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...

Pharmaceutical drug misuse in the United States has a long and complicated history. 

Overprescribing antibiotics has led to the growing global crisis of antibiotic resistance, where once-easily treated infections are growing more and more resistant to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/antimicrobial-resistance-worldwide/">antimicrobials</a>. 

The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/opioid-overdose-deaths-increased-fourfold/">opioid epidemic</a> has been tracked to the overprescription of highly addictive opiates in the 90s, which were misleadingly pawned off to doctors as non-addictive. 

Netflix’s Take Your Pills, directed by Alison Klayman, offers a comprehensive yet scattered look at another major pharmaceutical misstep in the United States -- the misuse of Adderall and Ritalin as performance-enhancing drugs. 

Like pills dropping from a pill bottle, Klayman drops small doses of interviews with former Adderall users/abusers, health experts, and statistics about the use of the drug as a performance-enhancer in today’s highly competitive and driven society. 

In a world where everyone needs to be the best, Adderall, a commonly prescribed drug for Attention-deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), provides a means to be better according to the many featured in the film. 

Students attest to the way the drug helps them focus, get better grades, and stay awake. A former NFL athlete, Eben Britton, describes how Adderall helped him excel and thrive despite being injured multiple times throughout his career (which soon ended after being suspended for failing a drug test).  

Klayman’s big question, “at what cost,” aims to be a central anchor to these interviews and snippets of statistics.

“What the film really looks at is really: What do these pills promise, and what do people desire?” Klayman told <a href="https://www.npr.org/2018/03/15/594009472/a-new-documentary-about-adults-on-adderall-and-not-just-for-adhd">NPR</a>. “And these drugs are associated with keeping better focus — it’s better attention, it’s better productivity — in this moment when people are all really feeling squeezed, feeling pressure to perform.”

Adderall has helped many get ahead but what are the long-term health impacts, what does it say about American society as a whole, and is Adderall simply a stepping stone on the way to other performance enhancing “smart pills?” 

Dr. Wendy Brown, a political theorist at the <a href="https://www.berkeley.edu/">University of California, Berkeley</a>, discusses in the film how we live in a “hypercompetitive” world where everyone is expected to perform at the highest capacity for as long as possible. 

“Every human being is now required to understand themselves as a little bit of human capital,” Brown says, going on to suggest that this extremely competitive and capitalistic way of life is an obvious path to Adderall and performance-enhancing drug misuse. 

It’s important to realize that society’s infatuation with performance-enhancing drugs is nothing new. 

Klayman traces back the history of focus-enhancing drugs with journalist Alan Schwartz, who explains that every generation has found a way to try to get ahead with “ADHD type drugs.”

Schwartz goes way back to the 1930s, citing a <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/1937/04/10/archives/efficiency-of-brain-held-due-to-its-fuel-cells-found-speeded-up-by.html">New York Times article</a> published in 1937 about amphetamine.

It wasn’t called Adderall then, but was nicknamed the “pep pill,” according to Dr. Nicolas Rasmussen, author of the book On Speed.

First developed as an allergy medication in 1929 to help clear the sinuses, amphetamine soon became a popular drug for adding a little “pep” to your step. 

It was widely available to the public as Benzedrine, and it was even given to members of the armed forces during World War II. After the war, Benzedrine, and later Dexedrine, were reported to help with a wide array of problems including weight gain, depression, and painful menstruation. 

Amphetamine was widely marketed and available and at one point production reached <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2377281/">eight billion ten milligram doses in the 1960s.</a>

Once people started complaining about misuse and abuse, amphetamines became more heavily regulated, and production drastically decreased. However, today’s Adderall epidemic proves that little has changed except the drug names and marketing. 

More kids are diagnosed with ADHD in the United States than anywhere else in the world, and the majority of those diagnosed are prescribed drugs. 

Adderall is easy to get, and Klayman follows several college students discussing drug transactions via public forums on Facebook and texting. This has become so common that it’s not even considered drug dealing by the students asking their friends for “Addy.” 

In academia, sports, and even the finance world, ADHD medication is not considered a drug along the same lines as heroin or meth because it’s so commonly used and because it’s so effective. 

Throughout the documentary, we hear testimonials to people praising ADHD medication with both reverence and amazement. It’s “jet fuel” for a software developer, it’s the difference between an A and a B for one student, and it was a lifeline for an NFL athlete diagnosed with a herniated disk. 

But through all these interviews, statistics and rolling montages of cascading pills and cartoon animations, it’s difficult to centralize a thesis.

Even Klayman’s “At What Cost?” tagline is too broad in of itself to hone in on any specific impact of the Adderall epidemic. 

You could argue that society’s ever decreasing attention spans have primed the pump for ADHD medication being used as a performance enhancement. 

However, a case could also be made that the problem stems from big pharma capitalizing on doctors diagnosing ADHD, or that our capitalistic society that values people only through their contributions to the larger economy puts too much pressure on people to succeed. 

Some major strengths of Take Your Pills include the concise way that Klayman discusses the history of Adderall and highlighting that today’s Adderall epidemic is nothing that hasn’t happened before. 

Klayman’s broad sweeping approach emphasizes that this is not a problem with any one solution. Like the opioid epidemic, it’s going to take a concerted effort to prevent misuse, overprescription, and addiction. 

The health community needs to find better methods to diagnose and treat ADHD rather than using Adderall as a catch-all drug. Meanwhile, Adarrell misuse needs to be treated in its greater societal context as far as how our always-on lifestyles are simply making performance enhancers not just necessary but inevitable. 

Today it’s Adderall, what will tomorrow’s “smart drug” be?

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>,<a href="https://www.earth.com/"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Image Credit: Shutterstock/Johnnyamoeba87

‘Take Your Pills’ offers a scattered look at America’s Adderall epidemic

Pharmaceutical drug misuse in the United States has a long...

Extreme weather events are becoming much more common as the climate changes, and record-breaking heat is no exception. In a recent study, a team of Australian meteorologists set out to investigate how much more often historical <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/global-warming-heat-waves-kill-thousands/">heat</a> records may be broken over the rest of this century. 

"Changes in the intensity or frequency of extreme climate events can profoundly increase the disruption caused by climate change," wrote the researchers. "The more extreme these events, the greater the potential to push ecosystems and communities beyond their ability to cope."

"The rate at which existing high temperature records have been broken has increased in response to rising global greenhouse gas emissions...Here we examine future events that will be so extreme that they will not have been experienced previously."

The team used 22 climate models to predict rates of record setting heat by the end of the century. Based on the current extent of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the study revealed that the monthly average high temperature will set a new record in approximately 58 percent of the world every year. With much lower greenhouse gas emissions, however, this figure drops to 14 percent.

"The benefits of reducing emissions, in terms of both reducing the pace at which high temperature records are set and restricting the magnitude by which records are broken, are very clear," wrote the researchers.

The experts found, for example, that many nations near the equator will see 24 monthly heat records surpassed every decade that emissions remain high. That number drops to less than three monthly heat records under the climate conditions that would result from lower GHG emissions. 

The researchers emphasized that, even under the best-case scenario, it could still take decades for the monthly temperature extremes to start dropping. 

The study is published in the journal <a href="http://www.nature.com/nclimate/">Nature Climate Change</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/FocusStocker

Record heat will become increasingly common unless emissions are reduced

Extreme weather events are becoming much more common as the...

An international team led by the <a href="https://umich.edu/">University of Michigan</a> wanted to test how <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/lie-detection-nose-shrinks/">honest</a> the general public is when tasked with returning lost wallets to their owners. To do so, the team turned 17,303 "lost" wallets — some which contained no money, a small amount ($13.45), or a larger sum ($94.15) — into both public and private institutions within 355 cities across 40 countries.

Each wallet also contained three business cards with a person’s fake name and email address printed on them, to make returning the wallet an easy chore.

"Honesty is important for economic development and more generally for how society functions in almost all relationships," said Alain Cohn, assistant professor at the <a href="https://www.si.umich.edu/">U-M School of Information</a>. "Yet, it often is in conflict with individual self-interest."

The research assistants traveled to the locations and acted as though they had found a lost wallet, and dropped it off with the appropriate authorities in each setting. The team hypothesized that each wallet would have a certain amount of money taken out of it, however, they were wrong.

They found that the wallets with the most money in them were more likely to be returned. In fact, 72% of those who were handed a wallet with a larger sum of money were likely to report it missing, compared with the 40% of those who were handed a wallet without money.

"The psychological forces — an aversion to not viewing oneself as a thief — can be stronger than the financial ones," said co-corresponding author Michel André Maréchal of the <a href="https://www.uzh.ch/en.html">University of Zurich</a>.

Even so this part of the study was shockingly positive, the researchers were even more shocked at the locations where wallets were not returned — the Vatican being one of them.

After the field experiment was complete, the team surveyed over 2,500 people in the United Kingdom, the United States and Poland and asked them about honesty when it comes to finding lost property like wallets. The respondents ultimately agree with the findings — that it felt like stealing if money is in the wallet.

However, another survey in the U.S. and with economists and experts in the field showed that people may be more tempted to keep the contents of the wallet if a large sum of money was inside. The study and surveys are published in <a href="https://www.sciencemag.org/">Science</a>.

What would you do?

--

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Shutterstock/R.Ashrafov

Lost wallets with more money in them are more likely to be returned

An international team led by the University of Michigan wanted...

Identifying the enormous bird carvings in the Peruvian desert. Roughly 400 kilometers south of Lima, Peru is a desert landscape on which the enormous profiles of animals and plants are etched into the plains. 

These lines and geoglyphs of Nasca and Palpa were carved into the ground between 400 B.C.E. and 1000 C.E. by pre-Inca people, and include huge <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-drove-birds-tropical/">birds</a> as well as geometric designs. Many of these outlines are so gigantic that they are best seen in aerial photographs.Identifying the enormous bird carvings in the Peruvian desert

For years, scientists have been trying to unravel the mystery of why these drawings were made. One of the first steps in solving this is to identify the species that are depicted. 

To that end, Masaki Eda of The <a href="https://www.global.hokudai.ac.jp/">Hokkaido University</a> Museum, Takeshi Yamasaki of <a href="http://www.yamashina.or.jp/hp/english/">Yamashina Institute for Ornithology</a>, and Masato Sakai of <a href="https://www.yamagata-u.ac.jp/en/">Yamagata University</a> used an ornithological approach to identify 16 bird geoglyphs (there are over 2,000 present in the area).

“Until now, the birds in these drawings have been identified based on general impressions or a few morphological traits present in each figure,” says Eda. “We closely noted the shapes and relative sizes of the birds’ beaks, heads, necks, bodies, wings, tails and feet and compared them with those of modern birds in Peru.”

Using this approach, the researchers were able to re-classify a previously identified hummingbird as a hermit, and a guano bird along with an unidentified bird as pelicans.

 Interestingly, although these bird species do exist in Peru, they are found in parts of the country far from where the drawings were made.

“The Nasca people who drew the images could have seen pelicans while food-gathering on the coast,” Eda says. “Our findings show that they drew exotic birds, not local birds, and this could be a clue as to why they drew them in the first place.”

The researchers plan on doing further comparisons with birds drawn around the same time on pottery, as well as bird remains excavated from Nasca ruins, in order to identify more of the birds that were carved into the desert so long ago.

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Masaki Eda

Identifying the enormous bird carvings in the Peruvian desert

Identifying the enormous bird carvings in the Peruvian desert. Roughly...

Paper mulberry plants help reveal how humans migrated to Oceania. How the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pacific-island-bans-toxic-sunscreens/">Pacific islands</a> of Oceania were first inhabited is a question that has long puzzled researchers. 

Human migration to the Pacific islands occurred over the last 3,000 years, and now, researchers have tracked ancient migration patterns through Oceania using paper mulberry plants. 

Paper mulberry plants are native to Asia and were brought to Oceania by humans migrating to the region. The plant was used to make paper and barkcloth. Today, the paper mulberry is found all along the Pacific islands from New Guinea, to Hawaii, to Fiji. 

Researchers from the <a href="http://www.uchile.cl/english">University of Chile</a> and the<a href="http://www.academia.cl/"> Academia de Humanismo Cristiano University</a> analyzed genetic differences between 67 preserved and 313 modern mulberry plant samples collected throughout the Pacific islands.

[caption id="attachment_1874195" align="aligncenter" width="500"]<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/oceania.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-1874195" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/oceania.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="551" /></a> Dispersal of paper mulberry in Oceania. Image Credit: Seelenfreund et al, 2019[/caption]

The researchers published their genetic analysis in the journal <a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0217107">PLOS ONE</a>. 

Even though the plant was only brought Oceania 3,000 years ago, the researchers found significant genetic differences between preserved plants collected in the 19th and 20th centuries and specimens collected recently. 

Modern mulberry plants are less genetically diverse, and the researchers identified genetic trends that lined up with archeological data showing that the Pacific islands were inhabited from west to east. 

The plant’s west to east dispersal also matches three major centers of past human dispersal and interaction in the region. 

These three centers were the Tonga and Fiji archipelago, the islands of Samoa, Wallis, and New Caledonia, and Tahiti, Hawaii, Marquesas Islands, Austral Islands, and Rapanui (Easter Island). 

“Our data detect a complex structure of three central dispersal hubs linking West Remote Oceania with East Remote Oceania, despite its vegetative propagation and short timespan since its introduction into the region by prehistoric Austronesian speaking colonists,” said Andrea Seelenfreund, a co-author of the study. 

The study shows a clear picture of human dispersal and prehistoric human migrations across Oceania using plant genetics. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>,<a href="https://www.earth.com/"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Main Image Credit: A. Seelenfreund

Paper mulberry plants help reveal how humans migrated to Oceania

Paper mulberry plants help reveal how humans migrated to Oceania....

According to new statistics released by the <a href="https://www.plasticsurgery.org/">American Society of Plastic Surgeons</a>, more Americans aged 55 and older are seeking out <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/men-plastic-surgery/">cosmetic procedures</a>. Compared to 2017, nearly 50,000 more procedures were performed on patients in this age group in 2018.

"I've definitely noticed more baby boomers making appointments to explore which procedures can help them look as young as they feel," said Dr. Anne Taylor. "They're not necessarily looking to turn back the clock to their twenties, but just to make some subtle changes to put their best face forward."

"For example, a lot of my patients have expressed concerns about their neck or double chin, especially when it comes to looking downward to take a photo or video chat on their phones."

According to Dr. Taylor, this particular generation is interested in a wide range of procedures, both surgical and minimally invasive. 

The statistics show that surgeries such as liposuction, hair transplantation, and breast augmentation were popular among older patients in 2018. In addition, minor procedures such as Botox and fillers also increased significantly among individuals aged 55 and older.

For 55-year-old Jody Pinkerton, a tummy tuck and breast augmentation gave her the confidence to create an online dating profile in order to meet new people after her divorce.

"Online dating can be scary, and you really need to be able to put yourself out there," said Pinkerton. "People are initially judging you on a few photos, and I wanted to make sure I could have current photos that really represented who I am and made a good first impression."

"My boomer patients are confident and accomplished men and women, and they just want to look in the mirror and see the person they feel they are inside," said Dr. Taylor. "Finding the right cosmetic procedures can give them that extra boost of confidence when venturing into a new chapter of their lives."

Overall, 66 percent of all facelifts in 2018 were performed on patients 55 and older, along with 48 percent of all eyelid surgeries.

"It's a trend that's showing a shift in our culture," said Dr. Alan Matarasso, who is the president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. "Older Americans are vibrant and living their lives to the fullest, and they want the way they look to reflect that. That's where a board-certified plastic surgeon can help."

Dr. Matarasso emphasized the importance of selecting a board-certified surgeon for the most rigorous safety and ethical standards.

"Choosing a board-certified plastic surgeon is critical to your safety, your comfort and your happiness. There are a lot of choices when it comes to cosmetic procedures, and the extensive training that these doctors go through allows them to offer a full spectrum of options as well as the latest technology to find the very best plan to reach the goals of each individual."

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: American Society of Plastic Surgeons

More baby boomers are getting cosmetic procedures for online dating

According to new statistics released by the American Society of...

<a href="http://www.earth.com/news/retailers-palm-oil-sources/">Palm oil</a> is often talked about for its environmental impact as well as omnipresence in everyday food items. <a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/giving-up-palm-oil-might-actually-be-bad-environment-180958092/">Smithsonian Magazine</a> reported in 2016 that although palm oil is the cause of much environmental destruction, it may be better than alternative oil sources. Other plants used for oil cannot produce even a third the amount of oil per acre that does palm oil. Nestle pledges responsible palm oil sourcing -- is it progress or greenwashing? 

The efficiency of oil produced by palms is evident in its low cost and use in so many different products. According to <a href="https://www.toptal.com/finance/market-research-analysts/palm-oil-investing">Toptal</a>, palm oil is the most consumed food oil, making up part of half of all packaged products worldwide. Palm oil is in cosmetics, in toothpastes, in ramen noodles, and is even used as a form of biodiesel. In 2017, 51% of the European Union’s palm oil consumption went to power motor vehicles. <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2018/12/palm-oil-products-borneo-africa-environment-impact/">National Geographic</a> calls palm oil unavoidable but asks whether it can be sustainable.

Oil palms are an ancient food in west Africa, where they’ve been harvested for as long as 5,000 years for cooking oil. <a href="https://theoilpalm.org/history-and-origin/">The Oil Palm</a> reports that ancient Egyptian tombs may have even contained casks of palm oil. With the industrial revolution, the British imported palm oil for use in machines, candle making and other industrial purposes. Interest from Britain and the rest of Europe drove the expansion of palm oil plantations in Africa and then in Southeast Asia. 

Today, most of the world’s palm oil comes from Asia. WWF reports that roughly 90% of the world’s oil palms are grown on a handful of islands in Indonesia and Malaysia. Unfortunately, oil palm plantations in these places are also a leading cause of destruction of rainforests with stunning biodiversity. Orangutans in Borneo have been hit hard by the deforestation. <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2018/12/palm-oil-products-borneo-africa-environment-impact/">National Geographic</a> reports that between 1999 and 2015, almost 150,000 of the great apes were killed, partially due to deforestation. Palm oil plantations have now spread throughout the tropics through Latin America as well. 

Mexico is very far from Africa or Southeast Asia but a portion of the nation also shares a similar tropical climate. In fact, it is the closest part of the tropics reachable by land to the United States. Mexico has its own palm oil plantations and its own tropical forests to be threatened by their growth. According to <a href="https://news.mongabay.com/2016/05/top-10-biodiverse-countries/">Mongabay</a>, Mexico ranks as the #5 most biodiverse nation in the world. In Mexico, the National Commission of Natural <a href="https://www.cakex.org/community/directory/organizations/national-commission-natural-protected-areas-mexico-la-comisi%C3%B3n">Protected Areas</a> currently manages 173 protected areas, and La Encrucijada Biosphere Reserve is one of them.

La Encrucijada is 144,848 hectares of land on the Pacific coast of Mexico in the state of Chiapas. The entire reserve is a mix of different environments, including mangroves, coastal dunes and 7,177 bodies of water, according to <a href="http://www.unesco.org/mabdb/br/brdir/directory/biores.asp?code=MEX+23&amp;mode=all">UNESCO</a>. The place is a tropical paradise home to jaguars, ocelots, spider monkeys and crocodiles. <a href="https://planeta.com/la-encrucijada/">Planeta</a> reports that La Encrucijada was first declared a state park in 1972 before being upgraded to a National Park in 1995. 

Because the park was created relatively recently, there was already agriculture present in the park at its creation. Ranchers and palm oil plantations were grandfathered into the park at its founding. Instead of excluding agriculture from the reserve outright, the Mexican government devised a management plan which allows agriculture in only some areas where it is to be closely managed. The plan is intended to be looked at and revised every ten years. 

<a href="http://earthworm.org/news-stories/protecting-the-crossroads">Earthworm</a> reports that a new film, Protecting the Crossroads, discusses how the management plan for La Encrucijada hasn’t been updated as it should be and that rules haven’t been clearly communicated to farmers or enforced due to lack of resources. In theory, the reserve has two zones, a core zone where no agriculture is to take place (a strict reserve) and a buffer zone where some agriculture is allowed. Unfortunately, agriculture has bled into the core zone, and oil palms have become invasive within the reserve. The result is that without direct deforestation, palm oil agriculture may be threatening La Encrucijada Biosphere Reserve. Interestingly, Earthworm, a non-profit organization, and the Mexican government worked with palm oil buyers, Nestle and Grupo Bimbo, to produce a satellite map of the area to better monitor agriculture in the area.

Nestle is of course a large company that most of us have bought products from in the past. Despite their efforts, the company’s environmental record in La Encrucijada has been mixed at best. Nestle has committed to <a href="https://www.nestle.com/csv/raw-materials/palm-oil">100% responsible palm oil</a> by 2020, claiming that in 2018, 64% of their palm oil was sourced responsibly and 54% of the palm oil purchased in 2018 was traceable. This commitment though admirable is far from the entire story of Nestle and palm oil.

<a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2018-06-29/nestle-suspended-sustainable-palm-oil/9923238">ABC</a> reported in 2018 that Nestle can no longer claim sustainable certification for any of its palm oil after being suspended from the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) for failing to submit progress reports. RSPO also noted that Nestle’s membership fee was overdue. A spokesperson for the <a href="https://www.ran.org/">Rainforest Action Network</a> (RAN) claimed that the company had been deceiving its consumers by moving goals and ‘cherry picking’ targets. 

In 2018, <a href="https://www.greenpeace.org/international/press-release/18400/nestle-promise-inadequate-to-stop-deforestation-for-palm-oil/">Greenpeace</a> called Nestle’s claims to monitor its palm oil for deforestation ‘inadequate’. The environmental activist organization pointed out that Nestle still buys their palm oil from 23 of the ‘dirtiest’ suppliers in Indonesia. Although the palm plantations encroaching on La Encrucijada were a real problem, it seems that the bigger problems with Nestle’s palm oil sources come from Southeast Asia, where the company is doing less to combat deforestation. 

Whether or not Nestle’s work in La Encrucijada is part of a larger greenwashing scheme or part of a real commitment to turn over a new leaf is hard to say, but action in one small place from a multinational company only means so much. <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-01-13/world-has-loads-of-sustainable-palm-oil-just-no-one-wants-it">Bloomberg</a> reported in January of this year that about 20% of the world’s output of palm oil is now grown sustainably but only half that is sold as sustainable oil because buyers don’t want to pay the extra cost. Are we and big companies like Nestle selling our forests for cheaper junk food?      --

By <a href="mailto:zachfitzner@yahoo.com">Zach Fitzner</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Contributing Writer

Paid for by <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a>

Image Credit: Shutterstock/Mrfiza

Nestle pledges responsible palm oil sourcing -- is it progress or greenwashing?

Palm oil is often talked about for its environmental impact...

One of the most amazing aspects of the internet is its ability to contain all of the useful and useless information we could ever hope to know. Along with storing all of the world’s knowledge, the internet also provides us with constant sources of entertainment that our ancestors would never be able to fathom. 

But despite all of these benefits, a new study has found numerous negative impacts that access to the internet has on our memories, <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/information-overflow-attention-spans/">attention span</a>, and social cognition.

The research was published in the journal <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/20515545">World Psychiatry</a>, and assesses the effect of the online world on how our brains function. 

“The bombardment of stimuli via the internet, and the resultant divided attention commonly experienced, presents a range of concerns,” Professor Jerome Sarris, an author on the paper, told <a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/">Medical News Today</a>. “I believe that this, along with the increasing #Instagramification of society, has the ability to alter both the structure and functioning of the brain, while potentially also altering our social fabric.”

In this study, researchers found that people have become less and less likely to memorize information. A review of one study found that people are more likely to know where information could be found online, rather than the content itself. However, this isn’t necessarily all bad. While people may be more reliant on the internet, it has been suggested that this could free up brain power to be used on other (hopefully) more important tasks.

The review also found that people who regularly multitask online have a hard time focusing on a single task. 

“The limitless stream of prompts and notifications from the internet encourages us towards constantly holding a divided attention ⁠— which then, in turn, may decrease our capacity for maintaining concentration on a single task,” explains Joseph Firth, an author on the study.

When examining the differences between online and offline social interaction for this study, the researchers separated relationships into five hierarchical layers: primary partners, intimate relationships, best friends, close friends, and all friends. These groups range from 1 to 150 people in size, but the study showed they appeared to be the same online as they are offline. 

“Given the evidence above, an appropriate metaphor for the relationship between online and real‐world sociality could be a ‘new playing field for the same game,” the authors explain.

Although they may be similar in some senses, offline and online relationships do have differences. In online relationships, acceptance and rejection can be quantified in “friends” or “followers”, rather than staying ambiguous. The internet also showcases the experiences of “hyper-successful individuals” which can lead to unrealistic expectations for younger people. And if you have ever looked at apps like Instagram, it’s not surprising that constantly viewing the highlight reels of other people’s lives may make some feel inadequate.

Ultimately, the internet has numerous benefits and has led to technological and societal potential that never before seemed possible. But while you’re scrolling and enjoying the content the internet has to offer, try to stay aware of the real world around you as well.

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Shutterstock/Studiostoks

The internet is changing our brains - but is it for better or worse?

One of the most amazing aspects of the internet is...

A new study has found that parents can take years to adjust to their child coming out as lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB). 

The study, conducted by researchers from <a href="https://www.gwu.edu/">George Washington University</a>, is the first and largest of its kind to specifically examine how parents adjust after learning their child’s sexual orientation. 

Many parents still struggle years after, and surprisingly the researchers found little difference between the responses of parents whose child had just come out compared to parents who had years to come to terms with the new information. 

“Surprisingly, we found that parents who knew about a child’s sexual orientation for two years struggled as much as parents who had recently learned the news,” said David Huebner, a lead researcher for the study. “Two years is a very long time in the life of a child who is faced with the stress of a disapproving or rejecting parent.”

As LGB youth are more at risk for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/lgbq-adolescents-risk-suicide/">depression, anxiety, and suicide</a>, having to deal with a disapproving parent at home for years only increases the risks of developing serious health problems.

Past research has shown that feeling rejected by a parent takes a major toll on both children and their parents, and having such a formative experience in a child’s early or teen years can have long-lasting impacts. 

That’s why studies like these are crucial, as health professionals with a better understanding of how parents respond can aid in the process and provide the best support possible for LGB youth and their families. 

For the study, the researchers surveyed 1,200 parents of LGB (lesbian, gay, or bisexual) youth ages 10 to 25. Parents were directed to a website and asked to answer a questionnaire. The researchers asked, “How hard is it for you, knowing that your son or daughter is gay, lesbian or bisexual?” 

Parents struggled just as much two years after the news as those parents who had recently been told. 

The parents of older children had a tougher time, but both mothers and fathers had similar struggles. 

Huebner feels strongly that parents who have a difficult time adjusting, even years after, still genuinely care about their children and eventually do come around. 

“Our results suggest interventions to speed up the adjustment process would help not only the parents but also their children,” said Huebner. “LGB youth with accepting families are more likely to thrive as they enter adulthood.”

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>,<a href="https://www.earth.com/"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Image Credit: Shutterstock

Many parents still take years to adjust to their child coming out as LGB

A new study has found that parents can take years...

Just one day of work per week needed to yield mental health rewards. Researchers from the <a href="https://www.cbr.cam.ac.uk/research/research-projects/the-employment-dosage-how-much-work-is-needed-for-health-and-wellbeing/">University of Cambridge</a> and the <a href="https://www.cam.ac.uk/">University of Salford</a> released a study showing that the most “effective dose” of paid work, meaning the amount of employment that contributes to positive mental health benefits, is about one eight-hour day per week. 

"We have effective dosage guides for everything from Vitamin C to hours of sleep in order to help us feel better, but this is the first time the question has been asked of paid work," said study co-author Dr. Brendan Burchell, a sociologist from Cambridge who lead the <a href="https://www.cbr.cam.ac.uk/research/research-projects/the-employment-dosage-how-much-work-is-needed-for-health-and-wellbeing/">Employment Dosage research project</a>.

The team first analyzed the link between changes in working hours and <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/gaming-addiction-mental-health-disorder/">mental health</a> in over 70,000 U.K. residents between 2009 and 2018. On average, when a resident shifted from unemployment into paid work (for about eight hours or less per week), their risk of negative mental health issues decreased by 30%.

What’s more is that researchers could not find any evidence to show that working more than eight hours per week — such as a standard, full-time, 40-hour workweek — further boosted positive mental health benefits.

"We know unemployment is often detrimental to people's wellbeing, negatively affecting identity, status, time use, and sense of collective purpose,” Dr. Burchell added. “We now have some idea of just how much paid work is needed to get the psychosocial benefits of employment — and it's not that much at all."

These findings, published in <a href="https://www.journals.elsevier.com/social-science-and-medicine">Social Science &amp; Medicine</a>, are pertinent to a society in which automation is becoming more popular in the workplace. Therefore, with not enough work to go around, we may have to rethink how humans can still participate in the workforce and reap the mental health benefits associated with working.

"If there is not enough for everybody who wants to work full-time, we will have to rethink current norms,” said first author Dr. Daiga Kamerāde, from Salford University. “This should include the redistribution of working hours, so everyone can get the mental health benefits of a job, even if that means we all work much shorter weeks. Our findings are an important step in thinking what the minimum amount of paid work people might need in a future with little work to go round.”

The researchers suggest transitioning into five-day weekends, or having employees working fewer hours per day. They also say that increasing annual holidays from weeks to months, or taking months off of work at a time could benefit both employee and employer.

"The traditional model, in which everyone works around 40 hours a week, was never based on how much work was good for people,” said coauthor and Cambridge sociologist Senhu Wang. “Our research suggests that micro-jobs provide the same psychological benefits as full-time jobs.”

"However, the quality of work will always be crucial,” Wang continued. “Jobs where employees are disrespected or subject to insecure or zero-hours contracts do not provide the same benefits to wellbeing, nor are they likely to in the future."

"If the UK were to plough annual productivity gains into reduced working hours rather than pay rises, the normal working week could be four days within a decade,” Dr. Burchell concluded.

--

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Shutterstock/Jacob Lund

Just one day of work per week needed to yield mental health rewards

Just one day of work per week needed to yield...

Celery is often disregarded as nothing more than a disposable garnish served with buffalo chicken wings. However, the extraordinary health benefits associated with this crunchy vegetable make it one of the most underrated foods on the planet.

"Celery is loaded with polysaccharides and antioxidants," explained best-selling author Dr. Partha Nandi. "The antioxidants have the ability to cure free-radical damage that contributes to inflammation. Chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer or arthritis are caused by inflammation."

Many other serious conditions, including diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, and age-related vision loss, have also been linked to chronic inflammation. 

Dr. Tina Ardon is a family medicine physician at the <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/">Mayo Clinic</a>. She explained that some foods contribute to inflammation, while other foods can be helpful for reducing or preventing inflammation.

"Research indicates that there is a link between diet and inflammation," said Dr. Ardon. "Although this is a normal process in response to an injury or an infection, sometimes inflammation can turn into a chronic process and actually be widespread throughout the body."

Celery is also a good source of both types of dietary fiber, soluble and insoluble. A study funded by the <a href="https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/">National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute</a> revealed that simply eating more fiber can be critical for <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/mindfulness-training-weight-loss/">weight loss</a>. Fiber absorbs water in the digestive tract and reduces food cravings by making you feel fuller longer.

"A simplified approach to weight reduction emphasizing only increased fiber intake may be a reasonable alternative for persons with difficulty adhering to more complicated diet regimens," wrote the study authors. 

Celery is 95 percent water, which means that incorporating it into a daily diet increases levels of hydration. Staying hydrated not only increases the body's energy levels, but also improves mood and brain function. 

"In theory, a liquid that boosts mood, helps the body function properly and gets rid of excess toxins should be the go-to strategy for better health. But despite the fact that it's essential to survive - and that the body's made up of 60 percent of it - water often becomes a forgotten nutrient," wrote experts at the Mayo Clinic.

A growing collection of research suggests that celery is also helpful in lowering blood pressure and cholesterol. 

"Regular consumption of celery can help protect cardiovascular health," said Dr. Nandi. "Moreover, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of celery make it an ideal food for patients with high cholesterol levels and blood pressure, as well as heart disease. Celery also has numerous amazing benefits for skin, liver, eye and cognitive health."

As far back as the Middle Ages, wild celery was used to treat anxiety, insomnia, and arthritis. In fact, for thousands of years, celery was used more for medicinal purposes than for cooking.

Native to the Mediterranean region, the celery plant was considered an aphrodisiac by Greeks and Romans. It was believed to induce arousal by stimulating the pituitary gland, which is key in releasing sexual hormones. According to <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/">National Geographic</a>, the legendary Italian lover Giacomo Casanova ate celery to ensure sexual stamina.

In ancient Greece, celery was used to worship the dead and the underworld divinities. Dark celery leaves were used to make garlands for the deceased. Egyptians used celery in celebrations associated with the cult of the dead as well, and garlands of celery leaves were found in the tomb of Tutankhamun.

Today, the most straightforward benefit of adding celery to a daily diet is that it is practically calorie-free. Meanwhile, experts continue to identify the positive health effects of celery and its role in lowering the risk of death by the world's two leading causes, heart disease and cancer.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Shutterstock/OlesyaSH

A celery stalk a day may help keep heart disease and cancer away

Celery is often disregarded as nothing more than a disposable...

Ancient humans were the first to discover the pitfalls of urban living. About 9,000 years ago, a group of ancient humans were some of the first to discover the trials and tribulations of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/people-breathe-highly-polluted-air/">modern urban living</a> such as diseases, overcrowding, violence, and environmental issues. Scientists studying the ancient settlement of Çatalhöyük, located in modern Turkey, have discovered that the large farming community of about 3,500 to 8,000 people came face-to-face with issues that still plague urban communities today.

"Çatalhöyük was one of the first proto-urban communities in the world and the residents experienced what happens when you put many people together in a small area for an extended time,” said lead author Clark Spencer Larsen, a professor of anthropology at <a href="https://www.osu.edu/">The Ohio State University</a>. "It set the stage for where we are today and the challenges we face in urban living."

Çatalhöyük was first settled around 7100 to 5950 B.C. and was rediscovered by anthropologists in 1958. The settlement spans about 32 acres and boasts about 21 meters of deposits spanning 1,150 years of continuous occupation.

Larsen and his fellow researchers analyzed the stable carbon isotope ratios in the bones found at the settlement and found that the settlers’ diets were based mainly on wheat, barley and rye, as well as some non-domesticated plants and domesticated animals.

"They were farming and keeping animals as soon as they set up the community, but they were intensifying their efforts as the population expanded," Larsen said.

Their grain-heavy diet meant that tooth decay ran rampant. And Larsen’s team also discovered via analyzing the leg bones of both early and late settlers of Çatalhöyük that the later humans walked more than their predecessors. 

"We believe that environmental degradation and climate change forced community members to move further away from the settlement to farm and to find supplies like firewood," Larsen said. "That contributed to the ultimate demise of Çatalhöyük."

Poor hygiene and close quarters (residents lived in apartment-like housing during the settlement’s peak) meant that infectious disease spread like wildfire. As did violence, which resulted in skull fractures, as the scientists found at the site.

"They are living in very crowded conditions, with trash pits and animal pens right next to some of their homes. So there is a whole host of sanitation issues that could contribute to the spread of infectious diseases," Larsen said. He added, “We found an increase in cranial injuries during the Middle period, when the population was largest and most dense. An argument could be made that overcrowding led to elevated stress and conflict within the community."

The team also realized, via dental analysis, that people who were not biologically related resided in the same house. Why this is is still a mystery.

"We can learn about the immediate origins of our lives today, how we are organized into communities,” Larsen concluded in his study of the site, published in <a href="https://www.pnas.org/">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.</a> “Many of the challenges we have today are the same ones they had in Çatalhöyük — only magnified." 

--

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Scott Haddow

Ancient humans were the first to discover the pitfalls of urban living

Ancient humans were the first to discover the pitfalls of...

<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...

<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=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.

<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/Fi2OeEwuzRM?si=vTyd2m9FMmtyWkex
</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.

<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/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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="X0f6OHYoI4-2310561-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="JRaP49ISmm-2357509-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



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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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