Our everyday food choices are often guided by taste, tradition, and convenience. However, beneath these choices lie hidden risks that many tend to ignore. There is growing evidence suggesting that even tiny amounts of processed meat, sugary drinks, and trans fats carry health risks. 



A team of researchers analyzed over 60 previous studies. They looked at how processed meat, sugar-sweetened beverages, and trans fats impact risks of type 2 diabetes, colorectal cancer, and ischemic heart disease.



“Habitual consumption of even small amounts of processed <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sunflower-protein-could-change-the-future-of-sustainable-meat/">meat</a>, sugary drinks, and trans fatty acids is linked to increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, ischemic heart disease and colorectal cancer,” said Dr. Demewoz Haile, the study’s lead author from the <a href="https://www.washington.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Washington</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-risks-behind-daily-choices">Risks behind daily choices</h2>



The analysis revealed alarming <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/meat-consumption-drove-an-evolutionary-leap-in-early-humans/">trends</a>. Eating just one hot dog a day increased type 2 diabetes risk by 11 percent. It also raised the risk of colorectal cancer by 7 percent. 



Consuming a daily 12-ounce soda raised type 2 diabetes risk by 8 percent and ischemic heart disease by 2 percent.



“This current research has shown, yet again and consistent with prior research, that to achieve health gains it is best to avoid or minimize the habitual consumption of each of processed meat, sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and industrially produced trans fatty acids (TFAs),” said Dr. Nita Forouhi of the <a href="https://www.cam.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Cambridge</a>.



According to Dr. Forouhi, there is no such thing as a “safe amount” of processed meat consumption.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-strong-and-consistent-health-risks">Strong and consistent health risks</h2>



The risks associated with eating processed meats may appear small. However, Dr. Mingyang Song from <a href="https://hsph.harvard.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health</a> explained why they are concerning.



“When we look at the actual data there, it’s really remarkably consistent and remarkably strong, and even in the lower dose of consumption, we can still see an increased risk of disease,” he said.



The study used a burden-of-proof method. This approach weighs evidence from several studies and considers their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/meat-protein-boosts-survival-but-plants-boost-longevity/">quality</a>. Though conservative, the method strengthens the results.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-processed-meat-risk-remains">Processed meat risk remains</h2>



The study has limitations. For example, the research does not prove direct cause and effect. Dr. Gunter Kuhnle from the <a href="https://www.reading.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Reading</a> pointed out that participants had to recall their diets, which can lead to mistakes.



“Utilizing even ‘the most sophisticated techniques does not really solve the problem that the information about diet is rather limited - which is obviously a big problem in nutritional epidemiology in general,” said Dr. Kuhnle.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-these-foods-are-harmful">Why these foods are harmful</h2>



Certain foods contribute to inflammation, which plays a role in chronic diseases. Processed meats often contain nitrites. These compounds convert into cancer-causing nitrosamines inside the stomach. 



Sugary drinks pose other dangers. They deliver large sugar doses rapidly, leading to weight gain and metabolic problems.



Trans fats worsen cholesterol levels. They lower good cholesterol and raise bad cholesterol, leading to heart disease risks.



Unhealthy diets often accompany other risky behaviors, such as smoking or low physical activity. Social issues like low income or limited healthcare access also raise disease risks.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cutting-processed-meat-keeping-balance">Cutting processed meat, keeping balance</h2>



Though reducing these foods is strongly advisable, moderation is key. Song suggested that cutting back on such items makes sense. Kuhnle agreed and advised maintaining a balanced diet.



That includes reducing sugary drinks, processed meats, and hydrogenated fats, even if trans fats are now less common. “The goal shouldn’t be perfection but rather a healthy and sensible dietary pattern that allows room for enjoyment,” said Dr. Kuhnle.



Good nutrition means not only cutting out unhealthy foods but also eating foods that help your body. Adding fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and other healthy options keeps you strong and well.



“Wider research has shown us that overall dietary patterns that include higher consumption of fruit and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts and fermented dairy products like yogurt are good for health and longevity,” said Dr. Forouhi.



Dr. Kuhnle offered a final reminder. “My general advice: don’t panic,” he said. “Food is not just (a) source of nutrients - it plays a central role in culture, pleasure, family life, and social connection. Reducing it solely to a list of health risks misses the bigger picture.”



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-025-03775-8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a>.



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Processed meat can cause health issues, even in tiny amounts

Our everyday food choices are often guided by taste, tradition, and convenience. However, beneath these choices lie hidden risks that many tend to ignore. There is growing evidence suggesting that even tiny amounts of processed meat, sugary drinks, and trans fats carry health risks. A team of researchers analyzed over 60 previous studies. They looked at how processed meat, sugar-sweetened beverages, and trans fats impact risks of type 2 diabetes, colorectal cancer, and ischemic heart disease. “Habitual consumption of even small amounts of processed meat, sugary drinks,...

In a recent national survey, around half of fathers reported that they have faced criticism about their parenting choices regarding everything from what their children eat to how they play. Some of the <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/fathers-life-experiences-offspring/">fathers</a> responded by making changes in their parenting approach or by conducting research, while others reacted less positively to the criticism.

The C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health at the <a href="https://umich.edu/">University of Michigan</a> involved 713 fathers of children between 0 and 13 years old.

More than 25 percent of the fathers said that shaming by others made them feel less confident, and 43 percent believed that the criticism is often unfair. In addition, one in five felt that this type of judgement discourages them from being more involved in parenting. 

"Fathers who are loving and engaged can have a positive impact on their children's development and well-being," explained poll co-director Sarah Clark, M.P.H. "While some fathers say criticism prompts them to seek more information about good parenting practices, too much disparagement may cause dads to feel demoralized about their parental role." 

"Family members - especially the other parent - should be willing to acknowledge that different parenting styles are not necessarily incorrect or harmful."

The subject of discipline was reported by two-thirds of the dads as being the number one area in which they felt criticized. Clark explained that it is not uncommon for parents to disagree over issues such as the age a child should be expected to follow certain rules or the appropriate consequences for misbehavior. 

"Addressing a child's misbehavior is one of the greatest challenges of parenting and parents aren't always on the same page when it comes to expectations and consequences," said Clark. "Inconsistency between parents in responding to a child's behavior can send mixed messages to the child, and result in conflict and criticism between parents."

Around 40 percent of the survey participants had been criticized on the topic of diet and nutrition. In addition, nearly one-third of the fathers felt judged for not paying enough attention to their children, and an equal number were told they played too rough. 

Sleep, appearance, and safety were also frequent topics of criticism reported by the dads. The most common source of dad shaming was from within the family. The other parent was the primary critic among 44 percent of the respondents, while grandparents were reported to be the biggest critics by 24 percent of the dads.

"In some instances, this may be a reflection of historical gender roles, where mothers are viewed as more natural caregivers, and fathers as having limited parenting capabilities that need supervision or correction," said Clark. "When this occurs, minor differences in parenting style can cause conflict over the 'best' way to parent."

"Cultural norms, family dynamics and prior experience with his own father can also shape a dad's parenting style and influence the expectations of others."

--

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/George Rudy

Daddy shaming: Men respond differently to parenting criticism

In a recent national survey, around half of fathers reported...

Study: When parents have lenient attitudes about alcohol, kids drink more. Researchers at the <a href="https://www.cam.ac.uk/">University of Cambridge</a> have found that when parents have lenient attitudes about their child's alcohol use, the child is more likely to start drinking on a regular basis. According to the study, a laid back approach to underage consumption among the parents also leads children to <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/harmed-drinking-habits-others/">drink more heavily</a> compared to their peers.

Many studies have demonstrated a link between alcohol use among children and their parents' behavior in the home, yet how parental attitudes toward drinking may influence a child's level of alcohol consumption has remained unclear. 

A team of experts led by Mariliis Tael-Oeren set out to investigate by reviewing published articles about the relationship between parental attitudes and underage alcohol use. The researchers analyzed the most relevant information from 29 articles, which included data from more than 16,000 children and 15,000 parents in the United States and Europe.

"Our study suggests that when parents have a lenient attitude towards their children drinking alcohol, this can lead to their child drinking more frequently - and drinking too much," said Tael-Oeren. "Although the data was based on children and their parents in the US and Europe, we expect that our findings will also apply here in the UK."

The researchers also found a mismatch between a youth's perception of their parents' attitude toward them drinking and the actual position held by the parents. Children were no more likely to start drinking alcohol if they perceived a lenient attitude toward it, but they were more likely to drink often once they had initially tried alcohol.Study: When parents have lenient attitudes about alcohol, kids drink more 

"This mismatch doesn't mean that children perceive parental attitudes completely differently from their parents," said Tael-Oeren. "Instead, it could be that their perceptions are skewed towards thinking their parents have more lenient attitudes. This could be because their parents haven't expressed their attitudes in a way that the children really understand."

"Alcohol use can be problematic, particularly among young people. It's important that children understand the short and long term consequences of drinking. If parents don't want their children to drink, then our study suggests they need to be clear about the message they give out."

Study senior author Professor Stephen Sutton explained that social norms could also be contributing to confusion among children. 

"Alcohol use is influenced by a variety of factors, including attitudes and social norms," noted Professor Sutton. "If the social norm supports parents introducing alcohol to children, children might mistakenly assume that their parents are more lenient, even when this is not the case."

The research is published in the journal <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/13600443">Addiction</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/Wutzkohphoto

Study: When parents have lenient attitudes about alcohol, kids drink more

Study: When parents have lenient attitudes about alcohol, kids drink...

A new mobile application developed by experts at the <a href="https://le.ac.uk/">University of Leicester</a> will use data from Earth observation satellites to pinpoint urban pollution hotspots. The program will advise individuals on whether it is a good time for outdoor activities and will map the best routes to go for a walk or a jog based on <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/visiting-city-air-pollution-breathing-issues/">air quality</a>. 

For individuals with certain health conditions such as heart disease or asthma, outdoor exercise becomes counterproductive and even dangerous on days with high levels of air pollution. 

"Whilst we know physical activity is good for many patients with long-term conditions including heart and lung diseases, clinicians are often anxious about recommending exercise and often unable to prescribe accurate and effective exercise for their patients," explained Professor Andre Ng.

"We will develop a patient-centred mobile app that takes in satellite data with unique resolution including that of air quality that delivers precise guideline-based exercise advice tailored to their condition and ability. This greatly enhances the confidence of both healthcare professionals to prescribe, and patients to put into practice, effective physical activity which improves well-being and reduces healthcare utilization."

The app will provide users with customized, disease-specific exercise advice based on air quality data obtained in real-time from the Copernicus Sentinel-5P satellite.

EarthSense, a spin-off company from the University of Leicester, is also creating a second application that will help guide traffic management in polluted urban areas. 

"Using the information from the app, users can choose to avoid certain high pollution areas, reducing the amount of emissions inhaled, and hopefully divert traffic away from those areas, thereby reducing the levels of pollution," said Tom Hall, who is the managing director of EarthSense.

The research is being funded by the ESA’s program of Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) in partnership with the UK Space Agency and NHS England.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: ESA

Mobile apps can help steer users away from polluted city areas

A new mobile application developed by experts at the University...

<a href="http://www.earth.com/news/night-owls-disadvantage-daytime-performance/">Night owls</a> with extremely late sleeping and waking habits can reset their internal clocks without the need for pharmaceuticals, according to research led by the <a href="https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/index.aspx">University of Birmingham</a>. Study participants who shifted their circadian rhythms over the course of three weeks exhibited better eating habits, improved morning performance, and a reduction in symptoms of stress and depression. 

"Our research findings highlight the ability of a simple non-pharmacological intervention to phase advance 'night owls,' reduce negative elements of mental health and sleepiness, as well as manipulate peak performance times in the real world," study lead author Dr. Elise Facer-Childs from the Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health at Monash University.

Disruptions in the sleep-wake cycle are tied to a number of health complications, including a higher risk of disease and mortality, reduced cognitive ability, mood swings, and poor physical performance.

"Having a late sleep pattern puts you at odds with the standard societal days, which can lead to a range of adverse outcomes - from daytime sleepiness to poorer mental well-being," explained study co-author Dr. Andrew Bagshaw. 

"We wanted to see if there were simple things people could do at home to solve this issue. This was successful, on average allowing people to get to sleep and wake up around two hours earlier than they were before. Most interestingly, this was also associated with improvements in mental well-being and perceived sleepiness, meaning that it was a very positive outcome for the participants."

The investigation was focused on 22 healthy individuals with an average bedtime of 2:30 a.m. and wake-up time of 10:15 a.m. For three weeks, the participants were instructed to go to bed 2-3 hours earlier than usual and limit light exposure in the evening. They were also asked to wake up 2-3 hours earlier and maximize outdoor light during the mornings.

In addition, the individuals were told to maintain consistent sleep/wake times on both work days and free days, have breakfast as soon as possible after waking up, eat lunch at the same time each day, and to refrain from eating dinner after 7:00 p.m.

As a result, the participants developed a faster reaction time and improved physical  performance during the morning hours, and experienced a shift in their peak performance times from evening to afternoon. The new sleep routine also led to better mental well-being characterized by a decrease in feelings of stress and depression.

"Establishing simple routines could help 'night owls' adjust their body clocks and improve their overall physical and mental health," said Professor Debra Skene. "Insufficient levels of sleep and circadian misalignment can disrupt many bodily processes putting us at increased risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes."

"We now need to understand how habitual sleep patterns are related to the brain, how this links with mental wellbeing and whether the interventions lead to long-term changes," concluded Dr. Bagshaw.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.journals.elsevier.com/sleep-medicine">Sleep 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/Oatawa

Night owls can reset their sleeping patterns to boost performance, well-being

Night owls with extremely late sleeping and waking habits can...

A new study from the <a href="https://www.ewg.org/">Environmental Working Group</a> (EWG) has revealed that nitrate contamination in <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/socioeconomic-groups-unsafe-drinking-water/">drinking water</a> across the United States may be responsible for more than 12,500 cases of cancer each year.

The nitrate contamination of public water systems is primarily caused by agricultural runoff containing fertilizer and manure. The researchers estimated the number of cancer cases that could be linked to this type of water pollution in each state, and found that the overall cost associated with medical treatment could be as high as $1.5 billion a year.

"Nitrate contamination of drinking water is a serious problem, and especially severe in the nation's farm country," said EWG senior science advisor Dr. Olga Naidenko. "Now, for the first time, we can see the staggering consequences of this pollution."

In 1962, the federal drinking water standard for nitrate was set at 10 parts per million (ppm). However, nitrate levels less than one-tenth of this legal limit have been tied to cancer and other serious health issues in several previous studies. 

The EWG team found that colorectal cancer made up 80 percent of the nitrate-related cases, while ovarian, thyroid, kidney and bladder cancer made up the rest. In addition, the experts estimated that nitrate pollution may be responsible for as many as 2,939 cases of very low birth weight, 1,725 cases of preterm birth, and 41 cases of neural tube defects.

According to the researchers, the level at which nitrate in drinking water would cause no adverse health effects is 70 times lower than the Environmental Protection Agency's legal limit. However, the EPA suspended its plans to re-evaluate the legal nitrate limit earlier this year. 

"Millions of Americans are being involuntarily exposed to nitrate, and they are also the ones paying the heavy costs of treating contaminated tap water," said study lead author and EWG toxicologist Dr. Alexis Temkin. "But the federal government is not doing enough to protect Americans from tap water contamination."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.journals.elsevier.com/environmental-research">Environmental Research</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/Dmitry Naumov

Nitrate in drinking water linked to thousands of cancer cases each year

A new study from the Environmental Working Group (EWG) has...

Researchers at the <a href="https://www.ucr.edu/">University of California, Riverside</a> have identified a molecular mechanism that disrupts communication between the gut and the brain and causes <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/mediterranean-diet-prevent-overeating/">overeating</a>. The team found that overactive endocannabinoids in the gut block the signals that alert the brain when it is time to stop eating.

Endocannabinoids are cannabis-like physiological activators which occur naturally in the body to help regulate immune, behavioral, and neuronal processes. Just like cannabis, endocannabinoids can enhance feeding behavior.

For the investigation, mice were fed a "Western diet" that was high in fat and sugar. After 60 days, the researchers detected high activity of endocannabinoids at cannabinoid CB1 receptors in the gut of the mice. This overactivity was found to prevent the food-induced secretion of the peptide cholecystokinin, a short chain of amino acids that are released to signal satiation. In the absence of cholecystokinin, the mice were overeating. 

"If drugs could be developed to target these cannabinoid receptors so that the release of satiation peptides is not inhibited during excessive eating, we would be a step closer to addressing the prevalence of obesity that affects millions of people in the country and around the world," said study lead author Professor Nicholas V. DiPatrizio.

Previous research has demonstrated that endocannabinoid levels and are elevated in obese humans and increase in the blood just before and after eating a high-energy food, according to Professor DiPatrizio.

"Research in humans has shown that eating associated with a palatable diet led to an increase in endocannabinoids - but whether or not endocannabinoids control the release of satiation peptides is yet to be determined," explained study first author Donovan A. Argueta.

Next, the team plans to analyze the link between CB1 receptor activity and cholecystokinin.

"We would also like to get a better understanding of how specific components of the Western diet - fat and sucrose - lead to dysregulation of the endocannabinoid system and gut-brain signaling," said Professor DiPatrizio. "We also plan to study how endocannabinoids control the release of other molecules in the intestine that influence metabolism."

The research is published in the journal <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/physiology">Frontiers in Physiology</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/Syda Productions

Disruptive molecular mechanism in the gut causes overeating

Researchers at the University of California, Riverside have identified a...

While studies have shown that humans and our closely-related monkey cousins process sight similarly in the brain, the same cannot be said for sound. 

In a new study, researchers from the the <a href="http://www.mit.edu/">Massachusetts Institute of Technology</a> discovered key differences in the way macaques and humans<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/human-babies-monkey-vocalize/"> hear and process sounds</a>. 

Humans are highly sensitive to pitch while macaques can recognize noises and changes in frequency. 

The study, published in the journal Nature Neuroscience, is part of the <a href="https://www.nih.gov/research-training/medical-research-initiatives/sound-health">Sound Health project </a>funded by the <a href="https://www.nih.gov/">National Institutes of Health</a>, which aims to examine how music impacts health. 

“We found that a certain region of our brains has a stronger preference for sounds with pitch than macaque monkey brains,” said Bevil Conway, Ph.D., the senior author of the study. “The results raise the possibility that these sounds, which are embedded in speech and music, may have shaped the basic organization of the human brain.”

Previously, Conway was researching differences between monkey and human sight but found little difference in how vision was controlled in the brain of either species. 

Conway then teamed up with Dr. Norman-Haignere to see if the same methodology could be applied to sound processing in the brains of monkeys and humans. 

“I told Bevil that we had a method for reliably identifying a region in the human brain that selectively responds to sounds with pitch,” said Norman-Haignere. 

The two researchers played harmonic sounds (tones) to both human volunteers and macaques. Participants had their brain activity monitored with functional magnetic resonance imaging, which measured the responses to each tone. 

The participants were also played noises without tones. Imagine hearing someone talk in a normal tone of voice but then change to whispering. The whispering noises are noises without pitch. 

At first, it seemed like there was little difference between the brain scans of macaques and humans. But upon closer examination, the researchers identified areas in the human brain that were much more responsive to tones than pitch-less noises. 

In fact, humans were more receptive to natural pitch changes in macaque calls than macaques. 

“We found that human and monkey brains had very similar responses to sounds in any given frequency range,” said Conway. “It’s when we added tonal structure to the sounds that some of these same regions of the human brain became more responsive.”

The results of the study show that humans and monkeys experience auditory stimuli very differently, and this could help researchers understand how hearing evolved in humans. 

“This finding suggests that speech and music may have fundamentally changed the way our brain processes pitch,” said Conway. “It may also help explain why it has been so hard for scientists to train monkeys to perform auditory tasks that humans find relatively effortless.”

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>,<a href="https://www.earth.com/"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Image Credit: Shutterstock

Human brains are highly sensitive to musical pitch

While studies have shown that humans and our closely-related monkey...

A new study from the <a href="https://nutrition.org/">American Society for Nutrition</a> has revealed that carbon emissions from <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/meat-and-seafood-production-have-a-high-environmental-cost/">food production</a> could be substantially lowered with very small dietary changes. 

The researchers analyzed the diets of thousands of people in the United States and found that replacing just one food item each day would lead to remarkable progress in lowering individual carbon footprints. 

Study lead study author Dr. Diego Rose is an expert in food security and nutrition at <a href="https://tulane.edu/">Tulane University</a>.

"We found that making one substitution of poultry for beef resulted in an average reduction of dietary greenhouse gases by about a half," said Dr. Rose. "To our knowledge, this is the only nationally representative study of the carbon footprint of individually chosen diets in the U.S."

"We hope this research will raise awareness about the role of the food sector in climate change and the sizable impact of a simple dietary change."

The study was focused on data from more than 16,000 participants in the 2005-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The individuals reported on all of the foods they had consumed in the previous 24 hours. This information was used to calculate a carbon footprint for each diet and to determine which foods were associated with the highest levels of harmful greenhouse gas emissions.

The study revealed that the 10 foods with the highest impacts on the environment were all cuts of beef that were consumed by about 20 percent of the participants. The researchers calculated a new carbon footprint for each diet by swapping one serving of beef with a closely-related poultry product. For example, ground beef was replaced with ground turkey. 

"Our simulation showed that you don't have to give up animal products to improve your carbon footprint," said Dr. Rose. "Just one food substitution brought close to a 50% reduction, on average, in a person's carbon footprint."

The study authors noted that food waste and overeating also increase the carbon footprint of each individual diet. In addition to eating low-carbon foods, they recommend better meal planning and eating leftovers.

The research will be presented by Dr. Rose at <a href="https://meeting.nutrition.org/">Nutrition 2019</a> in Baltimore.

--

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/vkuslandia

Small changes in your diet can reduce environmental impacts of food production

A new study from the American Society for Nutrition has...

A team of researchers has found that alcohol consumption by a pregnant mother can damage the placenta as early as conception. The study linked early <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/alcohol-consumption-gene-marriage/">alcohol</a> exposure to issues with the placenta, such as inhibited growth.

The placenta plays a critical role in the health and nutrition of the fetus by providing it with nutrients and oxygen. The placenta also removes waste from the baby's blood. Poor development of the placenta can restrict fetal growth, resulting in complications such as low birth weight.

While the risks of alcohol during the later stages of pregnancy have been studied extensively, the effects of exposure during the initial stages are not as well understood. Dr. Jacinta Kalisch-Smith teamed up with Professor Karen Moritz at the <a href="https://www.uq.edu.au/">University of Queensland</a> to investigate. 

"We wanted to know whether early alcohol exposure could affect the development of the early embryo and the placenta. Using a rat model, we assessed the ability of the embryo to implant into the uterus, and, later, how well blood vessels formed in the placenta," explained Dr. Kalisch-Smith.

This approach allowed the scientists to examine changes which occurred throughout a rat's pregnancy. The study revealed that alcohol consumption between the four days before and the four days after fertilization restricted the growth and function of the placenta.

"We found early alcohol exposure reduced blood vessel formation in the placenta, and this led to fewer nutrients being delivered to the embryo," said Dr. Kalisch-Smith. The placentas of female embryos were found to be particularly susceptible, exhibiting as much as a 17-percent reduction in size and a 32-percent drop in blood vessel formation.

"This has implications for human health by helping to explain, in part, why babies exposed to alcohol in the womb are often born small," said Dr. Kalisch-Smith. "It is important to understand the causes of low birth weight, because it has been shown to be an independent risk factor for diseases later in adulthood, such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension and obesity."

The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dev.biologists.org/">Development</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/George Rudy

Alcohol exposure during conception can impact placenta development

A team of researchers has found that alcohol consumption by...

Soda taxes are becoming more popular in the United States, much to the chagrin of small government advocates. The taxes – which often include all sugary drinks, not just sodas – have caught on in a handful of U.S. cities and counties. 

More than a dozen other countries have debated and in some cases adopted soda taxes or limited on the amount of sugar drinks could contain. Some require warnings on sugary drinks.

New research shows that despite the controversy, the taxes and regulations may help reduce obesity.

A collection of studies and data will be presented today at <a href="https://meeting.nutrition.org/">Nutrition 2019</a>, the annual meeting of the <a href="https://nutrition.org/">American Society for Nutrition</a>, which is began June 8 in Baltimore and will run until June 11.

Among the posters and presentations at the meeting:
<ul>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">A <a href="https://cdmcd.co/L9GB5">new study</a> estimates a nationwide, 1-cent tax on sugary drinks could prevent as many as 17,000 obesity-related cancer cases and 10,000 cancer deaths. The research, which will be presented by Christina Griecci of <a href="https://www.tufts.edu/">Tufts University</a> on Sunday, predicts that the tax could bring savings of $2.4 billion on lifetime medical costs.</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Tufts researchers also found that a <a href="https://cdmcd.co/5pwrP">tiered tax that charged more</a> for drinks with higher sugar content was the most effective deterrent. Such a tiered tax could prevent 460,000 cardiovascular issues and 60,000 cases of type 2 diabetes over a 10-year span, researchers found. Dr. Yujin Lee will present the findings on Tuesday.</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Anna Grummon of the <a href="https://www.unc.edu/">University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill</a> will present a pair of studies that found health warnings can <a href="https://cdmcd.co/3pKKk">discourage people from purchasing sugary beverages</a> and that they might also <a href="https://cdmcd.co/4pEmE">reduce cases of obesity</a>.</li>
</ul>
Those studies are among several at Nutrition 2019 examining average soda consumption, how sugary drinks affect gut microbiomes and inflammation, and the link between beverages and prediabetes in Latino children.

They add to a growing collection of studies showing that soda taxes, while unpopular, may be effective – at least in reducing sales of soda and energy drinks. 

Soda taxes have been linked to a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/soda-taxes-healthier-drink-choices/">52 percent decline in sugary drink consumption</a> – and a 29 percent increase in water consumption – in Berkeley, California, and a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/philadelphia-sugary-drink-sales-tax/">38 percent drop</a> in drinking such beverages in Philadelphia.

—

By Kyla Cathey, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> staff writer

Paid for by Earth.com.

Soda taxes are controversial, but do they work?

Soda taxes are becoming more popular in the United States,...

Drinking habits account for a large chunk of our daily calories and nutrients. 

One 2017 report found that both adults and children <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-much-of-our-daily-calories-come-from-sugar-sweetened-drinks-2017-1">drink more than 100 calories a day</a> but finding ways to track beverage consumption on a global scale has been challenging. 

But now, the <a href="https://www.globaldietarydatabase.org/">Global Dietary Database</a> project funded by the <a href="https://www.gatesfoundation.org/">Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation</a> is helping researchers study global diets and discover new links to diets and disease. 

With the Global Dietary Database, researchers from <a href="https://www.tufts.edu/">Tufts University</a> were able to conduct one of the most thorough and comprehensive assessments of global beverage consumption to date.

The results show significant differences in not only what people are drinking, but how these beverage choices might impact health and disease burden. 

For the study, the researchers reviewed data from 1,100 surveys conducted in 2015. 

For sugar-sweetened beverages, the researchers found that Mexico had the highest rates and on average, adults in Mexico drank two and a half cups of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/philadelphia-sugary-drink-sales-tax/">sugary drinks</a> per day. 

Columbia had the highest consumption of fruit juice, followed by the Dominican Republic at nearly one and a half cups per day. 

In China, sugar-sweetened beverages, milk, and fruit juice consumption were the lowest out of all the countries studied. Portugal and Japan also had lower consumptions of fruit juice. 

People in countries where dairy farming is common unsurprisingly drank more milk every day.

“Notably, sugar-sweetened beverage and fruit juice intake was highest in the Latin American region, where both commercial and homemade sugar-sweetened beverages and fruit drinks are widely consumed,” said Lara-Castor. “Milk intake was highest in the high-income region (including countries such as Sweden, Iceland, and Finland) where dairy farming is more widespread and dairy consumption has been traditionally a major part of the diet.”

Milk consumption was highest in Sweden, Iceland, and Finland but lowest in China, Togo, and Sudan. 

“These preliminary data derived from the Global Dietary Database project can help inform nutrition transitions over time, the impacts of these beverages on global health, and targeted dietary policy to improve diet and health,” said Laura Lara-Castor, the lead author of the study.

The researchers will present their beverage assessment at the <a href="https://meeting.nutrition.org/">American Society for Nutrition Annual meeting, Nutrition 2019</a>. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Image Credit: Shutterstock/Alexander Raths

What are people drinking across the globe?

Drinking habits account for a large chunk of our daily...

Millions of heart disease deaths each year have been linked to not getting enough <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fruit-and-veggie-prescriptions-found-to-improve-childrens-diets/">servings of fruits and vegetables</a>, a new study has found. 

Researchers from <a href="https://www.tufts.edu/">Tufts University</a> reviewed 2010 diet surveys and data from countries worldwide and compared dietary information to the top causes of death in each country. 

The data was part of the <a href="https://www.globaldietarydatabase.org/">Global Dietary Database project</a>. 

Heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, and in this new study, the researchers found that not eating enough fruits or vegetables could be attributed to millions of heart disease deaths and strokes. 

“Fruits and vegetables are a modifiable component of diet that can impact preventable deaths globally,” said Victoria Miller, the lead author of the study. “Our findings indicate the need for population-based efforts to increase fruit and vegetable consumption throughout the world.”

Fruits and vegetables are a crucial part of a balanced diet and are a good source of fiber, antioxidants, and potassium. 

From aiding digestion to lowering the risk of obesity, protecting cells from damage to boosting the body’s immune system, there are many benefits to adding more fresh fruits and vegetables to your diet. 

The researchers found that not eating enough fruit results in one in seven cardiovascular deaths each year and one in twelve cardiovascular deaths are due to not eating enough vegetables. 

Each year the researchers estimate that 1.3 million deaths from stroke and 520,000 deaths from heart disease are caused by low fruit consumption, while not eating enough vegetables causes 200,000 deaths from stroke and 800,000 deaths from coronary heart disease. 

There were more deaths attributable to low fruit and vegetable intake in countries in South Asia, East Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa, where fruit consumption is low. 

Countries in Central Asia and Oceania had high rates of heart disease and ate fewer vegetables.

[caption id="attachment_1873666" align="aligncenter" width="650"]<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/veggies-map.png"><img class="wp-image-1873666" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/veggies-map.png" alt="" width="650" height="325" /></a> Percentage of cardiovascular deaths attributable to suboptimal vegetable intake. Image Credit: Global Dietary Database 2010/Friedman School of Nutrition Science &amp; Policy at Tufts University[/caption]

In the US, the researchers say that 82,000 annual deaths could be caused by not getting enough vegetables and 57,000 deaths could be due to low fruit intake. 

The researchers recommend that people eat 300 grams of fruit per day and 400 grams of vegetables to help reduce cardiovascular disease risk.

[caption id="attachment_1873667" align="aligncenter" width="650"]<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/fruits-map.png"><img class="wp-image-1873667" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/fruits-map.png" alt="" width="650" height="325" /></a> Percentage of cardiovascular deaths attributable to suboptimal fruit intake. Image Credit: Global Dietary Database 2010/Friedman School of Nutrition Science &amp; Policy at Tufts University[/caption]

“Global nutrition priorities have traditionally focused on providing sufficient calories, vitamin supplementation and reducing additives like salt and sugar,” said Dariush Mozaffarian, the senior author of the study. “These findings indicate a need to expand the focus to increasing availability and consumption of protective foods like fruits, vegetables, and legumes--a positive message with tremendous potential for improving global health.”

The findings were presented at the<a href="https://nutrition.org/"> American Society for Nutrition</a> annual meeting.

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Main Image Credit: Shutterstock/Alexander Raths

Millions of cardiovascular deaths linked to not eating enough fruits and veggies

Millions of heart disease deaths each year have been linked...

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;



---



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



---



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

The history of Mars is much more complex than we thought

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research



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



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

Cavefish are healthy despite their sedentary lifestyle

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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites capture the world's biggest and fastest waves

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