Gel manicures have turned into a tiny luxury that fits between lunch breaks and school runs. The ultraviolet or near‑ultraviolet lamps that harden glossy manicure coatings do the job in about four minutes, so the routine feels harmless.



The dryers bathe fingertips in swift pulses of light, but until recently few people asked what those pulses do to the skin that holds the nails. A new laboratory study brings unsettling answers.



The new work was led by photochemist <a href="https://bicyt.conicet.gov.ar/fichas/p/en/maria-laura-dantola" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dr. María Laura Dántola</a> at the Institute of Theoretical and Applied Physical‑Chemical Research <a href="https://www.inifta.unlp.edu.ar/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">(INIFTA</a>), part of Argentina’s National Scientific and Technical Research Council <a href="https://www.conicet.gov.ar/?lan=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">(CONICET</a>).



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-studying-manicure-lamps">Studying manicure lamps</h2>



Serrano’s team placed common skin molecules, including tyrosinase, inside a chamber that mimicked a salon lamp and zapped them for the same four‑minute cycle used in most gel services. 



All targets, from amino acids to lipids, emerged chemically altered and less able to perform their jobs.



“These devices are used without any controls or regulations requiring manufacturers to report on the potential risks of frequent exposure,” cautioned Dántola and colleagues. 



One of the starkest changes hit tyrosinase, the enzyme that drives production of melanin, a pigment that shields DNA from solar radiation.



The researchers also measured how fast the altered molecules sparked <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/oxidative-stress" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">oxidative stress</a> reactions that can shred cell membranes. Reaction rates jumped within seconds, confirming that harm starts long before a hand is removed from the booth.



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



Photosensitization happens when a molecule absorbs light then transfers that energy to oxygen, creating reactive species. Those species slice through DNA, proteins, and lipids with no regard for cell repair cycles.



Because tyrosinase sits at the start of melanin synthesis, even small interruptions amplify downstream damage. Losing melanin’s natural sunscreen effect makes every future dose of sunlight or lamp light more hazardous.



Many over‑the‑counter skincare ingredients, including retinoids and some antibiotics, can enhance photosensitization. 



People who use them may face higher risks because their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/vitamin-c-promotes-skin-renewal-and-anti-aging-at-the-genetic-level-dna-demethylation/">skin</a> already carries extra light‑reactive compounds.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tyrosinase-melanin-and-lost-defense">Tyrosinase, melanin and lost defense</h2>



Tyrosinase flips the chemical switches that turn the amino acid tyrosine into melanin granules. When the lamp’s photons broke those switches, the team saw melanin output stall.



Without melanin the skin compensates poorly for incoming ultraviolet, so photo‑aging and cancer risk rise. The altered enzyme also disrupts color balance, explaining reports of blotchy pigmentation after frequent gel sessions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-manicure-lamps-are-very-bright">Manicure lamps are very bright</h2>



Bench measurements showed the lamp delivered a dose of <a href="https://www.mdanderson.org/publications/focused-on-health/what-s-the-difference-between-uva-and-uvb-rays-.h15-1592991.html">UVA radiation</a> around 368–400 nanometers, the same band blamed for tanning and wrinkles. 



A separate American <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-35876-8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">study</a> in 2023 reported that a 20‑minute session killed up to 70 percent of cultured human skin cells and stamped permanent mutations on the survivors.



Sensor data from the Argentine team indicate the lamp’s irradiance peaks at 7 milliwatts per square centimeter, nearly matching the noon sun in Buenos Aires during spring. 



Weekly visits translate into roughly three and a half hours under that intensity each year, more than many people spend sunbathing.



A systematic <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38557455/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">review</a> in 2024 concluded that while the absolute cancer risk appears low, the evidence remains weak and long‑term users should be told the data gaps.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-short-bursts-long-shadows">Short bursts, long shadows</h2>



Gel clients often repeat the service every two to three weeks, layering dose upon dose across years. Cumulative exposure matters because photochemical injuries add rather than heal, especially when they trigger oxidative stress and DNA breaks.



A 2023 <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-49814-7" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">test</a> on human keratinocytes showed sunscreen with SPF 50 cut cell death by more than one‑third during the same four‑minute irradiation used in salons. 



Protective gloves that leave only the nail plate visible can block over 90 percent of the rays, yet they remain optional accessories.



“These are processes that, in one way or another, result in cell death,” added Dántola and colleagues after monitoring the altered enzyme profiles. 



The comment echoes warnings from dermatology societies that link chronic UVA to premature aging and certain skin cancers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-keeping-nails-and-skin-safe">Keeping nails and skin safe</h2>



Dermatologists at the <a href="https://www.aad.org/media/news-releases/gel-manicures-dermatologists-share-tips-to-keep-nails-healthy" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">American Academy of Dermatology</a> urge customers to apply a broad‑spectrum SPF 30 or higher on their hands before every gel manicure and to choose LED lamps that cure polish faster and with lower UV output.



Salons can switch to newer hybrid lacquers that air‑dry or set under visible blue light, trimming exposure further. At home, limiting sessions and spacing them at least a month apart reduces cumulative dose.



For clients unwilling to give up the chip‑free finish, simple habits help: wear fingertip‑less UPF gloves, time the lamp cycles carefully, and keep moisturizer handy because dry <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/teen-skin-bacteria-could-hold-the-secret-to-acne-prevention/">skin</a> amplifies light penetration.



Regulators have yet to issue binding standards for consumer nail lamps, so the burden falls on users and technicians. 



Serrano’s group believes clear warning labels and pre‑packed barrier gloves would let people enjoy the beauty trend while understanding the trade‑offs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-manicure-lamps-speed-vs-safety">Manicure lamps: Speed vs. safety</h2>



The beauty business around gel nails is sizable. Analysts <a href="https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/uv-nail-gel-market" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">estimate</a> the global UV gel polish segment alone was worth almost six billion dollars in 2024 and could double within a decade.



Social media trends and influencer tutorials push fans to redo manicures every week rather than once a month, increasing exposure well beyond the study’s four‑minute baseline. Convenience encourages at‑home kits, yet those kits often ship without detailed safety instructions.



Dántola stresses that the project sits in basic science, aimed at mapping chemical events rather than legislating behavior. 



Still, sharing data allows dermatologists, engineers, and regulators to design larger trials that measure real <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/microplastics-carry-toxic-chemicals-that-are-easily-absorbed-by-skin/">skin</a> after repeated consumer‑level doses.



Applied research may soon test glove fabrics, lamp filters, or polish formulas that polymerize under visible light. Until such options become standard, informed choice remains the safest tool on the manicure table.



The study is published in <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39763051/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chemical Research in Toxicology</a>.



-----



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Manicure lamps can seriously damage skin and cause premature aging

Gel manicures have turned into a tiny luxury that fits between lunch breaks and school runs. The ultraviolet or near‑ultraviolet lamps that harden glossy manicure coatings do the job in about four minutes, so the routine feels harmless. The dryers bathe fingertips in swift pulses of light, but until recently few people asked what those pulses do to the skin that holds the nails. A new laboratory study brings unsettling answers. The new work was led by photochemist Dr. María Laura Dántola at the Institute of Theoretical...

Space radiation may cause memory and learning impairment among astronauts. When people are exposed to radiation, they may not notice any consequences immediately, but even low-level exposure increases the risk of health issues over time. For example, previous studies which tracked groups such as atomic bomb survivors and radiation industry workers found that their risk of developing cancer increased concurrently with their level of exposure.

According to <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/">NASA</a>, space radiation beyond low Earth orbit can put <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/exercising-astronauts-avoid-fainting/">astronauts</a> at risk of radiation sickness and increase their lifetime risk of cancer. A new study published by the <a href="https://www.sfn.org/">Society for Neuroscience</a> has demonstrated that the chronic levels of radiation in deep space may also be responsible for significant central nervous system effects.

The researchers found that after mice were exposed to low-dose radiation for several months, the animals suffered from neural and behavioral impairments. The study results emphasize the urgent need for safety measures to protect the brain during deep space missions, which is particularly relevant as astronauts prepare to travel to Mars.

Radiation is known to disrupt signaling and other processes in the brain, but these findings were based on short-term, higher dose-rate exposures of radiation that do not accurately represent the conditions in space.

To investigate the potential impact of deep space travel on the nervous system, a team led by Charles Limoli at <a href="https://uci.edu/">UC Irvine</a> exposed mice to chronic, low-dose radiation for six months. This exposure was found to impair cellular signaling in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, which caused learning and memory impairment. The mice also displayed behaviors associated with increased anxiety, suggesting that the amygdala had also been affected by radiation. 

As a result of their work, the researchers predict that approximately one in five astronauts will experience anxiety-like behavior and one in three will experience certain levels of memory impairment during a deep space mission. Furthermore, the astronauts may struggle with decision-making.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.eneuro.org/">eNeuro</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Shutterstock/Vadim Sadovski

Space radiation may cause memory and learning impairment among astronauts

Space radiation may cause memory and learning impairment among astronauts....

Brain flexibility can help infant stroke victims learn language. People usually think of the two sides of the <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/blocking-dopamine-receptors-cocaine/">brain</a> as having uniquely different functions. We often think of the left side of the brain as being responsible for controlling the right side of the body and handling matters of logic and math, while the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body and handles creative function. 

But a new study, which analyzed four-year-old children who have experienced damage to their brain’s left side during development, has revealed that the brain’s right hemisphere can take over language functions in the wake of left-side damage.

The study, conducted by the <a href="https://www.sfn.org/">Society for Neuroscience</a>, proves that the brain’s abilities and functions are flexible in response to early-development injury.

The Society’s Clément François from the University of Barcelona compared brains and language skills of healthy children to those in children who experienced left-hemisphere strokes in infancy. Brain flexibility can help infant stroke victims learn language

By using magnetic resonance imaging, François and his colleagues saw that the arcuate fasciculus, which is a white fiber bundle that links language-processing brain areas, was greater in volume in the right hemisphere and lower in volume in the left hemisphere in patients that experienced stroke. Those children with the largest right hemisphere volume performed best on language tests.

The research was published in the journal <a href="https://www.eneuro.org/">eNeuro</a>.

--

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Shutterstock/adike

Brain flexibility can help infant stroke victims learn language

Brain flexibility can help infant stroke victims learn language. People...

According to a study from the <a href="https://www.uq.edu.au/">University of Queensland</a> (UQ), the conflict over natural resources has become very dangerous for protectors on the front lines of the dispute. The researchers found that environmental defenders are being killed at an alarming rate, with 1,558 deaths recorded between 2002 and 2017.

Study lead author Dr. Nathalie Butt is a researcher in the UQ School of Biological Sciences.

"The number of reported deaths of environmental defenders has increased, as well as the number of countries where they occur," said Dr. Butt. "Environmental defenders help protect land, forests, water and other natural resources."

"They can be anyone - community activists, lawyers, journalists, members of social movements, NGO staff and Indigenous people - anyone who resists violence. And importantly, Indigenous peoples are dying in higher numbers than any other group."

The fatal violence is the result of an external demand for, and the subsequent conflict over, the <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/bp-oil-spill-damage/">natural resources</a> that the victims are protecting such as water, timber, land, or minerals. One-third of the deaths between 2014 and 2017 were linked to the mining and agribusiness sectors.

[caption id="attachment_1876080" align="aligncenter" width="600"]<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/defenders.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1876080 size-full" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/defenders.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="340" /></a> Burial for victims who were killed when police arrived at the Santa Lucia farm in the municipality of Pau D'Arco. Image Credit: Lunae Parracho[/caption]

"Although conflict over natural resources is the underlying cause of the violence, spatial analyses showed corruption was the key correlate for the killings," said Dr. Butt. "Globally, 43 percent of all murders result in a conviction, while for environmental defenders this figure is only 10 percent."

"In many instances, weak rule of law means that cases in many countries are not properly investigated, and sometimes it's the police or the authorities themselves that are responsible for the violence. For example, in Pau D'Arco, Brazil, ten land defenders were killed by the police in May 2017."

Dr. Butt is calling for more transparency and accountability from companies and governments, as well as an improved level of awareness among consumers.

"The ecology of the planet is fundamental to the production of food and resources - that we all depend upon - and we are ultimately bound to support it, otherwise it will not support us. Part of this support is to protect the people who protect it."

"As consumers in wealthy countries - who are effectively outsourcing our resource consumption - we share responsibility for what's happening. Businesses, investors and national governments at both ends of the chain of violence need to be more accountable."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/natsustain/">Nature Sustainability</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth">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>

Main Image Credit: The University of Queensland

Environmental defenders are risking their lives to protect natural resources

According to a study from the University of Queensland (UQ),...

Snacking on a little dark chocolate might brighten your day. A new study found that the tasty treat could be linked to a fourfold lower risk of depression.

A team that included researchers from <a href="https://www.ucl.ac.uk/">University College London</a>, <a href="https://www.ucalgary.ca/">University of Calgary</a> and <a href="https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/">Alberta Health Services Canada</a> set out to determine whether nibbling on chocolate might have a positive effect on mental health. Examining data collected from more than 13,500 adults in the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes/index.htm">U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey</a>, they cross-referenced participants’ reported chocolate consumption against their scores on part of the survey that assesses symptoms of depression.

The researchers adjusted for income, education, marital status, physical activity, chronic health problems and other factors that might play a role in depression. 

After those adjustments, they found that people who reported eating dark chocolate in two 24-hour periods were less likely to report symptoms of a depressed mood than those who hadn’t eaten chocolate at all. The top 25 percent of chocolate eaters were also less likely to show symptoms of depression, regardless of what type of chocolate they ate.

"This study provides some evidence that consumption of chocolate, particularly dark chocolate, may be associated with reduced odds of clinically relevant depressive symptoms,” lead author Dr. Sarah Jackson said in a press release.

Don’t ditch your antidepressants for Godiva truffles just yet, though. Jackson warned that more research is needed to figure out the relationship between mood and dark chocolate. 

For example, instead of chocolate easing depression symptoms, it could go the other way around, she said. People struggling with depression may not have the same desire for chocolate that they do when they’re well. 

"Should a causal relationship demonstrating a protective effect of chocolate consumption on depressive symptoms be established, the biological mechanism needs to be understood to determine the type and amount of chocolate consumption for optimal depression prevention and management,” she added.

Still, the London study adds to a growing collection of research showing dark chocolate’s <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dark-chocolate-health-benefits/">many health benefits</a>, including <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/chocolate-improve-brain-power/">boosting brain power</a> and helping to prevent an <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/chocolate-prevent-irregular-heartbeat/">irregular heartbeat</a>.

The study has been published in the journal <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/da.22950">Depression and Anxiety</a>.

—

By Kyla Cathey, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> staff writer

It's not your imagination: dark chocolate and happiness go together

Snacking on a little dark chocolate might brighten your day....

Frailty, long considered an inevitable <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/shutting-down-genes-slow-aging/">part of getting older</a>, is its own medical condition and deserves more attention by the medical and scientific community, according to new research. 

Researchers from<a href="https://www.monash.edu/"> Monash University</a> in Australia conducted the first global study of its kind examining frailty. 

46 studies from 28 countries involving over 120,000 older adults over 60 were reviewed and analyzed by the researchers to estimate the likelihood of developing frailty in old age. 

The study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Network Open, is the first to provide a quantifiable estimate in terms of the odds of getting frail.

Women are more at risk of developing frailty compared to men, and the researchers found that in adults over the age of 60, 4.3 percent will become frail every year. 

By 2050, more than 20 percent of the world’s population will be over the age of 60, which means that the number of people expected to develop frailty will drastically increase. 

“Our results suggest that the risk of developing frailty in older people is high,” said Dr. Richard Ofori-Asenso, the leader of the study. “This is a worldwide problem and highlights a major challenge facing countries with aging populations.”

A person is diagnosed with frailty if they meet specific criteria, but there is no “gold standard” definition that medical professionals can use. 

A decrease in physical activity, low energy, weight loss that is unintentional, an inability to walk at a fast pace, and loss of grip strength are all associated with frailty. 

Older adults suffering from these issues have a higher risk of being hospitalized, and frailty can hinder quality of life and increase the risk of death. 

A key reason that frailty is not just a part of the aging process is that anyone can become frail in their lifetime. Young people who have a chronic disease are also more likely to develop frailty.

The researchers say that physical therapy, like strength training, could help slow the progression of frailty or even reverse it entirely. 

Medical professionals should also screen their older patients regularly for signs of fragility. 

When clumped together with other side-effects of aging, there is less opportunity to intervene and appropriately manage frailty as its own health condition. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Image Credit: Shutterstock/Cherries

Reframing frailty as a medical condition, not a side-effect of aging

Frailty, long considered an inevitable part of getting older, is...

The <a href="https://www.earth.com/video/mapping-temperatures-across-urban-heat-islands/">urban heat island</a> effect refers to when a city or highly populated area has higher temperatures compared to the surrounding average air temperatures. 

Vast expanses of impermeable pavement and concrete that absorb the sun’s rays are the biggest contributors to the urban heat island effect. 

Surprisingly, though, pavement could be the solution to the problem as well. 

A team of engineers from <a href="https://www.rutgers.edu/">Rutgers University</a> has developed a new kind of permeable pavement. 

On a hot summer day, concrete or asphalt roads and sidewalks can reach temperatures above 140 degrees Fahrenheit. One recent study found that hot pavement in the southwestern United States can cause <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hot-sidewalks-second-degree-burns/">second-degree burns in a matter of minutes</a>. 

Cities with a population of one million or more can have average air temperatures that are 1.8 to 5.4 degrees Fahrenheit higher than surrounding rural areas, according to the <a href="https://www.epa.gov/heat-islands/learn-about-heat-islands">Environmental Protection Agency</a>. At night, the effect is especially pronounced. 

Not only does the urban heat island cause temperatures to climb, but it also poses a significant risk to public health and safety.  

To combat this effect, engineers at Rutgers created a porous concrete that doesn’t absorb as much heat. Its permeable structure means that water can filter through, cooling the pavement down in the process. 

Permeable concrete does give off more heat on sunny days, but 25 to 30 percent less after it rains. The engineers fine-tuned the porous concrete and reduced its heat output by as much as 5.2 percent. 

“Highly efficient permeable concrete pavement can be a valuable, cost-effective solution in cities to mitigate the urban heat island effect, while benefiting stormwater management and improving water quality,” said Hao Wang, a corresponding author of the study. 

Wang was also part of a team that improved the sustainability of permeable concrete by using fly ash and steel slag, which could help reduce manufacturing costs and emissions. 

The engineers are working on how to make the concrete stronger so that it can be used on streets and roads. 

The new permeable concrete was detailed in a study published in the Journal of Cleaner Production. 

--

By<a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com"> Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Image Credit: Hao Wang/Rutgers University-New Brunswick

Special pavement could help combat the urban heat island effect

The urban heat island effect refers to when a city...

A new study has revealed that technology has taken over much of the vocabulary that was once used to describe things in nature. The shift is concerning because as more emphasis is placed on technology, <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/nature-boosts-health-well-being/">nature</a> seems to be becoming less important to people.

According to the researchers, nature may be "losing its voice" in the age of computers. For example, the word "tweet" now only refers to a bird song one percent of the time, while social media posts are mentioned 99 percent of the time.  

In the 1990s, the word “web” referred to a spider’s web in 70 percent of cases. By the 2010s, this rate dropped to less than ten percent because the term "web" now usually refers to the internet.  

Every time the word "stream" was mentioned in the 1990s, the context was focused on a body of water. But now, this term is mostly used in the context of streaming videos and music online. Cloud, field, branch, net, and fiber are also words that are suddenly used more frequently as commercial or computer terms.

Dr. Robbie Love is a linguistics expert at the <a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/">University of Leeds</a> who conducted the study for the National Trust. He focused the investigation on datasets of informal conversations from over 25 years. 

The analysis showed that, for many words associated with nature, their implied meaning has changed almost completely in one single generation.

"Language represents what’s important to a culture or society. Nature language being replaced or used less frequently suggests nature potentially becoming less important or being replaced by other things," said Dr. Love.

Among children, 40 percent now associate the word "web" with the internet instead of spiders. The use of other nature words by young children has also significantly decreased, including picnic, jungle, mountain, bird, snow, garden, and shell.

"As a nation we are losing our connection with nature. This is really worrying for us as a conservation charity," said Andy Beer, who is a regional director for the National Trust.

"If today’s children aren’t connected to nature, then who is going to stand up for our countryside and wildlife in the future?"

“Nature connection isn’t just about playing outside, it means using all the senses - actively noticing - nature, such as the way gorse growing wild by the coast can smell like coconut, how fog in the autumn can cling to your hair, how a spider web can sparkle on a dewy morning and enjoying the eye-catching popping of the colors of wildflowers.”

--

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/imtmphoto

Words that once described nature are now more often associated with technology

A new study has revealed that technology has taken over...

A new study from <a href="https://www.utexas.edu/">The University of Texas at Austin</a> has found that people who <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/cheating-partners-cheat-again/">cheat</a> on their spouse are more likely to engage in misconduct at work. The research suggests that there is a strong link between how people conduct themselves personally and professionally.

The study was focused on the records of financial advisers, white-collar criminals, police officers, and senior executives who used the Ashley Madison marital infidelity website. 

Ashley Madison promoted itself as a dating service for married people to have "discreet encounters." However, a data hack in 2015 publicly exposed data for more than 36 million members, including one million paid users in the United States.

The researchers found that Ashley Madison users who worked in professional settings were more than twice as likely to engage in corporate misconduct.

"This is the first study that's been able to look at whether there is a correlation between personal infidelity and professional conduct," said study co-author Samuel Kruger. "We find a strong correlation, which tells us that infidelity is informative about expected professional conduct."

The team examined information for more than 11,000 individuals, including data on police officers from the Citizens Police Data Project, financial advisers from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority BrokerCheck database, defendants in SEC cases from the Securities and Exchange Commission's litigation release archives, and data on CEOs and CFOs from Execucomp.

Even after controlling for a wide range of executive and cultural variables, the experts concluded that people with histories of misconduct were significantly more likely to use the Ashley Madison website.

"Our results show that personal sexual conduct is correlated with professional conduct," said Kruger. "Eliminating sexual misconduct in the workplace could have the extra benefit of contributing to more ethical corporate cultures in general."

The study is published in the <a href="https://www.pnas.org/">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Shutterstock/fizkes

People who cheat on their spouse are more likely to engage in misconduct at work

A new study from The University of Texas at Austin...

According to research from <a href="https://www.ucl.ac.uk/">University College London</a>, individuals in their 50s and 60s who are more socially active have a reduced risk of developing <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/weight-fluctuation-dementia/">dementia</a> later in life. More than three decades of observations have produced the strongest evidence to date that social contact plays an important role in preventing cognitive impairment. 

"Dementia is a major global health challenge, with one million people expected to have dementia in the UK by 2021, but we also know that one in three cases are potentially preventable," said study lead author Dr. Andrew Sommerlad.

"Here we've found that social contact, in middle age and late life, appears to lower the risk of dementia. This finding could feed into strategies to reduce everyone's risk of developing dementia, adding yet another reason to promote connected communities and find ways to reduce isolation and loneliness."

The investigation was focused on data from the Whitehall II study, which tracked more than 10,ooo participants between 1985 and 2013. On six different occasions, the participants reported on the frequency of social contact with friends and relatives. 

The same individuals also completed cognitive testing from 1997 on, and the researchers accessed their electronic health records through 2017 to determine which of the participants had been diagnosed with dementia.

The team analyzed how social contact at age 50, 60, and 70 may correlate with the later incidence of dementia. The study revealed that increased social contact at age 60 is associated with a significantly lower risk of developing dementia later in life. For example, an individual who interacted with friends almost daily at age 60 was 12 percent less likely to develop dementia than an individual who only interacted with friends every few months.

Similarly strong associations were identified at ages 50 and 70, but those associations were not statistically significant. Regardless, the researchers said that social contact at any age may reduce the risk of dementia.

"People who are socially engaged are exercising cognitive skills such as memory and language, which may help them to develop cognitive reserve - while it may not stop their brains from changing, cognitive reserve could help people cope better with the effects of age and delay any symptoms of dementia," said senior author Professor Gill Livingston.

"Spending more time with friends could also be good for mental wellbeing, and may correlate with being physically active, both of which can also reduce the risk of developing dementia."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/">PLOS Medicine</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Shutterstock/oneinchpunch

Being socially active at 60 reduces the risk of dementia later on

According to research from University College London, individuals in their...

<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fitness-trackers-inaccurate-data/">New study finds that fitness trackers don’t help with weight lossFitbits and other wearable devices</a> that monitor activity may not help with weight loss even though they motivate people to move more. New study finds that fitness trackers don’t help with weight loss

Researchers from the <a href="http://www.ufl.edu/">University of Florida </a>conducted an analysis of fitness wearables to see if there was any measurable benefit to patients who wear them, such as lowering blood pressure or cholesterol. 

Out of 550 publications, six studies met the right criteria, and data on 1,615 people were included in the research. 

Four of the studies reviewed involved Fitbits, and the other two used an app that participants downloaded onto their phones. 

Only one of the studies showed a strong correlation between fitness wearables and weight loss, and Fitbits had little impact on cholesterol or blood sugar levels. 

Nearly a quarter of all US adults use a fitness wearable during the month, according to <a href="https://www.emarketer.com/">eMarketer</a>, a market research company. 

All in all, even though fitness device advertisements promise to help you get active and stay healthy, the researchers found that this wasn’t the case. 

Step counters can get people to move more but may not help with long-term health benefits. 

“The weight loss findings are pretty surprising,” Ara Jo, the lead author of the study, told <a href="https://www.today.com/health/fitness-trackers-didn-t-lead-weight-loss-low-cholesterol-blood-t159870">TODAY</a>. “I thought that wearable devices would definitely help to lose weight, at some point, because they make people move, but apparently not. They can motivate people to avoid a sedentary lifestyle, but that does not change people’s lifestyle to be [adequately] active.”

Using a fitness wearable as part of a  doctor recommended personalized health plan could bring significant results. 

However, merely using a fitness device by itself won’t do much beyond reminding you to be a little less sedentary. 

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By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Image Credit: Shutterstock/Focus and Blur

New study finds that fitness trackers don’t help with weight loss

New study finds that fitness trackers don’t help with weight...

Working up a sweat at the gym or even just walking outside on a hot sunny day can test even the strongest deodorants and antiperspirants. For anyone who has opened a gym bag filled with day-old workout clothes, the tell-tale stench of body odor is an all too familiar scent.  

But smelly gym clothes could soon be a thing of the past with a new fragrance-releasing cotton that will have your clothes smelling lemony fresh all day long. 

Researchers from the <a href="https://www.uminho.pt/EN">University of Minho</a> in Portugal have developed a fabric releases a scent molecule called β-citronellol derived from lemongrass after exposed to sweat. 

Scientists have developed smart fabrics that can <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fabric-self-cools-self-insulates/">self-cool</a> or self-insulate, respond to light, change color, or respond to other external stimuli. 

The potential applications for these kinds of fabrics in prosthetics and robotics are wide-reaching and show a great deal of promise. 

The researchers tested two strategies for fragrance-releasing fabric. The first strategy used a protein found in pig noses that binds to scent molecules. To bind the protein to cotton fabric, the researchers attached a carbohydrate-binding molecule to the protein.  

In the second strategy, the scent molecules were placed in liposomes, spherical sacs containing the molecules. The liposomes allowed for the release of more of the citronellol. 

Both fabrics were exposed to a solution meant to mimic human sweat with a low pH. Both methods successfully released the fragrance after coming in contact with the sweat solution. 

The first strategy, the protein attached to carbohydrate-binding molecules, released a quick burst of fragrance, whereas the second strategy with the liposomes resulted in a slow and controlled release. 

 These new methods could help create odor-fighting fabrics that can be used in all types of clothing, from activewear to business clothes. 

The fragrance-releasing fabrics were detailed in a new study published in the <a href="https://www.acs.org/">American Chemical Society</a> journal Applied Materials and Interfaces. 

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By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Image Credit: Shutterstock/Paul Michael Hughes

New fragrance-releasing fabric could mean the end of stinky gym clothes

Working up a sweat at the gym or even just...

Certain exercises are more effective for those predisposed to obesity. While being overweight is commonly related to lifestyle and dietary choices, many people who struggle with <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/mechanism-humans-starving-obesity/">obesity</a> have inherited multiple genes that predispose them to excessive weight gain.

A new study led by Wan-Yu Lin of <a href="https://www.ntu.edu.tw/english/">National Taiwan University</a> was designed to pinpoint the specific types of physical activity that are most effective for individuals who are genetically prone to obesity.

According to the <a href="https://www.who.int/">World Health Organization</a>, more than 1.9 billion adults and 340 million children and adolescents were obese in 2016. Doctors recommend exercise to help combat this condition, but little has been known about what kind of exercise may be most beneficial for individuals who have obesity genes. 

For the current investigation, the team analyzed the genetics and self-reported exercise routines of 18,424 Han Chinese adults between the ages of 30 and 70 years old. The researchers were particularly focused on the five measures of obesity, such as body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage, and waist-to-hip ratio. Certain exercises are more effective for those predisposed to obesity

The study revealed that regular jogging is the best type of exercise for managing obesity among those who have a higher genetic risk. Additional recommendations for this group include mountain climbing, walking, power walking, dancing, and long yoga practices.

The researchers were surprised to find that cycling, stretching exercises, swimming and Dance Dance Revolution did not counteract the genetic effects on obesity.

The findings indicate that when it comes to obesity, the hereditary risk can be reduced by specific types of regular exercise. As the worldwide epidemic of obesity continues to grow, the benefits of physical exercise cannot be overstated.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosgenetics/">PLOS Genetics</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

Image Credit: Shutterstock/TOM Studio

Certain exercises are more effective for those predisposed to obesity

Certain exercises are more effective for those predisposed to obesity....

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

The history of Mars is much more complex than we thought

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research



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



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

Cavefish are healthy despite their sedentary lifestyle

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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites capture the world's biggest and fastest waves

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