You grab a snack, tear open the package, and munch away. But have you ever wondered what might be slipping into your food? Synthetic chemicals sneak in through packaging, processing, and storage. You can’t see these chemicals, but they are there, and they’re raising serious health concerns.



A study published in the journal Nature Medicine dives into the hidden world of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/many-people-are-willing-to-switch-to-plant-based-food-to-save-the-climate/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">food</a> contaminants. 



The research was not just focused on preservatives and additives. The team studied chemicals that come from food packaging and contact materials - the plastics, metals, and papers that wrap, store, and process what we eat.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-synthetic-chemicals-in-food">Synthetic chemicals in food</h2>



Synthetic chemicals are gatecrashers in our food <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/coal-emissions-threaten-indias-food-security/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">system</a>. They don’t come from ingredients. They come from the packaging, the containers, and the processing equipment. 



Bisphenols, phthalates, PFAS - these chemicals don’t just sit there. They migrate, moving from plastic wrap into your sandwich, from the can lining into your soup.



It turns out, the more ultra-processed <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earth-day-2025-what-were-really-fighting-for/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">foods</a> you eat, the higher your exposure. These foods aren’t just packed with artificial flavors and preservatives. Ultra-processed foods are also packed in materials that leach synthetic chemicals.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chemicals-hidden-in-food-packaging">Chemicals hidden in food packaging </h2>



Your meal passes through four critical stages before landing on your plate. The first stage is transportation, where food sits in containers lined with synthetic materials, allowing chemicals to leach into it.



Next comes processing. Here, machines made from plastic and metal come into direct contact with the food, increasing the risk of contamination.



The third stage is packaging. Plastic wraps and aluminum cans may seem harmless, but they can act as chemical conduits, allowing synthetic substances to migrate into the food.



Finally, there is preparation. Heating a plastic-wrapped <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/vicious-cycle-food-systems-both-suffer-from-and-cause-emissions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">meal</a> in the microwave can exacerbate chemical leaching, effectively delivering those contaminants straight to your table.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-synthetic-chemical-delivery-system">Synthetic chemical delivery system</h2>



Ultra-processed <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/food-waste-has-a-surprising-impact-on-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">foods</a> are engineered for taste and convenience, but they’re also perfect carriers for synthetic chemicals.



Foods that come in contact with synthetic materials during every stage of production are more likely to end up with higher chemical loads. And that’s not all. 



The study connects these contaminants to serious health issues - cancers, heart disease, metabolic disorders, and more.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-public-health-blind-spot">Public health blind spot</h2>



Jane Muncke, the study’s lead author from <a href="https://foodpackagingforum.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Food Packaging Forum</a> Foundation, said that the evidence is becoming more clear that today’s packaged ultra-processed foods contain many synthetic chemicals and microplastics from various sources.



The presence of these chemicals is well-documented, and their harmful effects are clear. Yet, regulatory frameworks remain inadequate, barely addressing the full scope of the problem.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-outdated-testing-methods">Outdated testing methods </h2>



Testing for these chemicals isn’t as straightforward as it sounds. Most testing methods are outdated, designed for known contaminants. 



But what about the ones we haven’t identified yet? The study pushes for more advanced testing methods that can catch emerging chemicals and microplastics before they slip through regulatory cracks.



Packaging is supposed to protect food. But what if it’s doing the opposite? Plastic containers, metal cans, and even paper wrappers can all leach chemicals into food. 



Redesigning these materials for safety isn’t just a nice idea - it’s a necessity. The study urges policymakers to push for safer, more sustainable packaging alternatives.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rethinking-food-safety">Rethinking food safety</h2>



Muncke explained that there's a broader issue - one that extends beyond just individual chemicals. She noted that the health impacts of this type of food contamination are currently under-appreciated and under-studied. 



"The scientific evidence shows a need for adopting a holistic approach to policymaking, that integrates considerations of planetary and human health, including hazardous FCCs and their impacts on health," said Muncke.



"All food packaging, processing equipment, and other food contact materials need to be adequately tested for their safety with regard to migrating food contact chemicals and microplastics using modern testing methods."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-do-we-go-from-here">Where do we go from here?</h2>



If we keep eating ultra-processed foods, we keep ingesting synthetic chemicals. The study lays it out clearly - we need safer packaging, stricter testing, and stronger regulations. But we also need to rethink what we eat. 



Ultra-processed foods might be convenient, but they come with invisible risks. Maybe it’s time to take a closer look at that snack in your hand and consider what may be hiding inside.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-025-03697-5" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Medicine</a>.



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Food packaging is leaking harmful chemicals into meals

You grab a snack, tear open the package, and munch away. But have you ever wondered what might be slipping into your food? Synthetic chemicals sneak in through packaging, processing, and storage. You can’t see these chemicals, but they are there, and they’re raising serious health concerns. A study published in the journal Nature Medicine dives into the hidden world of food contaminants. The research was not just focused on preservatives and additives. The team studied chemicals that come from food packaging and contact materials - the...

Cat owners and dog owners will often fight like, well… cats and dogs. But the eternal struggle between these two groups may have just recorded a major victory for the canine aficionados, according to a new <a href="http://gss.norc.org/">US General Social Survey</a>, which has tracked a litany of American trends over the last half-century. 

With last year’s edition being the first to include questions about pets and the relationship between owner and animal, the survey scored results that showed – while pet owners and non-owners have similar levels of happiness – there is a significant divide within the happiness levels of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/dog-owners-perceived-attractive/">dog owners</a> and cat owners. 

Results showed that dog owners were twice as likely to call themselves “very happy,” with 36 percent versus only 18 percent for cat owners. Additionally, dog owners also reported seeking comfort from their animals at a higher rate, along with playing with their pets and even considering their dog a part of the family. 

When put in the context of happiness divide between other groups, the results are even more interesting. The difference between these pet owners as more significant than the happiness disparity between middle class and upper class people, and very close to the difference between people who report they are in “fair” versus “good or excellent” health.

If you’re a dog owner, you may want to immediately run to your nearest cat owner friend and shout these results right in their face – but there are some stipulations. Survey data also showed that dog owners are more likely to be married and own their homes than cat owners, so it’s possible these external factors have an effect in their happiness levels too. Although, in this context, it might be an opportunity to remind your cat-owning friend of why he’s still single.

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Dog owners are happier than cat owners, survey shows

Cat owners and dog owners will often fight like, well… cats...

In the United States, people are saving less for retirement and putting less away in their personal savings accounts compared to past decades.

One study found that 1 in 3 Americans have <a href="https://news.northwesternmutual.com/2018-05-08-1-In-3-Americans-Have-Less-Than-5-000-In-Retirement-Savings">less than $5,000 saved up for retirement</a>, which is a far cry from what experts suggest that people set aside when it comes <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/understanding-money-old-age/">time to retire</a>. 

There are of course many factors that go into how much people save each month and the underlying behaviors and history that dictate spending and saving habits. 

However, recent research found that insecurity and a low self-image may motivate a person to save more money as a way to help buffer the anxiety that comes with those insecurities. 

Researchers from <a href="https://english.tau.ac.il/">Tel-Aviv University </a>and the <a href="https://www.polyu.edu.hk/web/en/home/index.html">Hong Kong Polytechnic University</a> conducted the study which was published in the American Psychological Association’s Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.  

“People who are insecure about their lives and the broader world save as a means of securing their future in anticipation of a possible emergency,” said Yael Steinhart, the lead author of the study.

The researchers set up a series of experiments to assess how self-image and threats to a person’s self-image influenced saving tendencies. 

2,410 US and Israeli citizens took part in the study, and the researchers also reviewed and analyzed data from a survey of 1,200 Netherlands residents. 

For one of the experiments, the participants were asked to play a game of Sudoku on the computer and were told that their score placed them in the top, middle, or bottom third of all the players. 

Participants were then given a questionnaire and asked how much they would save if they were given $1,250. The participants with lower scores said they would save more money compared to the players who had higher scores.

In another experiment, participants were asked about their social circle, a time when they felt good or bad about themselves, and how many friends they talked to each week. 

As part of the questionnaire, participants were asked how much they would save if they were given $500 and the participants who reported more social connections and friends saved less. 

“Friends may substitute for money as a psychological resource and buffer individuals from anxiety about the future,” said Steinhart.

The data showed consistencies between low self-image or experiencing a threat to self-image and a stronger motivation to save more money, and the researchers say that saving may be a way to help alleviate anxieties that are out of a person’s control. 

“Saving constitutes an important measure of economic well-being,” said Steinhart. “A person's welfare should increase as they save more because saving offers a sense of security about the future.”

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

People save more when they feel insecure and anxious

In the United States, people are saving less for retirement...

While scientists are working to create revolutionary <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/anti-aging-drugs-human-trials/">anti-aging treatments</a>, new research has found that achieving higher levels of education could also help buffer against cognitive decline. 

Researchers from the <a href="https://www.ub.edu/web/ub/en/">University of Barcelona</a> and the <a href="https://www.dzne.de/en/">German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases</a> found that attaining more years of higher education results in thicker prefrontal brain regions in old age. 

The study was published in the journal JNeurisci. 

Besides thicker prefrontal brain regions, the researchers also found that higher education was associated with a higher expression of genes that play a role in neurotransmission and immunity. 

122 adults from Spain took part in the study and individuals who had completed 15 years of formal education had thicker medial prefrontal, anterior cingulate, and orbitofrontal cortices regions. 

These prefrontal brain regions are essential for memory and making decisions. 

Data from the <a href="http://www.brain-map.org/">Allen Institute Human Brain Atlas</a> were also analyzed to examine gene expressions in these brain regions. 

Having a better understanding of how these brain regions and genes respond as a person ages and what factors have the strongest influence could help future aging studies and pave the way for new treatments that promote healthy aging. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>,<a href="https://www.earth.com/"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Higher education may help buffer against cognitive decline in old age

While scientists are working to create revolutionary anti-aging treatments, new...

Heat waves, drought, and hotter summers are all becoming more frequent due to climate change, and sweltering summer heat waves are often exacerbated by the “<a href="https://www.earth.com/earthpedia-articles/urban-heat-island/">urban heat island</a>” effect in cities worldwide. 

The lack of vegetation and moisture in cities, coupled with heat-storing blacktop, concrete, and asphalt roof shingles increases city temperatures compared to surrounding rural areas. 

Dangerous heat waves can increase the risk of heat stroke and heat-related mortality, but the urban heat island effect makes cities even more hazardous during heat spikes. 

But there may be a surprisingly simple solution, according to a new modeling study conducted by researchers from the <a href="http://www.ox.ac.uk/">University of Oxford. </a>

Painting roofs so that the materials reflect rather than absorb heat could go a long way in mitigating the urban heat island effect and help keep cities cooler during heat waves. 

The results, published in the study Environment International, show that cool roofs in cities could reduce peak daytime temperatures by three degrees Celsius during a heat wave. 

For the study, the researchers used a regional weather model and assessed temperature changes across Birmingham and the West Midlands in the UK to investigate how the installation of cool-roofs influenced regional temperatures. 

During 2003 and 2006, when Birmingham experienced particularly hot summers, the model revealed that the urban heat island effect increased temperatures by nine degrees Celsius compared to surrounding rural areas. 

The researchers found that cool roofs could reduce peak daytime temperatures and that the cool roofs had the biggest impact during the hottest part of the day. 

If just half of all industrial and commercial buildings in the area switched to a cool roof, the model projected that temperatures would decrease as much as if all the high-intensity residential buildings in the region had cool roofs. 

Cool roofs could also reduce the risk of heat-related mortality during a heat wave by 25 percent. 

“Climate change and increasing urbanisation mean that future populations are likely to be at increased risk of overheating in cities, although building and city scale interventions have the potential to reduce this risk,” the researchers write in their abstract. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Cool roofs can reduce overheating in cities and save lives

Heat waves, drought, and hotter summers are all becoming more...

A new investigation from the <a href="https://www.psychologicalscience.org/">Association for Psychological Science</a> is contradicting the widely accepted theory that digital screen time is harmful to the <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/mental-health-issues-have-increased-teens/">mental health</a> of adolescents. The study, which was focused on more than 17,000 teenagers, failed to produce significant evidence of any relationship between screen time and well-being.

Many recent studies have warned of the dangers associated with TV, gaming, or online activities, particularly at bedtime. The current research, however, found that the use of digital screens even 30 minutes before bedtime did not seem to have any effect on adolescent well-being. In addition, the experts determined that a teenager's total screen time per day had little impact on mental health, whether on the weekends or weekdays. 

“Implementing best practice statistical and methodological techniques we found little evidence for substantial negative associations between digital-screen engagement and adolescent well-being," said Amy Orben, a psychological researcher and lecturer at the <a href="http://www.ox.ac.uk/">University of Oxford</a>.

“While psychological science can be a powerful tool for understanding the link between screen use and adolescent well-being, it still routinely fails to supply stakeholders and the public with high-quality, transparent, and objective investigations into growing concerns about digital technologies.”

“Analyzing three different datasets, which include improved measurements of screen time, we found little clear-cut evidence that screen time decreases adolescent well-being, even if the use of digital technology occurs directly before bedtime,” explained study co-author Professor Andrew Przybylski.

The Oxford research is different from previous studies because it includes data from the United States, Ireland, and the UK. The team used an extremely thorough approach to analyze how much time adolescents spend in front of screens, including time-use diaries and self-reported usage. 

The researchers were also meticulous in their investigation of well-being among teens, examining measures of psychosocial functioning, symptoms of depression, self-esteem, and mood based on data provided by both young people and their caregivers.

“Because technologies are embedded in our social and professional lives, research concerning digital-screen use and its effects on adolescent well-being is under increasing scrutiny,” said Orben. 

“To retain influence and trust, robust and transparent research practices will need to become the norm - not the exception. We hope our approach will set a new baseline for new research on the psychological study of technology,” added Professor Przybylski.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/home/pss">Psychological Science</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Screen time found to have very little impact on teen well-being

A new investigation from the Association for Psychological Science is...

A new study of rats has confirmed a theory scientists have long held about humans who use performance-enhancing drugs: steroids are linked to cocaine addiction.

Previous research has found that as many as a third of young people who use steroids and similar drugs also abuse cocaine. That’s much higher than the reverse; only about 5 percent of young people who use cocaine also use performance-enhancing drugs.

To test that link, a team of scientists from the <a href="http://www.upr.edu/">University of Puerto Rico</a> studied the effects of the drugs on female rats. 

Half the rats were exposed to nandrolone, which is one of the anabolic steroids most popular among young people. After 10 days, the researchers split the nandrolone group in two, exposing one group to nandrolone only, and the other to both nandrolone and cocaine. 

In addition, the group of rats not exposed to the performance-enhancing drugs was also split. Half of that nandrolone-free group was exposed to cocaine only, while the other part acted as the control for the study.

The team of scientists found that the rats exposed to nandrolone were much more sensitive to the effects of cocaine than the rats who had never been given performance-enhancing drugs. The rats exposed to cocaine only didn’t experience that same sensitivity. In short, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/alcohol-susceptible-cocaine-use/">like alcohol abuse</a>, anabolic steroids can make users more vulnerable to cocaine addiction.

Additionally, the rats exposed to the performance-enhancing drugs, with or without cocaine, saw damage to their ovaries, including new ovarian cysts. That reproductive damage could lead to infertility, the researchers said.

Part of the problem may be that anabolic steroids contain both synthetic and natural androgens, including testosterone. Overexposure to androgens in young people can "modifies the brain circuitry that regulates addictive behaviors, increasing the psychoactive properties of cocaine," the researchers wrote in a press release. 

The study emphasizes why it’s so important to keep young athletes from using performance-enhancing drugs. Not only can it damage their reproductive system, it can also make them even more vulnerable to cocaine addiction.

The researchers will present their findings in Orlando today at <a href="https://experimentalbiology.org/2019/home.aspx">Experimental Biology 2019</a>, the <a href="http://www.the-aps.org/">American Physiological Society’s</a> annual meeting.

—

By Kyla Cathey, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> staff writer

Performance-enhancing drugs can lead to cocaine addiction

A new study of rats has confirmed a theory scientists...

A new study may explain why a night of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/binge-drinking-cardiovascular/">binge drinking</a> often gives people the munchies. A team of researchers at <a href="https://med.psu.edu/">Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine</a> has found that junk food cravings and heavy drinking are controlled by the same brain circuit. 

“Obesity and alcoholism, two of the most common chronic disorders in the United States, may be behaviorally linked as binge intake of palatable diets, such as diets high in fat, and binge alcohol intake may utilize the same neurocircuitry,” wrote the researchers.

The theory is consistent with previous research which found that the consumption of alcohol affects the same regions of the brain that control overeating. The current study was focused on the eating and drinking patterns of three groups of early adult male mice.

One group of mice had unlimited access to a high-fat diet and limited access to a beverage containing water mixed with alcohol, while a second group had a normal rodent diet and the same limited access to the alcoholic beverage. The third test group of mice was given a “binge diet,” with limited access to both a high-fat diet and the alcoholic beverage.

The ratio of alcohol to drinking water was incrementally increased from 10 to 20 percent over the course of eight weeks. The mice also had unlimited access to drinking water throughout the experiment. 

The binge diet group gained and lost weight based on their eating cycles. These mice also drank more alcohol than water during their access period, showing a clear preference for alcohol. Both of the other groups drank less alcohol than the binge diet group. 

According to the researchers, the findings indicate that limiting access to foods high in fat promotes binge-like eating patterns, which subsequently activates the brain to binge on alcohol. 

“Given the increasing rates of binge drinking and overall obesity rates in the U.S. in recent years, we think this new mouse model will be of critical importance in the near future,” said study first author Caitlin Coker.


The research was presented at the American Physiological Society’s annual meeting <a href="https://experimentalbiology.org/2019/home.aspx">Experimental Biology 2019</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Why binge drinking causes the munchies and junk food cravings

A new study may explain why a night of binge...

A new study from the <a href="http://www.the-aps.org/">American Physiological Society</a> has shown that additional sleep may help teenagers with <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/digital-media-use-adhd/">attention deficit hyperactivity disorder</a> (ADHD) to better focus, plan, and control their emotions.

Among children and adolescents, ADHD is one of the most common neurobehavioral disorders. The condition interferes with executive function, which is the skill set that allows individuals to focus, pay attention, and manage time. 

Previous studies have demonstrated that a lack of sleep contributes to poorer executive functioning during adolescence. A team of researchers at <a href="https://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/">Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center</a> set out to investigate how sleep deprivation affects adolescents who suffer from ADHD.

The experts measured executive function in teenagers with ADHD after two separate sleep trials. The participants spent a week in which their sleep was restricted to six and a half hours per night, followed by a week in which they were allowed to sleep up to nine and a half hours per night. 

After each trial, the research team used the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function, Second Edition (BRIEF2), an assessment that is widely used to measure executive function in children under the age of 18. The BRIEF2 analyzes working memory, planning and organization, emotional control, initiation, and inhibition.

Compared to their performance following a week with adequate sleep, the test results showed that the participants had substantial deficits across all of their executive functioning skills following a week with restricted sleep.

“Increased sleep may significantly (and positively) impact academic, social and emotional functioning in adolescents with ADHD, and sleep may be an important future target for future intervention,” wrote the study authors.

The research was presented at the American Physiological Society’s annual meeting <a href="https://experimentalbiology.org/2019/home.aspx">Experimental Biology 2019</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Added sleep helps teenagers with ADHD to focus and plan

A new study from the American Physiological Society has shown...

Sunscreen does a lot more than just protect against sunburn and skin cancer. It also protects the skin’s blood vessels from damage caused by ultraviolet light.

That’s important, because our skin is our largest organ. It provides a waterproof, flexible barrier that protects the rest of the bodies organs and holds everything together. It protects us from the sun, and allows us to touch and feel things. It produces vitamin D, which is vital to health.

It also helps to regular temperature, by expanding and contracting blood vessels close to the skin’s surface.

Sunscreen already does a lot to protect skin from cancer and aging – as long as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sunscreen-protectio/">it’s applied correctly</a>.

Now, researchers from <a href="https://www.psu.edu/">Pennsylvania State University</a> have found that sunscreen can protect the skin’s blood vessels, keeping them in tip-top shape.

"For those who spend a lot of time working, exercising or participating in other various activities outdoors, using sunscreen may protect not only against skin cancer, but also against reductions in skin vascular function," doctoral student S. Tony Wolf wrote.

Wolf and his colleagues recruited a group of young people with medium to light skin tone to test what effects sunscreen had on the skin’s blood vessels. They tested the effects of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) on their arms, treated with either chemical sunscreen or simulated sweat, while the other arm was left untreated as a control group.

They found that the control arm when exposed showed less nitric oxide-associated vasodilation – an important process that helps prevent overheating. 

The treated arms didn’t show that reduction.

"Further, when sunscreen was applied prior to UVR, UVR exposure actually augmented [nitric oxide-associated vasodilation] compared to [the control arm], or when sweat was on the skin," the research team wrote. "The presence of sunscreen or sweat on the skin may play a protective role against this effect [of UVR]."

So slather on that sunscreen before spending time outdoors. Just be sure that it’s <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sunscreen-ingredient-human-skin/">oxybenzone free</a>.

The researchers will present their findings today at <a href="https://experimentalbiology.org/">Experimental Biology 2019</a>, the American Physiological Society's annual meeting, in Orlando.

—

By Kyla Cathey, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> staff writer

Sunscreen keeps skin's blood vessels healthy

Sunscreen does a lot more than just protect against sunburn...

A team of engineers at <a href="https://www.tufts.edu/">Tufts University</a> has created dyed threads that are designed to change color when they detect a variety of gases. The color changes can be detected visually, but can be interpreted even more precisely by using a smartphone camera.

According to the study authors, the safety threads could be woven into clothing to detect gases in medical, workplace, military, and rescue environments. The goal is not to replace electronic devices commonly used to detect volatile gases, but to provide a method of gas detection that requires no equipment or specialized training.

The researchers used a manganese-based dye, MnTPP, methyl red, and bromothymol blue to demonstrate the concept. While MnTPP and bromothymol blue can detect ammonia, methyl red can detect hydrogen chloride. These gases are commonly released from <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/cleaning-products-sanitizers-health/">cleaning supplies</a>, fertilizer, and during the production of chemical and materials.

The experts established a three-step process that “traps” the dye in the thread, including the use of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) to physically seal the thread and dye. The PDMS creates a flexible seal that is also gas permeable, allowing the analytes to reach the optical dyes.

Study co-author Sameer Sonkusale is a professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Tufts University's School of Engineering.

“The dyes we used work in different ways, so we can detect gases with different chemistries,” said Professor Sonkusale. “But since we are using a method that effectively traps the dye to the thread, rather than relying so much on binding chemistry, we have more flexibility to use dyes with a wide range of functional chemistries to detect different types of gases.”

The way the dyes changed color during testing was dependent and proportional to the concentration of the gas as measured using spectroscopic methods. Smartphones could be used to quantify the color changes or interpret color signatures using multiple threads and dyes. “That would allow us to scale up the detection to measure many analytes at once, or to distinguish analytes with unique colorimetric signatures,” said Professor Sonkusale.

Study lead author Rachel Owyeung is a graduate student in the Tufts Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering. She explained that the threads even worked under water, detecting the presence of dissolved ammonia. 

“While the PDMS sealant is hydrophobic and keeps water off the thread, the dissolved gases can still reach the dye to be quantified.” said Owyeung. “As dissolved gas sensors, we imagine smart fabrics detecting carbon dioxide or other volatile organic compounds during oil and gas exploration as one possible application.”

The study is published in the journal <a href="http://www.nature.com/scientificreports">Scientific Reports</a>. 

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Rachel Owyeung, Tufts University, Nano Lab

Special thread sewn into clothing can detect dangerous gases

A team of engineers at Tufts University has created dyed...

According to a new study from the <a href="https://warwick.ac.uk/">University of Warwick</a>, <a href="https://www.hu-berlin.de/en/">Humboldt University of Berlin</a>, and <a href="https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/">Lancaster University</a>, sugar doesn’t do anything for one’s mood and can actually worsen it rather than provide a person with a “rush.” Their findings are published in <a href="https://www.journals.elsevier.com/neuroscience-and-biobehavioral-reviews">Neuroscience &amp; Biobehavioral Reviews</a>.

Using data from 31 sugar-related studies, which collectively involved over 1,300 adults, Dr. Konstantinos Mantantzis from Humboldt University, Dr. Sandra Sünram-Lea from Lancaster University, and Dr. Friederike Schlaghecken and Professor Elizabeth Maylor from Warwick's Department of Psychology found that ingesting sugar can increase tiredness and lower alertness within an hour of consumption.

Furthermore, the team found that the idea of a  “sugar rush” is purely mythical and has no truth to it. <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/sugary-beverages-premature-death/">Sugar</a> has no effect on mood alone, regardless of amount. 

"The idea that sugar can improve mood has been widely influential in popular culture, so much so that people all over the world consume sugary drinks to become more alert or combat fatigue,” Dr. Mantantzis said. “Our findings very clearly indicate that such claims are not substantiated — if anything, sugar will probably make you feel worse."

"The rise in obesity, diabetes and metabolic syndrome in recent years highlights the need for evidence-based dietary strategies to promote healthy lifestyle across the lifespan,” added Sünram-Lea. “Our findings indicate that sugary drinks or snacks do not provide a quick 'fuel refill' to make us feel more alert."

Professor Maylor hopes these findings encourage the public to turn away from sugary snacks and drinks which are marketed to boost mood and productivity.

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By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Sugar actually worsens mood and does not give you a “rush”

According to a new study from the University of Warwick,...

After an autonomous car struck and killed a pedestrian in Arizona last year, the woman's family is suing the city of Tempe for negligence. Meanwhile, cognitive and computer scientists are debating whether <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/self-driving-car-americans/">self-driven vehicles</a> should be held responsible for their own actions and wrongdoing.

Study co-author Yochanan Bigman is an expert in social and moral psychology at the <a href="https://www.unc.edu/">University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill</a>.

“We're on the verge of a technological and social revolution in which autonomous machines will replace humans in the workplace, on the roads, and in our homes,” said Bigman. “When these robots inevitably do something to harm humans, how will people react? We need to figure this out now, while regulations and laws are still being formed.”

The researchers believe that the perceived competence of some machines, including the ability to act independently of humans, could make people more likely to hold them morally responsible for their own actions. 

Beyond autonomy, the very appearance of a robot has an influence on moral judgement. For example, a human-looking robot will likely be perceived as having a human mind. Realistic robots are also expected to have an awareness of their surroundings, and are thought to have the freedom to act with intent.


These issues have important implications for the people and companies who develop and operate autonomous machines. The study authors argue that there could be cases where robots act as a scapegoat for those who are responsible for programming them.

Autonomous technology continues to advance, and the subject of whether the rights of robots need to be legally protected has already been addressed. The experts pointed out that the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Robots and a 2017 European Union report have laid the groundwork for extending certain moral standards to include machines.

“We suggest that now - while machines and our intuitions about them are still in flux - is the best time to systematically explore questions of robot morality,” wrote the study authors. “By understanding how human minds make sense of morality, and how we perceive the mind of machines, we can help society think more clearly about the impending rise of robots and help roboticists understand how their creations are likely to be received.”


The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.journals.elsevier.com/trends-in-cognitive-sciences">Trends in Cognitive Sciences</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

Should robots and autonomous vehicles take the blame for wrongdoing?

After an autonomous car struck and killed a pedestrian in...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

[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

[sendtonews key="qARzJPSabQ-2270617-12187" 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> 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

[sendtonews key="qas3EhyI0Y-2220951-12187" 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.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

[sendtonews key="vpljfR2VBX-2560867-12187" 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> 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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