Music often does more than entertain. It paints images in our minds, builds worlds, and stirs emotions we can’t always explain. A new study shows how even the tiniest human touches in sound can influence this inner world.



The findings from the <a href="https://www.sydney.edu.au/music/our-research/cross-disciplinary-research/sydney-music-mind-and-body-lab.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sydney Music, Mind and Body Lab</a>, reveal how subtle shifts in rhythm and tone may fuel imagination in ways technology alone cannot replicate. 



These delicate imperfections - tiny fluctuations in timing or <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/music-and-the-mind-new-clues-about-how-we-experience-pleasure/">volume</a> - can transform repetitive beats into living experiences, sparking imagery that feels real and immersive.



Rather than simply hearing structured sounds, listeners create journeys filled with color, movement, and narrative. The study suggests that the human quality of music holds unique power to trigger creativity and emotional depth. 



The research also shows why live performances, with all their small variations, can feel more moving than flawless recordings, and why imagination often thrives when music carries traces of human touch.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-small-musical-shifts-big-mental-impact">Small musical shifts, big mental impact</h2>



Researchers asked 100 participants to imagine a journey while listening to repetitive drumming. Some heard <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/chimpanzees-use-rhythmic-drumming-to-communicate-in-forests/">drumming</a> with random micro-variations in loudness and timing, while others heard perfectly uniform beats or silence.



Those who listened to music with micro-variations reported richer imagery, longer imagined journeys, and more lifelike scenes. 



They often described environments filled with movement, color, or emotion that felt authentic and dynamic, which suggests these subtle rhythmic details significantly influence how the brain constructs vivid inner experiences.



"What excites me is that these little details in music are something we can all feel, even if we don't always notice them consciously," said lead researcher Ceren Ayyildiz.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-human-touch-makes-rhythm-alive">Human touch makes rhythm alive</h2>



The study, published in Scientific Reports, relied on computer simulations of drum <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-music-tunes-the-emotions-in-our-memories/">sounds</a>. Researchers created two versions: one with flawless uniformity and another with tiny, natural shifts mimicking human performance.



They then analyzed participants’ mental imagery responses with Bayesian multilevel modeling. The results showed that small fluctuations, often unconsciously introduced by performers, significantly enhance imagination.



These subtle imperfections did not distract listeners; instead, they added depth and texture to the soundscape, making the music feel more organic. Participants reported that the variations encouraged richer narratives, longer journeys, and greater immersion in imagined experiences.



This demonstrates that even the smallest rhythmic nuances can transform sound from a mechanical sequence into something that resonates with the human mind, shaping how people visualize and emotionally respond to music.



"It's not just technical perfection but the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/human-touch-molecular-basis-elkin1-discovery/">human touch</a> that makes music feel more alive and sparks the imagination," Ayyildiz said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-musical-skills-amplify-imagination">Musical skills amplify imagination</h2>



Listeners with musical training or strong immersion ability experienced even more vivid mental imagery. For them, micro-variations brought authenticity and richness missing from machine-perfect sounds.



"One possible explanation for this finding is that listeners may perceive drumming with tiny random changes - a core component of human music performance - as more natural and organic," said Ayyildiz.



The study highlights how human imperfections in rhythm bring authenticity and create a sense of connection.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-music-and-sound-variations-aid-therapy">Music and sound variations aid therapy</h2>



The insights also suggest therapeutic and practical applications. "Mental imagery already plays an important role in many cognitive therapies," said senior author Dr. Steffen Herff.



"Deliberately tailoring background music - for example through subtle changes in timing and loudness - could be used to either stimulate or dampen imagination depending on the specific therapeutic target," 



For audio engineers and producers, the study provides a new perspective. Micro-variations are already used in studio production as key aesthetic drivers in many forms of music including electronic dance music and hip-hop.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-human-expression-drives-connection">Human expression drives connection</h2>



For musicians, especially drummers, the findings emphasize the creative weight of subtle timing shifts. 



"This study demonstrates how the tiny details in rhythmic timing and expression can greatly alter our perceptions of music," said researcher Dr. Simon Barker.



"The relationship between micro-rhythmic variations and imagination, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/physicists-make-bold-claims-that-time-is-an-illusion-question-its-existence/">illusion</a>, and connection are at the core of the art of drumming, and this study is a lovely example of this central aspect of rhythmic expression and communication."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-music-s-power-comes-from-touch">Music’s power comes from touch</h2>



The study adds to a growing body of work exploring music’s role in imagination, connection, and even loneliness. 



Its message is clear: even in a world of machine-perfect precision, the smallest human variations breathe life into sound, reminding us of music’s timeless power to shape emotion, enrich creativity, strengthen bonds, and nurture a uniquely human sense of presence and belonging.



"Even tiny fluctuations can make music more meaningful," said Ayyildiz. "It's a reminder that the human feel still matters."



<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://youtu.be/FEh_WfGeCTo?si=4ftg3JG20m5vyTxE
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Here, tiny fluctuations in timing and loudness introduce a human touch that breathes life into the rhythm - the kind of nuance shown to spark richer mental imagery. Credit: University of Sydney </figcaption></figure>



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-12604-4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Scientific Reports</a>.&nbsp;



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Tiny human touches can make music sound more powerful

Music often does more than entertain. It paints images in our minds, builds worlds, and stirs emotions we can’t always explain. A new study shows how even the tiniest human touches in sound can influence this inner world. The findings from the Sydney Music, Mind and Body Lab, reveal how subtle shifts in rhythm and tone may fuel imagination in ways technology alone cannot replicate. These delicate imperfections - tiny fluctuations in timing or volume - can transform repetitive beats into living experiences, sparking imagery that feels...

A team of plastic surgeons from <a href="https://gumc.georgetown.edu/">Georgetown University Medical Center</a> found that when a man opted to undergo facial <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/men-plastic-surgery/">plastic surgery</a>, he was generally perceived as more attractive, trustworthy, and likable by others post-procedure.

"The tendency to judge facial appearance is likely rooted in evolution, as studies suggest evaluating a person based on appearance is linked to survival — our animal instinct tells us to avoid those who are ill-willed and we know from previous research that personality traits are drawn from an individual's neutral expressions," said senior investigator and board certified Facial Plastic &amp; Reconstructive surgeon, Michael J. Reilly, MD, an associate professor of otolaryngology at Georgetown's School of Medicine. 

This study, published in <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamafacialplasticsurgery">JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery</a>, did not focus solely on perceptions of gender — a man being perceived as more masculine, say — as a similar 2015 study on facial plastic surgery effects on women did.

"Taken together, our findings suggest that both men and women undergoing facial cosmetic surgery can experience not only improved perception of attractiveness, but other positive changes in society's perception of their persona," Reilly said.

Reilly and his colleagues set out to determine if society really does prefer men with square jaws, chiseled cheekbones, and more prominent chins. To do so, they used before-and-after pictures from facial plastic surgery procedures done on 24 men who had one or more of the following surgeries: upper eyelid lift (upper blepharoplasty), reduction of lower eyelids (lower blepharoplasty), face-lift, brow-lift, neck-lift, nose reshaping (rhinoplasty), and/or a chin implant.

The team designed six surveys, and each included eight photographs — four photos of a patient before surgery, and four after. No survey contained both photos of a single patient.

More than 150 participants (mostly between the ages of 25-34, white, and with a college degree) took the surveys without any knowledge of the study’s intent. Via the surveys, they were asked to rate their perception of each patient’s aggressiveness, extroversion, likeability, risk-seeking, sociability, trustworthiness, as well as attractiveness and masculinity.

The researchers then built a model to assess the participants’ perceptions of men who had undergone specific plastic surgery procedures. They found that specific personality and appearance perceptions were linked to specific facial procedures with chin augmentation being the only procedure that did not have an effect on perceived personality traits or attractiveness. 

Upper eyelid augmentation increased a man’s likeability and trustworthiness. Lower eyelid augmentation decreased perceived risk-taking. A brow lift improved perception of extroversion and risk-taking. A face-life increased one’s likability and trustworthiness. A neck-lift increased perceived extroversion and masculinity. And a nose job improved attractiveness.

"It is really interesting that different anatomic areas of the face have varying degrees of contribution to overall personality perception," Reilly said. "And it is also noteworthy that the study did not find a significant change in masculinity. Just one procedure, a neck-lift, was found to enhance that trait.”

Reilly said that these findings suggest that the current “menu of cosmetic procedures for men” are not as gender-enhancing as they may be for women. In a similar study conducted on 30 female patients, increased femininity was significant post-procedure.

"Cicero described the face as the 'mirror of the soul,' meaning that a person's physical appearance is the personal characteristic most obvious and accessible to others in social interaction — so it's not surprising that subtle changes in neutral facial appearances are powerful enough to alter judgments of personality," Reilly said.

--

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Shutterstock/Africa Studio

Study: Men who get facial plastic surgery are perceived as more trustworthy

A team of plastic surgeons from Georgetown University Medical Center...

New study reveals the benefits of quitting casual drinking. When it comes to alcohol consumption, there have been many studies focused on the dangers of drinking too much. Overconsumption can lead to addiction and has even been found to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/drinking-years-life/">decrease lifespan</a>. 

In a new study, a team of American and Chinese researchers from the <a href="https://www.hku.hk/">University of Hong Kong</a> and the <a href="https://www2.cuny.edu/">City University of New York</a> set out to examine the less studied impacts of casual drinking and to see how quitting drinking affected health and mental-wellbeing. 

To do this, the researchers conducted a multilevel analysis of two population-based cohort studies, the FAMILY Cohort from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in China and the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions in the US. 

Data on 10,385 Chinese people, and 31,079 Americans were reviewed for the study which was published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

Herbert Pang, a co-author of the study, told <a href="https://www.inverse.com/article/57491-casual-drinking-alcohol-science">Inverse</a> that by using data from both Chinese and American populations, the researchers were able to better validate their findings and eliminate cultural factors that could have impacted the study results. 

For a four year study period, the researchers monitored how drinking patterns such as quitting, starting drinking, abstaining for life, or being a former heavy drinker, correlated with changes in physical and mental health. 

Those who were lifetime abstainers had the highest levels of mental health and well-being, but the researchers found that drinking but later quitting had similarly positive impacts for both Chinese and American populations. 

In some cases in both the Chinese and US studies, women who quit had a much more positive change in well-being even compared to those who had never had alcohol. 

This suggests that for casual or social drinkers, quitting alcohol could have significant positive health impacts, especially for women. 

For men, there was little change in mental well-being for those who quit. 

“It could be that men and women react differently to giving up alcohol, because of physiological differences,” Mary Schooling, a fellow co-author of the study, told Inverse. “Alternatively, alcohol use is a complex activity that may represent more than intake of alcohol. For example, it could be an indicator of active social life in men, but of a guilty pleasure in women.” 

There have been several studies touting the benefits of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/alcohol-heart-attack-damage/">moderate drinking</a>, but many researchers agree that the safest level of alcohol is none. 

This study helps confirm the health benefits of both lifelong sobriety and quitting, but further research is needed, the study authors say.  

“It is possible that alcohol cessation may reduce stressful life events, such as conflict within a family, difficulties in employment, and legal troubles, resulting in improved mental well-being,” said Pang. “Further studies are needed to establish clearly the impact of alcohol use on mental and physical well-being before alcohol is recommended as part of a healthy diet.”

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Shutterstock/Oleksandra Naumenko

New study reveals the benefits of quitting casual drinking

New study reveals the benefits of quitting casual drinking. When...

Walking with your arms straight conserves energy. If you were to picture a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/humans-running-long-distances/">runner</a>, you would probably imagine their arms would be bent at close 90-degree angles, fists clenched, and legs in mid-stride. 

People who walk on the other hand, keep their arms loose at their sides. 

<a href="https://heb.fas.harvard.edu/people/andrew-yegian-0">Andrew Yegian</a>, a <a href="https://www.harvard.edu/">Harvard</a> graduate student, wanted to know if running or walking with arms bent made any difference in performance, ability, energy consumption, or efficiency. 

Yegian, who studies how arm swing evolved in modern humans, was walking through the Harvard campus in 2015 when he noticed someone running with their arms straight. 

This uncharacteristic physicality made Yegian wonder why so many runners keep their elbows bent while walkers let their arms swing at their sides, and if there could be any hidden benefits to switching these positions up. 

Yegian conducted a study to find out and filmed runners and walkers with both straight and bent arms. 

“We wanted to study that kind of variation because bent arm running seems to be an almost universal behaviour, regardless of how much a person runs,” said Yegian. 

Eight undergraduate and graduate student-athletes were selected to participate. Some of the participants were serious marathon competitors, while others only ran a couple of times per week. 

Each participant ran and walked on a treadmill with reflective markers on their shoulders, elbows, and wrists. Walking with your arms straight conserves energy

The participants first walked at around 1.5 meters per second and then ran at about three meters per second while Yegian filmed the movements in 3D.

A second trial conducted with the same participants had the same setup, but the researchers fitted the volunteers with oxygen masks to measure oxygen consumption while walking/running with bent and straight arms. 

Running with straight arms was the most difficult for the participants with many saying that it was an odd position. 

The researchers discovered that there was a definite advantage to keeping the arms straight and loose while walking. When the participants kept their arms bent while walking, it increased energy costs by 11 percent. 

Walking with arms straight was more efficient, but it made little difference when running the researchers found. 

“We didn’t find any evidence that the energy cost was different between arm postures when running,” said Yegian. 

It is still unclear why the majority of runners keep their arms bent, but it may be that the advantages have nothing to do with energy consumption or efficiency. 

The study findings were published in the <a href="https://jeb.biologists.org/content/222/13/jeb197228">Journal of Experimental Biology</a>.

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com </a>Staff Writer 

Image Credit: Shutterstock/Bigna

Walking with your arms straight conserves energy

Walking with your arms straight conserves energy. If you were...

Neuroscience researchers from the <a href="https://www.usc.edu/">University of Southern California</a> have identified a new purpose for ghrelin, the “hunger hormone.” It’s understood that ghrelin, which is produced in the stomach and secreted in anticipation of eating, sends hunger signals from the gut to the brain, but now researchers believe that it may also help with <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/young-mouse-blood-improved-memory-learning/">memory</a> control.

As lead author Dr. Elizabeth Davis explained at the annual meeting of the <a href="https://www.ssib.org/web/">Society for the Study of Ingestive Behavior</a>, ghrelin levels are usually high when a person knows they’re going to eat something soon. After it’s secreted, ghrelin binds to receptors on the vagus nerve, which communicates different signals from the gut to the brain.

"We recently discovered that in addition to influencing the amount of food consumed during a meal, the vagus nerve also influences memory function," said senior author Dr. Scott Kanoski. 

The research team hypothesized that ghrelin is a key molecule that aids the vagus nerve’s promotion of memory.

To test this theory, the team used a technique called RNA interference to block ghrelin signaling in lab rats. These rats were then given a series of memory tasks, including tests of episodic memory — that being a type of memory that involves remembering what, when, and where something happened. For the rats, this test meant remembering a specific object in a specific location. The rats with reduced vagal ghrelin signaling where greatly impaired during this test.

Furthermore, the team found that the lack of ghrelin signal to the vagus nerve meant that the animals ate more frequently, yet consumed less at each feeding, which could be linked to episodic memory issues.

"Deciding to eat or not to eat is influenced by the memory of the previous meal," Dr. Davis said. "Ghrelin signaling to the vagus nerve may be a shared molecular link between remembering a past meal and the hunger signals that are generated in anticipation of the next meal."

These findings could help researchers develop methods for improving memory ability in humans via the manipulation of ghrelin signaling from the gut to the brain.

--

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Shutterstock/Yurchanka Siarhei

This hunger hormone is also linked to memory control

Neuroscience researchers from the University of Southern California have identified...

Neural sleep patterns developed over 450 million years ago. Researchers from <a href="http://med.stanford.edu/">Stanford University School of Medicine</a> believe that neural sleep patterns developed in zebrafish ancestors more than 450 million years ago. Upon realizing that the zebrafish have sleep patterns analogous to those in humans, they now have a better understanding of the sleep-like state they enter into, and believe it’s similar to that of humans and other land mammals.

The researchers found that <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/zebrafish-gene-editing-human-disease/">zebrafish</a> they enter into one of two states, both similar to those of land mammals, reptiles, and birds — slow-wave sleep and paradoxical (rapid eye movement, REM) sleep. This is the first time these brain patterns have been recorded in fish.

"This moves the evolution of neural signatures of sleep back quite a few years," said lead author of the study, published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/">Nature</a>, and postdoctoral scholar Louis Leung, PhD. Neural sleep patterns developed over 450 million years ago

To study the zebrafish, the research team assembled a benchtop fluorescent light-sheet microscope capable of full-fish-body imaging with single-cell resolution. Via this method of study, they were able to record the fish’s brain activity while the fish slept within an immobilizing agar solution. The team also observed the fish’s heart rate, eye movement, and muscle tone using a fluorescence-based polysomnography.

The researchers named the two sleep states the observed "slow-bursting sleep," which is analogous to slow-wave sleep, and "propagating-wave sleep," analogous to REM sleep. The fish did not move their eyes, as is usually found within REM sleep. However, the brain and muscle signatures were similar to REM tendencies.

The team also found that melanin, the hormone that controls the sleep-wake cycle, also affects fish the same way it does humans and other land mammals. And when in their sleep state, fish show similar characteristics to sleeping land mammals.

"They lose muscle tone, their heartbeat drops, they don't respond to stimuli — the only real difference is a lack of rapid eye movement during REM sleep," said senior author Philippe Mourrain, PhD, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences. He noted, however,  "The rapid movement of the eyes is not a good criterion of this state, and we prefer to call it paradoxical sleep, as the brain looks awake while one is asleep."

Although these findings do not help conclude that all animals need sleep, it does show that sleep is needed among vertebrates and invertebrates. "It's an essential function," Mourrain said, "but we don't know precisely what it does."

More research will be done on zebrafish to better understand their neural sleep patterns, as well as our own.

"Because the fish neural signatures are in essence the same as ours, we can use information about them to generate new leads for drug trials," Leung said. "As zebrafish are diurnal like humans, it's perhaps more biologically accurate to compare fish sleep with humans' for some aspects.”

--

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Shutterstock

Neural sleep patterns developed over 450 million years ago

Neural sleep patterns developed over 450 million years ago. Researchers...

The modern world relies on the internet for everything from communication to shopping to national security. For this to be possible, communicating through the internet must be secure. Though hacks and data breaches are common, these occur due to mistakes in code and server configurations. The encryption used to secure the internet is extremely difficult to crack. However, recent innovations in quantum computing may make these techniques ineffective.

Preemptive steps are being taken by many companies to prepare for this. New algorithms have already been developed to keep the internet secure in a post-quantum world. The <a href="https://www.tomshardware.com/news/quantum-computers-encryption-decades-researchers,38819.html">post-quantum world is still very far-off</a>, but the progress is speeding up. 

The world of quantum mechanics is pretty wacky. Though the laws of physics accurately describe everything big enough to be seen by the human eye, extremely small things behave differently. Quantum mechanics describes the behavior of these extremely tiny things. The strange rules of quantum states have led to even stranger <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-matter-solid-liquid/">discoveries including new states of matter</a>.
<h2>Quantum Bits</h2>
You may have heard of Schrödinger's Cat, a common thought experiment in Quantum Mechanics. This experiment imagines placing a cat in a dangerous box, where there is a set chance the cat will die. When the box is closed, we don’t know whether the cat is dead or alive. Logically, we would assume that the cat is in fact either dead or alive inside the box. We simply can’t tell which until we open the box. However, according to quantum mechanics, until the box is opened, the cat is both alive AND dead simultaneously.

This idea is extremely difficult to reconcile with a normal understanding of how our world works. We assume that everything in the world exists in a set state. The world of quantum mechanics throws this rational view on its head. Particles exist in all their possible states until they are observed. These particles exist as “<a href="https://arstechnica.com/technopaedia/2008/03/superposition/">waves of probability</a>” until they are measured. When they are observed, the probability of these states is revealed.

Quantum computing applies this concept to bits, the ones and zeros of a computer’s binary code. While traditional computers encode all data as a series of defined bits, quantum computers use quantum bits, or qubits. Qubits encode information in a non-deterministic way, existing as both a one and a zero simultaneously. 

This enables <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-makes-a-quantum-comp/">all of the possible combinations</a> of bits to exist at the same time. The trick is in <a href="https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2019/04/fear-the-man-in-the-middle-this-company-wants-to-sell-quantum-key-distribution/">reading the probability</a> of these states from the qubits. How this creates real data is well beyond my understanding of physics. However, teams at <a href="https://ai.google/research/teams/applied-science/quantum-ai/">Google</a>, <a href="https://www.research.ibm.com/ibm-q/">IBM</a>, <a href="https://www.dwavesys.com/home">D-Wave</a>, and the <a href="https://www.wired.co.uk/article/quantum-computing-china-us">Chinese Government</a> have built machines capable of doing just this. The implications of these innovations are huge.
<h2>Cracking Encryption</h2>
Encryption is at the core of all computer security. This field of math makes it possible to scramble information in a way that only the intended recipient can read its contents. For this to be secure, computers use secret “keys” that unlock the data. These keys are extremely complex and would require massive amounts of time for a traditional computer to guess. Quantum computers, however, can try every code simultaneously. This enables them to break encryption, as long as they have enough qubits. Currently, IBM has created a <a href="https://www.technologyreview.com/s/609451/ibm-raises-the-bar-with-a-50-qubit-quantum-computer/">quantum computer with 50 qubits</a>, still a fraction of what is needed to break real-world encryption. 
<h3>Internet Communication</h3>
Most websites implement cryptography (or should) to send and receive information. Most modern web browsers display a lock when this is working. Securing these connections is more difficult than standard encryption. The secret key needed to decode the data cannot be safely sent over the internet. Instead, websites use a different type of encryption.

This method (called TLS or SSL) uses public-key encryption. In this scheme, there are two keys, one to scramble and one to unscramble. The private key allows encrypted data to be read. An additional public key can encrypt, but not decrypt data. Therefore it is safe to send over the internet. A process called the <a href="https://security.stackexchange.com/questions/45963/diffie-hellman-key-exchange-in-plain-english">Diffie-Hellman Key Exchange</a> is used to exchange these keys. 

Complex math is used to secure this process. Certain operations in math are easy in one direction, but not in another. A common example is multiplying prime numbers. It is easy to generate large prime numbers and multiply them. Once that number is created, the only way to find the prime numbers used is to try all the possible combinations. This problem is considered “NP” meaning that it cannot be solved with a “polynomial” (reasonably fast) algorithm. Instead, every possible combination must be tried. There are techniques to decrease the average number of attempts, but they are still very slow.
<h3>Shor’s Algorithm</h3>
Shor’s algorithm is a quantum algorithm that solves this and similar problems (<a href="https://quantumexperience.ng.bluemix.net/proxy/tutorial/full-user-guide/004-Quantum_Algorithms/110-Shor's_algorithm.html">factorization of integers</a>). It was proposed in 1995 by Peter Shor. It allows a quantum computer to solve these in “polynomial time.” Though no quantum computer has been built that can run this algorithm on real encrypted data, the theory already exists.
<h2>Security in a Post-Quantum World</h2>
Though quantum computers may sound like the next Y2K, they will likely come to the same end. There are already quantum resistant encryption algorithms. Though they are not yet the standard in modern security, they will likely be implemented in the coming years.

Many companies are working on solving this problem before it happens. The <a href="https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2017/12/candidate-quantum-resistant-cryptographic-algorithms-publicly-available">National Institute of Standards and Technology</a> is currently examining 69 different proposed algorithms. The <a href="https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2015/08/nsa-preps-quantum-resistant-algorithms-to-head-off-crypto-apocolypse/">NSA has begun to advise</a> agencies and private companies to begin transitioning to quantum resistant algorithms. The <a href="https://www.cnet.com/news/quantum-computing-will-break-net-security-cloudflare-wants-to-fix-it/">internet company Cloudflare</a> is working in partnership with Google to transition website security (TLS) to quantum-resistant algorithms.

Building effective and efficient quantum computers is harder than creating quantum-resistant algorithms. Therefore, the internet will likely still be secure when <a href="https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/blog/2018/10/quantum-computing-is-the-world-of-a-security-internet-over/">quantum supremacy</a> (quantum computers beating classical ones) is achieved.
<h3>The Legacy of the Past</h3>
One area of concern that is difficult to address is old data. Though most web traffic cannot be read now, it can be recorded in its encrypted form. This encrypted data could be stored indefinitely. Eventually, this may enable bad-actors to use quantum computing to decrypt sensitive information in the future. Though most of this data will no longer be useful, some of it may. As personally identifiable information (PII) becomes increasingly valuable hackers may use stored data to extract information like SSNs and birth dates. The implications of this could be huge. However, they are yet to be seen in reality.

Though quantum computing is likely to render modern encryption ineffective, new techniques to protect data are already being developed. Additionally, quantum computers capable of effectively breaking encryption are still far off. However, quantum computers will certainly disrupt many technologies and areas of research.

--

By <a href="mailto:writing@caseyhofford.com">Casey Hofford</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Contributing Writer

Image Credit: Shutterstock/Yurchanka Siarhei

Will quantum computing break the internet?

The modern world relies on the internet for everything from...

UN expert: Better infrastructure needed to sustain climate change extremes. While you’re likely to hear about the more significant <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-is-slowing-down-hurricanes-making-them-stronger/">natural disasters</a> that occur around the world, the smaller-scale catastrophes are less likely to make the news cycle – yet, scientists believe that climate change is resulting in these natural disasters happening nearly every week. 

Cyclones, heatwaves, droughts, and other natural phenomena have been occurring at a rapid rate across many regions of the world. In many of these areas, developing countries are not prepared to deal with the fallout. 

<a href="https://www.un.org/en/">United Nations</a> (UN) disaster expert Mami Mizutori told <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us">The Guardian</a> that more emphasis needs to be placed on investments into resilient infrastructure, along with emission cuts. Mizutori believes the focus should be on nature-based solutions to addressing climate hazards, such as protecting the growth of mangrove swamps and wetlands to limit flooding.

The <a href="https://www.un.org/en/">UN</a> warns that while tropical cyclones such as Idai and Kenneth have been largely covered by the news, smaller “lower impact events” are happening at a higher rate and many are not being covered in the headlines. UN expert: Better infrastructure needed to sustain climate change extremes.

It’s possible to prepare for these small-scale events by building up infrastructure, particularly in developing countries. Protections such as increased flood defenses, improved severe weather warning systems, water stocks to prepare for drought, and enhanced government oversight would be of great benefit.

“This is not about the future, this is about today,” Mizutori told The Guardian. “People need to talk more about adaptation and resilience.”

And while this issue does have a major effect on developing regions, the world’s more wealthy countries also face infrastructure and risk-mitigation problems. Recent heatwaves and Europe and forest fires in the US show that money doesn’t buy perfect protection from the wrath of Mother Nature. 

It’s estimated that climate-related disasters cost roughly $520 billion annually. Estimates for the cost of building infrastructure resistant to the effects of climate change only increase this figure by 3% for a total of $2.7 trillion over the next two decades. 

“Resilience needs to become a commodity that people will pay for,” says Mizutori.

Currently, efforts to address climate change have mainly been focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, rather than adapting to the inevitability of new climate conditions. 

“We talk about a climate emergency and a climate crisis, but if we cannot confront this, we will not survive,” Mrs Mizutori warns. “We need to look at the risks of not investing in resilience.”

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Paid for by <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a>

Image Credit: fivepointsix / Shutterstock

UN expert: Better infrastructure needed to sustain climate change

UN expert: Better infrastructure needed to sustain climate change extremes....

Feeling deprived or disadvantaged in society can stimulate appetite. A new study from the <a href="https://www.a-star.edu.sg/sics">Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences</a> has found that individuals who are at a disadvantage in society suffer from psychological consequences that can increase their appetite and food intake. 

The research supports previous work which found that an increased risk of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/children-disadvantaged-obesity-rates/">obesity</a> among people of lower socioeconomic standing was tied to unhealthy behaviors associated with poverty, such as a lack of access to healthy foods.

By making study participants feel they had inadequate socioeconomic resources, the researchers were able to observe how this mentality may affect eating behavior. The participants were guided to make comparisons of financial, economic, and social status resources with others who were either much better off or much worse off than them.

During multiple trials, the participants who believed they had fewer resources and opportunities consumed more calories and prepared themselves larger portions of food. This same group was also found to have elevated levels of the "hunger hormone" ghrelin, providing a biological explanation for the desire to eat more.

"If feelings of deprivation and inadequacy produced by perceived socioeconomic inequality can stimulate appetite and food intake, then it's possible that feeling that important needs in one's life have been satisfied may produce the opposite effect of reducing excessive food intake," said study co-author Dr. Bobby Cheon. 

To investigate, participants were asked to record what they were grateful for each day for two weeks in a journal. Compared to a control group that journaled about daily events, participants who kept a gratitude journal group showed a significant reduction in their desired portions of food.

The research was presented by Dr. Cheon at the 27th Annual Meeting of the <a href="https://www.ssib.org/">Society for the Study of Ingestive Behavior</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Paid for by <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a>

Image Credit: Shutterstock/Sergey Chumakov

Feeling deprived or disadvantaged in society can stimulate appetite

Feeling deprived or disadvantaged in society can stimulate appetite. A...

Documentary reveals how dangerous chemicals are in everyday products. The documentary Stink! by Jon J. Whelan, starts harmlessly enough. The recently widowed father of two just wants to buy pajamas for his daughters from their favorite store, Justice. 

However, when they open up their presents on Christmas day, an overwhelming stench fills the room, sending Whelan on a three year mission to discover what chemicals are causing the pajamas to smell. 

Whelan made phone call after phone call to the Justice company and even the factory in China that produced the garments and was still nowhere closer to uncovering the truth. Instead, every person he talked to used the same word, that the chemicals were “proprietary” and therefore could not be disclosed. 

Whelan sent the pajamas off to a lab for chemical testing, and in doing so discovered that the pajamas contained chemicals considered <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/chemicals-everyday-products-obesity/">endocrine disruptors</a> and a flame retardant that had been banned for use in the United States. Stink! documentary reveals how dangerous chemicals are in everyday products

How is Justice, the largest specialty retailer in the world aimed at tween girls 7 to 14, able to sell products containing dangerous chemicals without the public knowing?

This is the question that underlies the entire documentary revealing a dangerous status quo.

We are surrounded by chemicals. Chemicals in food increase shelf life, improve taste, and bring flavors to food you can’t find in the natural world. Chemicals have equipped cleaning products with an array of disinfectants to wipe out viruses and bacteria that could make us sick. 

Insecticides and herbicides keep plants disease and pest free. The cosmetic industry and chemicals go hand in hand, allowing makeup companies to create long-lasting, unique formulas that address a wide range of consumer concerns. 

The problem is that some of the components of the products we’re slathering on our faces, spraying all over our homes, putting on our bodies, and eating are harmful. 

From carcinogens known to increase the risk of cancer to endocrine disruptors found in food and packaging, wading through the ingredients list of any product can seem like a veritable minefield. 

Whelan illustrates this point with a graphic of a spray bottle aimed at the screen like the barrel of a gun. 

What’s even more disturbing is how unregulated the chemical industry is in America. 

If you look at the European Union, 1,328 chemicals are currently banned from being used in cosmetics because they have been linked to cancer or other harmful health impacts. In the US, only 11 chemicals are currently banned from being used in cosmetics. 

There is one big loophole that allows manufacturers to use whatever chemicals they please and keep it off their ingredients list. These chemicals may be untested, may be shown to have harmful effects, but we wouldn’t even know and that’s because the chemicals are all conveniently grouped together as “fragrance.” 

While a consumer may turn over a package and read “fragrance” listed as an ingredient and think nothing of it, it’s what is in that “fragrance” that matters.

“The reason most cleaning and personal care products don’t list all of the details of what’s in any of these products is because they don’t want you to know what’s in there,” Jeffrey Hollender, the co-founder of the green cleaning products company Seventh Generation, told Whelan. 

For a company protecting its bottom line, keeping those chemicals secret makes sense, but for a person with an allergy to unknown chemicals in a product’s fragrance mix, it could be life or death. 

[caption id="attachment_1874908" align="aligncenter" width="650"]<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/stink.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1874908" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/stink.jpg" alt="" width="650" height="366" /></a> Image Credit: Net Return Entertainment[/caption]

Vanity Fair described Whelan’s documentary as “<a href="https://variety.com/2015/film/reviews/stink-review-1201653366/">Micheal Moore-equse</a>” and it’s an apt comparison. The way Whelan bombards key political figures, lobbyists, and advocates, mirrors Moore’s own ruthless approach to documentary filmmaking, unafraid to confront the harsh truth. 

It should be noted that as frightening as the message of the film is, we are in the midst of a positive, albeit slow shift towards transparency in the chemical industry. 

Unilever, one of the largest suppliers of personal care products carrying brands like Axe and Dove, has since committed to sharing <a href="https://www.unileverusa.com/news/press-releases/2017/UnileverUS_announces_new_fragrance_transparency_initiative_for_its_personal_care_brands.html">their fragrance ingredients</a>. The major milestone was announced in 2017. 

In 2019, the chemical giant Bayer which manufacturers Roundup, was ordered to pay <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/jury-orders-bayer-to-pay-80-million-in-roundup-cancer-lawsuit/">$80 million to a California man </a>after it was determined by a jury that the herbicide played a major role in the development of his cancer. 

The landmark lawsuit is just one of nearly 11,000 cases being pursued against Bayer and the verdict sets a precedent that the consumer comes first, at least in the eyes of the courts. 

As much as Stink! plays out like a been-there, done-that documentary in a style we’ve seen before, Whelan exhibits a dogged persistence that pays off. His goal to find out what was in his daughters’ pajamas was obviously that of a caring father and the documentary grew from that journey. 

While not everyone can ransack their house and throw out every offending fragrance they find, Stink! will definitely encourage you to look at the label of some of your most used and beloved household products to see what may be concealed within the long list of ingredients. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Contributing Writer

Paid for by <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a>

Main Image Credit: Shutterstock/popout

Documentary reveals how dangerous chemicals are

Documentary reveals how dangerous chemicals are in everyday products. The...

Greenwashing: Trump’s environmental policies speak louder than his words. President Donald Trump has been accused of <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-environment-greenwashing-false-1448136">'greenwashing' his record</a> after telling the American public in a press conference that keeping the environment clean is a top priority and claiming that he has done more for the environment than any prior administration.

“Everyday of my presidency we will fight for a cleaner environment,” Trump said.

It’s a bold claim considering how much the President has worked to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/trump-eases-safety-offshore-drilling/">roll back environmental protections</a> put in place during the Obama Administration. 

Andrew Wheeler, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator, gave a press call on Monday saying that there have been significant improvements in air and water quality since the EPA was established in the 1970s. Greenwashing: Trump’s environmental policies speak louder than his words

However, if you look at pollution levels since the President took office, rather than over the past 49 years, you see that air pollution has increased. One <a href="https://www.apnews.com/d3515b79af1246d08f7978f026c9092b">analysis</a> found that the US had more polluted air days in the past two years compared to the past five years. 

But Trump continues to insist that air and water quality have improved during his term. 

Throughout the President’s campaign and term, there has been a clear “energy first” message, with a push for coal, the disbanding of a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/federal-climate-panel-regrouped/">climate change committee</a>, and creating a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/white-house-panel-climate-change/">potential panel to dispute climate change research</a>. 

Recently, the mention of climate change was stripped from a <a href="https://www.eenews.net/climatewire/stories/1060709857/search?keyword=usgs">US Geological Survey study press release</a>. The Administration also changed its methods for studying the health impacts of exposure to CO2 emissions. 

During the speech, there was also no mention of climate change, although the President had strong opinions about the Green New Deal. Greenwashing: Trump’s environmental policies speak louder than his words

“While we’re focused on practical solutions, more than 100 Democrats in Congress support the so-called Green New Deal,” Trump said. “Their plan is estimated to cost our economy nearly $100 trillion. A number unthinkable. We will defend the environment, but we will also defend American sovereignty, American prosperity, and we will defend American jobs.”

As much as the President may tout his pro-environment sentiments, the many rollbacks and policies to put economic gains over environmental protections tell a different story. 

“Donald Trump is resorting to greenhouse gaslighting the public to try and cover-up the fact that he is the worst president in history for the environment, climate, and public health,” Michael Brune, Sierra Club Executive Director, said in a statement. “Trump’s relentless attacks on our clean air, clean water, climate and public lands threaten the health and safety of millions of Americans and no speech he gives can ever change the reality of his actions.”

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Paid for by <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a>

Image Credit: Shutterstock/yotily

Greenwashing: Trump’s environmental policies speak louder than his words

Greenwashing: Trump’s environmental policies speak louder than his words. President...

Visiting wildlife refuges with your dog is a good alternative to national parks. Anyone who has visited national parks with their <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/puppy-dog-eyes-evolved-humans/">dog</a> knows that many areas are off limits to their four legged friend. Many national parks allow dogs only on roads and in campgrounds, with little or no access to trails at all. 

“Generally, leashed pets can go where cars can: on roads, in picnic areas and sometimes in campgrounds - but not on trails,” <a href="https://www.wilderness.org/">The Wilderness Society</a> reports. “There may be exceptions for short treks near Visitor Centers or campgrounds.”

There are a few parks that are more dog friendly than most. <a href="https://www.nps.gov/acad/planyourvisit/pets.htm">Acadia National Park</a> in Maine has 100 miles of trails open to leashed dogs and 45 miles of carriage roads. Acadia even has a ‘<a href="https://www.nps.gov/articles/be-an-acadia-bark-ranger.htm">Bark Ranger</a>’ program for dogs. Only 10 of Virginia’s <a href="https://www.nps.gov/shen/planyourvisit/pets.htm">Shenandoah National Park’s</a> 500 trails exclude dogs. <a href="https://www.nps.gov/grsa/index.htm">Great Sand Dunes National Park &amp; Preserve</a> of Colorado allows dogs to explore the massive splendor of the dunes, but they’re not welcome anywhere in the backcountry. 

National seashores like <a href="https://www.nps.gov/pais/index.htm">Padre Island</a> in Texas are sometimes more <a href="https://www.nps.gov/pais/planyourvisit/pets.htm">dog friendly</a> than national parks, even though they’re both managed by the <a href="https://www.nps.gov">National Park Service</a>. Unfortunately for many who like hiking, camping and enjoying the outdoors with their dogs, these parks are the exception rather than the rule.       

This isn’t the final word for all federal land though. The <a href="https://www.fs.fed.us/">US Forest Service</a> and <a href="https://www.blm.gov/">Bureau of Land Management</a> (BLM) land doesn’t offer all the amenities that national parks do, as camping is necessarily primitive in many places and visitor centers aren’t available to answer every question or help plan trips. However, with less amenities comes the added freedom of less regulations, including regulations on where your four legged friend may go. Most national forest and BLM land, including areas with popular trails, allow leashed dogs. 

For those who want the comfort of a visitor center and well maintained infrastructure, there’s another option for recreating out of doors that many may have never considered. National wildlife refuges much like national parks are part of the US federal government conservation infrastructure. The first national wildlife refuge was created by President Theodore Roosevelt over 100 years ago to protect birds. Today, the wildlife refuge system has grown enormously. There is a wildlife refuge in every state, and one is within an hour drive of every major US city. 

I am currently volunteering as a work camper at <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/national-wildlife-refuges-land/">Aransas National Wildlife Refuge</a> on the Gulf Coast of Texas. Aransas was originally founded as a refuge for waterfowl, with only a small portion regularly open to the public, the rest left as wildlife habitat. I was surprised to learn that dogs are allowed everywhere that people are allowed on the refuge. This makes sense because despite the name ‘refuge’, hunting is allowed for feral hogs and deer at Aransas. Many wildlife refuges allow hunting and what more traditional hunting companion is there than a dog? For this reason, some of the wildlife refuges allow dogs only during certain seasons. 

Some state refuges also only allow dogs explicitly for hunting (as in some of Colorado’s state refuges). <a href="https://www.fws.gov/refuge/rachel_carson/visit/rules_and_regulations.html">Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge</a> in Maine allows dogs only on the Rachel Carson Trail, however there are only three total trails within the refuge. In a mirror opposite of national parks, excluding dogs from national wildlife refuges seems to be the exception rather than the rule. Of course, each refuge is different and rules change over time. 

It is interesting though, since a justification for excluding dogs from national parks is often that they disturb wildlife. In John Steinbeck’s Classic – Travels With Charley: In Search of America, he tells of how a park ranger warns him about dogs reacting to bears upon entrance to Yellowstone National Park and his poodle, Charley’s fury over encountering a bear.

“Less than a mile from the entrance I saw a bear beside the road, and it ambled out as though to flag me down. Instantly a change came over Charley. He shrieked with rage. His lips flared, showing wicked teeth that have some trouble with a dog biscuit. He screeched insults at the bear, which hearing, the bear reared up and seemed to me to overtop Rocinante.”

Perhaps because of encounters like this, <a href="https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/pets.htm">Yellowstone National Park</a> is very restrictive when it comes to dogs. Pets are not allowed on trails, boardwalks, in the backcountry or thermal pools. In fact, dogs are allowed no more than 100 feet from roads at all times, only in developed areas, making a trip to Yellowstone with a dog pointless for many. If bears are the concern though, regulations at Kodiak Wildlife Refuge turn the rules on their head. 

<a href="https://www.fws.gov/refuge/kodiak/">Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge</a> is home to the largest of the brown bears in the world. The area also hosts one of the largest bear population densities anywhere. The nearly 2 million acres of Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge were set aside by Franklin Roosevelt specifically to protect the special bears in 1941. Like many places in Alaska, the wildlife refuge is remote – accessible only by float plane or boat. Despite the logistics involved in getting to Kodiak, <a href="https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Kodiak/visit/visitor_activities/public_use_cabins.html">cabins</a> with heating stoves are available for $45 per night and dogs are allowed with no additional fees. In fact, there are virtually no restrictions where your dog can go on Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge, barring physical restrictions. 

It seems wildlife refuges take a slightly different approach to interactions between wildlife and dogs. It’s often stated that dog restrictions protect the dogs as well as wildlife and this is certainly true. However, wildlife refuges like Kodiak with its large bears or Aransas with its alligators allow dogs and their owners a certain level of risk.

With more freedom and risk comes some level of implicit self responsibility as well. If dogs are to be allowed in areas where wild things also live, it’s important that dog owners respect those wild creatures. Without respect and foresight, people come into conflict with alligators or bears or other potentially threatening animals through their dogs. With responsibility though, enjoying wildlife refuges with a dog couldn’t be more natural.        

--

By <a href="mailto:zachfitzner@yahoo.com">Zach Fitzner</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Contributing Writer

Image Credit: Shutterstock/Zivica Kerkez

Visiting wildlife refuges with your dog is a good alternative to national parks

Visiting wildlife refuges with your dog is a good alternative...

Outdoor air pollution increases the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), speeds up the aging process, and causes declines in lung function, according to a new study that adds to a growing body of research proving the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/harmful-effects-air-pollution-exposure/">dangers of air pollution</a>. 

COPD, a condition where inflammation in the lungs makes breathing difficult, is the third leading cause of death worldwide, according to the <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/gbd">Global Burden of Disease project</a>. 

The number of deaths due to COPD are expected to increase in the coming years. 

In a new study published in the European Respiratory Journal, researchers from the<a href="https://le.ac.uk/"> University of Leicester</a> set out to thoroughly examine how outdoor air pollution impacts respiratory health. 

“There are surprisingly few studies that look at how air pollution affects lung health,” said Anna Hansell, a member of the research team. “To try and address this, we assessed more than 300,000 people using data from the UK Biobank study to examine whether air pollution exposure was linked to changes in lung function, and whether it affected participants’ risk of developing COPD.” 

An air pollution model was used to calculate outdoor air pollution levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), particulate matter, and nitrogen dioxide that people enrolled in the UK Biobank study were exposed to. 

Data from the Biobank study included data from health questionnaires and spirometry tests measuring lung function. 

The researchers used the Biobank data and conducted tests to investigate the impact of long-term exposure to different levels of pollutants on lung function. 

Each increase of five micrograms per cubic meter of PM2.5 correlated with reduced lung function comparable to two years of aging. 

In areas where the participants were exposed to PM2.5 levels above what is recommended by the <a href="https://www.who.int/">World Health Organization</a>, COPD prevalence was four times higher compared to homes where second-hand smoke was present

“In one of the largest analyses to date, we found that outdoor air pollution exposure is directly linked to lower lung function and increased COPD prevalence,” said Hansell. “We found that people exposed to higher levels of pollutants had lower lung function equivalent to at least a year of aging.”

The researcher found that lower-income households were more affected by outdoor air pollution compared to higher income residents. 

“Air pollution had approximately twice the impact on lung function decline and three times the increased COPD risk on lower-income participants compared to higher-income participants who had the same air pollution exposure,” said Hansell.

--

By<a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com"> Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Image Credit: Adam Cowell/Shutterstock

Outdoor air pollution decreases lung function

Outdoor air pollution increases the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2E0mn5mTvhQ
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">'Death Star' moon Mimas conceals a 15-million-year-old ocean that scientists never expected.</figcaption></figure>



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

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

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Y4eLFNYrKE
</div></figure>



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



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



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



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



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



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Worms dominated seas before dinosaurs

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



The full study was published in the journal Current Biology.



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Earth's oldest forest found in the United States

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

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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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</div></figure>







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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https://youtu.be/XYgiPzmNBTU?si=eFYY7gPHU1JznLvU
</div></figure>



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.



<figure class="wp-block-embed aligncenter 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://youtu.be/Ug657J67iEo?si=w96YjGMsg939LD_3
</div></figure>



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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="3upvlAaHgO-2256633-12187" type="single"]</div>



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?

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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