Gel manicures have turned into a tiny luxury that fits between lunch breaks and school runs. The ultraviolet or near‑ultraviolet lamps that harden glossy manicure coatings do the job in about four minutes, so the routine feels harmless.



The dryers bathe fingertips in swift pulses of light, but until recently few people asked what those pulses do to the skin that holds the nails. A new laboratory study brings unsettling answers.



The new work was led by photochemist <a href="https://bicyt.conicet.gov.ar/fichas/p/en/maria-laura-dantola" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dr. María Laura Dántola</a> at the Institute of Theoretical and Applied Physical‑Chemical Research <a href="https://www.inifta.unlp.edu.ar/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">(INIFTA</a>), part of Argentina’s National Scientific and Technical Research Council <a href="https://www.conicet.gov.ar/?lan=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">(CONICET</a>).



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-studying-manicure-lamps">Studying manicure lamps</h2>



Serrano’s team placed common skin molecules, including tyrosinase, inside a chamber that mimicked a salon lamp and zapped them for the same four‑minute cycle used in most gel services. 



All targets, from amino acids to lipids, emerged chemically altered and less able to perform their jobs.



“These devices are used without any controls or regulations requiring manufacturers to report on the potential risks of frequent exposure,” cautioned Dántola and colleagues. 



One of the starkest changes hit tyrosinase, the enzyme that drives production of melanin, a pigment that shields DNA from solar radiation.



The researchers also measured how fast the altered molecules sparked <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/oxidative-stress" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">oxidative stress</a> reactions that can shred cell membranes. Reaction rates jumped within seconds, confirming that harm starts long before a hand is removed from the booth.



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



Photosensitization happens when a molecule absorbs light then transfers that energy to oxygen, creating reactive species. Those species slice through DNA, proteins, and lipids with no regard for cell repair cycles.



Because tyrosinase sits at the start of melanin synthesis, even small interruptions amplify downstream damage. Losing melanin’s natural sunscreen effect makes every future dose of sunlight or lamp light more hazardous.



Many over‑the‑counter skincare ingredients, including retinoids and some antibiotics, can enhance photosensitization. 



People who use them may face higher risks because their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/vitamin-c-promotes-skin-renewal-and-anti-aging-at-the-genetic-level-dna-demethylation/">skin</a> already carries extra light‑reactive compounds.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tyrosinase-melanin-and-lost-defense">Tyrosinase, melanin and lost defense</h2>



Tyrosinase flips the chemical switches that turn the amino acid tyrosine into melanin granules. When the lamp’s photons broke those switches, the team saw melanin output stall.



Without melanin the skin compensates poorly for incoming ultraviolet, so photo‑aging and cancer risk rise. The altered enzyme also disrupts color balance, explaining reports of blotchy pigmentation after frequent gel sessions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-manicure-lamps-are-very-bright">Manicure lamps are very bright</h2>



Bench measurements showed the lamp delivered a dose of <a href="https://www.mdanderson.org/publications/focused-on-health/what-s-the-difference-between-uva-and-uvb-rays-.h15-1592991.html">UVA radiation</a> around 368–400 nanometers, the same band blamed for tanning and wrinkles. 



A separate American <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-35876-8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">study</a> in 2023 reported that a 20‑minute session killed up to 70 percent of cultured human skin cells and stamped permanent mutations on the survivors.



Sensor data from the Argentine team indicate the lamp’s irradiance peaks at 7 milliwatts per square centimeter, nearly matching the noon sun in Buenos Aires during spring. 



Weekly visits translate into roughly three and a half hours under that intensity each year, more than many people spend sunbathing.



A systematic <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38557455/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">review</a> in 2024 concluded that while the absolute cancer risk appears low, the evidence remains weak and long‑term users should be told the data gaps.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-short-bursts-long-shadows">Short bursts, long shadows</h2>



Gel clients often repeat the service every two to three weeks, layering dose upon dose across years. Cumulative exposure matters because photochemical injuries add rather than heal, especially when they trigger oxidative stress and DNA breaks.



A 2023 <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-49814-7" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">test</a> on human keratinocytes showed sunscreen with SPF 50 cut cell death by more than one‑third during the same four‑minute irradiation used in salons. 



Protective gloves that leave only the nail plate visible can block over 90 percent of the rays, yet they remain optional accessories.



“These are processes that, in one way or another, result in cell death,” added Dántola and colleagues after monitoring the altered enzyme profiles. 



The comment echoes warnings from dermatology societies that link chronic UVA to premature aging and certain skin cancers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-keeping-nails-and-skin-safe">Keeping nails and skin safe</h2>



Dermatologists at the <a href="https://www.aad.org/media/news-releases/gel-manicures-dermatologists-share-tips-to-keep-nails-healthy" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">American Academy of Dermatology</a> urge customers to apply a broad‑spectrum SPF 30 or higher on their hands before every gel manicure and to choose LED lamps that cure polish faster and with lower UV output.



Salons can switch to newer hybrid lacquers that air‑dry or set under visible blue light, trimming exposure further. At home, limiting sessions and spacing them at least a month apart reduces cumulative dose.



For clients unwilling to give up the chip‑free finish, simple habits help: wear fingertip‑less UPF gloves, time the lamp cycles carefully, and keep moisturizer handy because dry <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/teen-skin-bacteria-could-hold-the-secret-to-acne-prevention/">skin</a> amplifies light penetration.



Regulators have yet to issue binding standards for consumer nail lamps, so the burden falls on users and technicians. 



Serrano’s group believes clear warning labels and pre‑packed barrier gloves would let people enjoy the beauty trend while understanding the trade‑offs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-manicure-lamps-speed-vs-safety">Manicure lamps: Speed vs. safety</h2>



The beauty business around gel nails is sizable. Analysts <a href="https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/uv-nail-gel-market" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">estimate</a> the global UV gel polish segment alone was worth almost six billion dollars in 2024 and could double within a decade.



Social media trends and influencer tutorials push fans to redo manicures every week rather than once a month, increasing exposure well beyond the study’s four‑minute baseline. Convenience encourages at‑home kits, yet those kits often ship without detailed safety instructions.



Dántola stresses that the project sits in basic science, aimed at mapping chemical events rather than legislating behavior. 



Still, sharing data allows dermatologists, engineers, and regulators to design larger trials that measure real <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/microplastics-carry-toxic-chemicals-that-are-easily-absorbed-by-skin/">skin</a> after repeated consumer‑level doses.



Applied research may soon test glove fabrics, lamp filters, or polish formulas that polymerize under visible light. Until such options become standard, informed choice remains the safest tool on the manicure table.



The study is published in <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39763051/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chemical Research in Toxicology</a>.



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Manicure lamps can seriously damage skin and cause premature aging

Gel manicures have turned into a tiny luxury that fits between lunch breaks and school runs. The ultraviolet or near‑ultraviolet lamps that harden glossy manicure coatings do the job in about four minutes, so the routine feels harmless. The dryers bathe fingertips in swift pulses of light, but until recently few people asked what those pulses do to the skin that holds the nails. A new laboratory study brings unsettling answers. The new work was led by photochemist Dr. María Laura Dántola at the Institute of Theoretical...

New research from the <a href="https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/">University of Liverpool</a> shows that social media has a large negative impact on children’s food intake. Social media’s effects on eating habits had yet to be studied before now. However, with 93% of 8 to 11 year olds and 99% of 12 to 15 year olds currently participating in the online community, it’s necessary to know how <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/social-media-sympton-depression/">social media</a> content affects the way they eat.

Published in the journal <a href="https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/143/3?current-issue=y">Pediatrics</a>, the study, lead by Anna Coates, a PhD student from the University’s <a href="https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/psychology-health-and-society/departments/psychological-sciences/research/appetite-and-obesity/">Appetite and Obesity research group</a>, looked into the effects of social media media marketing of snack foods, both healthy and unhealthy, via YouTube vloggers’ Instagram accounts, on kids’ eating habits and snack food intake.

176 children between the ages of 9 and 11 were split into three groups. Each group was shown artificial Instagram pages of popular YouTube vloggers. The first group was shown images of the vlogger promoting unhealthy snacks, the second group saw the vlogger promoting healthy snacks, and the third group only saw images that did not contain food.

Kids who were exposed to the vlogger marketing unhealthy snacks consumed 26% more kcals in total, and 32% more kcals from unhealthy snacks in particular, compared to those kids who did not see food-related vlogger posts. Those who were exposed to healthy food posts did not exhibit a change in their kcal intake.

“These findings suggest that the marketing of unhealthy foods, via vloggers' Instagram pages, increases children's immediate energy intake,” Coates said. “The results are supported by celebrity endorsement data, which show unhealthy food endorsements increase children's unhealthy food intake, but healthy food endorsements have little or no effect on healthy food intake.”

Coates added that younger audiences trust vloggers and social media influences more so than they do celebrities. In previous decades, the impact of celebrity unhealthy food endorsement had been researched, with similar outcomes. 

Because of this shocking spike in the intake of unhealthy snacks due to vlogger influence, Coates concludes, "Tighter restrictions are needed around the digital marketing of unhealthy foods that children are exposed to, and vloggers should not be permitted to promote unhealthy foods to vulnerable young people on social media.”

--

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Social media can negatively impact children’s eating habits

New research from the University of Liverpool shows that social...

The proposed Green New Deal of course references FDR’s famous New Deal that put many Americans back to work and jump started the economy after the Great Depression. Some of the most obvious and lasting aspects of the New Deal are reflected in the work done by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC).  Historic buildings and other infrastructure at parks are small monuments to the CCC and work done under the New Deal. Today, the Green New Deal is also quite bold and ambitious, but what exactly does it include?

The Green New Deal is an unbinding resolution proposed by freshman lawmaker Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-resolution/109/text">The bill</a> begins with a straightforward list of the problems associated with global climate change and the possibility of a 2 degree Celsius rise in temperature.  It also outlines the environmental and economic problems caused by or projected to be caused by climate change now and in the near future Highlights of the problems that the two degrees change are projected to cause include loss of 99% of the world’s coral reefs and the exposure of 350 million more people to deadly heat stress.  The deal then asserts the necessity of keeping climate below a 1.5 °C change above pre-industrial levels. 

Ocasio-Cortez is a popular target for conservatives, many of which fully deny the validity of climate change science. As such, the right wing has already begun lambasting the resolution.  Conservatives have taken to social media with pictures of grilling beef over a comment on <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/house/431119-ocasio-cortez-explains-farting-cows-comment-weve-got-to-address-factory">farting cows</a> in a document accompanying the proposed Green New Deal itself.  A Fox News contributor actually joked that the Green New Deal could <a href="https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2019/03/fox-news-green-new-deal-katherine-timpf-cannibalism.html">lead to cannibalism</a>.  More serious criticism has come from Republicans and even Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, who called it the ‘<a href="https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2019/02/07/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-green-new-deal-climate-change-green-dream-pelosi-sot-vpx.cnn">green dream</a>’ before embracing it.  

To achieve the climate goal, the Green New Deal requires a reduction of greenhouse gases by 40 to 60% of the 2010 levels by the year 2030.  The end emissions goal stated in the Green New Deal is net greenhouse gas emissions of zero by 2050. These are ambitious goals to say the least, especially for a country that by electing Donald Trump seems headed in the opposite direction.  However, the Green New Deal goes on to lay out the responsibilities and consequences particular to the US. 

The US is responsible for a large part of greenhouse gas emissions.  We also have plenty of problems at home, connected directly and indirectly to environmental destruction.  A declining life expectancy and inadequate access to clean air, water, healthy food, healthcare, housing and other essentials are tackled in the Green New Deal.  Inequality on the basis of gender and race are all connected to the unequal suffering caused by environmental catastrophe. As I’ve <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/environmental-destruction-hurts-people-color/">previously reported</a>, pollution disproportionally hurts people of color and other underprivileged groups.  

As a solution, The Green New Deal calls on a new mobilization, the creation of a new, more inclusive middle class, empowered by new green jobs and technologies.  Investments in infrastructure and a transition for all communities to a new green economy are also called for. The Green New Deal would secure for all Americans, clean air and water, climate and community resilience, healthy food, access to nature, and a sustainable environment.

The resolution aims to “promote justice and equity by stopping current, preventing future, and repairing historic oppression of indigenous peoples, communities of color, migrant communities, deindustrialized communities, depopulated rural communities, the poor, low-income workers, women, the elderly, the unhoused, people with disabilities, and youth (referred to in this resolution as ‘frontline and vulnerable communities’).”

There are a few real world solutions outlined – that any infrastructure bill before Congress would also address climate change, expanding and upgrading renewable energy and investing in a more efficient ‘smart’ power grid for all public electricity.  Family and sustainable farming would be supported under the plan and the resolution proposes the government work with farmers to limit pollution and climate change. Restoring and preserving natural environments as proven low-tech solutions to climate change are also called for.  

Promotion of an international trade in technology and ideas is also suggested as a way to support innovation in tackling environmental challenges.  The proposal calls for economic justice, good jobs and honoring agreements with indigenous leaders. 

But many people have been quick to criticize the Green New Deal as well as its sponsor Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. As a first-term U.S. Representative from New York and chief architect of the Green New Deal, Ocasio-Cortez has been consistently ridiculed by conservatives, including criticism of a video of her <a href="https://www.thisisinsider.com/video-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-dancing-backfire-critics-2019-1">dancing</a> in college.  The <a href="https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/mar/3/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-anti-burger-narrative-imp/">Washington Times</a> reports that Representative Rob Bishop ate a cheeseburger to show his opposition to the bill, claiming that the Green New Deal would outlaw burgers, even though it doesn’t specifically say anything about meat at all.  Trump echoed these sentiments <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1094375749279248385">tweeting</a> that the Green New Deal would permanently eliminate, “all planes, cars, cows, oil, gas &amp; the military.”  

The Green New Deal didn’t specify anything about red meat, but according to the <a href="https://psmag.com/news/democrats-are-not-trying-to-take-away-your-hamburgers">Pacific Standard</a>, Ocasio-Cortez did say in an interview, “maybe we shouldn't be eating a hamburger for breakfast, lunch, and dinner” while also specifically saying she didn’t want to get rid of agriculture.  

Meat consumption and food waste are real problems for the environment, as I’ve <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/eat-impacts-environment-climate-change/">previously reported</a>.  It’s hard to really think eating less red meat than the average American is a bad suggestion.  The US is also plagued with <a href="https://stateofobesity.org/data/">obesity</a> and <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2017/p0718-diabetes-report.html">diabetes</a>, both problems that can be partially alleviated by diets with <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/meatless-meals/art-20048193">less meat</a>.  Meat production of course also contributes greenhouse gases. 

But the most substantial criticisms of the Green New Deal boil down to specifics. The bill as it stands does leave a lot left up to the imagination, as it is little more than a bill of hopes for our country and the world.  As such, it mainly demands equality and health for people and the environment they live in. One sentiment echoed by many is that we can’t afford it. The main question we must ask ourselves is how can we afford not to secure our own lives and the lives we share earth with?  

In response to growing energy and buzz surrounding the Green New Deal and Democrat-led action against climate change, <a href="http://time.com/5540480/conservation-caucus-green-new-deal/">Time</a> reports that two Republican senators have formed their own new environmental group. The Roosevelt Conservation Caucus, created by Senators Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) and Cory Gardner (R-Colorado), will seek “market-based approaches” to solve environmental issues.

The Green New Deal is pretty open, though, leaving room for thought, innovation, even criticism for any who want to work for a better world or even those who wish to hold on to what’s good in this one.         

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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>

What the Green New Deal really includes

The proposed Green New Deal of course references FDR’s famous...

A growing collection of studies suggests that <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/magic-mushrooms-vote-medicinal-benefits/">microdosing</a>, taking tiny amounts of psychedelic drugs, can produce mental health benefits such as improving mood and concentration. A new study from the <a href="https://www.ucdavis.edu/">University of California, Davis</a> demonstrated that microdosing relieved symptoms of depression and anxiety in rats, but also had the potential for negative effects. 

Study lead author David Olson is an assistant professor in the UC Davis Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine.

“Prior to our study, essentially nothing was known about the effects of psychedelic microdosing on animal behaviors,” said Professor Olsen. “This is the first time anyone has demonstrated in animals that psychedelic microdosing might actually have some beneficial effects, particularly for depression or anxiety. It's exciting, but the potentially adverse changes in neuronal structure and metabolism that we observe emphasize the need for additional studies.”

For their investigation, the researchers microdosed male and female rats with N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), which is a psychedelic compound found in ayahuasca tea. The molecular structure of DMT is also embedded within the structure of well-known microdosing drugs such as LSD and psilocybin. 

Over the course of two months, the rats were given one-tenth of the estimated hallucinogenic dose every three days. The rats were regularly given behavioral tests relevant to mood, anxiety, and cognitive function beginning a couple weeks after the start of microdosing.

Using a test that is considered to be a model of anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in humans, the researchers found that microdosing helped rats to overcome a “fear response.” The team also observed reduced immobility among the rats, which is the same effect that is produced by antidepressants.

Weight gain was identified as a risk among the males, and neuronal atrophy was a risk among the females. Despite the potential negative effects of microdosing, the research has shown that it is possible to separate the hallucinogenic effects from the therapeutic properties of these compounds.

“Our study demonstrates that psychedelics can produce beneficial behavioral effects without drastically altering perception, which is a critical step towards producing viable medicines inspired by these compounds,” said Professor Olson.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/journal/acncdm">ACS Chemical Neuroscience</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Lindsay Cameron and Lee Dunlap

More evidence that psychedelic microdosing benefits mental health

A growing collection of studies suggests that microdosing, taking tiny...

A team of psychologists in Sweden has developed a theory that may explain why we harm the environment, even when our intentions are good. The experts suggest that we treat our relationship with the <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/fast-fashion-toll-environment/">environment</a> like a social exchange, believing that environmentally friendly behavior can compensate for harmful behavior.

The problem is that we cannot smooth things over later with the environment like we can in our social lives. According to the researchers, it would be impossible to mentally account for the environmental impact of all of our actions, so we use mental “rules of thumb” to track our green footprint and seek out eco-friendly products to make up for any damage we may have done. 

Study lead author Patrik Sörqvist is a professor of Environmental Psychology at the <a href="https://www.hig.se/Ext/En/University-of-Gavle.html">University of Gävle</a>.

“Reciprocity and balance in social relations have been fundamental to social cooperation, and thus to survival, so the human brain has become specialized through natural selection to compute and seek this balance,” said Professor Sörqvist. “But when applied to climate change, this social give-and-take thinking leads to the misconception that 'green' choices can compensate for unsustainable ones.”

In reality, all consumption causes permanent environmental harm. Green options are not fully restorative, but are simply less harmful.

“You can't kiss and make up with the environment. Jetting to the Caribbean will make you a huge environmental burden, no matter how many meat free Mondays you have,” said Professor Sörqvist.

When eco-friendly items are incorporated with conventional items, people often believe that the overall product is environmentally friendly. 

“For instance, some groups have found that people intuitively think the environmental burden of a hamburger and an organic apple in combination is lower than the environmental burden of the hamburger alone - or that the total emissions of a car pool remain the same when hybrid cars are added to the pool.” 

The new theory suggests that this leads us to pursue misguided quick fixes to address our guilt for harming the environment. The researchers explained that stricter legislation of marketing devices and a carbon footprint label for products would be a way to better guide consumer behavior.

“Terms like 'eco-friendly' or 'green' encourage the view that objects, behaviors and decisions with these labels are 'good' rather than 'less bad' for the environment,” said study co-author Dr. Linda Langeborg. “Calling a hamburger restaurant '100 % climate compensated', for example, may deceive people into believing that eating dinner at that restaurant has no environmental burden.”

“Instead, we should give consumers immediate feedback on how much 'eco-labeled' and other products add to the environmental impact of what they are buying. For example, self-scanning systems in supermarkets could provide customers with an accumulated carbon footprint estimate of their shopping basket.”

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology">Frontiers in Psychology</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>

Eco-friendly choices don’t compensate for environmental harm

A team of psychologists in Sweden has developed a theory...

Life is a little easier for pretty people, as studies have shown that individuals who are more conventionally attractive are <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/behavioral-and-brain-sciences/article/explaining-financial-and-prosocial-biases-in-favor-of-attractive-people-interdisciplinary-perspectives-from-economics-social-psychology-and-evolutionary-psychology/BB9900C25A6052CBE71D0BD4FF9B29E8">treated better</a>, make more money, and have more sexual partners. 

But just because the conventionally good looking might have an easier time of finding a potential partner, does attractiveness influence a person’s views on sexual morality like abortion rights or marriage equality? 

This question was tackled by Robert Urbatsch, an associate professor of political science at <a href="https://www.iastate.edu/">Iowa State University</a>, in a 2018 study published in the journal Social Science Quarterly. 

Urbatsch recently followed up his study with piece for <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-being-beautiful-influences-your-attitudes-toward-sex-110745">The Conversation</a>, discussing the results and delving into why attractive people may have more relaxed views on sex. 

When it comes to issues like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/having-first-emotional-bond/">sex before marriage</a>, sexual purity, or gay marriage, people have firm opinions often driven by religious affiliations, the media, and other environmental factors like parental views on sex and marriage. 

Unraveling our prejudices around sex is no easy task, but for some people, it may come more natural than others. 

In the study, “Good Looks as a Source of Moral Permissiveness,” Urbatsch reviewed two major surveys, the <a href="http://gss.norc.org/">General Social Survey</a> from 2016 and the <a href="https://electionstudies.org/">American National Election Studies</a> from 1972, that included questions about morality and sexual ethics. 

Analyzing two surveys from different periods was important as it helped shed light on how views on sex and morality vary from generation to generation. 

Urbatsch proposed two hypotheses, that attractiveness causes a more relaxed attitude toward sexual permissiveness, or that attractiveness, having a good job, and a high income may nudge someone to adopt more conservative views. 

“Attractiveness could then plausibly associate with higher or lower standards for what sexual activities are morally acceptable,” Urbatsch wrote in The Conversation. 

With both surveys, the administers had to assess the survey participant’s attractiveness on a scale of 1 to 5. 

In the 2016 survey, 51 percent of the responders who had above average looks were pro-choice, and this was a pattern that Urbatsch identified among almost all questions relating to sexual ethics. 

However, when it came to questions on other ethical matters not-relating to sex, the participants were not more liberal or conservative depending on their looks. 

“Good-looking respondents in these surveys aren’t detectably more open, for example, to a legal right to die or to accepting civil disobedience,” wrote Urbatsch. 

According to Urbatsch, attractiveness may influence views on sexual morality because attractive people typically have more sexual partners and experiences.

“If you’ve have a lot of sexual experiences in the past, it may color your attitudes toward the vast range of sexual possibilities – even those that don’t directly apply to your own sexuality or personal experience,” Urbatsch concludes

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By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Paid for by <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a>

Attractive people have more relaxed views about sexual morality

Life is a little easier for pretty people, as studies...

Cheap menu items, variety, and foods packed with sodium, fats, and sugars make fast food a tasty and enticing meal choice. More and more people are consuming these quick and easy meal options on a daily basis, which is problematic given that fast food has become increasingly<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fast-food-calorie-content-excessive/"> unhealthier over the years</a>. 

37 percent of US adults eat fast food on any given day, according to the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db322.htm">Centers for Disease Control. </a>

But fast food today compared to thirty years ago offers larger portions and more variety, according to a study conducted by researchers from <a href="https://www.bu.edu/">Boston University</a>. 

The study, published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, analyzed ten popular fast food chains in the US and compared menu items and nutritional value between 1986, 1991, and 2016. 

Portion size, caloric value, sodium, iron, and calcium levels of deserts, sides, and entrees were all taken into account, and the researchers collected and reviewed data from the Fast Food Guide and online resources. 

“Our study offers some insights on how fast food may be helping to fuel the continuing problem of obesity and related chronic conditions in the United States,” said Megan A. McCrory, the lead investigator of the study. “Despite the vast number of choices offered at fast-food restaurants, some of which are healthier than others, the calories, portion sizes, and sodium content overall have worsened (increased) over time and remain high.” 

Today, an entrée, side, and soda at a popular fast food restaurant can contain nearly 50 percent of a person’s recommended 2,000 daily calories. 

Since 1986, the researchers found that nearly 22.9 items have been added to fast food menus every year. Not only are fast food restaurants offering more food, but entrees, sides, and deserts are getting bigger and have more calories.

Deserts have increased by 62 calories per decade since 1986 and entrees have increased by 30 calories per decade. 

The researchers also found that sodium, calcium, and iron (when the information was available) increased over the years. 

Both calcium and iron are essential nutrients, but the researchers stress that there are much better alternatives to increase your iron and calcium intake than shakes and cheeseburgers.

“We need to find better ways to help people consume fewer calories and sodium at fast-food restaurants. The requirement that chain restaurants display calories on their menus is a start,” said Dr. McCrory. “We would like to see more changes, such as restaurants offering smaller portions at a proportional prices.” 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Fast food has gotten unhealthier in the past 30 years

Cheap menu items, variety, and foods packed with sodium, fats,...

A new study led by psychologists at <a href="https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/">Lancaster University</a> is challenging the idea that listening to music enhances creativity. As individuals were tested for verbal creativity, the team found that exposure to background music “significantly impaired” their performance. 

The investigation was focused on people with verbal insight problems that are believed to tap creativity. While music was found to stifle their imagination, background library noise seemed to have no influence. 

The test involved word associations in which participants were shown three words and were asked to identify a common word that could be incorporated with the given words. For example, a common word for dress, dial, and flower would be sun, which can be used to forms the words sundress, sundial, and sunflower.

Study participants were assigned verbal tasks in separate experiments, which involved either a quiet environment, background music with foreign lyrics, instrumental music without lyrics, or music with familiar lyrics.

“We found strong evidence of impaired performance when playing background music in comparison to quiet background conditions,” said study co-author Dr. Neil McLatchie. The researchers said this may be because music disrupts verbal working memory.

The testing revealed that exposure to <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/music-popular-sleep-aid/">music</a> with familiar lyrics negatively affected creativity regardless of whether the music was positive, was liked by the participants, or whether participants typically studied in the presence of music. 

The individuals performed as well on the verbal tasks during library noise conditions as they did in a quiet environment. The researchers explained that library noise provides a “steady state” that is not as disruptive.

“To conclude, the findings here challenge the popular view that music enhances creativity, and instead demonstrate that music, regardless of the presence of semantic content (no lyrics, familiar lyrics or unfamiliar lyrics), consistently disrupts creative performance in insight problem solving.”

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/14640597">Applied Psychology: An International Review</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Background music found to significantly impair creativity

A new study led by psychologists at Lancaster University is...

A new law called “Max and Keira’s Law” may help to lower the number of people who die each year in the UK while waiting on an organ transplant. Instead of signing up as an organ donor on an online register, residents of England will give implied consent to donate their organs unless they opt-out. 

According to <a href="https://www.newscientist.com/">New Scientist</a>, the system is already in place in Wales and has been proposed in Scotland. The new law in England was named for nine-year-old Keira Ball, who had four of her organs donated after a car accident. One of the recipients, nine-year-old Max Johnson, received a life-saving heart transplant. Each year in the UK, hundreds of patients die while waiting for a <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/baby-uterus-transplant-deceased-donor/">transplant</a>.

Individuals who want to opt-out as organ donors will simply add their name to the NHS Organ Donor Register. Because of the trauma that is involved when people pass suddenly, the families will actually have the final say for those who do not opt-out as donors. 

Good candidates for organ donation are mostly young and healthy individuals that have been involved in a car accident. The patient usually has a traumatic head injury which has left them brain dead, but their heart is still beating and they are on life support. This allows the organs to remain in good enough condition to be donated. 

Claire Wilson explains in New Scientist that the new opt-out system will not completely resolve the shortage of organs needed for transplants, but there is hope that it may increase the number of families who give their consent for organ donation. In the time since Wales introduced its opt-out system in 2015, the consent rate has started to increase.

According to the <a href="https://www.nhs.uk/">National Health Service</a> (NHS) in England, more than 80 percent of adults in England say they would consider donating their organs, but only 37 percent are registered as donors on the NHS Organ Donor Register. The new law is expected to take effect in April of 2020.
--
By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Can an opt-out organ donation policy help save lives?

A new law called “Max and Keira’s Law” may help...

It’s a well-known fact that women generally live longer than men.

In America, women on average live to 81 while men live to age 76, according to the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db328.htm">Centers for Disease Control</a>, but the trend is not just isolated to the United States or similar higher-income countries. 

Even though statistics prove that women tend to live longer than men, researchers are still working to explain why.

A recent feature in <a href="http://time.com/5538099/why-do-women-live-longer-than-men/?utm_source=emailshare&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=email-share-article&amp;utm_content=20190228">Time</a> reviewed some of the most prevalent theories of female versus male longevity. Studies into biology, hormones, and behavior show that the matter isn’t necessarily black and white but likely influenced by a range of biological and environmental factors. 

One of the significant influencing factors could be that men are more likely to engage in risk-taking behaviors. 

“Men are more likely to smoke, drink excessively and be overweight,” Dr. Perminder Sachdev, a professor of neuropsychiatry at the <a href="https://www.unsw.edu.au/">University of New South Wales</a> in Australia, told Time. “They are also less likely to seek medical help early, and, if diagnosed with a disease, they are more likely to be non-adherent to treatment.”

Sachdev also said that men are more likely to die in car accidents. 

Elevated <a href="http://time.com/5538099/why-do-women-live-longer-than-men/?utm_source=emailshare&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=email-share-article&amp;utm_content=20190228">levels of testosterone</a> could be driving these risky tendencies, but research also indicates that testosterone levels inhibit the immune system from efficiently fighting diseases. 

One 2012 study conducted by Kyung-Jin Min, a professor of biological sciences at<a href="http://eng.inha.ac.kr/"> Inha University</a> in South Korea, found that Korean eunuchs who had been castrated as children lived 14 to 19 years longer than uncastrated men. 

While Min’s research provides strong evidence that high levels of testosterone block specific disease-fighting properties in the immune system, other research also shows that low testosterone increases the risk of heart disease. 

Estrogen, on the other hand, may help reduce disease risk and prevent cell damage in women, as one <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3863713/">2013 review found</a>. 

A <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/women-live-longer-men/">2018 study</a> conducted by researchers from<a href="https://www.duke.edu/"> Duke University</a> found that even in dire circumstances such as famine where mortality dropped overall, women still outlived men, even as newborns. 

Another potential explanation is the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/women-outlive-men-chromosome/">second X chromosome</a> present in all female mammals. The role of women as mothers who give birth and nurture offspring may also play a key role in female longevity. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

We know that women live longer than men. The question is: why?

It’s a well-known fact that women generally live longer than...

Despite lacking scientific evidence or sometimes even common sense, certain conspiracy theories continue to persist. Some of the more popular ones include the ideas that the Earth is flat, bigfoot lives, lizard people control the government, the moon landing was faked.

While these theories continue to be debunked and debated, studies into the psychology and motives that drive belief in conspiracy theories have yielded many interesting <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/creationism-conspiracy-theories-thinking/">examinations of human nature</a>. 

Belief in conspiracy theories has been linked to prejudice, political disengagement, and little interest in environmental conservation. 

Now, new research has found that people who believe in conspiracy theories are also more likely to commit low-level crimes like claiming a lost item that doesn't belong to them. 

Two studies conducted by psychologists from the <a href="https://www.kent.ac.uk/">University of Kent</a> and <a href="http://www.staffs.ac.uk/">Staffordshire University</a> examined how belief in conspiracy theories influenced anti-social and unethical behavior. 

The research was published in the British Journal of Social Psychology

For the first study, 253 participants were asked about their stance on conspiracy theories like the British government hiding important national security matters from the public. Next, the participants were asked about how acceptable certain petty crimes and unethical activities were. 

The individuals that held a strong belief in conspiracy theories were more accepting of common petty crimes. 

With the second study, 120 people (not involved in the first study) were split into two groups. One group was given an article about a conspiracy theory to read. 

Both groups were asked about their opinions on petty, low-level crimes but the group that read about the conspiracy theory before answering the questions showed stronger tendencies toward committing a future crime. 

Exposure to a conspiracy theory increased feelings of anomie or a detachment from the usual ethical and social standards of society the researchers found. 

“Our research has shown for the first time the role that conspiracy theories can play in determining an individual's attitude to everyday crime,” said Karen Douglas, an author of the study. “It demonstrates that people subscribing to the view that others have conspired might be more inclined toward unethical actions.”

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Conspiracy theory believers are more likely to commit small crimes

Despite lacking scientific evidence or sometimes even common sense, certain...

Researchers from <a href="https://med.nyu.edu/education">New York University’s School of Medicine</a> have discovered the brain circuit that could be responsible for the ability to have high-speed, back-and-forth conversation. By studying the male Alston singing mouse, from the cloud forests of Costa Rica, researchers have launched a new model to examine the brain’s mechanisms that allow behind the sub-second precision of vocal turn-taking.

“Our work directly demonstrates that a brain region called the motor cortex is needed for both these mice and for humans to vocally interact," said senior author Michael Long, PhD, an associate professor of neuroscience at NYU School of Medicine."We need to understand how our brains generate verbal replies instantly using nearly a hundred muscles if we are to design new treatments for the many Americans for whom this process has failed, often because of diseases such as autism or traumatic events, like stroke.”

The study, published March 1st in <a href="https://www.sciencemag.org/">Science</a>, shows that circuits in the motor cortex of the brain enable the fast starts and stops of conversation while other areas of the brain tell muscles to create vocal notes.

"By segregating sound production and control circuits, evolution has equipped the brains of singing mice with the tight vocal control also seen in cricket exchanges, bird duets, and possibly, human discussion," said co-first author Arkarup Banerjee, PhD, a postdoctoral scholar in Long's lab.

Banerjee explained that, before their study, there were no suitable mammalian models to help them explore conversation besides the marmoset, a primate whose back-and-forth conversation is much slower than human speech. However, once the team realized that the singing mice “bend and break” their songs to fit a changing social situation, researchers were able to pinpoint the relationships between <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/depth-sleep-brain-flush-toxins/">brain</a> centers and song musculature during a mouse-to-mouse sing-song conversation.

Furthermore, researchers found that the orofacial motor cortex (OMC), located at the front and side of the motor cortex, regulated song timing. Knowing this, they were then able to slow the OMC via a safe method called “focal cooling” to observe functional separation between the brain between sound generation and timing functions.

The team will continue to use their mouse model to deeper explore speech circuits in human brains in an effort to better understand what happens when things go wrong due to disease and trauma.

--

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: NYU School of Medicine

Singing mice reveal how the brain clicks into conversation

Researchers from New York University’s School of Medicine have discovered...

A recent <a href="https://www.rutgers.edu/">Rutgers University</a> study, published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencemag.org/">Science</a>, has found that climate change and overfishing has shrunk many of the world’s fisheries. Researchers have found that ocean warming has caused an average 4.1% decline in sustainable catches for both fish and shellfish between 1930 and 2010. In five specific locations, including the East China Sea and North Sea, the average drop was between 15% and 35%.

These drop percentages are concerning as seafood has become a huge source of nourishment for the growing global population. And more than 56 million people work in the fisheries industry or subsist on fisheries, the researchers note.

"We recommend that fisheries managers eliminate overfishing, rebuild fisheries and account for climate change in fisheries management decisions," said study leader <a href="https://marine.rutgers.edu/~cfree/">Chris Free</a>, a postdoctoral scientist at the <a href="https://www.ucsb.edu/">University of California, Santa Barbara</a>. "Policymakers can prepare for regional disparities in fish catches by establishing trade agreements and partnerships to share seafood between winning and losing regions."

"We were stunned to find that fisheries around the world have already responded to ocean warming," said co-author <a href="https://marine.rutgers.edu/main/malin-pinsky">Malin Pinsky</a>, an associate professor in <a href="http://deenr.rutgers.edu/">Rutgers' Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources</a>. "These aren't hypothetical changes sometime in the future."

Although some ocean species have benefitted from warming ocean temperatures, these species can only take so much warming before they start to decline in numbers due to too high of temperatures, senior author <a href="https://marine.rutgers.edu/~ojensen/index.html">Olaf Jensen</a>, an associate professor in <a href="https://marine.rutgers.edu/main/">Rutgers' Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences</a>, said.

Scientists from <a href="https://newbrunswick.rutgers.edu/">Rutgers-New Brunswick</a> and the <a href="https://www.noaa.gov/">National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration</a> studied the impact of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-summer-weather-severe/">climate change</a> and ocean warming on 235 populations of 124 species in 38 global ecological regions. They then used ocean temperature maps to combine fishery data and estimate temperature-caused changes in the sustainable catch between 1930 and 2010. Losses were seen in areas like the Sea of Japan, North Sea, Iberian Coastal, Kuroshio Current, and Celtic-Biscay Shelf. Gains were recorded in the Labrador-Newfoundland, Baltic Sea, Indian Ocean, and Northeast U.S. Shelf.

Furthermore, the researchers note that overfishing makes species in fisheries more vulnerable to ocean warming, and continued warming will negatively impact efforts to rebuilt overfished areas.

The next step is for researchers to better understand the impact of tropical ocean warming as well as explore other factors related to the drop of sustainable catches in fisheries like ocean temperatures, ocean oxygen content, acidity, and productivity.

--

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Orion Weldon

Paid for by <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a>

Climate change has already shrunk many global fisheries

A recent Rutgers University study, published in the journal Science, has...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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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



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The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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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



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Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

The history of Mars is much more complex than we thought

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research



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



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Cavefish are healthy despite their sedentary lifestyle

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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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



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Satellites capture the world's biggest and fastest waves

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