Many people love their horses like family. New research shows that horses can serve as meaningful attachment figures for humans in ways that look a lot like our bonds with pets and even close partners. 



The study also introduces a survey that can reliably measure how attached someone is to their horse.



Researchers from the <a href="https://www.utu.fi/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Turku</a> and the <a href="https://www.helsinki.fi/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Helsinki</a> set out to test, not just assume, the depth of human-horse bonds. They adapted a well-known <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pets-increase-life-satisfaction-as-much-as-marriage-or-close-friendships/">pet</a> attachment tool to fit equine life and validated it with a large, international sample.



The goal was simple: turn heartfelt stories into data that can be compared, tracked and used.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-questionnaire-built-for-the-barn">A questionnaire built for the barn</h2>



The team developed the Horse Attachment Questionnaire (HAQ). It draws on attachment theory, which describes how we form and keep emotional bonds. In this framework, relationships are often described along two dimensions.&nbsp;



Attachment-related <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stress-rewires-your-brain-circuits-to-fuel-anxiety-and-depression/">anxiety</a> captures worries about being unloved or abandoned. Attachment-related avoidance reflects discomfort with closeness and a tendency to keep distance. 



The Horse Attachment Questionnaire reframed existing pet items so they spoke directly to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/all-domestic-horses-have-ancestors-in-russia/">horses</a>, riding, care, and time spent together.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-psychology-behind-humans-and-horses">Psychology behind humans and horses</h2>



The researchers gathered answers from 2,287 horse owners across 21 countries. The largest groups came from France and Finland. Participants completed a version of the Pet Attachment Questionnaire rewritten to reference horses rather than pets in general.&nbsp;



This breadth matters. Culture, riding styles, and management routines vary widely. A tool that works across contexts is much more useful than one that fits only a single country or discipline.



The statistical tests were clear. Most statements worked well to describe the human-horse relationship, and the same two-dimensional pattern appeared. Anxiety and avoidance explained how owners differed, just as in studies of human relationships and human-pet bonds.&nbsp;



In other words, the psychology that helps us understand parents and children - or people and dogs - also helps us understand people and horses.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-who-tends-to-feel-what">Who tends to feel what</h2>



The data also point to the kinds of owners who report anxious or avoidant bonds. Younger owners, and people higher in neuroticism, were more likely to score high on anxious attachment. 



These individuals worry about losing closeness with their horse or seek extra reassurance that their horse likes or needs them.&nbsp;



Male owners, by contrast, scored higher on avoidant attachment. They were more likely to keep emotional distance from their horses. These are averages, not judgments. They help explain patterns that trainers, vets, and therapists often sense but cannot quantify.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-culture-and-time-in-the-saddle">Culture and time in the saddle</h2>



Differences between countries emerged too. The model fit slightly better for French owners than for Finnish owners. One possible reason is riding practice.&nbsp;



In this sample, French owners were more often the sole riders of their horses. They may spend more exclusive time with their animals. Finnish owners were more likely to share their horses with others. Those realities might shape how attachment is expressed and recognized.



“Our findings demonstrate that horses can act as meaningful attachment figures for people, much like pets and other humans," said study lead author Aada Ståhl, a PhD student at the University of Helsinki.



"By validating this questionnaire, we now have a reliable way to measure those bonds and explore how they are shaped by factors such as personality and culture." 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-this-matters-beyond-feelings">Why this matters beyond feelings</h2>



A validated tool does more than label emotions. It opens doors. “It provides a robust foundation for studying how attachment influences not only the well-being of horse owners but also the care and training of horses,” said study co-author Océane Liehrmann, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Turku.&nbsp;



“Previous work has shown that insecure attachment styles in pet owners can impact the way animals are treated and even their behaviour. Applying these insights to horses could improve understanding of how human psychology shapes <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/recognizing-emotions-in-horses-can-improve-their-health/">equine welfare</a>.”&nbsp;



If attachment shapes handling choices, stable routines or training pressure, then measuring it could help prevent problems before they start.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-from-therapy-to-training-arenas">From therapy to training arenas</h2>



The Horse Attachment Questionnaire could prove useful in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/therapy-horses-are-helping-children-heal-from-trauma/">equine-assisted therapy</a>, where horses partner with clinicians to support human health. 



Knowing an owner’s or client’s attachment style could help tailor sessions and set boundaries that keep both humans and horses safe. Trainers may also benefit.



Understanding whether a rider tends to worry about closeness or to pull back from it can guide communication, goal setting, and feedback. 



The same insight could inform how barns match riders with mounts, or how professionals coach parents of young riders.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-human-bonds-with-horses">Human bonds with horses</h2>



Horses occupy a special place in human life. They are neither purely working animals nor purely companions. This study treats that uniqueness as a feature, not a flaw.&nbsp;



By adapting established psychology to the realities of equine care, the authors show that our bonds with horses can be mapped with the same clarity we bring to other relationships. 



The message is practical and humane. If we understand the patterns that shape our feelings, we can make better choices for the animals who depend on us - and for ourselves.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08927936.2025.2544420" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Anthrozoös</a>.



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Horses aren't just companions - they're part of the family

Many people love their horses like family. New research shows that horses can serve as meaningful attachment figures for humans in ways that look a lot like our bonds with pets and even close partners. The study also introduces a survey that can reliably measure how attached someone is to their horse. Researchers from the University of Turku and the University of Helsinki set out to test, not just assume, the depth of human-horse bonds. They adapted a well-known pet attachment tool to fit equine life and...

Having a healthy heart at age 50 may help reduce the risk of developing dementia later on, a new study has found. 

Dementia is a widespread progressive disease that affects around 50 million people worldwide, according to the <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dementia">World Health Organization</a>. 

While most commonly associated with older adults, dementia can begin to develop 15 to 20 years before symptoms start to show. Finding ways to target dementia is key to helping slow the progression of the disease. 

In a new study, a team of researchers led by Séverine Sabia from the <a href="https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ukpdc/collaborators/inserm-french-national-institute-of-health-and-medical-research">French National Institute of Health and Medical Research</a> and <a href="https://www.ucl.ac.uk/">University College London</a> found that good cardiovascular health in middle age could help lower dementia risk. 

The researchers examined the link between a higher “Life Simple 7” cardiovascular health score from the <a href="https://www.heart.org/">American Heart Association </a>and a lowered risk of dementia later in life. 

The study was published in the <a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/366/bmj.l4414">BMJ. </a>

The Life Simple 7 health score adds up four behavioral and three biological metrics to help rate a person’s cardiovascular health and measure the risk of developing heart disease. 

A score lower than six is considered poor, but a score higher than 12 is considered optimal. 

For the study, the researchers reviewed and analyzed cardiovascular data form 7,899 British adults, aged 50 who were part of the <a href="https://www.ucl.ac.uk/epidemiology-health-care/research/epidemiology-and-public-health/research/whitehall-ii">Whitehall II Study.</a> 

At age 50, the participants had good cardiovascular health and 347 developed dementia later on at some point during a 25-year follow up period. 

The participants that had adhered to the Life Simple 7 heart health recommendations during middle age had a lowered risk of developing dementia. 

A poor cardiovascular health score was associated with a 3.2 incidence rate per 1,000 persons. Those who had an optimal heart health score had a 1.3 per 1,000 persons incidence rate of developing dementia. 

The study is observational and doesn’t prove any cause or effect, but the researchers did find healthier grey matter volume in participants who had a higher cardiovascular score. 

The researchers recommend that improving heart health at age 50 could serve as an important preventative measure and protect against developing dementia in old age. 

“Our findings suggest that the Life’s Simple 7, which comprises the cardiovascular health score, at age 50 may shape the risk of dementia in a synergistic manner,” the researchers wrote. “Cardiovascular risk factors are modifiable, making them strategically important prevention targets. This study supports public health policies to improve cardiovascular health as early as age 50 to promote cognitive health. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>,<a href="https://www.earth.com/"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Image Credit: Shutterstock/goodluz

A healthy heart at 50 could reduce the risk of dementia

Having a healthy heart at age 50 may help reduce...

Unsustainable land use is threatening our global food supply. According to a new report from the <a href="https://www.ipcc.ch/">Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change</a> (IPCC), the Earth's resources are being used up at "unprecedented" rates, and <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/population-plant-based-diets/">climate change</a> is making the situation far worse. 

The research, which involved 107 experts in 52 countries, has revealed that soil is vanishing ten times faster than it can be naturally replenished. As a result, 500 million people are living in regions that are essentially transforming into desert. 

The study suggests that added pressure on land and water resources, such as changes in population growth and food consumption patterns, will have dire consequences for the global food supply. 

The experts also pointed out that storms, drought, and other extreme weather events will further strain worldwide food production. In this vicious cycle, food will become less available, more expensive, and less nutritious.

"The cycle is accelerating," said NASA climate scientist and study co-author Dr. Cynthia Rosenzweig. "The threat of climate change affecting people's food on their dinner table is increasing."

Dr. Rosenzweig explained that one serious danger is that major food shortages could develop on several continents at once. "The potential risk of multi-breadbasket failure is increasing. All of these things are happening at the same time.”

In Geneva on Thursday, the IPCC researchers emphasized the urgency of the issue. They also proposed some solutions, including the reduction of food waste, shifting diets away from meat, and sustainable land use.

"The way we use land is both part of the problem and also part of the solution," said French climate scientist Valerie Masson-Delmotte. "Sustainable land management can help secure a future that is comfortable."

“One of the important findings of our work is that there are a lot of actions that we can take now. They’re available to us,” said Dr. Rosenzweig. “But what some of these solutions do require is attention, financial support, enabling environments.”

The IPCC report stressed that the longer policymakers wait to make changes, the harder it will be to prevent a global food crisis. 

"Acting now may avert or reduce risks and losses, and generate benefits to society,” wrote the study authors. On the other hand, failure to make land use improvements and cut emissions will result in the “irreversible loss in land ecosystem functions and services required for food, health, habitable settlements and production."

"We don't want a message of despair," said Professor Jim Skea of Imperial College London. "We want to get across the message that every action makes a difference."

--

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/The Art of Brani

Unsustainable land use is threatening our global food supply

Unsustainable land use is threatening our global food supply. According...

Listening to birds in nature found to be more calming than a meditation app. The results of a new study conducted by market research firm <a href="https://www.walnutunlimited.com/">Walnut Unlimited</a> suggest that experiencing <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/nature-boosts-health-well-being/">nature</a> is the best way to feel calm and relaxed. The researchers found that participants who listened to bird songs became more relaxed than those who listened to a meditation app.

The study was focused on 600 participants who reported on their stress levels before and after listening to a 60-second birdsong recording, listening to a popular meditation app, or before sitting in silence for a minute.

The researchers found that the number of people who were convincingly relaxed jumped by about 10 percent in the group that heard bird songs. By contrast, listening to meditation apps did not increase the number of participants who felt calm and relaxed. 

"Listening to the sounds of nature offers an opportunity to feel 'away' from everyday stresses and strains," said Dr. Eleanor Ratcliffe of the <a href="https://www.surrey.ac.uk/">University of Surrey</a>. "These sounds are also interesting and offer something for the mind to focus on without being overly stimulating."

"In addition, woodland sounds like songbirds and the rustle of leaves are pleasant and quiet, especially in comparison to many other sounds in urban areas such as traffic."

While the findings indicate that taking a walk in the woods is more relaxing than meditation, the meditation app was more effective in lowering stress and anxiety. For example, the stress rate dropped by 24 percent among those who listened to woodland sounds, but by 39 percent among those who listened to a meditation app.

In a previous study, experts found that meditation can lower blood pressure and help mitigate other risk factors associated with heart disease. 

"There is a large body of scientific evidence demonstrating that experience of nature can benefit health and wellbeing, including recovery from everyday psychological stress," said Dr. Ratcliffe.

"Much of this research has focused on visual experiences, but more recent work has shown that the sounds of the outdoors, such as birdsong, wind, and water, can also improve mood and reduce stress. These sounds offer a way to connect with nature no matter where you are."

In a follow-up survey by the <a href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/">National Trust</a>, about 20 percent of respondents said they never visited woodland, even though there are more than three million hectares of forest across the UK. Patrick Begg is the National Trust's Outdoors and Natural Resources Director.

"Sometimes a simple walk in woodlands, where you’re surrounded by the echoes of calling birds, and that satisfying crunch of fallen leaves and twigs underfoot, is the perfect remedy for reducing stress," said Begg.

--

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/JaklZdenek

Listening to birds in nature found to be more calming than a meditation app

Listening to birds in nature found to be more calming...

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

The Mediterranean is a biodiversity hotspot and home to the largest number of species for an area of its size in the world. 

Unfortunately, the Mediterranean is also inhabited by many <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/early-detection-damage-invasive-species/">alien species</a> and recreational boating is a major factor in the transport of invasive animals. 

In a new study, the first of its kind, researchers from the <a href="http://wcm-3.unipv.it/site/en/home.html">University of Pavia</a> in Italy examined how private boats carry and spread non-indigenous species in the Mediterranean. 

Recreational boating is hugely popular in the Mediterranean, but as boats travel and dock in new areas, there is a high risk of spreading invasive species due to biofouling.

Biofouling is the accumulation of algae or barnacles on the underside of boats, submerged propellers, and other underwater structures. 

“Boats which have visited Eastern Mediterranean marinas had an especially high risk of spreading alien species due to the closer proximity to the Suez Canal, where most alien species enter the Mediterranean,” said Aylin Ulman, lead author of the study.

The researchers surveyed 601 boat owners and sampled boat hulls for invasive species in 25 marinas across the Mediterranean. 

Biofouling is not regulated in the Mediterranean even though the researchers found that it was the biggest predictor of species richness. Some of the boat hulls had small areas of visible growth, but the researchers counted as many as 11 non-indigenous species in one spot. 

What’s more, the researchers found that niche areas can become quickly colonized after being cleaned. 

These areas might be overlooked during intensive cleaning, and the researchers recommend that special attention is paid to ladders and propellers where invasive species are known to accumulate. Recreational boating is spreading invasive species 

“Biofouling is a major vector for the spread of marine alien species in the Mediterranean and needs regulation,” said Ulman. “To inhibit further spreading, marine pontoons should be cleaned regularly, and incoming vessels to marinas should be screened to determine if they require professional cleaning.”

The dataset compiled in this study is being used to create a model of high-risk marinas in the Mediterranean. 

The research was published in the <a href="https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2664.13502">Journal of Applied Ecology</a>.

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Image Credit: Aylin Ulman

Recreational boating is spreading invasive species

The Mediterranean is a biodiversity hotspot and home to the...

Heavy marijuana use may lower sperm quality, new study shows. Whether or not marijuana use causes fertility problems and negatively affects sperm remains inconclusive as studies on the topic are mixed. 

Research has shown that moderate cannabis use can <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/men-marijuana-higher-sperm-counts/">increase sperm counts</a>, but another study found that THC in cannabis can lead to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/marijuana-changes-mens-sperm/">pronounced genetic changes in sperm</a>. 

An estimated one in seven US adults uses marijuana. With more and more states legalizing medicinal and recreational marijuana, it’s important to understand the effects of cannabis on sperm and if these changes hinder healthy fetal development. 

Researchers from the <a href="https://www.ku.dk/english">University of Copenhagen</a> may be closer to understanding why the effects of cannabis use on sperm are so varied. 

Heavy cannabis users are more likely to have poor quality sperm the researchers found due to the way THC in cannabis interacts with the endocannabinoid system in the body. 

The endocannabinoid system is made up of endocannabinoid molecules, and cannabinoid receptors which are found all over the body. 

In a new study, the researchers analyzed testicle tissue from 15 men and pieces of the cannabis system were found within the tissue samples. 

The researchers say that heavy THC use may overwhelm cannabis receptors and disrupt signaling crucial to healthy sperm development.  

Moderate cannabis users may see some benefits, but heavy use could counter these benefits and lead to lower quality sperm in men. 

“The study provides new evidence supporting observations that recreational cannabis can have possible deleterious effects on human testicular function,” the researchers wrote in the study. Heavy marijuana use may lower sperm quality, new study shows

The full findings of the study were published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-49177-y">Scientific Reports</a>. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Image Credit: Shutterstock/Mitch M

Heavy marijuana use may lower sperm quality, new study shows

Heavy marijuana use may lower sperm quality, new study shows....

A quick search on your phone’s app store for blue light filters will yield dozens if not hundreds of apps promising better sleep and relief from eye strain.

However, a researcher from <a href="http://www.ox.ac.uk/">Oxford University</a> claims that it’s not blue light exposure that’s the problem, but rather how long into the night we use our devices. 

Blue light describes the increased exposure to blue wavelengths we get by looking at phones, computers, and televisions. Not all blue light is bad for you, but research has shown links between blue light, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/blue-light-smartphones-damages-eyes/">digital eye strain</a>, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/limiting-screen-time-sleep/">disrupted sleep</a>. 

Protecting against blue light has become such a public health concern that phones have “night mode” filters. You can also buy special blue-light glasses if you spend most of your day looking at a computer screen.

Professor Russell Foster says that these special blue light filters are unnecessary because screen brightness is not likely to have much of an impact on a person’s sleep patterns. 

According to Foster, the light from phones is not strong enough and the claim that blue light exposure is harmful has led to misinformation. People under the assumption that blue light filters will protect them may use their devices longer late at night as a result. 

Phones, tablets, and TVs are a stimulant but not because of the light they emit. 

“The amount of light that you get from screens is relatively low,” said Foster. “If you’re staying up all night and on the brightest screen, it might do something. But for most people, it is not going to have a big effect.”

Based on data from <a href="https://www.harvard.edu/">Harvard University</a>, Foster suggests that for blue light exposure to impact circadian rhythms, we would need a lot more of it than what smartphones and tablets emit. Not only would we need more light but for long periods as well. 

“It seems extremely unlikely that it is the light effects versus the alerting effects of these devices,” said Foster. 

The reason you may feel groggy and unrested after binge-watching a show on your phone is not due to the blue light, but rather because you stayed up later than usual, according to Foster.

Instead of investing in blue light filters and other measures to reduce exposure to blue light from devices, more research is needed to thoroughly assess the health effects of blue light exposure.

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Image Credit: Shutterstock/Marcos Mesa Sam Wordley

Blue light isn’t the problem, it’s how long we stare at our phones

A quick search on your phone’s app store for blue...

Archaeologists at <a href="https://wsu.edu/">Washington State University</a> have discovered the oldest tattooing artifact in western North America. The tool was made about 2,000 years ago by the Ancestral Pueblo people in what is now southeastern Utah.

Study lead author Andrew Gillreath-Brown stumbled upon the instrument while taking an inventory of artifacts that had been in storage for more than four decades. His discovery pushes back the earliest evidence of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/tattoos-health-risks-immune-systems/">tattooing</a> in western North America by more than 1,000 years. It also provides new insight into the lives of prehistoric people.

“Tattooing by prehistoric people in the Southwest is not talked about much because there has not ever been any direct evidence to substantiate it,” said Gillreath-Brown. “This tattoo tool provides us information about past Southwestern culture we did not know before.”

Although tattooing is a common form of expression among indigenous cultures worldwide, little is known about when or why the practice began. This is particularly true in places like the southwestern United States, where no tattoos have been identified on preserved human remains. Archaeologists have relied on visual depictions in ancient artwork to trace the origins of tattooing in the region.

[caption id="attachment_1868896" align="aligncenter" width="700"]<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/tattoo-tool.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1868896" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/tattoo-tool.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="467" /></a> 2,000 year-old-cactus spine tattoo tool, Image Credit: Bob Hubner/WSU[/caption]

The newly identified tool consists of a 3.5 inch wooden skunkbush sumac handle that is bound with split yucca leaves and holds two cactus spines that are stained black at the tips. “The residue staining from tattoo pigments on the tip was what immediately piqued my interest as being possibly a tattoo tool,” said Gillreath-Brown. 

He analyzed the tips with a scanning electron microscope, X-ray fluorescence, and energy dispersive ray spectroscopy, and then tested them out on pig skin. The crystalline structure of pigment was visible and appeared to contain carbon, which is commonly used for tattooing.

According to Gillreath-Brown, the finding “has a great significance for understanding how people managed relationships and how status may have been marked on people in the past during a time when population densities were increasing in the Southwest.”

The study is published in the <a href="https://www.journals.elsevier.com/journal-of-archaeological-science-reports">Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

People in North America were getting tattoos 2,000 years ago

Archaeologists at Washington State University have discovered the oldest tattooing...

The United States may be a leading country in the global economy, but when it comes to life expectancy, the US keeps dropping in the ranks. 

Rising drug overdose death rates in recent years have begun to impact <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/life-expectancy-overdose-us/">life expectancy</a>, and now a new study found that the US has the highest number of drug overdose deaths compared to other high-income countries like Sweden or Japan. 

In the past two decades alone, drug overdose mortality has more than tripled, and researchers from the<a href="https://www.usc.edu/"> University of Southern California</a> examined how life expectancy and drug overdose death rates in the U.S. compared to 18 other “peer countries,” or countries with similar economies. 

The study, published in the journal Population and Development Review, is the most comprehensive international comparison of its kind to date. 

“The United States is experiencing a drug overdose epidemic of unprecedented magnitude, not only judging by its own history but also compared to the experiences of other high-income countries,” said Jessica Ho, an author of the study. “For over a decade now, the United States has had the highest drug overdose mortality among its peer countries.”

Data from the <a href="https://www.mortality.org/">Human Mortality Database</a>, <a href="https://www.who.int/healthinfo/mortality_data/en/">World Health Organization Mortality Database</a>, and several statistics agencies in the US and Canada were reviewed and analyzed for the study. 

The researchers used the data to compile drug overdose death rates for 18 countries based on year, sex, country and age between 1994 and 2015. 

Before the early 2000s, Finland and Sweden had the highest rates of drug overdose deaths, but the researchers identified a shift and widening gap in life expectancy in the US. 

By 2013, drug overdose in the US accounted for a 12 percent gap in life expectancy for men between the US and other high-income countries and an eight percent gap for women. 

Now, the drug overdose death rates in the US are 3.5 times higher than the other countries in the study. Italy and Japan have the lowest drug overdose death rates, and the US’s rates are double that of Finland and Sweden, the countries with second highest drug overdose mortalities behind the US. 

“On average, Americans are living 2.6 fewer years than people in other high-income countries,” said Ho. “This puts the United States more than a decade behind the life expectancy levels achieved by other high-income countries. American drug overdose deaths are widening this already significant gap and causing us to fall even further behind our peer countries.” 

The <a href="https://www.nsc.org/">National Safety Council </a>announced that Americans are more likely to die of an accidental opioid overdose than in a car crash, which is a core part of the problem. 

One potential driver of US drug overdose deaths is the opioid crisis along with a lack of substance abuse treatment available. 

While the US is struggling with opioid dependency and high drug overdose deaths, the researchers say that soon other high-income countries may face similar problems and only further drive down life expectancies.

“The use of prescription opioids and synthetic drugs like fentanyl are becoming increasingly common in many high-income countries and constitute a common challenge to be confronted by these countries,” said Ho.
--
By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>,<a href="https://www.earth.com/"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

U.S. drug overdose death rates rank highest among wealthy countries

The United States may be a leading country in the...

According to new research from <a href="https://www.osu.edu/">The Ohio State University</a>, creativity does not peak just once in our lifetime. The experts found that creativity has two separate life cycles - one that peaks during the early adult years and one that heightens much later in life. 

The study, which was focused on winners of the Nobel Prize in Economics, revealed that <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/microdosing-mushrooms-solving-creativity/">creativity</a> hits a high point in the mid-20s and again in the mid-50s. The findings support previous work by the same research team, which identified similar trends in the arts and also in other fields of science.

“We believe what we found in this study isn't limited to economics, but could apply to creativity more generally,” said study lead author Professor Bruce Weinberg. “Many people believe that creativity is exclusively associated with youth, but it really depends on what kind of creativity you're talking about.”

The analysis showed that the Nobel Prize winners who had their biggest achievements early in their career were most often “conceptual” innovators. According to Weinberg, these individuals challenge conventional wisdom and have a sudden breakthrough early on, before becoming immersed in the traditionally accepted theories of the field.

On the other hand, there are also “experimental” innovators, who accumulate knowledge throughout their careers and find new ways of analyzing and interpreting the information. After long periods of trial and error, the effort often pays off late in their career.

“Whether you hit your creative peak early or late in your career depends on whether you have a conceptual or experimental approach,” said Weinberg.

The researchers arranged 31 laureates on a list from the most experimental to the most conceptual based on specific characteristics of their most significant work. Next, the team used two different methods to calculate at which age the laureates were at the height of their creativity, which was measured by when they were cited most often.

The study revealed that conceptual laureates peaked at about 25 or 29 years of age, while experimental laureates peaked when they were in their mid-50s to 57 years old.

“These studies attribute differences in creative peaks to the nature of the scientific fields themselves, not to the scientists doing the work,” said Weinberg. “Our research suggests than when you're most creative is less a product of the scientific field that you're in and is more about how you approach the work you do.”


The study is published in the journal <a href="https://link.springer.com/journal/10645">De Economist</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Creativity does not necessarily peak during youth, research shows

According to new research from The Ohio State University, creativity...

A new health advisory from the <a href="https://www.heart.org/">American Heart Association</a> is describing potential changes to the U.S. food system that would make it easier for consumers to choose healthier foods. The paper lays the groundwork for a strategic policy agenda that could help provide nutritious, affordable food to everyone.

Dr. Cheryl A.M. Anderson is a professor in the School of Medicine at <a href="https://ucsd.edu/">UC San Diego</a> and the chair of the American Heart Association's Nutrition Committee.

“Innovation in the food system is needed at multiple levels - the food industry, agricultural industry, public health and medicine, policy, and among communities, worksites, schools, and families. In a healthy food system, the healthy choice would be the default choice,” explained Dr. Anderson.

“To create a healthier and sustainable food system and optimal environments where consumers purchase and consume foods, we need improvements in food production and distribution so that consumers have a wide variety of healthy foods readily available.”

According to the report, health behaviors can also be positively impacted by practices that are initiated and implemented in the private sector.

“Examples include formulating new food products that are lower in calories and/or packaged as smaller serving sizes to reduce population-wide calorie consumption; improving the nutritional value of manufactured foods, product placement of healthier foods on grocery store shelves and pricing strategies to encourage purchasing healthier foods,” said Dr. Anderson.

Previous research has shown that community-based interventions can lead to positive changes in food selection and eating patterns. For example, some schools have noted that students drink more water when it is made readily available to them.

According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, a healthy diet is needed to reduce the risk of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/heart-attacks-less-deadly/">heart attacks</a>, heart failure, and the most common type of stroke. Good eating habits are also known to enhance overall well-being and brain health. 

Most Americans need to make improvements in their diets. A healthy diet should include vegetables, fruits, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, poultry, fish, legumes, and nuts, and should limit sugary foods and red meat.

“There is a need for immediate action to promote, fund and evaluate healthful changes to the food system. Innovation at multiple levels is necessary to see improvements in the public's health,” said Dr. Anderson.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.ahajournals.org/journal/circ">Circulation</a>.

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By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Changes to the U.S. food system could promote healthier choices

A new health advisory from the American Heart Association is...

Envy and jealousy can bring about some ugly emotions and responses in people, including resentment and self-loathing. Now with social media, we have more access to enviable moments than ever before, especially as people tend to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/social-media-critical-bodies/">highlight the best parts of their lives</a> on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. 

Researchers from the <a href="https://www.chicagobooth.edu/">University of Chicago Booth School of Business</a> wondered if people were more or less envious of another person’s experience or opportunity before or after it occurred. 

Previous studies have found that people have heightened emotions about future events and those feelings dissipate after the moment has passed. For example, think about a party you were really excited to attend or host, and how those anticipatory feelings leading up the party were stronger than the happy memories after. 

The new study, published in the journal Psychological Science, a journal of the <a href="https://www.psychologicalscience.org/">Association for Psychological Science</a>, shows that like other emotions, envy fades over time.

“Enviable events lose some power over us once those events are in our past,” said Ed O’Brien, a co-author of the study.” This occurs even when people are left to their own devices -- in our studies, we didn’t instruct participants to engage in any particular distraction task or coping strategy, yet they still felt better as long as some time passed.”

O’Brien and a team of colleagues conducted several experiments. In the first, 620 participants were asked to imagine a close friend getting something the participants wanted themselves. The researchers asked the participants to imagine how they would feel before and after the event or experience passed. 

Although the participants imagined hypothetical scenarios, the researchers found that timing made a difference in how strong the feelings of envy were. 

In another experiment, the researchers followed participants every day in February of 2017 and 2018, assessing how the participants felt about a peer’s upcoming or past Valentine’s Day date. 

Overall, the participants were most envious of their friend’s date on February 14th and 13th, but were less resentful as soon as February 15th rolled around. 

The researchers found that specifically negative feelings were stronger leading up to the date, but envy became more benign after Valentine’s Day. 

“Previous research uniformly suggests that events in the future will prompt more extreme reactions because it’s more relevant to pay attention to things that might still happen to us,” said O’Brien. “But these findings suggest that the passing of time may be particularly linked with reducing the intensity of negative experiences, rather than reducing the intensity of all experiences.”

The results could help researchers better understand how social media prompts different responses and insecurities, and could better inform the difference between malicious and benign envy. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette,</a> <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Envy fades over time, new study shows

Envy and jealousy can bring about some ugly emotions and...

<div class="inside"></div>
While many health professionals used to warn that drinking coffee (and the caffeine included) might not be so great for your health, recent research has shown that coffee drinkers tend to live <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/coffee-drinkers-lower-risk-death/">longer lives</a>.

These days, the general consensus does show that coffee is indeed beneficial to heart health, but up to a point. 

Researchers from the <a href="https://www.unisa.edu.au/">University of South Australia</a> set out to examine the link between a certain gene variant CYP1A2, drinking coffee and the risk of cardiovascular disease. Drinking a reasonable amount of coffee won’t harm heart health

The study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found little correlation between genetic variants, coffee consumption, and disease risk. However, the results do show that drinking more than six cups of coffee a day can increase the risk of heart disease. Drinking a reasonable amount of coffee won’t harm heart health 

Luckily for most people in the US who drink fewer than 2 cups of coffee a day, the results are not a major cause for concern. 

For the study, the researchers analyzed data from the <a href="https://mrc.ukri.org/research/facilities-and-resources-for-researchers/biobank/">UK Biobank</a> and were able to review genetic data, coffee consumption history, and health records from 347,077 UK Biobank participants.  

On average, the participants were between 37 and 73 years old, and the researchers found 8,368 incidents of cardiovascular disease. 

Drinking more than six cups of coffee a day was associated with a 22 percent increased risk of cardiovascular disease regardless of genotype or metabolism, the researchers found. 

Coffee has been shown to help release fatty acids from fatty tissue and stimulate the nervous system, according to the <a href="https://www.heart.org/">American Heart Association</a>. However, coffee is also a diuretic and can negatively impact the kidneys, cause dehydration, and increase the risk of acid reflux. 

Since most people aren’t likely to down gallons of coffee every day, heart disease risks are minimal. Rather, people should be more worried about what they put in their coffee instead of how much they drink. 

“One big caveat is that, with all the cream and sugar and flavorings that people add to coffee, it contains a lot of calories that people don’t need and will probably make things [like heart health] worse,” Chris Labos, MD, a cardiologist at<a href="https://www.mcgill.ca/"> McGill University</a> who was not involved with the research, told the <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-7016703/Coffee-NOT-bad-heart-drink-fewer-6-day.html">Daily Mail</a>. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Drinking a reasonable amount of coffee won’t harm heart health

While many health professionals used to warn that drinking coffee...

<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=2E0mn5mTvhQ
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">'Death Star' moon Mimas conceals a 15-million-year-old ocean that scientists never expected.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hidden-waters-beneath-ancient-craters">Hidden waters beneath ancient craters</h2>



Scientists have made a startling discovery that challenges everything we thought we knew about <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/saturn-moon-mimas-has-remarkably-young-ocean/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Saturn's moon Mimas</a>. Beneath the heavily cratered surface that earned it the nickname "Death Star" lies a global ocean that formed just 5 to 15 million years ago—a remarkably young age by cosmic standards.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cassini-data-reveals-orbital-secrets">Cassini data reveals orbital secrets</h2>



The discovery, led by Dr. Valéry Lainey of the <a href="https://observatoiredeparis.psl.eu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Observatoire de Paris</a>, emerged from careful analysis of <a href="https://www.nasa.gov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA</a>'s Cassini spacecraft data. By studying subtle irregularities in Mimas's orbit around Saturn, researchers detected the gravitational signature of liquid water hidden 20 to 30 kilometers beneath the moon's icy shell.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-an-unlikely-ocean-world">An unlikely ocean world</h2>



At only 400 kilometers in diameter, Mimas seemed like the least likely candidate to harbor a subsurface ocean. Unlike other ocean moons such as Europa and Enceladus, which show clear surface signs of internal activity, Mimas displays no obvious hints of the liquid water beneath its ancient, crater-scarred exterior.



"Mimas is a small moon, and its heavily cratered surface gave no hint of the hidden ocean beneath," explained Dr. Nick Cooper from <a href="https://www.qmul.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Queen Mary University of London</a>, a study co-author.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-for-astrobiology">Implications for astrobiology</h2>



The ocean's recent formation makes Mimas a prime target for studying how oceans develop and potentially support life. This discovery adds another member to the exclusive club of ocean worlds in our solar system, each offering unique insights into the conditions necessary for habitability.



The research, published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a> journal, demonstrates how advanced orbital analysis can reveal hidden features of celestial bodies, opening new possibilities for understanding ocean formation throughout the cosmos.



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Scientists discover unexpected young ocean on Saturn's cratered moon Mimas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2E0mn5mTvhQ 'Death Star' moon Mimas conceals a 15-million-year-old ocean that...

<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.

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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What to plant in your garden in mid-July

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Wildlife tunnels save millions of amphibians

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

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



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



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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...

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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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"

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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

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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

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

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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

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

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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



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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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