.



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



Sources: This article draws from EPA official documentation and progress reports, peer-reviewed research published in environmental and atmospheric science journals, historical data from the Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation records, US Geological Survey publications, policy analysis studies, and environmental monitoring data collected over three decades.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Frequently Asked Questions</h2>



1. Is acid rain completely gone? No, but EPA monitoring shows it's reduced to manageable levels. US sulfur dioxide emissions dropped over 90% since 1990, making acid rain much less severe than the 1980s crisis.



2. How long did solving take? Environmental monitoring data shows significant improvements began within 5-10 years of 1990s emission controls. Full ecosystem recovery took longer – some areas need 20-30 years for complete recovery.



3. What made the solution successful? Clear scientific understanding, visible damage motivating action, bipartisan support, available technology, and innovative market-based policies like cap-and-trade.



4. Do other countries have acid rain problems? Yes, particularly rapidly industrializing Asian countries. However, international environmental research shows many implement similar successful control strategies.



5. Could acid rain return? Potentially, if regulations weaken or we return to high-sulfur coal without controls, though effects would take years to become severe according to environmental projections.



6. Can you recommend any teaching tools on the subject of "acid rain"? The United States Environmental Protection Agency produced a wonderful teacher's guide for ages 14 and under that you can find on the EPA website here: <a href="https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2017-03/documents/teachersguide.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2017-03/documents/teachersguide.pdf</a>



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The environmental problem we actually solved

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prrq8Ql81zk Acid rain and a crisis solved. Why don't we...

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.



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What to plant in your garden in mid-July

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

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

<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>.



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Wildlife tunnels save millions of amphibians

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

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



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



<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...

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Nushagak Bay, a large estuary in southwest Alaska. Nushagak runs mainly north to south and exits in Bristol Bay, a large body of water in the Bering Sea.



"The bay is primarily fed by the Nushagak River, which begins in the Alaska Range and flows southwest approximately 450 km. The bay is also fed by several additional rivers including the Wood, Igushik, Snake and Weary rivers," says ESA.



"The dark colors of the Nushagak River are most likely due to tannins or lignins (chemical substances found in plants). Tannins and lignins from roots, leaves, seeds, bark and soil can leach into the water and give it a brown or even black colour. The sediments then flow southwards where it is mixed with the bluer waters of the bay."



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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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

[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;



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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



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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



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Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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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"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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