Parents pass down more than genes. Their everyday choices shape how children see the world. 



A new study from São Paulo State University (<a href="https://www.international.unesp.br" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UNESP</a>) in Brazil shows how this works with physical activity. Children copy the habits of their parents, whether active or sedentary.



The researchers tracked 182 children and teenagers, aged 6 to 17, along with their parents. They used accelerometers, devices that measure movement with precision. 



The results were clear: children with inactive parents spent more time sitting. Children with active <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/parent-children-relationships-are-key-to-lifelong-well-being/">parents</a> were less sedentary.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mothers-play-a-bigger-role">Mothers play a bigger role</h2>



The study also revealed something striking. Mothers influenced their children’s activity levels more strongly than fathers. Their effect was more than double. 



The exact reason is still uncertain, but daily routines could explain part of it. Mothers often spend more time shaping schedules around meals, homework, and television.



“The results indicate that parents’ level of physical activity can directly influence their children’s habits. In other words, when parents maintain a more active routine, their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/singing-to-babies-is-a-powerful-way-to-boost-their-mood/">children</a> are less likely to remain seated for long periods,” Diego Christofaro noted. 



Christofaro is a professor at the Faculty of Science and Technology (FCT-UNESP) at the Presidente Prudente campus and the lead author of the article published in the journal Sports Medicine and Health Science.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sedentary-lifestyles-rising">Sedentary lifestyles rising</h2>



The findings matter because inactivity in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/even-before-they-crawl-babies-can-feel-their-own-heartbeat/">childhood</a> is already a public health concern. In Brazil, 11% to 38% of children and adolescents are overweight. Sedentary routines contribute directly to this problem. 



The risks go beyond weight gain. Research links too much sitting with heart problems, back pain, poor sleep, anxiety, and depression.



Once these patterns start, they are hard to change. A child who spends long hours sitting is likely to carry those habits into adult life. That makes early action vital.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-kids-copy-parents-activity">Kids copy parents’ activity</h2>



The home environment explains much of this. Children often copy their parents’ screen habits. If parents watch hours of television, children usually do too. When limits on screen time are missing, the hours grow longer.



But the opposite is also true. When parents swap sitting for exercise, children follow their lead. 



In one Canadian study, every 20 minutes of vigorous parental activity added 5 to 10 minutes of moderate activity in children. Kids don’t just listen to words; they notice actions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-parents-education-shapes-activity">Parents’ education shapes activity</h2>



Education changes the picture as well. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/parents-who-use-humor-have-better-relationships-with-their-children/">Parents</a> with higher education levels tend to set more structured routines. They often balance screen time with sports or outdoor play. 



Parents with higher levels of education also recognize the harm of excessive sitting and take steps to prevent it.



Awareness is powerful. A parent who knows the risks of long sedentary hours is more likely to limit television, encourage outdoor play, or join their child in activity. Those choices add up over time.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-value-of-support">The value of support</h2>



Support at home makes staying active easier. Equipment, safe spaces, and shared activities all matter. Families who play sports together or go for walks often see children grow up more active. 



Shared routines also create memories, tying positive feelings to exercise and movement. 



On the other hand, when support is missing, even motivated children face obstacles. A lack of safe places to play or no encouragement from parents can keep them sitting.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-message-for-public-health">A message for public health</h2>



“Sedentary habits are the result of multiple factors, such as lack of access, time, and places where physical activity can be practiced,” noted Christofaro. 



“However, our study shows that parents’ habits can affect their children’s health. Therefore, we believe that these results can support public policies and campaigns aimed at promoting a more active lifestyle in the family environment.”



The study showed that parent-child links in sedentary behavior appeared only when parents were insufficiently active. In families where parents stayed active, those links weakened. That means active parents can protect children from inheriting sedentary patterns.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-parents-set-activity-goals">Parents set activity goals</h2>



Brazil’s health guidelines recommend that children and adolescents spend at least 60 minutes a day on moderate to vigorous physical activity. 



Parents should aim for 150 minutes of activity each week. These targets are not just numbers. They represent habits that can shape family health across generations.



Children copy what they see. Parents who sit less and move more give their children a model worth repeating. Small daily choices - walking instead of sitting, playing instead of watching - can ripple through a child’s life, reducing risks and building healthier futures.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666337625000691?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sports Medicine and Health Science</a>.



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Family fitness: Active parents raise active kids

Parents pass down more than genes. Their everyday choices shape how children see the world. A new study from São Paulo State University (UNESP) in Brazil shows how this works with physical activity. Children copy the habits of their parents, whether active or sedentary. The researchers tracked 182 children and teenagers, aged 6 to 17, along with their parents. They used accelerometers, devices that measure movement with precision. The results were clear: children with inactive parents spent more time sitting. Children with active parents were less sedentary....

Researchers at Rutgers Health propose a new approach to Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) prevention: caffeine. After decades of stalled progress, the experts suggest that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/drinking-coffee-may-help-women-stay-sharp-and-strong-as-they-age/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">caffeine</a> might help prevent the intermittent hypoxia events that are believed to play a key role in sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).



SIDS remains the top cause of death for infants aged one to twelve months. The national rate has not improved in 25 years. Despite educational efforts promoting back-sleeping and safe sleep environments, SIDS still claims over 1,500 lives annually in the United States.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-oxygen-dips-may-trigger-infant-deaths">Oxygen dips may trigger infant deaths</h2>



Dr. Thomas Hegyi and Dr. Barbara Ostfeld reviewed decades of data and found a common thread. “We wanted to explore new ways of approaching the challenge,” said Dr. Hegyi. 



Most SIDS risk factors - stomach sleeping, maternal smoking, bed-sharing - relate to intermittent hypoxia (IH), where oxygen levels briefly fall below 80 percent.



These repeated low-oxygen events harm the infant’s ability to arouse from sleep and damage brain areas that control breathing. Dr. Hegyi and Dr. Ostfeld argue that IH is the central pathological mechanism in SIDS.



The review highlights that many infants who die from SIDS show evidence of past hypoxic injury. This includes brainstem gliosis, apoptosis, right ventricle enlargement, and changes in carotid body development - all pointing to poor oxygen regulation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-can-caffeine-prevent-infant-deaths">Can caffeine prevent infant deaths?</h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/caffeine-at-night-disrupts-sleep-and-brain-activity-especially-in-young-adults/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Caffeine</a> has long been used to treat apnea in premature babies. It stimulates breathing and improves arousal. “I wondered, what can counter intermittent hypoxia? Caffeine,” said Dr. Hegyi. 



The theory builds on existing practices where caffeine helps premature infants avoid dangerous pauses in breathing.



Caffeine also affects serotonin systems in the brainstem. In studies with serotonin-deficient mice, caffeine improved breathing recovery after asphyxia and reduced bradycardia. These animals had a higher chance of survival.



The review also points to caffeine’s positive effects on brain development. It helps preserve white matter and supports neurological function in premature infants exposed to chronic low oxygen.



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



Infants metabolize caffeine much slower than adults. While <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/when-you-give-caffeine-to-ants-many-interesting-things-happen/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">caffeine</a> clears from adult systems in four hours, it may linger for up to 100 hours in newborns. 



Caffeine remains in a baby’s system for weeks. This might explain why SIDS peaks between two and four months - when caffeine protection from pregnancy or breastfeeding begins to wane.



Breast milk appears to offer some protection. The Rutgers team hypothesizes that caffeine in breast milk might contribute to this. “We hypothesize that the protection afforded by breast milk is, in part, due to caffeine."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-caffeine-from-mothers-might-shield-infants">Caffeine from mothers might shield infants</h2>



Most pregnant women consume caffeine. Estimates show 68–74% drink caffeinated beverages during pregnancy. After birth, caffeine passes into breast milk. 



One study found that caffeine reached peak levels in breast milk within two hours of maternal ingestion. The caffeine concentrations reflected about 80% of those in the mother’s blood.



Infants of mothers consuming 750 mg of caffeine daily still had measurable caffeine levels nine days later, even after stopping caffeine intake. This long presence may have clinical implications.



However, the researchers caution against misinterpretation. High caffeine intake during pregnancy may increase SIDS risk - but only when followed by sudden withdrawal. A gradual decline might be safer and more protective.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-balancing-risks-and-benefits">Balancing risks and benefits</h2>



“The idea isn't that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/drinking-coffee-may-reduce-frailty-in-aging-adults/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">caffeine</a> will replace risk-reduction behaviors,” noted Dr. Ostfeld. She emphasized that safe sleep practices remain essential. A baby at risk of suffocation still needs a safe sleeping environment free of pillows and loose bedding.



Though caffeine does not alter breast milk composition, it can affect infant behavior. Some infants may experience irritability, poor sleep, or fussiness. Still, studies have not shown long-term harms from moderate maternal caffeine use during lactation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-next-steps-and-research-plans">Next steps and research plans</h2>



The Rutgers team aims to test their hypothesis by comparing caffeine levels in infants who died from SIDS with those who died from other causes. This approach could reveal patterns linked to caffeine exposure.



“For over 30 years, we've been educating New Jersey’s parents about adopting safe infant sleep practices. These efforts have contributed to our state rates being the second lowest in the US,” said Dr. Ostfeld. “Still, these proven recommendations are not universally adopted.”



This theory suggests a new angle for intervention. It may help infants who remain vulnerable despite education and safe environments.



The caffeine hypothesis is not a recommendation for caffeine dosing. It is a prompt for scientific exploration. As Dr. Hegyi concluded, the goal is “to stimulate new thinking about a problem that has remained unchanged for 25 years.”



This theory may not solve SIDS overnight. But it offers a fresh direction and a reason for cautious hope.



The study is published in the <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41372-025-02333-x" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of Perinatology</a>. 



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Caffeine offers new hope for preventing sudden infant deaths

Researchers at Rutgers Health propose a new approach to Sudden...

When you ask Americans how to reduce carbon emissions, you’ll likely hear answers like “switch to LED light bulbs” or “recycle more.” These are familiar habits, but they’re not the most effective ways to shrink your carbon footprint.



A new study from researchers at <a href="https://www.stanford.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stanford University</a> and <a href="https://www.nyu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New York University</a> shows just how far off public perception is.



People tend to overestimate the impact of small, visible actions and underestimate the power of major lifestyle changes - like cutting back on flying or eating less beef.



“People are very misinformed around how their actions can translate into actual impact in terms of reducing carbon,” said study senior author Madalina Vlasceanu. 



“We think, ‘I have to <a href="http://earth.com/search-results/?search=recycle" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">recycle</a> this and it will help the planet.’ It’s less likely you will hear that if you fly less, that’s the best you can possibly do, lifestyle-wise.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-knowledge-about-carbon-footprints">Knowledge about carbon footprints</h2>



The study included nearly 4,000 U.S. participants who completed an online survey. They were divided into three groups. One group actively rated 21 common behaviors - like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/car-tires-are-a-big-source-of-microplastics-pollution-but-what-about-mountain-bikes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">biking</a> to work or using <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/biden-moves-to-phase-out-energy-inefficient-light-bulbs/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">energy-efficient</a> appliances - on how much they thought each reduced emissions. 



After submitting their guesses, the individuals received feedback comparing each action’s impact.



“We compared the actions to each other - not tons of carbon. That’s something nobody understands. It’s so abstract, you’ll forget it immediately,” Vlasceanu said.



Another group passively received the same information without first guessing. A third group received no information at all.



Then, all participants were asked about their willingness to adopt the same 21 behaviors, as well as five larger system-level actions, such as voting for climate-focused politicians or attending a protest.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-informed-but-disengaged">Informed but disengaged?</h2>



After the exercise, many participants showed a shift in thinking. They expressed stronger intentions to take meaningful steps, like choosing lower-carbon meats. Poultry, for example, has a far smaller climate impact than beef.



“Participants found this can be really easy to do, and has one of the highest impacts that has been actually documented,” Vlasceanu said.



Those who had the biggest gaps between perception and reality showed the most change. The clearer the feedback, the more likely they were to say they would make high-impact changes.



But there was an unexpected downside. When the study focused only on personal actions, participants were less inclined to support collective efforts - like voting or joining demonstrations. 



Even with better understanding, they became less likely to engage in actions that drive systemic change.



“These interventions also decreased commitment to collective action, where you’re really trying to influence some sort of policy, and this is a problem,” Vlasceanu said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-personal-vs-political-dilemma">The personal vs. political dilemma</h2>



This finding highlights a key challenge in climate communication: encouraging individuals to act without making them forget the power of public pressure and policy change.



“Now we have to go back and understand how we would better design these interventions so we don’t have those negative spillovers,” Vlasceanu said.



Individual actions are easier to measure. For instance, skipping one long flight can significantly cut your personal carbon emissions. But broader actions - like voting - may be harder to quantify even though they’re incredibly powerful.



One previous analysis found that a single vote in a Canadian national election was over 20 times more effective than skipping a long flight, in terms of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-impact-labeling-has-a-strong-influence-on-food-selection/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate impact</a>.



“If you extrapolate from that, you can conclude that all the collective actions are way more effective than all the lifestyle changes you can do, although this still remains to be empirically quantified,” Vlasceanu said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-carbon-choices-we-make">The carbon choices we make</h2>



The study also revealed a deeper truth regarding how people make decisions about their lifestyle choices and carbon footprint.



“People will engage in lifestyle changes when they think it’s easy to do. It’s less important to them if it’s effective,” Vlasceanu said. “For collective action, it is more important to people that the action they engage in will actually result in a meaningful change.”



The research included a broad political spectrum: about half of participants identified as Democrats, 22% as Republicans, and 26% as independents or others.



“Democrats were more sensitive to incorporating what they learned into their behaviors compared to Republicans,” Vlasceanu said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-simple-tools-to-change-human-behavior">Simple tools to change human behavior </h2>



The researchers weren’t trying to push an agenda. Their goal was to learn more about how people think and how simple tools might help change behavior.



“Our job as academics is not to be activists or fight for a particular cause,” Vlasceanu said. “These are research questions we scientifically care about that uncover essential processes about the human mind.”



This work is part of a larger research effort looking at how low-cost, scalable interventions can influence people’s choices. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-power-of-imagination-in-climate-change-adaptation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Climate change</a> presents a perfect test case.



“We pick the context in which we apply these investigations such that they are societally relevant,” Vlasceanu said.



“If we understand how the mind works in this context, then we can document ways in which practitioners, policymakers - people whose job it is to address this crisis - can most effectively address it."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lifestyle-changes-and-carbon-footprints">Lifestyle changes and carbon footprints</h2>



Future studies might explore other ways to boost both personal and public engagement - such as using stories or emotional messages instead of facts alone.



“In order to meaningfully address climate change, experts have agreed that we will need lifestyle change and collective action,” Vlasceanu said. “This is a critical part of the pathway to net zero.”



Understanding how people perceive carbon impact isn't just about correcting facts. It's about shaping better conversations.



When education focuses on both personal habits and collective responsibility, it can build a more balanced response to climate change.



Getting carbon literacy right could be one of the most powerful tools we have - not just for reducing emissions, but for encouraging meaningful action on every level.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/advance-article/doi/10.1093/pnasnexus/pgaf191/8159053" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PNAS Nexus</a>.



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<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">

</blockquote>

Most Americans greatly underestimate their carbon footprint

When you ask Americans how to reduce carbon emissions, you’ll...

When adults use baby talk to infants, it often sounds sweeter, slower, and more melodic. This special kind of communication has fascinated researchers for decades. It’s more than just cooing and playful tones - it may actually help babies begin to understand language.



One feature of baby talk, known formally as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/babies-hear-far-more-speech-at-home-than-music/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">infant-directed speech</a> (IDS), is the way vowel sounds are stretched or exaggerated. Some researchers believe this exaggeration helps babies pick up on word boundaries and speech sounds more clearly. 



Others suggest the effect may simply be the result of smiling or emotional expression. So, is vowel exaggeration in baby talk truly real?



A team of scientists led by the International Research Center for Neurointelligence (WPI-IRCN) at <a href="https://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The University of Tokyo</a> set out to answer this question.



The experts analyzed decades of research to investigate whether adults really do exaggerate vowels when talking to babies - and what that might mean for early <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/babies-can-naturally-learn-multiple-languages-from-birth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">language learning</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mixed-messages-from-baby-talk-studies">Mixed messages from baby talk studies</h2>



Earlier studies offered mixed results. Some showed that adults often emphasize vowels like “a,” “i,” and “u” when speaking to babies, possibly making them easier to understand. 



Others found no consistent exaggeration, raising questions about whether baby talk’s clarity was just a side effect of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-and-diverse-experiences-spark-positive-emotions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">positive emotion</a> rather than a deliberate pattern.



“We decided to conduct a meta-analysis on all studies done on this topic to understand if vowel exaggeration is a feature of speech directed to babies and, if so, which factors lead to it and to the observed differences in existing research,” explained study lead author Irena Lovčević, a postdoctoral researcher at WPI-IRCN.



The team analyzed 20 studies that followed similar methods and another 35 that used a broader range of approaches. By combining data from these studies, they increased the power and reliability of their results.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-baby-talk-does-stretch-vowels">Baby talk does stretch vowels</h2>



The study offered clear support for a long-held idea about how adults speak to babies. "Our meta-analysis confirms that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mothers-can-use-singing-to-engage-with-infants/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mothers</a> exaggerate vowels in speech directed to babies in at least 10 languages," said Lovčević. 



However, she pointed out that the results also highlight the diversity of methods used in the existing research.



"Hence, we want the readers, especially speech acquisition researchers, to carefully consider and document the methodological decisions in their research and avoid the generalization from one language to another or one method to another."



The research also pointed out a key problem: many of the existing studies had small sample sizes, especially for lesser-studied languages. This makes it difficult to fully understand how consistent vowel exaggeration is across cultures and language groups.



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



Another important takeaway from the research is that the way in which scientists measure vowel exaggeration matters. 



Different studies use different scales, like Hertz or Mel, to quantify sound. These technical differences can affect how vowel stretching shows up in the results - and whether it’s detected at all.



Because of this, the researchers encourage others studying speech and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/talking-to-babies-in-parentese-boosts-their-language-development/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">language development</a> to document their methods carefully and avoid overgeneralizing from one study to another.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-beyond-vowels-how-babies-learn">Beyond vowels: How babies learn</h2>



Now that there's strong evidence supporting vowel exaggeration in baby talk, the team wants to go further. They’re interested in looking at other aspects of language acquisition in babies, especially those that parents and caregivers can influence.



“The next step is further examination of different factors influencing language development in babies, with special focus on modifiable factors from babies’ immediate environment, such as the amount of speech that babies are exposed to and the qualities of vocal caregiver-baby interactions," said Lovčević. 



She added that it remains a big puzzle how babies learn to speak, without much effort. Her goal is to contribute to unraveling this puzzle. 



The research highlights how even the simplest forms of interaction, like talking to a baby, can shape a child’s ability to learn language. 



And while much remains to be discovered, understanding these early influences brings us a little closer to solving one of the big questions of human development.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2Fbul0000479" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Psychological Bulletin</a>.



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What baby talk reveals about infant learning

When adults use baby talk to infants, it often sounds...

Baking while listening to music or toggling between emails can seem like everyday behavior. Many people assume multitasking is a universal ability that applies to every situation in the same way.



A recent analysis suggests that this skill may be more layered than we realize. Instead of a single capacity, new research indicates that multitasking relies on both broad problem-solving traits and specialized tools unique to certain <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/brains-learn-new-skills-much-faster-than-expected/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">activities</a>.



The study was led by Dr. Alan Wong, an expert in the School of Psychology at the <a href="https://www.surrey.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Surrey</a>. He collaborated with Dr. Yetta Kwailing Wong to examine how people manage more than one task at a time.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-challenge-of-multitasking">The challenge of multitasking</h2>



For the study, 224 university students were asked to tackle nine distinct tasks. Each activity fell under <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364661303000287" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">task switching</a>, concurrent performance, or more elaborate sessions that required prioritization.



"These findings show that multitasking is not a one-size-fits-all skill. To understand and improve multitasking, we need to consider both the broad <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/infants-show-creativity-skills-even-before-they-can-talk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">capabilities</a> that apply across tasks and the specialized skills needed for specific situations," said Dr. Alan Wong.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mastering-multitasking-skills">Mastering multitasking skills</h2>



The researchers discovered that some aspects of multitasking, such as quick shifts between tasks, spring from a general mental capacity. 



At the same time, concurrent multitasking and more intricate challenges rely on distinct components that seem tied to each setting.



This layered approach may explain why certain individuals excel at switching from one email to another yet struggle when responsibilities overlap. 



No single trait covers every scenario; therefore performance varies depending on the demands.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-results-depend-on-tasks">Results depend on tasks</h2>



Earlier <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6693743/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reports</a> suggested that women performed better when tested on swift <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/when-it-comes-to-practice-and-learning-variety-is-key/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">task</a> transitions, while other work hinted men were better at side-by-side tasks. 



Researchers say those differences might have appeared because each study measured a distinct variety of multitasking.



Conflicting outcomes may arise when scholars focus on just one angle of multitasking. Since this ability is not uniform, the findings may shift depending on the exact type of activity involved.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-role-of-memory">The role of memory</h2>



Complex task juggling often hinges on <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/nrn1201" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">working memory capacity</a>, the brain's ability to temporarily store and manipulate information. 



Those who handle overlapping demands typically show a stronger aptitude for monitoring details and reorganizing tasks on short notice.



A higher working memory capacity can lighten the cognitive load by allowing multiple pieces of information to stay active. This supports better decision-making and faster responses under pressure.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-multitasking-in-everyday-life">Multitasking in everyday life</h2>



Multitasking appears in everyday life, whether someone is checking texts while preparing a meal or browsing social media during a video chat. Balancing these actions may feel second nature, but each scenario taps into a different cluster of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sleep-prepares-the-brain-for-the-future-while-protecting-memories-of-the-past/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">skills</a>.



The study suggests that sharpening these abilities involves training more than just a single repetitive task. Mixing different types of challenges strengthens broader mental agility as well as the finer skills needed for specific situations.



"Training to improve multitasking abilities shouldn't focus on just one type of task. Instead, a variety of challenges is required to build both general multitasking ability and specific skills needed for particular scenarios," said Dr. Yetta Kwailing Wong.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tech-and-design-use">Tech and design use</h2>



Digital platforms, such as productivity tools and gaming environments, could benefit from this multitasking model. 



By recognizing the difference between general and specific skills, developers might tailor software features that train or support one without overwhelming the other.



Game designers, for instance, might design challenges that isolate task switching to strengthen cognitive flexibility. 



Meanwhile, educational software could gradually blend in complex multitasking layers that train prioritization and memory without causing user fatigue.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pinpointing-what-drives-success">Pinpointing what drives success</h2>



Experts recommend that workplaces and educators include exercises that involve shifting back and forth between projects, as well as simultaneously managing two duties. That way, people can refine a wide-ranging set of talents and also polish those unique to each context.



This broader perspective may spark new tools for evaluating how individuals perform under various loads. Embracing multiple training methods could alleviate stress for those juggling hectic routines.



Researchers see potential in tests that measure both shared and distinct elements of multitasking. These approaches might guide creators of educational apps and productivity platforms toward more effective features.



Understanding the nuances of multitasking might also reduce confusion about who excels and why. Pinpointing what drives success in each category could lead to fairer evaluations in both academic and professional settings.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-improving-how-we-multitask">Improving how we multitask</h2>



The research opens doors for more inclusive discussions about how people split their time and attention. 



Tailored solutions might emerge that help individuals excel in specific contexts without feeling pressured by one-size-fits-all standards.



Further work could investigate creative ways to measure and improve these different forms of multitasking. This may prompt people to adopt more targeted strategies when tackling multiple demands.



The study is published in the <a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2Fxhp0001332" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance</a>.



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Why multitasking feels easy at times - and impossible at others

Baking while listening to music or toggling between emails can...

The act of tapping your finger might appear simple and innocuous. Yet some scientists suggest that this small action can sharpen your mind to the point where your hearing and overall perception improves.



Early tests in laboratory settings offer fascinating and almost "magical" results: tapping your finger two times per second was shown to heighten a person's ability to filter and discern speech from a blur of background chatter, including in loud cafes or party environments. 



This idea is gaining traction among academics who study the link between movement and listening, including the team led by <a href="https://www.mpi.nl/people/rietmolen-noemie-te" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Noémie te Rietmolen</a>, from <a href="https://www.univ-amu.fr/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Aix-Marseille University</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-finger-tapping-and-speech-clarity">Finger tapping and speech clarity</h2>



It can be tough to make out someone’s words when multiple conversations are happening near you. Some individuals rely on lip-reading, while others use different strategies to focus.



A series of experiments has highlighted a method that involves <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8530934/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">rhythmic priming</a>. This approach uses short patterns of movement to shift the way the brain processes incoming sounds.



The underlying idea is that the <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B9780128128923000029" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">motor system</a> helps with timing. By tapping at a moderate pace, people may align their internal sense of timing with the natural beats of spoken language.



Researchers use the phrase <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10872656/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">speech-in-noise</a> to describe how we cope with jumbled conversations. Their focus is on whether steady thumb movement, or finger tapping, can boost clarity when things get loud.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-the-study-was-done">How the study was done</h2>



In one test, 35 volunteers tapped at slow, fast, or moderate rates and then tried to decipher a hidden sentence amid clamor. Only the moderate tapping group reported higher accuracy.



That beat matched the lexical flow of normal speech, roughly two taps per second. This rate seemed to sync well with everyday language patterns.



A follow-up step looked at whether simply <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hearing-loss-linked-to-a-greater-risk-of-dementia/">hearing</a> a beat would cause the same effect. Tapping physically produced more consistent benefits than just listening, suggesting that active movement mattered.



Participants showed that the body’s own actions might reinforce the timing signals in the brain. This was observed through stronger recognition of words that were masked by background chatter.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-movement-before-the-message">Movement before the message</h2>



A third investigation asked people to say a single word before attempting to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/spatial-hearing-how-humans-know-where-sounds-come-from/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">extract meaning from noisy sentences</a>. Speaking out loud, even if the word had nothing to do with the later sentence, appeared to sharpen hearing.



One explanation involves how vocalizing sets up the body’s internal clock. It might direct attention to the temporal structure of language that follows.



By preparing that timing, the mind becomes more sensitive to speech rhythms. This can lead to better understanding in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ai-artificial-intelligence-noise-canceling-headphones-listen-one-voice-crowd/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cluttered environments</a>.



Though these results are promising, only younger adults without hearing issues participated. It remains to be seen whether older adults or those with hearing loss might respond differently.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-this-finger-tap-study-is-important">Why this finger tap study is important</h2>



Challenges with listening arise when we face multiple sound sources at once. This often affects people with <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23298633/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ADHD</a>, who can struggle with focusing on just one stream of information.



If further studies support these findings, rhythmic strategies might be helpful in diverse settings. Even brief tapping sessions might train individuals to catch spoken details more effectively.



Researchers note that imaging techniques should be used in the future to confirm how tapping shapes the <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0149763411000716" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">auditory dorsal pathway</a>. This part of the brain likely handles the integration of movement and sound.



So far, the results center on <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/computer-science/temporal-dynamic" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">temporal dynamics</a>. Aligning the body’s natural rhythms with speech might be a practical trick for everyday listening tasks.



Some people already tap their feet or fingers without noticing it. Harnessing that habit in a more deliberate way might improve how we hear.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mechanics-behind-finger-tap-timing">Mechanics behind finger tap timing</h2>



“Motor priming improves the efficiency of subsequent naturalistic speech-in-noise processing under specific conditions,” wrote Noémie te Rietmolen. Each experiment sought to see if tapping or vocalizing before listening brought about positive effects.



Medium-speed tapping matched the natural beats in spoken sentences. That alignment seemed to place listeners in a better position to catch words they might otherwise miss.



This medium tempo is around 1.8 Hz, close to everyday speech rhythms. It is not so fast that it feels frantic, yet not so slow that it lags behind typical conversations.



Movement that matched these patterns appeared more useful than random or mismatched rates. The motor system may help the brain lock onto <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/neurons-can-predict-human-speech-before-we-say-a-word/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">essential cues within speech</a>.



Additional work might reveal if tapping before a lecture, meeting, or casual chat could cut down on misheard words. Timing could be key in bridging gaps in attention.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-questions-and-considerations">Questions and considerations</h2>



It is possible that our brains resonate with bodily actions. That resonance might sharpen our ability to sort through large amounts of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/women-hear-better-than-men-across-all-environments/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">auditory data</a>.



Experts stress that these observations are still confined to research scenarios. Laboratory tests offer controlled conditions, but real-life variables can be trickier.



Visual distractions, personal mood, and familiarity with a voice could change how well tapping helps. The next phase might involve more varied demographics, including older adults and those who speak different languages.



If these methods hold up in wider populations, they may lead to practical recommendations. A quick sequence of taps might prime anyone heading into a noisy environment where they need to focus.



As with any behavioral study, there is room for more rigorous exploration. Still, this approach might be one of the more straightforward tactics for navigating a chaotic soundscape.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wider-impact-on-hearing-research">Wider impact on hearing research</h2>



Busy spaces can be a challenge for those with partial hearing difficulties. Efforts to enhance <a href="https://www.asha.org/public/hearing/noise-and-hearing-loss-prevention/?srsltid=AfmBOooOFmpL-w90FOiNu8p7ehnWQACFsKr3xrZub77ijqyPBIf-OZhl" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">speech perception</a> often center on technology like hearing aids.



Rhythmic tapping may complement these devices by refining the user’s focus at a neural level. Short, consistent movements might strengthen auditory processing, offering an extra layer of support.



There is also potential for speech therapy to incorporate tapping drills. Such approaches could blend standard language exercises with mild physical cues.



These ideas align with the concept that moving our bodies might reinforce how we time mental tasks. Each action could subtly guide the mind toward the most important signals.



Even if the benefits turn out to be modest, adding an easy step before <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/listening-to-the-streets-skateboarding-is-an-experience-shaped-by-sound/">listening</a> is appealing. Many of us already tap our thumbs when waiting or feeling restless.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-it-might-shape-daily-life">How it might shape daily life</h2>



Some fear that paying attention to one’s own movement during conversation might be distracting. In practice, the taps appear short enough to blend with everyday gestures.



No one suggests that this is a magic fix for all hearing challenges. Still, exploring fresh ways to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/traffic-noise-increases-the-risk-of-hypertension/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">manage noise</a> could help many.



Research suggests that the best results come when the tap pace aligns with typical speech. People might pick up on that rhythm with a little practice.



Simple routines can merge with daily schedules. Tapping a thumb before entering a crowded spot might be something that eventually happens without much thought.



Scientists remain careful about over-claiming these benefits. Yet they see potential for improving how we handle speech in busy places.



The study is published in <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2025.0354" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the Royal Society B</a>.



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Tapping your finger to a specific rhythm boosts brainpower, an unknown human ability just discovered

The act of tapping your finger might appear simple and...

Heavy screen use appears to pull many children into a loop where emotional or behavioral problems rise, and those very problems draw them back to their devices. A worldwide review of current research now shows the pattern is measurable across continents, ages, and types of media.



The meta-analysis, carried out by psychologists at the <a href="https://www.uq.edu.au/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Queensland</a>, the <a href="https://www.unsw.edu.au/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of New South Wales</a>, and other institutions, pooled 117 longitudinal studies that tracked more than 292,000 youngsters under ten.



This study is one of the biggest efforts yet to chart how digital habits and mental health interact over time.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-screen-time-is-a-vicious-loop">Screen time is a vicious loop</h2>



In the combined data set, extra hours spent gaming, scrolling, streaming, or doing online homework predicted later spikes in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/too-much-screen-time-is-making-teens-anxious/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">anxiety</a>, depression, aggression, or hyperactivity. Anxious, angry, or sad children tended to increase screen time over the following six months.



Michael Noetel is one of the senior authors of the study and an associate professor in the School of Psychology at the University of Queensland. 



“Children are spending more and more time on screens, for everything from entertainment to homework to messaging friends,” said Professor Noetel. 



“We found that increased screen time can lead to emotional and behavioral problems, and kids with those problems often turn to screens to cope.”



The bidirectional nature of the link, the authors argue, means that simply cutting access will not solve the problem unless the feelings that send kids <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/childrens-screen-time-shapes-their-mental-health-as-teens/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">online</a> are also addressed.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-age-gender-and-content-matter">Age, gender, and content matter</h2>



The risks rose with age, at least across the early years. Six- to ten-year-olds showed stronger links between high exposure and later socio-emotional trouble than preschoolers.



Girls were more likely than boys to see anxiety or low confidence rise with extra screen time. Boys, on the other hand, were more prone to boost their usage when they were already struggling - evidence that tailor-made interventions may be needed.



 <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-violent-video-games-impact-the-human-mind/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Interactive gaming</a>, especially fast-paced or competitive ones, correlated with bigger spikes in externalizing behaviors such as restlessness and aggression.



Educational viewing or classroom assignments showed milder effects, although any additional hours nudged risk upward. Most studies relied on self-reports, so the authors suggest objective app logs could refine future estimates.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-screen-time-needs-a-balance">Screen time needs a balance</h2>



Parents often react by tightening time limits, yet the review suggests restriction alone can backfire if a child’s distress goes unaddressed.



Roberta Vasconcellos is the lead author of the study and a lecturer at the University of New South Wales. She conducted the research while a doctoral student at the <a href="https://www.acu.edu.au/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Australian Catholic University</a>.



“This comprehensive study highlights the need for a nuanced approach to managing children's screen time,” Vasconcellos said. 



“By understanding the relationship between screen use and socio-emotional problems, parents, educators, and policymakers can better support children's healthy development in an increasingly digital world.”



Programs that teach caregivers emotion-coaching skills alongside digital literacy, the authors add, may cut both <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/internet-addiction-impairs-brain-function-in-teenagers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">screen dependence</a> and the distress that fuels it.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-really-causing-this">What's really causing this?</h2>



Because every study in the meta-analysis followed participants for at least half a year, the new paper edges nearer to causal evidence than the usual one-time snapshots.



“It’s about as close as we can get to causal evidence without randomly cutting screens for thousands of kids,” Noetel said. “But still, we can’t completely rule out other factors - like parenting style - that could influence both screen use and emotional problems.”



Future work could combine automatic usage logs, wearable <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/best-measure-of-sleep-quality-is-how-you-feel-not-what-your-tracker-says/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mood trackers</a>, and family observations to map how digital exposure intersects with sleep, exercise, and social support.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-healthier-screen-time-for-kids">Healthier screen time for kids</h2>



Screens are now woven into schooling, friendships, and entertainment - making zero-tolerance policies unrealistic.



The authors instead urge a public-health approach akin to nutrition guidelines with clear daily limits and product standards that discourage features aimed at keeping under-tens online. They also recommend lessons that teach children to question persuasive app design.



Policymakers could bolster those measures by supporting school counselors and nudging tech firms toward stronger child-safety accountability.



While tablets and phones are unlikely to disappear from childhood, the new evidence suggests their influence is neither harmless nor inevitable.



Recognizing that emotional hardship can be both a consequence and a driver of screen time among kids gives caregivers and communities a chance to break the loop. The researchers emphasize that the goal isn’t to ban devices - but to support healthy, mindful screen use among children.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/fulltext/2026-24348-001.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Psychological Bulletin</a>.



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Screen time and mental health: A vicious cycle for kids

Heavy screen use appears to pull many children into a...

New research places the Philippine archipelago at the center of early human mobility in Island Southeast Asia. 



Archaeologists from Ateneo de Manila University, working with international teams, have compiled 15 years of data that reshapes how scholars understand prehistoric ocean navigation, tool use, and cultural exchange in the region.



The findings, published in the journal Archaeological Research in Asia, emerge from the Mindoro Archaeology Project. This long-term effort brings together fieldwork from Occidental Mindoro, including Ilin Island, San Jose, and Sta. Teresa in the Magsaysay municipality.



These sites preserve some of the oldest evidence of modern <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/meat-consumption-drove-an-evolutionary-leap-in-early-humans/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">humans</a> in the Philippines, dating back over 35,000 years.



The research challenges older models that viewed the Philippines as peripheral. Instead, it presents the archipelago as a crucial maritime corridor, long engaged in regional human movements.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mindoro-and-early-ocean-navigation">Mindoro and early ocean navigation</h2>



Mindoro has never been linked to the mainland by land bridges or ice sheets. Access has always involved open-sea travel. Unlike Palawan, which may have allowed limited crossings during glacial periods, Mindoro remained isolated. 



Reaching Mindoro required early <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/study-shows-early-humans-climbed-trees-and-worked-with-stone/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">humans</a> to develop seafaring capabilities. This isolation made the island an ideal location to study maritime adaptation. Excavations reveal repeated human occupation, even in the Pleistocene.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/ISEA_map_ice-age_Sunda-region_credit-Gebco_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/ISEA_map_ice-age_Sunda-region_credit-Gebco_1s.webp" alt="A map of Island Southeast Asia (ISEA) and the Sunda region as it appeared roughly 25,000 years ago at the height of the last Ice Age, with locations of archaeological sites surveyed by the Mindoro Archaeology Project. The sites yielded artifacts with remarkably similar characteristics despite separation by thousands of kilometers and deep waters that are almost impossible to cross without sufficiently advanced seafaring knowledge and technology. Credit: Base Map: gebco.net, 2014" class="wp-image-1973131"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A map of Island Southeast Asia (ISEA) and the Sunda region as it appeared roughly 25,000 years ago at the height of the last Ice Age, with locations of archaeological sites surveyed by the Mindoro Archaeology Project. The sites yielded artifacts with remarkably similar characteristics despite separation by thousands of kilometers and deep waters that are almost impossible to cross without sufficiently advanced seafaring knowledge and technology. Click image to enlarge. Credit: Base Map: gebco.net, 2014</figcaption></figure>



Early settlers did not simply survive on Mindoro. They arrived intentionally, navigated its waters, and adapted to coastal life. This suggests that seafaring was not a rare or late innovation, but a long-standing aspect of life in Island Southeast Asia.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-early-filipinos-mastered-deep-sea-fishing">Early Filipinos mastered deep-sea fishing</h2>



Archaeologists documented a wide array of material remains, including lithic artifacts, marine shells modified for use, and skeletal fragments from both humans and animals. The remains indicated that early communities engaged in diversified foraging <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/early-humans-first-used-fire-to-preserve-meat-instead-of-cooking/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">strategies</a>.



The communities made use of both inland environments and offshore ecosystems with deliberate intent. Bone tools point toward line-and-hook techniques, while species analysis reveals the capture of oceanic predators like bonito and shark.



This level of ecological engagement suggests mastery of offshore zones that dates back well over 30,000 years. It also signals early development of navigation techniques and targeted marine resource use. 



The ability to reach and fish in pelagic zones implies direct contact with neighboring island groups throughout <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wallacea" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wallacea</a>.



Such sustained interaction with coastal and marine settings reveals an intimate grasp of seascapes. It also highlights the cultural significance of movement, planning, and adaptation in shaping long-term settlement patterns across Island Southeast Asia.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tools-link-mindoro-to-ocean-navigation">Tools link Mindoro to ocean navigation</h2>



Several tool types point to regional connections. Researchers found obsidian cutting tools in Mindoro with chemical signatures matching those from Palawan. 



This suggests either direct movement of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/primitive-tools-discovery-reveals-human-life-in-jungle-150000-years-ago/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">people</a> or exchange networks spanning multiple islands.



Other notable finds include Tridacna (giant clam) shell adzes, dating to between 7,000 and 9,000 years ago. These adzes are not unique to Mindoro. 



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/ISEA_ancient-technology-tools_ice-age_Sunda-region_credit-Gebco_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/ISEA_ancient-technology-tools_ice-age_Sunda-region_credit-Gebco_1s.webp" alt="Samples of ancient technology discovered in and around Mindoro. Clockwise, from upper left: a bone fishing gorge (A) and a possible gorge fragment (B); hammer stones (A-F), pebble tools (G-L), and net sinkers (M, N); obsidian cutting tools from Mindoro (top) and Palawan (bottom), exhibiting similar chemical composition; and Tridacna giant clam shell adzes (A,B) and a shell tool (C). Credit: Photos and figures by A. Pawlik; after Pawlik et al. 2025; Pawlik &amp; Piper 2019; Neri et al., 2015" class="wp-image-1973129"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Samples of ancient technology discovered in and around Mindoro. Clockwise, from upper left: a bone fishing gorge (A) and a possible gorge fragment (B); hammer stones (A-F), pebble tools (G-L), and net sinkers (M, N); obsidian cutting tools from Mindoro (top) and Palawan (bottom), exhibiting similar chemical composition; and Tridacna giant clam shell adzes (A,B) and a shell tool (C). Click image to enlarge. Credit: Photos and figures by A. Pawlik; after Pawlik et al. 2025; Pawlik &amp; Piper 2019; Neri et al., 2015</figcaption></figure>



Similar forms have appeared throughout Island Southeast Asia, and even on Manus Island in Papua New Guinea, over 3,000 kilometers away.



Such parallels indicate not only shared tool-making techniques but also long-distance cultural transmission across the maritime region.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ritual-practice-and-social-complexity">Ritual practice and social complexity</h2>



On <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilin_Island" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ilin Island</a>, researchers documented a 5,000-year-old human burial. The individual had been laid in a flexed position and placed between limestone slabs. The treatment suggests more than practical disposal. It reflects symbolic practice.



Flexed burials, found as far as Vietnam and Indonesia, may indicate shared belief systems or funerary customs across Island Southeast Asia. These traditions likely spread via the same networks that carried tools and ideas.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stone-age-ocean-navigation-network">Stone Age ocean navigation network</h2>



Mindoro’s archaeology shows more than isolated innovation. It reflects regional trends. The island’s early inhabitants had developed strategies for fishing, boat-making, and long-term settlement. 



They communicated with neighbors, shared material practices, and perhaps even shared languages and cosmologies.



Cultural connections did not depend on land. They moved over water. The Philippine archipelago, rather than dividing populations, connected them.



Taken together, the findings indicate that Mindoro and surrounding Philippine islands belonged to a wide-reaching maritime system active since the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stone-age-hunter-gatherers-had-a-very-organized-domestic-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stone Age</a>. 



This network enabled early human communities across Island Southeast Asia to exchange tools, ideas, and cultural practices over thousands of years.



The sea was not a barrier. It was a route. It supported communication, innovation, and continuity over tens of thousands of years.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-human-mobility-in-southeast-asia">Human mobility in Southeast Asia</h2>



The Mindoro Archaeology Project offers a new perspective on early human movement in Southeast Asia. It reveals that ancient populations did more than migrate through the region - they settled, adapted, and innovated. 



They mastered local terrains, crafted tools from what they had, and upheld cultural links across wide geographic spans.



Through long-term evidence of habitation, evolving subsistence strategies, and early maritime skills, the project addresses key gaps in Philippine prehistory. It also broadens how we understand the role of these islands in shaping human adaptation across Island Southeast Asia.



<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mindoro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mindoro</a> stands not as an isolated site, but as a vital point within a larger landscape that was defined by water, mobility, and shared tradition.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ocean-navigation-and-early-innovation">Ocean navigation and early innovation </h2>



This research does more than add to archaeological knowledge. It challenges how we think about <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/human-evolution-was-shaped-by-competition-not-just-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">early innovation</a>.



It places island communities, often ignored in historical models, at the center of technological and cultural change. Early humans in the Philippines built tools, buried their dead with care, and knew how to sail long before formal trade networks existed.



They were not waiting for civilization to reach them. They were shaping it themselves. From Mindoro, a new history emerges - one carried not on foot, but on the sea.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2352226725000261?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Archaeological Research in Asia</a>.



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Archaeologists discovered a technologically advanced society across the Philippine islands 35,000 years ago

New research places the Philippine archipelago at the center of...

When people think of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, farming likely isn’t the first image that comes to mind. Known for its cold winters, brief growing seasons, and thick forests, the region seems too harsh for traditional agriculture. 



But a newly published study tells a very different story - one that stretches back over a thousand years and challenges what we thought we knew about the history of Indigenous farming in the northern U.S.



Scientists at <a href="https://home.dartmouth.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dartmouth College</a> have confirmed that a site along the Menominee River, known as Sixty Islands, was once home to intensive agriculture practiced by the ancestors of the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin.



The research sheds light on a large and remarkably preserved raised-field system that dates back to between the 10th century and 1600, making it one of the most complete ancient agricultural sites east of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/video/the-mississippi-river-in-the-united-states/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mississippi River</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sophisticated-farming-history">Sophisticated farming history</h2>



At the heart of the discovery are the ridge fields - clusters of garden beds raised between 4 and 12 inches (10 and 30 centimeters) high. These were used to cultivate <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/planting-sweet-corn-at-high-densities-improves-yield/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">corn</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/beans-a-simple-food-with-serious-health-benefits/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">beans</a>, squash, and other crops. 



The ridge fields still stretch across the land in visible patterns, many of them intact despite centuries of weather and change.



"The scale of this agricultural system by ancestral Menominee communities is 10 times larger than what was previously estimated," said lead author Madeleine McLeester, an assistant professor of anthropology. 



"That forces us to reconsider a number of preconceived ideas we have about agriculture, not only in the region, but globally."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-complex-farming-society">Complex farming society</h2>



The research team surveyed around 330 acres of the site, although they believe that represents only 40% of the total area. The findings hint at a much larger and more complex farming society than previously recognized.



"When you look at the scale of farming, this would require the kind of labor organization that is typically associated with a much larger, state-level hierarchical society," noted McLeester.



"Yet, everything we know about this area suggests smaller, egalitarian societies lived in this region but, in fact, this may have been a rather large settlement."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-farming-history-of-a-sacred-landscape">Farming history of a sacred landscape</h2>



The Sixty Islands site is part of Anaem Omot, meaning “Dog’s Belly” in the Menominee language. It’s not just farmland - it’s a sacred and historical landscape.



The area includes burial mounds, dance rings, and village remnants. Some of these were originally excavated between the 1950s and 1970s. A corn cupule found and dated during those early digs helped confirm the agricultural roots of the site.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/agriculture_native-american-farm_Sixty-Islands_map_credit-Carolin-Ferwerda_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/agriculture_native-american-farm_Sixty-Islands_map_credit-Carolin-Ferwerda_1s.webp" alt="Map shows Sixty Islands and other archaeological sites along the Menominee River, and the lidar survey area. Credit: Carolin Ferwerda" class="wp-image-1973247"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Map shows Sixty Islands and other archaeological sites along the Menominee River, and the lidar survey area. Click image to enlarge. Credit: Carolin Ferwerda</figcaption></figure>



Recognizing the deep cultural value of Anaem Omot, it is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. 



At the request of Menominee tribal authorities, the Dartmouth archaeologists returned to the site equipped with modern technology to study and document it further. 



They worked closely with tribal preservation officer David Grignon and the late David Overstreet, a consulting archaeologist for the College of the Menominee Nation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-drones-uncovered-ancient-patterns">Drones uncovered ancient patterns</h2>



In May 2023, the team launched a drone-based lidar survey of the area. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/5000-year-old-fort-hidden-in-the-jungle-confirms-ancient-society-sophistication-lidar/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lidar</a>, which stands for Light Detection and Ranging, uses laser pulses to scan and map surfaces - even beneath forest canopies. It revealed a network of parallel ridges forming quilt-like patterns across the landscape.



"Lidar is a really powerful tool in any kind of forested or heavily vegetated region where the archaeology is hidden below trees - where no kind of optical imagery can see what's underneath the tree canopy," explained senior author Jesse Casana, a professor of anthropology.



"Forests are really confounding to archaeology in a lot of ways, so a lot of archaeologists rely on publicly available lidar that has often been obtained from a plane that flies really high," said Casana. 



"But the resolution of the data is usually too low to see many archaeological features. Drone lidar enables us to collect the same kind of data but at a much higher resolution," added Casana.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-digging-deeper-into-farming-history">Digging deeper into farming history</h2>



In August 2023, the team excavated three of the agricultural ridges to learn more about their age and construction. 



Charcoal samples from the dig were radiocarbon dated, showing that the ridges were actively rebuilt and maintained over a span of 600 years, starting around the year 1000.



"All three ridges showed a similar picture in terms of their construction, history and reconstruction," said Casana. "Most field systems have been either lost or destroyed due to intensive land use across most of North America, through farming, including pastures, and the cutting down of trees for urban development."



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/agriculture_native-american-farm_Sixty-Islands_credit-Madeleine-McLeester_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/agriculture_native-american-farm_Sixty-Islands_credit-Madeleine-McLeester_1s.webp" alt="Raised agricultural beds cover an estimated 70% of the lidar survey area at Sixty Islands archaeological site along the Menominee River. Credit: Madeleine McLeester" class="wp-image-1973245"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Raised agricultural beds cover an estimated 70% of the lidar survey area at Sixty Islands archaeological site along the Menominee River. Click image to enlarge. Credit: Madeleine McLeester</figcaption></figure>



"Through this research, we get this little window of preservation into pre-Colonial farming in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan," Casana added.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-maximizing-agricultural-productivity">Maximizing agricultural productivity </h2>



The excavations turned up more than just soil. Charcoal, ceramic sherds, and other small artifacts were found, suggesting that household waste and ashes may have been used to fertilize the fields. The team also found signs that wetland soils were added to improve growing conditions.



"Our work shows that the ancestral Menominee communities were modifying the soil to completely rework the topography in order to plant and harvest corn at the near northern extent of where this crop can grow," said McLeester. 



"This farming system was a massive undertaking requiring a lot of organization, labor, and know-how to maximize agricultural productivity."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-geography-of-early-farming">The geography of early farming</h2>



The scope of what was found may only scratch the surface of early farming history. "We're seeing this kind of landscape alteration in a place where we wouldn't expect it," said McLeester.



"This may be just a little remnant of what must have been a much larger system," added Casana.



The research raises the possibility that many more raised-field systems once existed across the eastern U.S., and that forested regions like the Upper Peninsula might have been significantly more <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/forest-recovery-is-lacking-in-the-most-deforested-areas-of-the-amazon/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">deforested</a> in the past due to agricultural activity.



The work continues. Dartmouth archaeologists are partnering with the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin on further surveys at the Sixty Islands site. 



The goal is to locate ancestral villages and map more of the historic agricultural landscape - giving us a clearer picture of how Indigenous farmers shaped the land long before European settlers arrived.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.ads1643" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science</a>.



Image credit: Madeleine McLeester



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1,000-year-old Native American farm discovery upends what scientists previously believed was possible

When people think of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, farming likely isn’t...

Teenagers who sleep early and follow regular sleep routines may build better heart health for adulthood. A new study, presented at SLEEP 2025, links adolescent sleep health to cardiovascular well-being in early adulthood. The findings focus on when and how teens sleep - not just how long.



At age 15, teens who fell asleep and woke up earlier, had more efficient sleep, and maintained a consistent sleep schedule were more likely to score higher in cardiovascular health at age 22. 



These associations remained even after adjusting for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sleep-prepares-the-brain-for-the-future-while-protecting-memories-of-the-past/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">lifestyle</a> factors like physical activity, diet, and body mass index.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-power-of-sleep-patterns">The power of sleep patterns</h2>



While total <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sleep-quality-could-be-the-key-to-better-metabolic-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sleep time</a> is often emphasized, this study showed it did not predict future cardiovascular health. Instead, factors like bedtime consistency and sleep quality made a measurable difference. 



The researchers analyzed data from 307 adolescents from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study.



“Given the importance of sleep health for physical health and well-being in the short-term, we were not surprised to see a lasting association between adolescent sleep timing, sleep maintenance efficiency, and sleep variability with cardiovascular health in young adulthood,” said Gina Marie Mathew, senior post-doctoral associate at <a href="https://www.stonybrookmedicine.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stony Brook Medicine</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-early-sleep-linked-to-healthier-heart">Early sleep linked to healthier heart</h2>



The analysis showed that earlier sleep onset (β = −.12) and earlier waking time (β = −.12) both predicted better cardiovascular scores. Teens with higher sleep maintenance efficiency (β = +.14) also had better outcomes.



Greater variability in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-new-mothers-feel-exhausted-despite-getting-sleep/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sleep</a> duration and bedtime predicted poorer cardiovascular scores. Even slight instability in sleep maintenance efficiency suggested a trend toward lower heart health scores, although not as strongly.



“Future research and recommendations should emphasize the importance of multiple dimensions of sleep health, including earlier sleep timing, higher sleep maintenance efficiency, and lower sleep variability as protective factors for long-term heart health,” noted Mathew.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-teen-sleep-and-adult-heart-health">Teen sleep and adult heart health</h2>



When participants turned 15, they wore wrist actigraphs for a full week to monitor their natural sleep patterns. 



These wearable devices allowed researchers to gather continuous, real-time data on how long the teens slept, what time they went to bed and woke up, how well they stayed asleep, and how consistent their sleep schedules were throughout the week.



The goal was to capture objective measurements of sleep timing, quality, and variability rather than rely on self-reported <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/one-night-of-lost-sleep-can-trigger-hidden-health-issues/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sleep</a> habits. 



Seven years later, when the participants reached age 22, the researchers evaluated their heart health using the American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8 framework, with the sleep component intentionally excluded.



This comprehensive health assessment included diet quality, physical activity levels, nicotine use, body mass index, blood pressure, blood glucose, and cholesterol levels. 



These factors were compiled into a single composite cardiovascular health score, ranging from 0 (indicating poor heart health) to 100 (indicating ideal heart health).



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-moving-beyond-sleep-duration-in-guidelines">Moving beyond sleep duration in guidelines</h2>



Current health guidelines suggest that teenagers between the ages of 13 and 18 should aim for 8 to 10 hours of sleep each night to support healthy growth and development. 



However, findings from this new research suggest that the duration of sleep may not be the only - or even the most important - factor when it comes to long-term heart health. What seems to matter more is how consistent, well-timed, and high-quality that sleep is across the week. 



This perspective is part of a broader shift in sleep science, which now views sleep as a multi-dimensional behavior rather than a simple matter of hours logged. Interventions aimed at improving adolescent well-being should reflect this shift. 



Rather than focusing solely on getting teens to sleep longer, strategies should also prioritize bedtime stability, fewer night-time awakenings, and routine consistency. Helping teens sleep better - not just more - may be key to protecting their health now and in the years to come.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-better-sleep-now-healthier-hearts-later">Better sleep now, healthier hearts later</h2>



The study received funding from several grants provided by the National Institutes of Health, particularly those centered on child health, growth, and long-term development.



The key takeaway is straightforward yet powerful: by helping adolescents establish healthier sleep habits now - through better timing, consistency, and quality - we may significantly reduce their risk of heart problems in adulthood.



The research abstract was formally published in the journal <a href="https://academic.oup.com/sleep/article/48/Supplement_1/A128/8135714" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SLEEP</a>.



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Teens who sleep early have healthier hearts as young adults

Teenagers who sleep early and follow regular sleep routines may...

Aging has long been viewed as a slow and inevitable decline. But new research suggests that hidden deep within the body’s cellular processes, there may be a crucial trigger point - one that could be changed, paused, or even reversed. The process in question is necrosis, a form of uncontrolled cell death.



A study by researchers from University College London (<a href="https://www.ucl.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UCL</a>), <a href="https://www.linkgevity.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LinkGevity</a>, and the European Space Agency (<a href="https://www.esa.int" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ESA</a>) places necrosis at the center of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/organ-aging-can-predict-diseases-decades-in-advance/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">aging</a> and disease. The paper suggests that necrosis might not just be a consequence of damage. It might be a cause.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-necrosis-may-be-the-trigger-of-aging">Necrosis may be the trigger of aging</h2>



Necrosis is a chaotic form of cell death caused by stress, infection, or injury. Unlike controlled cell death, it damages nearby tissues and triggers inflammation. The study suggests necrosis is not just a final event but an active driver of aging and chronic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/healthy-aging-how-some-people-live-past-100-years/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">disease</a>.



“Nobody really likes talking about death, even cell death, which is perhaps why the physiology of death is so poorly understood. And in a way necrosis is death,” noted Dr. Keith Siew from the UCL Centre for Kidney &amp; Bladder Health.



“If enough cells die, then tissues die, then we die. The question is what would happen if we could pause or stop necrosis.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chaotic-cell-death-spreads-damage">Chaotic cell death spreads damage</h2>



Cells are the building blocks of all living organisms. Their death is <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/daily-doctor-recommended-regimen-that-could-slow-aging/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">natural</a> and necessary, but only when it happens in a regulated way. 



In healthy systems, cells are replaced in a clean and controlled fashion. This process, known as apoptosis, helps organs regenerate and stay functional.



Necrosis is different. It happens without order or purpose. When it occurs, cells rupture and spill their contents into surrounding tissue. This creates inflammation, spreads damage, and accelerates aging.



“Necrosis remains one of the last frontiers in medicine – a common thread across <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/universal-rule-of-biology-sai-proposed-to-explain-aging-and-how-to-control-it/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">aging</a>, disease, space biology, and scientific progress itself,” said Dr. Carina Kern, lead author of the study and CEO of LinkGevity.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-calcium-imbalance-causes-cell-collapse">Calcium imbalance causes cell collapse</h2>



At the heart of necrosis is calcium, a mineral that helps regulate cell function. Normally, cells maintain much higher calcium levels outside their membranes than inside. This gradient helps control vital activities.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/necrosis_pausing-cell-death_anti-aging-study_credit-Linkgevity_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/necrosis_pausing-cell-death_anti-aging-study_credit-Linkgevity_1s.webp" alt="Illustration of a healthy cell (left) alongside a cell that has been affected by necrosis (right). Credit: LinkGevity" class="wp-image-1973069"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Illustration of a healthy cell (left) alongside a cell that has been affected by necrosis (right). Click image to enlarge. Credit: LinkGevity</figcaption></figure>



When calcium floods in, the cell collapses, spills toxins, and triggers harmful inflammation. “When cells die, it’s not always a peaceful process for the neighbors,” Dr. Siew noted.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-toxic-cell-death-links-diseases">Toxic cell death links diseases</h2>



Necrosis triggers a domino <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/random-dna-mutations-shape-biological-aging/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">effect</a>. As toxic materials spread, nearby cells are affected. This leads to more cell death, more inflammation, and a growing spiral of decline. Over time, the body becomes less able to repair itself.



The study draws connections between necrosis and several chronic conditions. These include Alzheimer’s, heart disease, and kidney failure. These diseases are often seen as unrelated, but researchers argue they share a common thread: necrosis.



“Necrosis has been hiding in plain sight. As a final stage of cell death, it’s been largely overlooked. But mounting evidence shows it’s far more than an endpoint. It’s a central mechanism through which systemic degeneration not only arises but also spreads,” noted Dr. Kern. 



“That makes it a critical point of convergence across many diseases. If we can target necrosis, we could unlock entirely new ways to treat conditions ranging from kidney failure to cardiac disease, neuro-degeneration, and even aging itself.” 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cell-death-harms-kidneys-as-we-age">Cell death harms kidneys as we age</h2>



Among all the organs affected by necrosis, the kidneys may suffer the most. They filter blood, regulate fluid levels, and support other systems. As people age, these functions often falter. Nearly half of those over 75 show signs of kidney disease.



The study highlights how necrosis lies at the center of this decline. Stressors such as low oxygen, oxidative stress, and toxin buildup all lead to necrosis in kidney tissues. Once it begins, it fuels a feedback loop that becomes hard to stop.



“With kidney disease, there’s no one underlying reason that the kidneys fail. It could be a lack of oxygen, inflammation, oxidative stress, a build-up of toxins, and so on,” Dr. Siew explained



“All of these stressors eventually lead to necrosis, which initiates a positive feedback loop that spirals out of control, leading to kidney failure. We can’t stop all of these stressors, but if you could intervene at the point of necrosis, you’d effectively achieve the same result.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-aging-in-space">Aging in space</h2>



The implications of necrosis extend far beyond Earth. In space, astronauts face conditions that mimic and accelerate aging. Low gravity and cosmic radiation stress the body. Muscles waste away, bones weaken, and organs begin to fail more quickly than on Earth.



In 2024, Dr. Siew worked on a study that identified the human kidney as a major vulnerability during spaceflight. Necrosis appeared to play a central role. The body’s inability to manage stress in space could threaten the success of long-term missions.



Damian Bailey is a professor of physiology and biochemistry at the <a href="https://www.southwales.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of South Wales</a> and Chair of the ESA Life Sciences Working Group.



“Targeting necrosis offers potential to not only transform longevity on Earth but also push the frontiers of space exploration," noted Professor Bailey. "In space, the same factors that cause aging on Earth are made worse by cosmic radiation and microgravity - speeding up degeneration dramatically.” 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stopping-cell-death-to-support-healing">Stopping cell death to support healing</h2>



Necrosis in vital organs triggers damage cycles that slow healing and reduce recovery capacity. 



“In many age-related diseases - affecting diverse organs such as the lungs, kidneys, liver, brain, and cardiovascular system - relentless cascades of necrosis fuel the progression of disease," explained Dr. Kern.



"This is often alongside impaired healing that leads to fibrosis, inflammation and damaged cells. Each cascade triggers and amplifies the next."



“If we could prevent necrosis, even temporarily, we would be shutting down these destructive cycles at their source, enabling normal physiological processes and cell division to resume - and potentially even allowing for regeneration.”



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41388-025-03431-y" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Oncogene</a>.



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Pausing cell death, known as necrosis, may be the secret to defying the aging process

Aging has long been viewed as a slow and inevitable...

A team of engineers has recently revealed an innovative new tool for tracking stress: a modified dental floss device that can detect cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone, in real time from saliva.



Constructed by scientists at <a href="https://www.tufts.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tufts University</a>, the device could offer a simple, inexpensive, and user-friendly alternative to traditional stress-monitoring methods. Those methods typically rely on self-reported questionnaires or costly psychiatric evaluations.



“It started in a collaboration with several departments across Tufts, examining how stress and other cognitive states affect problem solving and learning,” said Sameer Sonkusale, a professor of electrical and computer engineering and lead researcher on the project.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-measuring-stress-through-flossing">Measuring stress through flossing</h2>



Scientists have long recognized that stress can cause harmful long-term effects. Chronic exposure can increase blood pressure, suppress the immune system, and contribute to conditions like depression, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/practicing-mindfulness-can-quiet-the-noise-of-anxiety/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">anxiety</a>, and cardiovascular disease. 



“We didn’t want to create an additional source of stress, so we thought, 'can we make a sensing device that becomes part of your day-to-day routine?' Cortisol is a stress marker found in saliva, so flossing seemed like a natural fit to take a daily sample," said Sonkusale



Despite its serious implications, monitoring stress levels over time remains a challenge. This new floss-based technology could change that.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tiny-device-with-big-potential">Tiny device with big potential</h2>



The stress-sensing floss is designed to look and feel just like a standard plastic floss pick. The difference lies in the built-in electronics that sit in the handle. 



As a person flosses, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/children-use-saliva-sharing-to-infer-close-relationships/">saliva</a> wicks up through the floss via capillary action, traveling into the handle and across a sensor tab. Electrodes embedded in this tab then detect the presence and concentration of cortisol in the sample.



A technology called electropolymerized molecularly imprinted polymers, or eMIPs, powers the detection mechanism.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-new-approach-to-stress">A new approach to stress</h2>



Originally developed nearly 30 years ago, eMIPs work much like a mold. Researchers form a polymer around a target molecule - in this case, cortisol - and then remove the molecule, leaving behind an imprint.



This “mold” has both the physical and chemical shape needed to recognize and bind with free-floating cortisol molecules in new samples.



“The eMIP approach is a game changer,” Sonkusale said. “Biosensors have typically been developed using antibodies or other receptors that pick up the molecule of interest. Once a marker is found, a lot of work has to go into bioengineering the receiving molecule attached to the sensor.”



Electropolymerized molecularly imprinted polymers do not require extensive investments in developing antibodies or receptors. Instead, a polymer cast can be rapidly created whenever a new marker for stress, disease, or any condition is discovered.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-versatile-health-tool">A versatile health tool</h2>



The floss sensor’s modular design and eMIP system can adapt to detect various biomarkers, not just cortisol. It could potentially track glucose for diabetes, estrogen for fertility monitoring, or other molecules linked to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-worsens-cardiovascular-health-risks/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cardiovascular health</a>, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases.



There is also potential for integrating multiple sensing capabilities into a single device. A multi-biomarker floss sensor could deliver a more comprehensive view of a person’s health by detecting several chemical indicators simultaneously.



While still in development, the sensor has demonstrated accuracy comparable to the best stress-detection tools currently on the market. The Tufts team is now working to commercialize the technology via a startup for use in homes and clinics.



However, the researchers emphasize that people should use this tool for ongoing monitoring rather than for initial diagnoses.



“For diagnostics, blood is still the gold standard, but once you are diagnosed and put on medication, if you need to track, say, a cardiovascular condition over time, then monitoring with the sensor can be easy and allows for timely interventions when needed,” Sonkusale said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-managing-chronic-stress">Managing chronic stress</h2>



One of the most striking aspects of this technology is its seamless integration into a daily routine. 



Unlike wearable trackers or bulky diagnostic tools, the floss device requires no new habits or specialized training. Users simply floss as usual and get an immediate snapshot of their stress levels.



Sonkusale and his research group developed the new device as part of a broader portfolio of thread-based sensor technologies. 



These include sensors embedded in clothing to detect motion, sweat metabolites, and environmental gases, as well as transistors for flexible electronics. The dental floss sensor, however, may be one of their most user-friendly innovations yet.



The research could help pave the way toward more personalized, real-time health monitoring. This innovation makes it easier for individuals to manage chronic stress and its long-term health effects with a simple swipe of floss.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsami.5c02988" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces</a>.



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Stress-detecting dental floss could revolutionize personal health

A team of engineers has recently revealed an innovative new...

Mosquito,On,Kids,Skin.,Little,Boy,Attacked,By,Mosquitoes,In

Mosquito swarms may sound like chaos, but male mosquitoes are incredible listeners. Despite the noise, they can hear the faint sounds made by female wingbeats.



A new study from <a href="https://en.nagoya-u.ac.jp" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nagoya University</a> uncovers how male mosquitoes hear across a wider range of frequencies than females, helping them locate mates in buzzing clouds while evading human defenses. These insights offer a fresh path toward smarter mosquito control.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mosquitoes-use-complex-acoustic-cues">Mosquitoes use complex acoustic cues </h2>



Scientists have long used sound traps to catch male <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mosquito-habitats-are-expanding-due-to-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mosquitoes</a>. These traps mimic female wingbeat sounds to lure in males and then sterilize them. But in real-world settings, most of these traps underperform. 



Sound traps often catch only a few insects each day because they don’t match the complex acoustic cues that male mosquitoes truly seek.



The recent study has revealed that males don't just listen for one frequency. Their hearing is tuned to a wide and nuanced range of sounds.



These sounds include not only female wingbeats but also blended frequencies that are made when male and female wingbeats mix. The research could explain why simple traps fail to hold their attention.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-male-mosquitoes-process-sound">How male mosquitoes process sound</h2>



The researchers used calcium imaging to study brain activity in male and female <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rising-temperatures-could-make-insect-repellents-less-effective/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mosquitoes</a>. They examined responses in the <a href="https://www.virtualflybrain.org/term/antennal-mechanosensory-and-motor-center-ammc-bb4-neuron-fbbt_00111484/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AMMC</a> (antennal mechanosensory and motor center), a key hearing region in the mosquito brain.



“We found that male brains showed responses not only to the same frequencies of sound as female brains, but also to much higher frequencies,” noted Professor Matthew Su. 



“This finding shows the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mosquitoes-use-thermal-infrared-vision-to-track-and-bite-humans/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">complex information processing</a> required for males to identify the location of females.”



In males, the AMMC showed activity across 150 to 500 Hz. Females mostly responded between 100 to 200 Hz. 



Males also showed four unique patterns of sound responses, whereas females showed two unique patterns and one shared with males. These clusters suggest that males process sound in more diverse ways than females.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-female-mosquito-sounds-and-human-traps">Female mosquito sounds and human traps</h2>



Strikingly, some male neurons showed negative responses. They reduced activity at 150 Hz. This pattern may help males tune out distractions or adjust sensitivity to specific tones. 



Another brain cluster responded to low-frequency sounds in both sexes. Researchers suggest this may help mosquitoes detect predators, like dragonflies. 



So, even as males evolved fine-tuned mating tools, both sexes may still use sound to stay safe.



To understand why male hearing is so sharp, the team examined the base of the antennae. 



They found males express more genes linked to cilia, which are tiny hairs that detect vibration. These include dynein genes that are already known to affect hearing in other insects.



“Cilia are thought to function to increase receptive <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-some-people-are-mosquito-magnets/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sensitivity to certain sounds</a>,” explained Professor Azusa Kamikouchi. “This sound processing mechanism may be a specialized and sophisticated mechanism that is not found in other insects.”



A <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/gene/fgfr3/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">gene called fd3f</a>, which is known to guide cilia development, was also more active in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mosquitoes-bite-more-often-during-droughts-to-stay-hydrated/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">males</a>. This suggests males are genetically wired for better hearing. 



Proteins from these genes were also found in greater amounts in males, strengthening the evidence.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-designing-better-sound-traps">Designing better sound traps</h2>



“Male mosquitoes rely on the sound of female wings to find mates. Therefore, mosquito hearing is a promising target for preventing the reproduction of mosquitoes,” noted Professor Kamikouchi.



With this deep understanding of how male mosquitoes hear, scientists could redesign traps that mimic the real complexity of female wingbeats. 



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/mosquitoes_males_find-females_avoid-traps_illustration_credit-Issey-Takahashi_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/mosquitoes_males_find-females_avoid-traps_illustration_credit-Issey-Takahashi_1s.webp" alt="How Male Mosquitoes Target Females—and Avoid Traps. Credit: Issey Takahashi" class="wp-image-1973044"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">How Male Mosquitoes Target Females—and Avoid Traps. Click image to enlarge. Credit: Issey Takahashi</figcaption></figure>



By copying not just one sound but many, perhaps even distortion products, these tools could catch more males and limit mosquito breeding more effectively.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-surprisingly-complex-auditory-system">Surprisingly complex auditory system </h2>



This study significantly broadens and deepens how we think about <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mosquitoes-listen-for-a-specific-buzz-to-find-mates/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">insect</a> hearing. It goes beyond simply identifying differences between male and female mosquitoes. 



The research uncovers a highly specialized and surprisingly complex auditory system in males - one that appears to have evolved specifically to improve the chances of finding a mate in noisy environments.



Rather than relying on a single <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mating-secrets-of-mosquitoes-may-help-us-gain-control-of-them/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mating cue</a>, male mosquitoes interpret a rich variety of sound frequencies, including blended signals that form when male and female wingbeats overlap.



This suggests their hearing has been shaped by strong evolutionary pressure to succeed in mating within dense and chaotic swarms.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-using-sound-as-a-survival-tool">Using sound as a survival tool</h2>



The study also revealed that certain parts of the mosquito’s hearing response are shared between males and females. These shared responses likely <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-mosquitoes-find-tasty-humans-from-hundreds-of-meters-away/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">evolved long ago</a>, before mating behavior became so specialized.



For example, both sexes respond to low-frequency sounds that mimic the wingbeats of dragonflies, one of their natural predators. 



This implies that parts of the mosquito’s hearing system originally developed as a survival tool to allow them to detect and escape from danger.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mosquitoes-sound-and-human-frustration">Mosquitoes, sound, and human frustration</h2>



While male mosquitoes have acquired new, advanced hearing abilities for mating, they still retain these older sensory features that help them stay alive.



The researchers believe that by fully understanding this dual function - mating and predator detection - we might find new ways to disrupt the mosquito life cycle.



If we can mimic or interfere with the sounds that mosquitoes depend on, we could reduce their ability to reproduce or survive. 



In doing so, we might finally quiet the constant buzz of mosquito swarms in places where they pose the greatest threat to human health.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.ads2689" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science Advances</a>.



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Scientists learn how mosquitoes outsmart and evade human defenses

Mosquito swarms may sound like chaos, but male mosquitoes are...

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On the unforgiving landscape of North Greenland, temperatures drop and sunlight barely penetrates through the polar winter. It was here, however, that an international team of scientists found <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/predatory-worms-were-terror-beasts-half-a-billion-years-ago/#google_vignette" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">evidence of sea monsters</a> that would change our understanding of ocean life in the past.



This video captures the discovery of Timorebestia fossils that had been hidden for more than 500 million years in the Sirius Passet formation. The "terror beasts," as they are called, are a hidden chapter in the evolutionary history of <a href="https://www.earth.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earth</a>, showing that sophisticated predator-prey interactions occurred much earlier than previously envisioned.



Dr. Jakob Vinther and his research team at the <a href="https://www.bristol.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Bristol</a>, in collaboration with researchers at the <a href="https://eng.kopri.re.kr/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Korean Polar Research Institute</a>, braved extreme weather conditions at 82.5 north latitude to locate these giant creatures. Using sophisticated electron microprobe analysis, they revealed the detailed anatomy of the animals, including their muscle and nerve tissues.



The find upsets the traditional timeline of sea predators. Although we've long appreciated that Cambrian oceans were at one time ruled by <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWI3-UgA3_o&amp;list=PL1QLQMW9MWDwpkFOnvgAmu7wT6rZmYqdJ&amp;index=19" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">arthropods</a>, these discoveries indicate that relatives of arrow worms were first to dominate the seas. These worms were building sophisticated food webs several million years before other predator groups arose.



Each fossil is a story of ancient hunger, with fossil stomach contents revealing these meter-long beasts dined on heavily armored arthropods regularly, cementing their place as the ocean's first apex predators.



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Worms dominated seas before dinosaurs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Y4eLFNYrKE On the unforgiving landscape of North Greenland, temperatures drop...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow3JH03PqEQ
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">New York is the site of the world's oldest forest.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-385-million-year-old-trees-discovered">385-million-year-old trees discovered</h2>



Scientists have uncovered something extraordinary just two hours north of New York City. The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/worlds-oldest-forest-discovered-close-to-new-york-city/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">world's oldest forest</a>, dating back 385 million years, offers a window into how Earth's first complex forests shaped our planet's atmosphere.



Located near <a href="https://townofcairo.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cairo, New York</a>, in Greene County, these weren't merely primitive plants struggling to survive. These were sophisticated trees with root systems remarkably similar to modern forests. This ancient woodland predates dinosaurs by 140 million years.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-cairo-forest-discovery">The Cairo forest discovery</h2>



385 million years ago, upstate New York was a tropical paradise near the equator. Thanks to continental drift, this ancient forest has traveled thousands of miles to its current location.



The fossil forest sits in an abandoned quarry, roughly half the size of a football field. This represents just a slice of what was likely a massive forest system stretching from New York into Pennsylvania.



Charles Ver Straeten, curator of sedimentary rocks at the <a href="https://www.nysm.nysed.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New York State Museum</a>, made the discovery in 2009. While scouting the former highway department property, his trained eye spotted wandering patterns in the stone that looked like marine features.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-revolutionary-age-and-preservation">Revolutionary age and preservation</h2>



The site contains 385-million-year-old rocks with fossilized woody roots forming horizontal patterns up to 18 feet (5.5 meters) wide. As Christopher Berry, a paleobotanist at Cardiff University, explains: "You are walking through the roots of ancient trees."



This discovery pushes back advanced tree evolution by millions of years. The research, published in <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/home" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Current Biology</a> in December 2019, fundamentally changes our understanding of when complex forests first emerged.



Researchers believe a massive flood buried the forest floor, creating perfect fossilization conditions. Over millions of years, sediment hardened into rock, preserving these root patterns like nature's time capsule.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-meet-archaeopteris-the-first-modern-tree">Meet Archaeopteris: the first modern tree</h2>



The star of this ancient forest is Archaeopteris – not to be confused with the feathered dinosaur Archaeopteryx. This tree was far older and more revolutionary.



William Stein from <a href="https://www.binghamton.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Binghamton University</a> describes the roots as "strikingly modern, essentially what you'd see outside in my yard right now." These weren't simple root systems you'd expect from ancient plants.



Some fossilized roots are six inches (15 centimeters) in diameter, forming 36-foot-wide (11-meter) patterns. These giants grew up to 65 feet (20 meters) tall with five-foot-diameter (1.5-meter) trunks.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-changing-impact">Climate-changing impact</h2>



These trees fundamentally changed Earth's environment. Kevin Boyce, a Stanford University geoscientist, explains how their deep roots triggered "weathering," chemical reactions that pulled carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.



This process dropped atmospheric CO2 levels from 10-15 times higher than today to roughly modern concentrations. These ancient trees helped create atmospheric conditions that made complex life possible.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ancient-forest-ecosystem">Ancient forest ecosystem</h2>



The forest was remarkably diverse. Scientists identified Eospermatopteris, palm tree-like plants with short roots that reached 30 feet (9 meters) tall but lacked woody structure. The forest also housed cladoxylopsids and a mysterious third species still being studied.



All reproduced through spores rather than seeds – millions of years before seeds evolved. This tropical environment had no grass, flowers, or flying insects, just towering trees creating Earth's first complex forest canopy.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scientific-significance">Scientific significance</h2>



Before this finding, the Gilboa forest, located 25 miles (40 kilometers) away, held the "oldest forest" title. Cairo's trees are 2-3 million years older, showing that complex forest ecosystems developed much faster than scientists believed possible.



Patricia Gensel, a <a href="https://www.unc.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of North Carolina</a> paleobotanist, notes: "The size of those root systems is really changing the picture. Even 20 years ago, researchers assumed trees with such complex root systems didn't evolve so early."



The Cairo site presents three unique root systems, suggesting Devonian period forests were diverse ecosystems with different trees occupying different environmental niches, much like today's forests.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-modern-preservation-efforts">Modern preservation efforts</h2>



In 2022, New York State Senator Michelle Hinchey secured a $170,000 grant for the town of Cairo to construct specialized fencing around the fossil forest site. The town plans to conduct a feasibility study exploring the possibility of creating an educational center and working lab on-site.



Joe Hasenkopf, chair of the Cairo Planning Board, hopes to partner with educational institutions to create a research facility serving scientists, students, and the public.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lessons-for-today-s-climate">Lessons for today's climate</h2>



Why does a 385-million-year-old forest matter today? It shows how dramatically forests can change Earth's climate. These ancient woodlands created the atmospheric conditions supporting complex life.



Understanding how prehistoric forests transformed the planet helps us appreciate modern forests' critical role in addressing climate change. Forests remain Earth's most effective carbon capture systems.



These prehistoric trees changed Earth's atmosphere by pulling massive amounts of carbon dioxide from the air. As we face modern climate challenges, this ancient forest reminds us of trees' incredible power to transform our planet's environment.



The next time you walk through a forest, remember you're experiencing an ecosystem whose blueprint was established 385 million years ago in upstate New York. These ancient pioneers didn't just survive – they thrived and changed the world forever.



The full study was published in the journal Current Biology.



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Earth's oldest forest found in the United States

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow3JH03PqEQ New York is the site of the world's oldest...

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prrq8Ql81zk
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Acid rain and a crisis solved.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-don-t-we-ever-hear-about-acid-rain-anymore-the-environmental-crisis-that-was-solved">Why don't we ever hear about "acid rain" anymore? The environmental crisis that was solved</h2>



Remember the 1980s when acid rain dominated headlines? Dire warnings about rain eating buildings, killing fish, and destroying forests filled every news cycle. Then, almost like magic, acid rain vanished from public discourse. What happened? Did we actually solve one of the late 20th century's most pressing environmental challenges?



The answer might surprise you. Unlike many environmental issues that drag on indefinitely, acid rain represents one of modern history's most successful ecological recovery stories. It's a tale of science, politics, and technology working together to tackle what seemed impossible.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What was acid rain?</h2>



Acid rain isn't regular rain having a bad day – it's precipitation that became significantly more acidic due to air pollution. When power plants, factories, and vehicles burn fossil fuels, they release sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) into the atmosphere.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The science behind it</h2>



Think of acid rain as nature's chemistry experiment gone wrong. These compounds react with water, oxygen, and other chemicals to form sulfuric and nitric acids. When mixed with water vapor in clouds, they create precipitation with dangerously low pH levels.



While clean rain has a pH of about 5.6, acid rain could drop as low as 4.2 to 4.4 – roughly as acidic as tomato juice or coffee. According to US Geological Survey documentation, Scottish chemist Angus Smith first coined "acid rain" in 1872, but it didn't become a household phrase until the 1960s and 1970s when Swedish scientist Svante Odén documented its devastating effects on Scandinavian lakes and European forests.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The crisis at its peak</h2>



During the height of public concern, environmental damage was both widespread and visible. This wasn't some abstract future threat – people could see destruction happening in real-time.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Environmental devastation</h2>



The most dramatic impacts were impossible to ignore. Research documented by the Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation shows that in the Adirondack Mountains, more than 200 lakes became so acidic they couldn't support fish life. The Adirondack Council reports that 409 lakes once supported brook trout, but many lost their fish populations due to acid rain.



By 1976, when scientists cataloged all acidified lakes in the Adirondack Park, researchers found that half of the lakes over 2,000 feet above sea level had no fish, according to studies published in environmental journals. The acidification process worked like a slow-motion disaster. As acid rain fell into watersheds, it gradually lowered pH levels. Fish couldn't survive in acidic water, and their food sources died off too.



Trees at high elevations showed stress directly linked to acid rain. It weakened them by leaching nutrients and making them susceptible to disease. Historical records show Germany's Black Forest saw nearly half its trees damaged by the mid-1980s.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Economic impact</h2>



Acid rain wasn't just environmental – it was expensive. Acidic precipitation corroded infrastructure, buildings, and monuments. Historic stone structures deteriorated at accelerated rates. Tourism suffered as lakes became fishless and forests declined. EPA economic analyses from the period documented repair costs mounting into billions annually.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The solution: government action and technology</h2>



Transformation from crisis to success required unprecedented cooperation between governments, industries, and environmental groups.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Clean Air Act of 1990</h2>



The turning point came with the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, signed by President George H.W. Bush. This represented a fundamentally new approach to environmental regulation, as documented in EPA historical records.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Cap-and-trade success</h2>



Instead of mandating specific technologies, the 1990 amendments introduced something revolutionary: a cap-and-trade system for sulfur dioxide emissions. EPA program documentation shows this market-based approach set overall limits but allowed companies to trade emission allowances.



The genius was harnessing market forces to find cost-effective pollution reduction. Companies reducing emissions cheaply could sell excess allowances to those facing higher costs. Research published in environmental economics journals and EPA progress reports shows this resulted in dramatic SO2 reduction at a fraction of projected costs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Technology advances</h2>



Policy provided the framework, but technology made reductions possible. Studies in atmospheric science journals document the widespread adoption of flue gas desulfurization systems ("scrubbers") that removed sulfur dioxide before it reached the atmosphere. By the 2000s, new installations could remove over 95% of SO2 emissions, according to EPA technical reports.



The push coincided with cleaner energy development. Natural gas produces fewer sulfur compounds than coal. Wind and solar, emerging in the 1990s, captured growing market share, reducing reliance on high-sulfur coal.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-we-don-t-hear-about-it-today">Why we don't hear about it today</h2>



Why did acid rain disappear from headlines? Simple: the problem was largely solved.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Success doesn't make news</h2>



There's an old journalism saying: "If it bleeds, it leads." Environmental success stories don't generate urgency like crisis reporting. Media attention shifted to other challenges: climate change, plastic pollution, and biodiversity loss. There's only so much environmental anxiety the public can absorb, and newer concerns replaced acid rain.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Mission accomplished</h2>



The primary reason is beautifully simple: interventions worked. EPA monitoring data shows sulfur dioxide emissions dropped over 90% since 1990. Academic research published in environmental science journals confirms pH levels in formerly affected areas returned closer to normal. This represents one of history's most dramatic environmental recoveries. Studies by the Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation show fishless lakes now support healthy populations. Forests recovered, and building damage slowed dramatically.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-is-it-really-gone">Is it really gone?</h2>



The crisis is largely resolved, but monitoring data shows the problem isn't completely eliminated – it's managed to acceptable levels. Some areas still experience occasional events during high pollution periods. International environmental research indicates that rapidly industrializing Asian countries face similar problems to what we experienced decades ago, though they're implementing successful strategies.



EPA research shows nitrogen oxide emissions proved more challenging than sulfur dioxide, coming from vehicles and mobile sources. Climate science studies suggest changing weather patterns add complexity to how acid rain forms and falls.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What this teaches us</h2>



The acid rain experience proves that seemingly intractable environmental problems can be solved with scientific understanding, political will, and technological innovation. Environmental monitoring data shows recovery speed was remarkable – within a decade, measurable improvements appeared in air quality and ecosystem health.



Success came from bipartisan support across party lines. Policy analysis studies show the market-based approach appealed to those preferring economic incentives while achieving environmental goals. This support created lasting policy surviving political changes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Conclusion</h2>



Acid rain's disappearance from public consciousness represents environmental science's greatest success stories. Through effective regulation, technological innovation, and international cooperation, we transformed an overwhelming crisis into a manageable challenge.



Today's silence isn't because we forgot – it's because we solved it. The 1990 Clean Air Act, combined with technology and energy market changes, reduced acid rain emissions over 90%, according to comprehensive EPA data analysis.



This success offers hope for current challenges. It proves complex problems can be solved when science, policy, and technology work together. As we face climate change and plastic pollution, acid rain reminds us that dramatic positive change is possible.



Next time someone asks whether environmental regulations work, remember acid rain. It's proof that sometimes, we get it right.



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



Sources: This article draws from EPA official documentation and progress reports, peer-reviewed research published in environmental and atmospheric science journals, historical data from the Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation records, US Geological Survey publications, policy analysis studies, and environmental monitoring data collected over three decades.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Frequently Asked Questions</h2>



1. Is acid rain completely gone? No, but EPA monitoring shows it's reduced to manageable levels. US sulfur dioxide emissions dropped over 90% since 1990, making acid rain much less severe than the 1980s crisis.



2. How long did solving take? Environmental monitoring data shows significant improvements began within 5-10 years of 1990s emission controls. Full ecosystem recovery took longer – some areas need 20-30 years for complete recovery.



3. What made the solution successful? Clear scientific understanding, visible damage motivating action, bipartisan support, available technology, and innovative market-based policies like cap-and-trade.



4. Do other countries have acid rain problems? Yes, particularly rapidly industrializing Asian countries. However, international environmental research shows many implement similar successful control strategies.



5. Could acid rain return? Potentially, if regulations weaken or we return to high-sulfur coal without controls, though effects would take years to become severe according to environmental projections.



6. Can you recommend any teaching tools on the subject of "acid rain"? The United States Environmental Protection Agency produced a wonderful teacher's guide for ages 14 and under that you can find on the EPA website here: <a href="https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2017-03/documents/teachersguide.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2017-03/documents/teachersguide.pdf</a>



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The environmental problem we actually solved

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prrq8Ql81zk Acid rain and a crisis solved. Why don't we...

Fresh,Radish,Harvest,On,Soil,In,Garden.

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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What to plant in your garden in mid-July

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Wildlife tunnels save millions of amphibians

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

[sendtonews key="0ynNMYkMKa-2340414-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

[sendtonews key="G9bUoxcjr4-2511624-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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

Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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



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Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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

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