Concept,Of,Future,Technology,5g,Network,Wireless,Systems,And,Internet

People keep debating whether fifth-generation wireless signals might be risky. Some fear that these signals, traveling at higher frequencies, could damage our cells. Scientists have now studied how 5G waves affect the activity of human skin cells. 



The results reveal no alarming signs of harm. Dr. Vivian Meyer from <a href="https://constructor.university" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jacobs University Bremen</a>, led the research to address these concerns.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-5g-causes-no-harm-to-skin-cells">5G causes no harm to skin cells</h2>



Study participants exposed human skin cells to frequencies of 27 GHz and 40.5 GHz. These tests ran for 2 hours or 48 hours at power flux densities of 1 milliwatt per square centimeter and 10 milliwatts per square centimeter.



The team measured how these electromagnetic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/space-debris-may-create-a-future-with-no-internet-or-astronaut-missions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fields</a> might trigger changes in gene expression. They also tracked DNA methylation, which helps turn genes on or off.



Recommended safety limits for the general population sit at 1 milliwatt per square centimeter for this frequency range, based on the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection <a href="https://www.icnirp.org/cms/upload/publications/ICNIRPrfgdl2020.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">guidelines</a>. This study used up to 10 times that level to see if any significant shifts might appear.



Some earlier work pointed to possible health effects but failed to control for heat from the equipment. This group included temperature checks to rule out the chance that slight warming created misleading effects.



Many news outlets have highlighted statements that 5G might cause everything from headaches to severe illness. This study tackled those claims by testing real human cells in controlled lab setups.



Non-ionizing radiation, such as 5G, differs from high-energy sources like X-rays. These high-energy sources can break chemical bonds, but 5G waves do not have that ability.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-5g-affects-gene-expression">How 5G affects gene expression </h2>



Gene expression involves the way cells read genetic instructions and make proteins. If an outside factor changes that process, it can lead to subtle or major biological <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/quantum-teleportation-communication-achieved-on-regular-internet-cables/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">consequences</a>.



Researchers found no unusual patterns in the cells that received the 5G signals. They compared them with cells shielded from the waves and saw similar activity levels.



“The quantum energies are far too low to have photochemical or even ionizing effects on cells,” stated Dr. Meyer. The authors also emphasized that routine tasks like making proteins or repairing tissue stayed normal. This calm response in gene expression points to no disruption from 5G.



Millimeter-wave frequencies also have shallow skin penetration, often only a few millimeters into the body. That limited depth further reduces the odds of deep tissue interference.



Scientists watch gene expression in skin cells closely because 5G exposure can link to inflammation or other cell stress. No such signals were noticed in the study.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-5g-exposure-and-dna-methylation">5G exposure and DNA methylation</h2>



<a href="https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/Methylation" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Methylation</a> is a chemical tag that can affect how genes function. Certain signals from the environment can change these tags, which sometimes alters cellular behavior.



In this project, no major shifts appeared in the cells’ methylation <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/taking-a-smartphone-break-can-improve-your-life-in-surprising-ways/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">profiles</a>. This suggests that the exposure did not create epigenetic stress.



Other <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0109435" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">research</a> found similar outcomes at frequencies in the millimeter-wave range, even when power levels were higher than everyday exposure. These stable methylation patterns match the stable gene expression findings.



Previous concerns stemmed from the fear that 5G might spark changes at the cellular level without immediate symptoms. These fresh data suggest otherwise.



Experts have explored whether electromagnetic exposure could prompt long-term epigenetic shifts. Those might remain hidden until many cell cycles pass.



In these trials, the normal patterns suggest that any subtle changes are unlikely. This observation matches wider evidence that short-term exposure poses no known epigenetic threat.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-studies-could-reveal-5g-risks">Future studies could reveal 5G risks</h2>



Some people wonder if long-term exposure might still pose unknown risks. Others question whether certain individuals might be more sensitive to electromagnetic signals.



This study indicates no harmful alterations in skin cells from 5G exposure, but more work on various cell types could settle lingering doubts. Future projects may also review how repeated exposure interacts with other environmental factors.



Scientists often stress the importance of consistent methods and proper temperature tracking. Such precautions help isolate real biological changes from simple heating effects. 



The authors believe these findings calm persistent fears and show that 5G exposure to skin cells is unlikely to cause genetic or epigenetic damage.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-public-concerns-about-5g-health-risks">Public concerns about 5G health risks</h2>



Many researchers believe large-scale <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-is-shrinking-earths-atmosphere-and-thats-bad-for-satellites/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">monitoring</a> over years could confirm these laboratory insights. Ongoing surveillance might help ease public anxiety.



Policymakers often rely on robust data for safety guidelines. They may update recommendations only if science uncovers new dangers.



Modern wireless networks have always raised questions about health. This well-controlled experiment looks like a solid step toward assurance.



Many wonder if the matter is settled forever. Time will tell whether new research keeps indicating a lack of harm.



The study is published in <a href="https://academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/article/4/5/pgaf127/8124427?login=false" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PNAS Nexus</a>.



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5G wireless signals were extensively tested and the final verdict is out on their human impact

People keep debating whether fifth-generation wireless signals might be risky. Some fear that these signals, traveling at higher frequencies, could damage our cells. Scientists have now studied how 5G waves affect the activity of human skin cells. The results reveal no alarming signs of harm. Dr. Vivian Meyer from Jacobs University Bremen, led the research to address these concerns. 5G causes no harm to skin cells Study participants exposed human skin cells to frequencies of 27 GHz and 40.5 GHz. These tests ran for 2 hours or...

With summer in full swing, many people are packing up their suitcases and getting ready to leave for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/vacation-more-live-longer/">vacation.</a> For some, a holiday means relaxing on a beach, visiting a theme park, or exploring a new city. 

A new study has found that the stress before a vacation and the lengthy adjustment period to get back into a routine after can put a damper on holidays abroad. 

<a href="https://www.healthspan.co.uk/">Healthspan</a>, a supplement and vitamin company in the UK, commissioned a study to see how long it takes people to get back to normal after a week or two-week break. 

For the study, 2,000 adults were polled by the market research company <a href="https://www.onepoll.com/">OnePoll</a>. 

The survey results show that it takes three days to fall back into a regular routine after a week abroad and four days for two weeks off. 

Jet-lag can cause several restless nights when returning from vacation, and it can take up to two nights to recover a regular sleep schedule. 

It doesn’t help that people often throw their routines out the window while on vacation. Sleeping in, napping in the afternoon, and staying up later than usual all make returning the daily grind more difficult. 

Six out of ten surveyed said the morning routine was the hardest part about coming back from vacation. 

One of the more surprising aspects of the poll was how much stress and anxiety survey respondents reported feeling during and even before vacation. 

From packing, to worrying about money on the trip, to tying up loose ends at work, many reported feeling stressed before taking time off. 

Four out of ten of those polled said they felt anxious about returning to work while on holiday and 25 percent of responders admitted to taking extra days off to help ease back into the day-to-day. 

Other major stressors were the dread and anxiety about returning home and having to catch up on chores, laundry, and work. 

This begs the question, is it even worth it take time off given all the concerns and problems that can arise before and after vacation? 

“Taking time to unwind and relax is vital for overall physical and mental health, but many people may struggle pre and post-holiday,” said Dr. Meg Arroll, a psychologist on behalf of Healthspan. “This survey has shown over half of Brits found it difficult to get back to their routines after a break away. So, although holidays can be great at making us forget about the toils of day-to-day life, many of us find it hard to readjust when ’they’re over.”

Dr. Arroll recommends tackling anxious thought patterns before a vacation to help allay any fears and concerns. Sticking to a healthy routine on vacation and giving yourself some time to ease back into work when you return from vacation can help reduce the tough adjustment period. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Image Credit: Shutterstock/Akos Nagy

It takes days to adjust to a normal routine after vacation, new poll shows

With summer in full swing, many people are packing up...

Marijuana use during <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/marijuana-pregnancy-morning-sickness/">pregnancy</a> can negatively impact fetal brain development and cause problems in early childhood such as impulsive behavior and impaired memory. In a recent study, medical researchers have found that an essential micronutrient called choline can protect against these developmental issues.

Dr. Camille Hoffman is an associate professor of Maternal Fetal Medicine at the <a href="https://medschool.cuanschutz.edu/">University of Colorado School of Medicine</a>. 

"In Colorado, it's common for women to use marijuana before they know they're pregnant and some continue to use as a natural remedy for morning sickness, depression and anxiety," said Dr. Hoffman.

"In this study, we found that maternal marijuana use begins to negatively impact the fetal brain at an earlier stage in pregnancy than we expected. However, we also found that eating choline-rich foods or taking choline as a supplement may protect the child from potential harm."

Among 201 mothers examined in the study, fifteen percent reported marijuana use before and beyond 10 weeks gestation. Infants born to mothers who continued to use marijuana beyond 10 weeks had decreased cerebral nervous system inhibition by the time they were one month old. 

This early on in development, decreased brain inhibition is tied to attention and social problems, which can lead to a predisposition for substance abuse, depression, and psychosis later in life.

The researchers found that maternal choline levels correlated with improved attention, cuddliness, and bonding ability among the infants. 

"We already know that prenatal vitamins improve fetal and child development, but currently most prenatal vitamins do not include adequate amounts of the nutrient choline despite the overwhelming evidence of its benefits in protecting a baby's brain health," said Dr. Coffman. "We hope that this research is a step towards more OB-GYNs, midwives and other prenatal care providers encouraging pregnant women to include choline in their prenatal supplement regimen."

The study is the first of its kind to evaluate the central nervous system effects of marijuana in human newborns. The research also revealed that the vulnerable gestational period for the impact of marijuana on fetal brain development is as early as the end of the first trimester. 

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/psychological-medicine">Psychological Medicine</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Shutterstock/Artemidovna

Choline found to prevent damaging fetal effects associated with marijuana

Marijuana use during pregnancy can negatively impact fetal brain development...

The month of July will close with yet another rare lunar phenomenon following a string of full and supermoons that have <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pink-moon/">made headlines</a> since the beginning of this year. 

This time though, the moon won’t be full. Instead, we’re getting a black moon, so-called because it’s the second new moon in a single month. 

Typically, we’ll see a new moon and full moon in a single month, but this isn’t always the case. 

A lunar cycle takes about 29 days to complete, but our calendar months on Earth can range from 28 to 31 days. As a result, now and then, we’ll see two lunar cycles in the same month.

If a month has two full moons, the second full moon is called a blue moon. When a month starts and ends with a new moon, the second new moon is called a black moon. 

It’s a rare event that sometimes only occurs in different time zones and can happen every 32 months. 

Technically, this month’s black moon will also be a supermoon, a new supermoon to be exact. January, February and March all had full <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/super-worm-moon-tonight/">supermoons this year</a>. 

Unfortunately, stargazers hoping to catch a glimpse of this rare lunar event may be out of luck. 

Despite its supermoon status, the black moon is still new and will be invisible to the naked eye, blending into the night sky. 

Many people associate a crescent moon with a new moon, but this is incorrect. The waxing crescent will be visible in a few days following the black moon. 

If you live in the Western Hemisphere, tonight’s new moon is considered a black moon. For those in the Eastern Hemisphere, the new moon won’t occur until August 1st.

If you do live in the Eastern Hemisphere, the end of August will bring another new moon and the official black moon for that part of the world.  

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Image Credit: Shutterstock/taffpixture

Black moon arrives tonight -- here’s what you need to know

The month of July will close with yet another rare...

<a href="http://www.earth.com/news/binge-drinking-munchies/">Binge drinking</a> is a behavior that you’d likely associate with college-age kids. And while it may bring to mind beer funnels and toga parties, there is actually a large proportion of the older population that participates in this risky behavior. 

A new study published in the <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/15325415">Journal of the American Geriatrics Society</a> has found that 1 in 10 adults age 65 and older currently binge drink, which puts them at risk for numerous health issues.

Despite the fact that binge drinking is especially harmful to older adults – due to risks ranging from increased chances of falling to likelihood of having chronic health issues – there hasn’t been much research on rates of binge drinking among the older population. 

“Binge drinking, even episodically or infrequently, may negatively affect other health conditions by exacerbating disease, interacting with prescribed medications, and complicating disease management,” explains lead author Benjamin Han, MD, MPH, an assistant professor at the <a href="https://med.nyu.edu/education">NYU School of Medicine</a>. 

For this new study, Dr. Han and colleagues utilized the most recent national data to determine the current prevalence and factors that may increase the risk of binge drinking among adults. This involved analyzing data from almost 11,000 U.S. adults age 65 and older who participated in the National Survey on Drug Use and Health between 2015 and 2017. Their results revealed that 10.6% of older adults have binge drank in the past month, which is an increase compared to previous studies. 

Within the study population, binge drinkers were more likely to be male, current tobacco and/or cannabis users, African American, and have less than a high school education. Additionally, they were more likely to visit the emergency room in the past year. 

“The association of binge drinking with cannabis use has important health implications. Using both may lead to higher impairment effects,” says senior author Joseph Palamar, PhD, MPH, an associate professor in the Department of Population Health at <a href="https://med.nyu.edu/">NYU Langone Health</a>. “This is particularly important as cannabis use is becoming more prevalent among older adults, and older adults may not be aware of the possible dangers of using cannabis with alcohol.”

While a lot of alcohol education is focused on the younger generations, as they may be less knowledgeable of potential health risks given more limited experience, there is still a need for continued education as we age. 

“Our results underscore the importance of educating, screening, and intervening to prevent alcohol-related harms in older adults, who may not be aware of their heightened risk for injuries and how alcohol can exacerbate chronic diseases,” concludes Han.

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Shutterstock/Iakov Filimonov

One in 10 adults over the age of 65 binge drinks, study finds

Binge drinking is a behavior that you’d likely associate with...

Children born to older parents are less likely to have behavioral problems. People are <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/socioeconomic-age-gap-children/">having children</a> later on in life, and it’s a trend evident in several countries including the United States. 

Researchers from several Dutch institutions and medical centers conducted a study to see how children of older parents are affected and if parent age is linked to child behavioral problems. 

The study was published in the journal <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/14678624">Child Development</a>. 

“Evidence points to an association between fathers’ age and autism spectrum disorders and schizophrenia, so we wanted to know if there is an association in the general population between parents’ age and common behavior problems in children, beyond the clinical diagnoses,” said Marielle Zondervan-Zwijnenburg, the leader of the study.

For the study, the researchers reviewed data from children who were born after 1980 that took part in four studies about adolescent development and relationships. 

Data on 32,892 Dutch children when they were 10 to 12 years old were considered for the study. Problem behaviors like aggression or anxiety were rated by the children themselves and their parents and teachers. 

Parent age at childbirth ranged from 16 to 68 across the four studies reviewed by the researchers. 

While children of older parents exhibited fewer externalizing behavior problems like aggression, the researchers found no link between parent age and risk of internalizing behavior problems like depression or anxiety.

One potential reason that children of older parents may be less likely to exhibit certain behavior problems is that older parents are more likely to have completed higher levels of education, according to Dorret Boomsma, a co-author of the study. 

The study shows that older parents who want to start a family need not necessarily worry about increasing the risk of behavior problems in their children. 

“With respect to common behavior problems, we found no reason for future parents to worry about a harmful effect of having a child at an older age,” said Zondervan-Zwijnenburg. 

It’s important to note that the study only focused on behavior problems, and so the results can not be expanded to include other development issues without further research. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Image Credit: Shutterstock/javi_indy

Children born to older parents are less likely to have behavioral problems

Children born to older parents are less likely to have...

Innovations like electric cars and spaceships that can travel to the moon, which were once fabulous pipe dreams of the past, have become a reality. But what does the future hold for people today? 

According to a panel of experts and the British campaign <a href="https://www.smartenergygb.org/en">Smart Energy GB</a>, smart homes that combine futuristic technology with eco-conscious living will soon be all the rage. 

Imagine living in a home made with reusable and eco-friendly materials and a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/renewables-more-electricity-coal/">roof of solar panels</a>. 

Inside you’ll find shape-shifting furniture that changes color, smart appliances that store power, and a fridge that instantly cools or freezes food in seconds. Imagine wall screens and windows that can project any backdrop you want, and bedding that is temperature-controlled, so you never have to wake up in a sweat again. 

Sound too good to be true? Smart Energy GB reports that these innovations are all based on technology or solutions that are already available or being designed and could be ready for consumers by 2030. 

What’s key about Smart Energy’s smart home is the focus on eco-friendly living. Personal roof gardens, hydroponic herb gardens, toilets that convert waste into fuel, and roof wind turbines to help generate energy are all potential realities for homes of the future. 

Smart Energy GB commissioned the study and 2,000 UK adults were surveyed in the process. 

The survey showed that people in the UK are already looking to make their homes greener and seven out of ten of the participants said they would like in a more eco-friendly house. 

“Making homes greener certainly won’t mean making them low tech,” said Dr. Ian Pearson, a futurologist who was part of the panel of experts asked to speak about what the future would look like. “Our homes will use renewable energy, stored in home batteries, and will make our lives easier.”

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Main Image Credit: SWNS:South West News Service

Future smart homes will combine advanced tech with eco-friendly innovation

Innovations like electric cars and spaceships that can travel to...

Researchers from the <a href="https://www.ohsu.edu/">Oregon Health and Science University</a> may have discovered a new path for treating drug addiction by blocking dopamine receptors in the brain. 

In the past, there have been many studies focused on finding ways to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cure-cocaine-addiction/">treat drug addiction</a> and unhealthy reward-seeking behaviors. 

Now, new research using rats has found that dopamine receptors in the amygdala could be key to treating cocaine addiction. 

The amygdala, a cluster of neurons located in the medial temporal lobe, helps process both pleasure and fear responses and as such, the amygdala contains receptors for dopamine. 

Dopamine is a chemical in the brain, and because of its role in those feel-good highs we get when we do something pleasurable, it’s often referred to as the “pleasure chemical.”

While this overly simplistic definition of dopamine can make for a catchy news headline, the reality is that dopamine has much more to do with<a href="https://www.cell.com/neuron/fulltext/S0896-6273(12)00941-5?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS0896627312009415%3Fshowall%3Dtrue"> motivation and seeking out a reward</a> rather than the feelings experienced after. 

For the study, researchers Mathew Lattal and Earnest Kim trained rats to push a series of levers to release a dose of cocaine as a way to model drug-seeking behavior.

The researchers then blocked the dopamine receptors in different regions of the amygdala to see how it impacted the rat’s motivation to get the drug. 

Blocking receptors in the basolateral amygdala of the rats resulted in a gradual decrease in the rats pushing levers and self-administering the drug. 

When the researchers blocked receptors in the central amygdala, this caused the rats to rapidly cease pushing the levers, but when the same rats were put in a new environment, the drug-seeking behaviors increased again.  

The results, published in the journal eNeuro, show how targeting dopamine receptors in different regions in the amygdala could help weaken the addictive effects of cocaine. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Image Credit: Shutterstock/sdecoret

Blocking dopamine receptors in the brain could treat cocaine addiction

Researchers from the Oregon Health and Science University may have...

Humans and chimps have different foraging patterns in the rainforest. A team of researchers from the <a href="https://www.eva.mpg.de/">Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology</a> set out to compare the spatial movement patterns of human foragers and <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/chimpanzees-hunting-eating-crabs/">chimpanzees</a> in similar rainforest environments. 

The Mbendjele BaYaka people are constantly changing camps and have a large lifetime range of about 800 square meters, while chimpanzees live in a much smaller area and spend most of their adult lives within the same home range.

The study was focused on the direction and  speed of five Mbendjele BaYaka women from the Republic of Congo and five female chimpanzees from Taï forest as they ventured away from established trails on their daily quest for food.

The researchers found that both the Mbendjele BaYaka people and Taï chimpanzees had similarly high levels of linearity when they traveled toward locations that were out of sight. On the other hand, humans and chimpanzees showed clear differences in their movement as their surroundings and group sizes shifted.

The Mbendjele BaYaka traveled with higher linearity in familiar areas compared to less familiar areas. This pattern was reversed in Taï chimpanzees, who moved with higher linearity and speed in less familiar areas.

"One possible explanation of these differences can be their different ranging style," said study lead author Haneul Jang. "The Mbendjele BaYaka people stay in several seasonal camps in their lifetime range, and walk 90 percent of their travel distance on human-made trails during their foraging trips in the forest. They may therefore have less experience in less familiar off-trail areas. Hence, when the Mbendjele BaYaka people forage in these areas, their travel linearity decreases due to their searching effort."

"Since chimpanzee groups can be highly hostile towards each other, they might need to travel more efficiently and faster in less familiar areas, where they are more likely to encounter other chimpanzee groups."

Travel linearity was found to increase among the Mbendjele BaYaka people when they traveled in larger groups, yet not among the chimps.

"When I followed the chimpanzees, I often saw them wait for each other and have apparent disagreements about where to go," explained study supervisor Karline Janmaat. "With more individuals joining the group, disagreement seemed to increase. It is therefore perhaps not surprising that when group size increased, their travel became less linear."

"For the Mbendjele BaYaka people we found the opposite pattern. This can have many reasons, but I like to think that it is because humans can discuss, evaluate and eventually agree about where the best food sources are, by using language, and that this helped them to travel more efficiently."

According to the researchers, the study is the first necessary step needed to compare long-range spatial movement patterns of human and chimpanzee populations in their natural habitats. 

"Our study provides insights into how two closely related species living in similar environments can differ in their spatial movement patterns, which possibly results from their different ranging styles," said Jang. "We hope our study can contribute to expanding comparative research on spatial movement patterns to a wide range of primate species and populations, including humans, in natural environments."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/srep/">Scientific Reports</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com/">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Karline Janmaat

Humans and chimps have different foraging patterns in the rainforest

Humans and chimps have different foraging patterns in the rainforest....

It’s estimated that about 30% of the American population is <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/excessive-smartphone-use-obesity/">obese</a>, and obesity-related health problems such as diabetes and hypertension are on the rise. While obesity leads to a propensity of health issues, there can also be some underlying factors that play a part in an individual being clinically obese. 

A new study published in the <a href="https://jandonline.org/">Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics</a> has found that obese individuals may have heightened initial taste perceptions when compared to those of normal weight individuals – which could be linked to them deriving greater satisfaction from food.

When we eat some item of food, we gradually experience diminishing taste perception. This means that our perceived taste from additional consumption tends to decline as we continue to eat. That is why the tenth bite of that burger usually doesn’t taste nearly as good as the first. 

In an effort to test how marginal taste perceptions might differ between individuals of normal-weight, those who are overweight, and those with obesity, researchers from the <a href="https://uiowa.edu/">University of Iowa</a> conducted a non-clinical, randomized controlled trial of 290 adults. 

The trial involved participants eating one piece of chocolate at a time – as many as they wanted without feeling uncomfortable. Researchers tracked a consistent association between taste from food and BMI by directly observing instantaneous taste changes over time, rather than just at the beginning and end of a period of consumption, as prior studies have done. 

The results showed that taste ratings generally went down after each piece of chocolate eaten, and more importantly, that the ratings of obese participants began at higher levels and tended to decline at a more gradual rate than those of normal-weight participants.

“Causes of obesity are varied, but food consumption decisions play an important role, especially decisions about what foods to eat and how much to consume,” says lead investigator Linnea A. Polgreen, PhD, from the University of Iowa. “Taste perceptions may lead to overeating. If people with obesity have different taste perceptions than nonobese people, it could lead to better understanding of obesity and possibly designing new approaches to prevent obesity.”

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Shutterstock/JPC-PROD

Obese individuals may experience higher taste satisfaction when eating

It’s estimated that about 30% of the American population is...

A therapy that involves tickling the ear with a small electrical current has been found to rebalance the autonomic nervous system for adults over the age of 55. Individuals who received a short daily therapy for two weeks reported improvements in mood, <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/poor-sleep-poor-nutrition/">sleep</a>, and overall quality of life. 

Known as transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS), the treatment delivers a small electrical current to the ear that transmits signals to the nervous system through the vagus nerve. 

According to researchers at the <a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/">University of Leeds</a>, the therapy may help protect people from chronic diseases that are associated with aging such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and atrial fibrillation. The team demonstrated that this type of stimulation has the potential to conserve health by recalibrating the body's internal control system.

"The ear is like a gateway through which we can tinker with the body's metabolic balance, without the need for medication or invasive procedures. We believe these results are just the tip of the iceberg," said study lead author Dr. Beatrice Bretherton.

"We are excited to investigate further into the effects and potential long-term benefits of daily ear stimulation, as we have seen a great response to the treatment so far."

Previous research from Leeds has shown that the electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve at the ear improved the balance of the autonomic nervous system in healthy 30-year-olds.

In the current study, the team set out to explore whether tVNS could benefit adults over 55, who are more likely to have unbalanced autonomic systems that could contribute to age-related health issues.

For 29 healthy participants, the therapy was effective in rebalancing and improving autonomic function. In addition, some of the individuals experienced mental health and sleeping benefits. The researchers found that these improvements were the most pronounced among those who displayed the greatest imbalance at the start of the study.

"We believe this stimulation can make a big difference to people's lives, and we're now hoping to conduct further studies to see if tVNS can benefit multiple disorders," said study senior author Dr. Susan Deuchars. 

The research is published in the journal <a href="https://www.aging-us.com/">Aging</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com/">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: University of Leeds

Electrical ear stimulation may help prevent age-related health issues

A therapy that involves tickling the ear with a small...

In the southwestern United States, it may not get hot enough to fry an egg on the sidewalk in the summer, but that doesn’t mean the pavement won’t cause severe burns. 

A new study found that <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthpedia-articles/urban-heat-island/">pavement can get hot enough</a> to cause second degree burns on the skin almost instantly when temperatures surpass 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

Researchers from the <a href="https://www.unlv.edu/">University of Nevada, Las Vegas </a>reviewed hospital records of pavement burn admissions to a desert burn center from 2013 through 2017 and determined the outdoor temperature at the time each patient was admitted.  

Overall, the researchers identified 173 cases of pavement burns, and 149 of those burns were isolated incidents. The other 24 burns were related to other injuries like a car accident. 

Pavement burns can be a significant problem, especially in areas with notoriously hot and dry summers like the Southwestern US.  If temperatures are hot enough, any skin that comes in contact with a hot sidewalk, road, or driveway can be seriously damaged. 

“Pavement burns account for a significant number of burn-related injuries, particularly in the Southwestern United States,” the study authors wrote. “The pavement can be significantly hotter than the ambient temperature in direct sunlight and can cause second-degree burns within two seconds.”

153 of the burns, 88 percent occurred when temperatures were at 95 degrees or higher. As temperatures rose above 105 degrees, the risk of a patient being admitted into the burn center for pavement burns drastically increased. 

Pavement absorbs sunlight, and as sidewalks and roads bake in the hot afternoon sun, surface temperatures can far surpass the surrounding ambient temperatures. Pavement on a 111-degree day can get as hot as 147 degrees, for example. 

While it is sound advice to stay off the pavement when temperatures reach a certain point, for many, it’s unavoidable. 

Some people also may not know that the pavement is dangerous when it’s hot outside, like young children riding their bikes. If they fall, they risk getting burned. 

“This information is useful for burn centers in hotter climates, to plan and prepare for the coordination of care and treatment,” said Dr. Jorge Vega, the lead author of the study. “It can also be used for burn injury prevention and public health awareness, including increased awareness and additional training to emergency medical service and police personnel when attending to pavement burn victims in the field.”

The findings of the study were published in the Journal of Burn Care &amp; Research. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Image Credit: Shutterstock/welcomia

Hot sidewalks in the summer can cause second-degree burns

In the southwestern United States, it may not get hot...

In 2016, political scientist Nicholas Sambanis founded the <a href="https://web.sas.upenn.edu/pic-lab/">Penn Identity and Conflict (PIC) Lab</a> in an effort to understand why groups come into conflict and how to resolve those conflicts without violent escalations. Most recently, Sambanis used an experimental approach to explore the causes of discrimination against Muslim immigrants in Germany. 

"Opposition toward immigration can be due to economic reasons because of competition for jobs or due to the perceived cultural threat that immigrants pose to their host country by challenging dominant norms and changing the national identity."

According to Sambanis, there is very little experimental research on the causes of anti-immigrant bias and even less research on how to reduce it.

"Most previous research is limited to presenting survey-based attitudinal measures of antipathy toward immigrants or refugees and correlating them with socio-economic characteristics of the survey respondents or their political beliefs," explained Sambanis. 

"We wanted to go beyond that and measure actual behavior in the field. We wanted to figure out what particular aspects of refugees or immigrants generate more hostility. Is it racial differences? Ethnic differences? Is it linguistic or religious differences? Is there merit to the idea that discrimination toward immigrants is due to the perception that they do not follow the rules and threaten dominant social norms?"

The PIC lab study was focused on Germany because of its high influx of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/bias-against-immigrants-names/">immigrants</a> and refugees, and also because Germans are strongly inclined to conform with social norms.

The team theorized that opposition to immigration is most strongly driven by a perceived cultural threat. If this is the case, they proposed, then a country like Germany that values norm adherence would see a reduction in discrimination toward immigrants if they were to show respect for social norms within their new society.

The researchers staged an intervention that involved a native German male who littered in a public space, since littering goes against the social norms. A female researcher approached the person littering and asked him to dispose of the trash properly. The team studied the reaction of bystanders as they observed the interaction. 

As the female walked away, she dropped a bag of groceries and the researchers analyzed which of the bystanders would help her pick them up.

In some versions of the experiment, the woman dropping the groceries confronted the man who littered, demonstrating integration with the German culture. In other versions, the woman acted indifferent to the littering. 

The woman's identity was also manipulated for the trials. She was sometimes depicted as a native German, and sometimes as a Muslim immigrant wearing a hijab. 

The experiment was conducted more than 1,600 times in train stations across 30 cities in both western and eastern Germany using multiple teams of research assistants. Overall, more than 7,000 bystanders unknowingly participated in the study. 

The researchers measured the following: whether women who wore a hijab received less assistance than native Germans, whether ethno-racial differences between immigrants matters less than religious differences in generating bias, whether immigrants who wore a cross received more help than those who did not wear any outward symbols of religiosity, and whether good citizenship generated more help from bystanders.

"We found that bias toward Muslims is too pronounced and is not overcome by good citizenship; immigrant women who wore a hijab always received less assistance relative to German women, even when they followed the rules," said Sambanis.

"But we also found that good citizenship has some benefit, as the degree of discrimination toward Muslims goes down if they signal that they care about the host society. And ethnic or racial differences alone do not cause discrimination in our setup. Nor is religious assimilation - wearing a cross rather than a hijab - necessary to be treated with civility."

The study is published in the <a href="https://www.pnas.org/">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Paid for by <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a>

Image Credit: Shutterstock/Aqnus Febriyant

Good citizenship found to help reduce bias against immigrants

In 2016, political scientist Nicholas Sambanis founded the Penn Identity...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



---



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

[sendtonews key="X0f6OHYoI4-2310561-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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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

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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

Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

Today’s Video of the Day from the University of Miami...

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> is focused on the melt ponds that emerge during the spring and summer on the Greenland Ice Sheet, which is the largest ice mass in the northern hemisphere.



"Melt ponds are vast pools of open water that form on both sea ice and ice sheets and are visible as turquoise-blue pools of water in this Copernicus Sentinel-2 image," says ESA.



"When snow and ice melts atop glaciers, water flows in channels and streams and collects in depressions on the surface. These melt ponds can speed up the melting of the surrounding ice since they greatly reduce the ice’s ability to reflect sunlight."



"This can create a positive feedback where an increasing number of melt ponds absorb more heat which causes ice cover to melt even faster."



According to ESA, Greenland has been hit with a late-season heatwave that began in early September. This caused the type of melt event that usually occurs in the middle of summer.



"In a recent paper published in Nature Climate Change, scientists found that major sea-level rise from the melting of the Greenland ice cap is now ‘inevitable’ even if the burning of fossil fuels were to halt overnight," says ESA. "Using satellite observations of Greenland ice loss and ice cap from 2000 to 2019, the team found the losses will lead to a minimum rise of 27 cm regardless of climate change."



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> describes a new map of Mars that is providing insight into the planet’s watery past. The map also reveals where future missions could safely land on Mars.&nbsp;



The map has been created over the last decade using observations of water-rich rocks and mineral deposits. The images were captured by ESA’s Mars Express and NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.



"A big surprise is the prevalence of these minerals, with the map revealing hundreds of thousands of water-affected locations in the oldest parts of the planet," says ESA. "The new data will help answer exciting questions about Mars’ climate history, whether water was globally persistent or confined to short, intense episodes, and whether the conditions were ever suitable for life."



"Specifically, the map shows the locations and abundances of aqueous minerals. These are from rocks that have been chemically altered by the action of water in the past, and have typically been transformed into clays and salts."



According to John Carter of the Institut d’Astrophysique Spatiale (IAS), our collective understanding of Mars has been oversimplified. He explained that planetary scientists have tended to think that only a few types of clay minerals on Mars were created during its wet period, then as the water gradually dried up, salts were produced across the planet.



The new map shows that the composition of Mars is much more complicated than what we thought. For example, while many salts formed after Martian clays, there are some salts that are presumed to be older than some of the clays.&nbsp;



“The evolution from lots of water to no water is not as clear cut as we thought, the water didn’t just stop overnight. We see a huge diversity of geological contexts, so that no one process or simple timeline can explain the evolution of the mineralogy of Mars. That’s the first result of our study. The second is that if you exclude life processes on Earth, Mars exhibits a diversity of mineralogy in geological settings just as Earth does,” said Carter.



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

The history of Mars is much more complex than we thought

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Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.stowers.org/">Stowers Institute for Medical Research</a> describes how cavefish adapted to a sedentary lifestyle over tens of thousands of years. 



The experts found that the muscle metabolism of cavefish has been genetically reprogrammed over time. As a result, the animals have experienced major changes in their morphology and behavior. Despite these changes, however, the cavefish remain healthy and fit.



The research may provide new clues about the evolutionary consequences of prolonged physical inactivity in humans.&nbsp;



“It’s no surprise that people are moving less and less as technology has advanced,” said Rohner. “With cavefish, we have a unique system where we can study what might happen if people remained couch potatoes over very, very long periods of time.”



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research



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



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

Cavefish are healthy despite their sedentary lifestyle

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Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> some of the most incredible waves in the world, as seen by Landsat satellites.



"With more than 370,000 miles of coastline on Earth, there are plenty of places where epic waves build up, curl over, and hurtle toward the shore.- much to the thrill of surfers," says NASA. "There are some places where these waves are so magnificent that they can be seen from space."



"With the broad perspective of satellites, we can see how these iconic waves develop into the world’s tallest, longest, fastest, and heaviest."



Video Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites capture the world's biggest and fastest waves

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