Artificial <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/are-artificial-sweeteners-safe-the-debate-is-heating-up/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sweeteners</a> are appealing to those who want a sweet taste without the calories or health concerns associated with sugar. Yet, emerging research continues to uncover potential gut harm caused by sugar substitutes, such as neotame. 



A new study from Anglia Ruskin University (<a href="https://www.aru.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ARU</a>) sheds light on neotame, a relatively newer artificial sweetener, and its shocking effects on the gut.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-neotame-wrecks-havoc-on-the-gut-microbiome">How neotame wrecks havoc on the gut microbiome</h2>



According to the research, neotame directly harms the gut's protective lining and changes the behavior of good gut bacteria. This can weaken the gut barrier and disrupt the gut microbiome. These changes affect digestion, immune health, and can lead to various health problems.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-neotame-s-impact-on-epithelial-cells-in-the-gut">Neotame's impact on epithelial cells in the gut</h3>



Research indicates that neotame has the capacity to directly induce cell death in the epithelial cells that line your intestinal walls. The exact mechanism by which this occurs is still being investigated but might involve the disruption of essential cellular functions.



The epithelial lining of the gut plays a crucial role in maintaining a physical barrier between the contents of your digestive tract and your internal systems. 



This barrier is essential for both nutrient absorption and for protecting your body from harmful toxins, pathogens, and other substances found within the gut. Neotame's ability to kill these cells directly undermines the integrity of this barrier.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-neotame-s-disruption-of-gut-microbes">Neotame's disruption of gut microbes</h3>



Your gut is home to trillions of microorganisms, including bacteria like E.coli and E. faecalis. In a healthy state, many of these bacteria contribute to digestive processes and play a role in immune system support. However, exposure to neotame appears to induce negative changes in these bacteria.



Neotame can cause normally beneficial gut bacteria to become harmful. This includes increased adherence (sticking) to the gut wall, the ability to invade the gut lining, and the potential to break through the gut barrier and enter the bloodstream.



If harmful bacteria escape the confines of the gut and reach the bloodstream, this can cause sepsis - a life-threatening condition where the body has an extreme inflammatory response to infection.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-consequences-of-a-neotame-compromised-gut">Consequences of a Neotame compromised gut</h2>



Your gut is often called the "second brain." It's home to trillions of microorganisms, collectively known as your gut microbiome, that have a profound influence on your overall well-being. Here's what might happen when neotame disrupts your delicate gut ecosystem:



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-irritable-bowel-syndrome-ibs">Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)</h3>



As discussed, damage to the gut barrier can lead to increased intestinal permeability (often called "leaky gut"). This allows unwanted substances to pass through the gut lining and into the body, potentially triggering inflammation and immune responses that exacerbate IBS symptoms.



Research suggests that people with IBS often have altered gut microbiota compared to healthy individuals. An imbalance between beneficial and harmful gut bacteria can contribute to digestive distress, including abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, and constipation.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sepsis">Sepsis</h3>



A compromised gut barrier allows harmful bacteria to potentially escape from the digestive tract and enter the bloodstream. This translocation of bacteria can trigger a severe systemic inflammatory response known as sepsis.



Sepsis is a medical emergency. When not promptly treated, it can progress to septic shock, leading to multiple organ failure and death.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-metabolic-and-inflammatory-disorders">Metabolic and inflammatory disorders</h3>



The gut microbiome plays a significant role in regulating various metabolic processes, including energy harvesting from food and blood sugar control. An altered gut microbiome can contribute to metabolic dysregulation, leading to issues such as insulin resistance (a precursor to type 2 diabetes).



Disruptions in the gut microbiome from neotame can promote low-grade, chronic inflammation throughout the body. This sustained inflammation is a key contributor to the development of numerous chronic health conditions, including metabolic disorders, cardiovascular disease, and possibly even some forms of cancer.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-neotame-s-place-among-other-artificial-sweeteners">Neotame's place among other artificial sweeteners</h2>



This isn't the first time artificial sweeteners have been under scrutiny. “There is now growing awareness of the health impacts of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/artificial-sweeteners-obesity-diabetes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sweeteners</a> such as saccharin, sucralose and aspartame, with our own previous work demonstrating the problems they can cause to the wall of the intestine and the damage to the ‘good bacteria’ which form in our gut," said study senior author Dr. Havovi Chichger.



For people struggling with weight control, diabetes, or glucose intolerance, artificial sweeteners can be a tool. But the research on neotame and other <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/artificial-sweetener-has-been-linked-to-anxiety/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sweeteners</a> paints a complex picture. While they reduce sugar intake, the long-term consequences of their effect on the gut remain a significant health concern.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-things-to-consider">Things to consider </h2>



Before using any artificial <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/artificial-sweeteners-linked-to-increased-risk-of-cancer/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sweetener</a>, consider the following:



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-moderation-is-key">Moderation is key</h3>



<ul>
<li>Small amounts if needed:&nbsp;If you decide to incorporate artificial sweeteners into your diet, it's crucial to do so with extreme caution. Using them sparingly minimizes potential exposure and reduces the risk of negative effects on gut health.</li>



<li>Retraining your palate:&nbsp;Our taste preferences are adaptable. Gradually reducing your intake of artificial sweeteners and highly sweetened foods allows your taste buds to adjust. Over time, you'll appreciate and enjoy the subtle sweetness of naturally occurring sugars found in fruits, vegetables, and some dairy products.</li>
</ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-read-food-labels">Read food labels</h3>



<ul>
<li>Ingredient awareness:&nbsp;Scrutinize ingredient lists carefully. Artificial sweeteners like neotame, sucralose, aspartame, and others can appear in a surprising variety of products, including diet drinks, processed snacks, chewing gum, and even seemingly "healthy" bars or beverages.</li>



<li>Hidden names:&nbsp;Artificial sweeteners can go by many names. Be vigilant in spotting them on food labels to make more informed choices about what you consume.</li>
</ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-natural-alternatives">Natural alternatives</h3>



<ul>
<li>Stevia and monk fruit:&nbsp;These plant-derived sweeteners have little to no impact on blood sugar levels, making them potentially safer options. However, some individuals may find they have an aftertaste or digestive sensitivities to them.</li>



<li>Use with caution:&nbsp;Even natural <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/artificial-sweeteners-health-issues/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sweeteners</a> shouldn't be consumed in excess. The goal is to reduce your overall reliance on overly sweet flavors and to appreciate the inherent sweetness of whole foods.</li>
</ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-talk-to-your-doctor">Talk to your doctor</h3>



<ul>
<li>Personalized advice:&nbsp;Seeking guidance from your doctor or a registered dietitian is essential, especially if you have underlying health conditions like diabetes or any digestive issues.</li>



<li>Individualized approach:&nbsp;They can help you develop a dietary plan that addresses your specific needs and concerns while taking into account potential risks associated with artificial sweeteners.</li>
</ul>



The evolving understanding of the complex relationship between artificial sweeteners like neotame and gut health underscores the value of a whole-foods based diet. This recent research on neotame is another reminder that what we put into our bodies has far-reaching effects beyond simple taste and metabolism. 



Prioritizing healthy, unprocessed foods is the best way to support your gut microbiome and your overall well-being for the long term.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2024.1366409/full" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Frontiers in Nutrition</a>.



-----



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Artificial sweetener neotame has shocking effects on gut health

Artificial sweeteners are appealing to those who want a sweet taste without the calories or health concerns associated with sugar. Yet, emerging research continues to uncover potential gut harm caused by sugar substitutes, such as neotame. A new study from Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) sheds light on neotame, a relatively newer artificial sweetener, and its shocking effects on the gut. How neotame wrecks havoc on the gut microbiome According to the research, neotame directly harms the gut's protective lining and changes the behavior of good gut bacteria....

The wine industry is a large and complex machine, containing a delicate ecosystem that balances the contributions of a multitude of actors, from the growers all the way to the sommelier – who just conveniently suggested you buy the most expensive wine on the menu. In short, this industry is a little more complicated than just making wine for consumers to buy, which is why wine distributors look to researchers such as M. Hakan Hekimoglu of <a href="https://www.rpi.edu/">Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute</a> (RPI) to determine how to price their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/grape-waste-wine-antioxidants/">wines</a>.

Hekimoglu is an assistant professor of supply chain management at the Lally School of Management at RPI, and his publications on wine analytics are revered as highly influential by wine distributors. Along with Burak Kazaz of the Whitman School of Management at <a href="https://www.syracuse.edu/">Syracuse University</a>, he recently published a report outlining a new approach to predicting the release prices of Bordeaux wines (known as En Primeur prices). This approach uses weather information and the Liv-ex 100 index, and predicts a slight price increase this year for the 2017 vintage wines. 

“Our goal in this report is to provide insights regarding the impact of weather and market fluctuations in the release prices of fine wines and explain how analytical models can be used to determine and/or predict those prices,” says Hekimoglu.

The authors believe that this research will increase transparency in price dynamics, and help winemakers make important decisions on determining what prices to charge. This report should also assist buyers in knowing whether or not the En Primeur prices are appropriate. 

The report used data from the London International Vintners Exchange (Liv-ex), which is an international exchange for fine wine trade based in London. It predicts a 2.02 percent increase for the First Growth and a 1.47 percent increase for the Left Bank winemakers in Bordeaux — who are undoubtedly happy with this news. So if you’re looking to invest in some Bordeaux wines, it might make sense to do it sooner rather than later.

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

How weather and climate impact the price of wine

The wine industry is a large and complex machine, containing...

Researchers are reporting that chemical emissions from personal care products are contributing to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/half-americans-air-pollution/">air pollution</a>, according to a new study out of Boulder, Colorado. During rush hour, the magnitude of emissions from personal care products was found to be comparable to emissions from automobiles.

Study lead author Matthew Coggon is a CIRES scientist at the <a href="https://www.colorado.edu/">University of Colorado Boulder</a> working in the NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory.

“We detected a pattern of emissions that coincides with human activity: people apply these products in the morning, leave their homes, and drive to work or school. So emissions spike during commuting hours,” said Coggon.

Decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D5 Siloxane) belongs to a class of chemicals called volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which evaporate quickly. Once in the air, however, sunlight can trigger VOCs to react with nitrogen oxides and other compounds to form ozone and particulate matter.

The researchers measured levels of VOCs such as siloxane, which is commonly added to shampoo and lotion for a silky texture, as well as emissions of benzene and other chemicals emitted by vehicles. Measurements were conducted in 2015 and 2017 from the roof of NOAA's Earth System Research Laboratory, and in 2016 from a mobile lab on the ground in Boulder.

“We were surveying the air, monitoring every species our instrument was sensitive to - about 150 compounds,” said Coggon. “We found a big peak in the data but we didn't know what it was.”


Study co-author Patrick Veres suggested it may be siloxane. Because the siloxane emissions correlated with the benzene emissions from traffic, they expected to find it in vehicle exhaust. 

When they established that siloxane was not present in vehicle exhaust, they discovered that the common denominator between benzene and siloxane was commuting. Both siloxane and benzene emissions peaked when people set out for their morning work commute, and then decreased during the day.

Because the skin care and hair products were not as potent at the end of the day, the evening peak of siloxane emissions was lower compared to the morning peak.

A recent study led by CIRES and NOAA's Brian McDonald found that personal care products, household cleaners, paints, and pesticides produced around half of the VOC emissions in Los Angeles during the research period.


“This study provides further evidence that as transportation emissions of VOCs have declined, other sources of VOCs, including from personal care products, are emerging as important contributors to urban air pollution,” said McDonald.

“In this changing landscape, emissions from personal care products are becoming important,” said Coggon. “We all have a personal plume, from our cars and our personal care products. It's likely that emissions from personal care product also affect the air quality in other cities besides Boulder and L.A. Our team wants to learn more about these understudied sources of pollution.”

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/toc/esthag/52/1">Environmental Science and Technology</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Chemicals in skin and hair products contribute to air pollution

Researchers are reporting that chemical emissions from personal care products...

A new study from the <a href="http://www.bath.ac.uk/">University of Bath</a> has revealed that severe behavioral issues in young people may be caused by abnormal connectivity in key regions of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/strong-grip-brain-function/">brain</a>. The research is shedding new light on why some adolescents struggle to control their emotions and engage in the most serious forms of antisocial behavior.

The study was focused on young people who were known to have “conduct disorder,” a condition characterized by lying, truancy, and even physical violence.

The researchers used neuroimaging techniques to investigate a possible link between the severity of conduct disorder and psychopathic traits, such as a lack of remorse or guilt.

The scans were used to analyze the amygdala in teens with conduct disorder compared to teens without the disorder. The amygdala is a key region of the brain involved in understanding the emotions of others.

In prior studies, the research team had found that young people with conduct disorder have difficulty recognizing emotions in other people's faces, such as happiness and sadness. 

In the current study, the experts set out to determine what happens in the brain that would cause problems with facial expression recognition. The scientists theorized that they may find amygdala damage in patients with conduct disorder.

The team examined the connectivity between the amygdala and the prefrontal cortex, a region of the brain that governs planning, decision-making, and the moderation of social behavior.

The study revealed that teens with both conduct disorder and high levels of psychopathic traits showed normal connectivity between the amygdala and the prefrontal cortex. On the other hand, individuals who had conduct disorder alone demonstrated abnormal connectivity among these brain regions.

Dr. Graeme Fairchild explained, “These results may explain why young people with conduct disorder, but without psychopathic traits, find it difficult to control their emotions - especially strong negative emotions like anger.”


In the youths that had conduct disorder alone, areas of the brain which normally regulate emotions are less capable of doing so, putting these individuals at a higher risk for developing comorbid mental disorders. For example, adolescents with psychopathic traits may be protected more from the development of depression or anxiety compared to those who have conduct disorder alone.

“This study shows that there may be important differences between youths with high and low levels of psychopathic traits in the way the brain is wired,” said Dr. Fairchild. 

“The findings could have clinical implications, because they suggest that psychological treatments that enhance emotion regulation abilities are likely to be more effective in the youths with conduct disorder alone, than in the psychopathic subgroup.”

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://academic.oup.com/scan">Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Kids with behavioral problems may have differently wired brains

A new study from the University of Bath has revealed...

According to the “hygiene hypothesis,” children need to be exposed to germs so that their immune systems can develop resistance to diseases. A recent study from the <a href="https://www.colorado.edu/">University of Colorado Boulder</a> is providing more evidence to support this theory, finding that growing up in a rural environment around animals is linked to a more stress-resistant immune system and a lower risk of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/meditation-mental-health-benefits/">mental health</a> issues.

“It has already been very well documented that exposure to pets and rural environments during development is beneficial in terms of reducing risk of asthma and allergies later in life,” said co-author Christopher Lowry. “This study moves the conversation forward by showing for the first time in humans that these same exposures are likely to be important for mental health.”


The investigation, which was led by Professor Stefan Reber of the <a href="https://www.uni-ulm.de/en/">University of Ulm</a>, was focused on 40 healthy German males between 20 and 40 years old. Half of the individuals had grown up on a farm around animals and the other half had grown up in the city without any pets.

The study participants were tasked with giving a speech in front of a neutral audience before attempting to solve a challenging math problem while being timed. The researchers collected blood and saliva samples from the individuals before and after the challenges.

Those participants who had grown up in cities had a heightened immune response to the experience, including higher levels of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), prolonged elevation of the inflammatory compound interleukin 6, and muted activation of the anti-inflammatory compound interleukin 10.

“People who grew up in an urban environment had a much-exaggerated induction of the inflammatory immune response to the stressor, and it persisted throughout the two-hour period,” said Lowry

Despite intense immune responses, the participants from urban backgrounds surprisingly reported feeling less stress after the tests compared to participants from rural backgrounds.

“This exaggerated inflammatory response is like a sleeping giant that they are completely unaware of,” said Lowry.

In past studies, exaggerated inflammatory response has been linked to a higher risk of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) later in life. 

Previous research has also demonstrated that our immunoregulatory response to stress develops in childhood and is strongly influenced by our microbial environment.Humans are exposed to far fewer microorganisms in the city, which is now home to more than half of the global population.

“If you are not exposed to these types of organisms, then your immune system doesn't develop a balance between inflammatory and anti-inflammatory forces, and you can develop a chronic, low-grade inflammation and exaggerated immune reactivity that makes you vulnerable to allergy, autoimmune disease and, we propose, psychiatric disorders,” said Lowry.


The researchers recommend eating probiotics, spending more time in nature, and getting a pet.

The study is published in the <a href="http://www.pnas.org/">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a> (PNAS).

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Exposure to animals and the outdoors strengthens mental health

According to the “hygiene hypothesis,” children need to be exposed...

A new study from the <a href="https://ncar.ucar.edu/">National Center for Atmospheric Research</a> (NCAR) has revealed that the United States is no longer making as much progress in reducing the air pollutants that cause <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fertilized-soil-pollution-california/">smog</a>. The results of the research suggest that it may be harder than previously thought to achieve target levels of ozone pollution.

“Although our air is healthier than it used to be in the 80s and 90s, air quality in the U.S. is not progressing as quickly as we thought,” said study co-author Helen Worden. “The gains are starting to slow down.”


An international team of researchers analyzed satellite and ground-based measurements of nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide. They found that levels of these pollutants, which contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone, are not declining at a pace that is consistent with past years.

Levels of nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide have declined significantly since the 1970 Clean Air Act, which led to emission-reducing technologies such as the development of catalytic converters for vehicles. On the other hand, the standards for ozone are not being met by a number cities and regions across the United States.

The researchers found that emission reductions dramatically stalled out between 2011 and 2015. In fact, nitrogen oxide concentrations dropped 76 percent more slowly from 2011 to 2015 compared to the previous decade from 2005 to 2009.

The Environmental Protection Agency had substantially underestimated the slowdown of these reductions in the same time frame, reporting that progress only declined by 16 percent.

The study authors have determined several reasons for the lingering prevalence of nitrogen oxides, including slower-than-expected reductions in emissions by diesel trucks and increasing emissions from industrial, residential, and commercial boilers and off-road vehicles.


Study co-author Brian McDonald is a scientist with the <a href="http://www.noaa.gov/">National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration</a> and the <a href="https://cires.colorado.edu/">Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences</a>.

“As you become effective at controlling emissions from cars and power plants, the other sources become more important and there's less information about them,” said McDonald.


The researchers explained that follow-up studies combined with more sophisticated satellite tools will provide experts with more accurate data to interpret how pollution is changing with emissions regulations.


“The top-down satellite measurements and the inventories provide complementary data that will enable us to get better estimates of the emission sources,” said McDonald. “It will be useful to learn more about why the discrepancies exist and why the trend toward better air quality is slowing down.”

The study will be published in the journal <a href="http://www.pnas.org/">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Air quality improvement in the U.S. has slowed down

A new study from the National Center for Atmospheric Research...

<div id="titlewrap"></div>
36 million urban trees vanishing every year in the United States. The <a href="https://www.fs.fed.us/">U.S. Forest Service</a> is reporting that trees are rapidly vanishing in urban regions across the United States. Between 2009 and 2014, approximately 175,000 acres of urban tree cover, which is the equivalent of 36 million trees, was lost annually.

<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/quality-life-megacities-trees/">Trees</a> provide invaluable benefits to urban areas, such as absorbing harmful pollutants and combating noise pollution. Trees also cool the local air temperature, reduce heat islands, conserve water, and help to prevent flooding and soil erosion. Furthermore, urban trees significantly reduce energy costs.36 million urban trees vanishing every year in the United States

According to the report, the “estimated loss of benefits from trees in urban areas is conservatively valued at $96 million per year.”

The research team used aerial photographs to assess changes in tree cover from 2009 to 2014 within urban areas and urban communities across all 50 states and the District of Columbia. 

Overall, 23 states had significant tree cover loss, 25 states had no significant changes, and three states had an insignificant increase in tree cover. 

The biggest difference was found in urban areas, where one percent of tree cover disappeared during the study period. There was also a 0.7 percent drop in the number of trees located in communities surrounding urban areas. The greatest declines were found in Oklahoma, Washington D.C., Rhode Island, Oregon, and Georgia.

The researchers also noted that impervious surfaces, such as roads or cement, increased by almost the same amount as tree cover loss in cities and communities. The researchers estimated that around 40 percent of these new impervious surfaces existed in areas where trees once grew.

“The pattern of decreasing tree cover and increasing impervious surfaces indicate a synergistic pattern of loss of environmental benefits (e.g., air temperature cooling by trees) and increased environmental issues (e.g., air temperature increases associated with impervious surfaces),” wrote the study authors.

The experts warned that this emerging pattern will continue unless policymakers make tree cover more of a priority.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.journals.elsevier.com/urban-forestry-and-urban-greening/">Urban Forestry and Urban Greening</a>. 

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

36 million urban trees vanishing every year in the United States

36 million urban trees vanishing every year in the United...

It’s common knowledge that eating healthy, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/exercise-makes-heart-younger/">exercising</a>, and refraining from tobacco use leads to a longer, healthier life. In fact, following these lifestyle tips could prolong life expectancy at the age of 50 by 14 years for women and roughly 12 years for men, according to recent research published in the American Heart Association’s journal <a href="http://circ.ahajournals.org/">Circulation</a>.

Despite being one of the wealthiest countries in the world, the average American has a shorter life expectancy compared to other wealthy countries, such as Japan, Canada, and Norway. In the United States, conditions like heart disease and stroke are major contributors to premature death, with 2,300 Americans dying of cardiovascular disease every day. 

In an effort to quantify the effects of disease prevention, researchers assessed data from two major ongoing cohort studies, including dietary, lifestyle, and medical information from the Nurses’ Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study. Combined with data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data and mortality data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the researchers used this data to estimate the impact of lifestyle factors on the life expectancy of U.S. citizens.

The study analyzes five factors that could affect a person’s life expectancy. These factors are not smoking, eating a healthy diet, regularly exercising, keeping a healthy body weight, and moderate alcohol consumption. The results showed that following all five lifestyle behaviors is linked to improved longevity for both men and women. Those who followed these lifestyle habits were 82 percent likely to have died from cardiovascular disease and 65 percent less likely to die from cancer within the study’s follow-up period. 

The American healthcare system focuses mostly on drug discovery and disease management, but the study’s authors believe an increased emphasis on disease prevention could help life expectancy trends. 

“Quantifying the association between healthy lifestyle factors and longer life expectancy is important not only for individual behavioral changes but also for health communicators and policy makers,” says study author Dr. Frank B. Hu, who chairs the Department of Nutrition at the <a href="https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/">Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health</a> in Boston. “It is critical to put prevention first. Prevention, through diet and lifestyle modifications, has enormous benefits in terms of reducing occurrence of chronic diseases, improving life expectancy as shown in this study, and reducing healthcare costs.”

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

5 healthy habits proven to increase life expectancy

It’s common knowledge that eating healthy, exercising, and refraining from...

Sleeping with the light on can make your circadian rhythm miss a beat. Now, medical researchers are beginning to understand why.

A new study published in the <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1113/JP275501">Journal of Physiology</a> explores how missing sleep during the dark hours of the night can affect the production of melatonin. The hormone, which helps regulate sleep and is produced by the brain during the night, can be suppressed if someone is frequently exposed to light before sleep.

In a 9- to 10-day inpatient study at <a href="https://www.brighamandwomens.org/">Brigham and Women’s Hospital</a>, researchers used continuous and intermittent light during sleeping periods to test whether melatonin suppression and the circadian rhythm are connected. The study included tight control over the participants activity levels and sleep/wake schedule.

The team hopes to find whether a correlation between melatonin levels and circadian phase resetting – the process that sets the internal clock using day and night cues from one’s environment – might equal causation.

But in the end, the research didn’t show a strong link. The intermittent light patterns were shown to trigger larger phase shifts, even though they caused less melatonin suppression. 

"Overall, our data suggest that melatonin suppression and phase resetting are sometimes correlated, but ultimately are regulated by separate neurophysiological processes. Therefore melatonin suppression is not a reliable surrogate for phase resetting," said Dr. Shadab Rahman, who led the study.

The study could have an impact on people who have poor quality sleep, like shift workers, as well as those battling depression. 

The small sample size indicates that more research is needed, the researchers warned. Still, it may be time to look into techniques other than melatonin suppression to reset circadian rhythm.

"This is an important consideration for developing light-therapy treatments for people who have poor quality sleep and biological clock disruption, such as shift workers, or disorders such as depression. Additional work is needed to optimize light therapy protocols used as treatment," Rahman said.

—

By Kyla Cathey,<a href="http://www.earth.com"> Earth.com</a> staff writer

Sleeping when it's light? Your circadian rhythm may be off

Sleeping with the light on can make your circadian rhythm...

Have you ever noticed that after an intense <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/exercise-makes-heart-younger/">workout</a>, you may not have much of an appetite, despite having burned a considerable amount of calories?

Young-Hwan Jo, an associate professor of medicine and molecular pharmacology at the <a href="http://www.einstein.yu.edu/">Albert Einstein College of Medicine</a>, was curious why after bouts of intense exercise, running around a track near his house, his body temperature was raised and he lost his appetite for several hours afterward.

“I'm a neuroscientist who studies the hypothalamus--the portion of the brain that plays the central role in regulating metabolism and weight,” said Jo. “I wondered if certain hypothalamic neurons sense temperature increases and respond to exercise-induced warming by releasing a 'stop eating!' message.”

Now, a new study led by Jo may pave the way for weight loss treatments by targeting receptors in the brain to suppress appetite. 

The study was published in the journal PLOS Biology. 

Sensory neurons equipped with heat-detecting TRPV1 receptors are found all throughout the body. TRPV1 receptors are the reason we get a burning sensation from eating spicy foods such as jalapenos. 

The receptors are actually reacting to an active ingredient called capsaicin, which is common in spicy cuisine. TRPV1 receptors also react to physical heat.

For the study, the researchers used mice to see if specific neurons in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) of the hypothalamus in the brain had similar heat-detecting receptors which might explain the loss of appetite after exercising.

Hypothalamus tissue containing proopiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons known for suppressing appetite were taken from mice and the researchers exposed the tissue samples to capsaicin and heat. 

The POMC neurons reacted to both heat and the capsaicin proving that a region in hypothalamus contained similar heat-detecting receptors like TRPV1. 

The researchers then conducted experiments with mice to examine how exactly these receptors in the brain curb appetite and send messages to the brain and body to reduce food intake. 

When the researchers infused capsaicin in the ARC of the mice, food intake was reduced for twelve hours. 

As part of the experiments, the mice were put on treadmills for 40 minutes which rapidly increased their temperate and also suppressed appetite. Exercising mice reduced their food intake by 50 percent compared to mice who hadn’t run the treadmills. 

The results help explain why exercising, which raises body temperature, suppresses appetite and could help provide new treatments for weight loss in the future. 

“Our study provides evidence that body temperature can act as a biological signal that regulates feeding behavior, just like hormones and nutrients do,” said Jo. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Why you don’t feel hungry after an intense workout

Have you ever noticed that after an intense workout, you...

<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-galapagos-islands-are-struggling-from-the-growth-of-ecotourism/">Tourists</a> are generally considered to be either oblivious or indifferent to their impact on the natural environment, so it’s natural to be a bit skeptical of new rise of ‘ecotourism’ and ‘volunteerism’ as forces for good.  Many of the people I’ve met make a distinction between being a traveler and a tourist, but if I’m honest with myself, the distinction often becomes a bit fuzzy. Largely those who call themselves travelers and disdain the title of ‘tourist’ are speaking from a lofty, even classist vantage.  Those with little funds for long term travel or little wherewithal to travel independent of organized tours, hotels with security or areas catering to those speaking English are shunted into the category of ‘tourist’.

The whole idea of tourism seems to be changing though.  The <a href="http://www.un.org/en/">United Nations</a> (UN) declared 2017 as the ‘International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development’, recognizing:

“the important role of sustainable tourism as a positive instrument towards the eradication of poverty, the protection of the environment, the improvement of quality of life and the economic empowerment of women and youth and its contribution to… sustainable development, especially in developing countries.”

The UN designated 2002 as the Year of Ecotourism.  According to the UN World Tourism Organization, in 2030, 57% of arriving tourists will be in emerging economies.  Tourism is growing too, in 2016 international tourist arrivals reached 1.2 billion, a 3.9% growth from the year before.  Some regions are increasingly reliant on tourist dollars for their economies and consumer demand has the power to make change for good or for ill.  

I’ve travelled to the Bahamas to help with parrot research and conservation.  I stayed in a beach house lent by a friend to the project with three other volunteer research assistants.  Days were spent hiking in the forest listening carefully for parrots, following the birds and marking nests on a GPS.  The parrots loud squawking, the damp heat of the forest, the quick glimpse of a buzzing Bahama Woodstar (hummingbird) passing are some of my better memories from the Bahamas.  Learning to use Technu soap to wash poison wood sap off, early hours and the loss of hot water in the house were just par for the course. While I was in the Bahamas, the game warden was generous enough to invite us to his house for delicious meals, take us through the forest to visit a lighthouse and generally share his country with us.  

There was a moment in the Bahamas when everything seemed to change.  I drove the project truck into the field as I’d been doing for some time.  People were walking through the forest, along the dirt road. Many of the people I saw didn’t have shoes.  Some had small backpacks with some supplies, most had nothing but the clothes on their backs. Children walked hand in hand with exhausted looking parents.  There was a worn look of poverty over the people we saw in the forest, people with no money and no recourse was my impression. 

I didn’t talk to any of the people I saw in the forest that day.  I didn’t understand who the people were or why they were there at first.  One of the other volunteers encountered a man in the forest who asked her for water, which she gave him, he said, “God bless the USA”.

The people in the forest were Haitians who’d spent probably most of all the money they had to be smuggled to the US; which is where they thought they were.  Dropped off in the Bahamas, the people I saw were in a desperate situation, fleeing poverty for opportunities Americans take for granted, they risked everything.  This wasn’t long after the earthquake had hit Haiti in 2010, killing an estimated 220,000 to 300,000 people and injuring 300,000. 1.5 million people were initially misplaced by the earthquake.      

The Haitian refugees were rounded up by the government of the Bahamas, including the game manager and his dogs helped catch those desperate people in the forest.  As a volunteer I was helpless, we all were, the woman who selected us was complicit in the refugees being captured and even complained about illegal immigrants. I couldn’t help but question what I was doing there.  I felt for the plight of the parrots that were captured in the pet trade and those killed by non-native feral cats. I also felt more deeply the desperation and pain of the refugees in the forest that day; I wanted to help them.  

Since that time in the Bahamas I’ve volunteered with sea turtles in Equatorial Guinea and reforestation in Madagascar, I co-managed a nature reserve in Ecuador.  I’ve often had a mix of feelings about my own place volunteering in another country. I’ve had locals offer to carry me across streams they crossed daily so I wouldn’t get a parasite that they commonly suffered.  I’ve given food to people staring hungrily through the window of a restaurant I was eating at. Largely I’ve felt incredibly helpless to make a change for good for either wildlife or people no matter how hard I tried.  Madagascar has its share of Peace Corps members, Catholic aid groups and UN workers but its problems are incredibly complex. Equatorial Guinea is at a crossroads as cities boom with newfound wealth and modernization from oil and villages without roads have no electricity or running water.

Many problems volunteers try to combat are partially caused by their home countries governments or consumption.  One Canadian volunteer in Madagascar I talked to complained about a friend who was going to work for an oil company in environmental compliance.  To the Canadian, his friend was selling out as an environmentalist; I reminded him that he was using a lot of oil to get to Madagascar from Canada.  I was no different. I wonder at the motivation of many international volunteers, myself included. Sure, I wanted to help but I also wanted to see an exotic place, learn, grow in a rather selfish way and perhaps even further my own career.  

A look at the <a href="https://www.gooverseas.com/">GoOverseas.com</a> makes me wonder even more at the motives behind the growing number of overseas volunteers.  The website ranks the top 15 countries searched on their website for volunteers in 2012. Haiti, the same country that was devastated by an earthquake, whose refugees I saw in the Bahamas, rated at #14.  Ireland and Australia, significantly wealthier countries rated higher at #12 and #9 respectively. I wonder if someone volunteering in a country like Australia or Ireland thinks they’re really helping solve deeply entrenched problems.  The website noted that interest of volunteers waned in countries like Haiti overtime but it’s hard to imagine Haiti couldn’t use the help more than Australia a mere 2 years after a major earthquake. In 2014, 145,000 Haitians remained misplaced, living in temporary camps.

The project I volunteered at in Equatorial Guinea also monitored monkeys in the area and had years of data showing monkey populations diving as proof.  Collecting data isn’t always enough to help protect a species. We can’t always make real change sticking to the safe work organizations will allow international volunteers to do.  

I still travel.  I still encourage others to travel.  I still even maintain a positive attitude about travel.  Travel and volunteering are more complex than whether you can ‘change the world’ or ‘make a difference’ yourself.  I believe in education and I know of no better education than being in another culture, another place, another environment than the one you know best.  The world is complex and its problems are equally complex. We must learn from others, not just export our ways to the world if we want to solve any problems.  I feel like a better informed citizen of my own country, more valuable in my home because of my experiences abroad. I would be blissfully unaware of my own culpability in war, in economic inequality, in environmental destruction if I’d stayed at home.  Bananas I buy may contribute to birth defects in Latin America because of pesticides. I can read an article about the pesticides but it isn’t the same as seeing pain first hand. 

As Vanda Shiva said, 

“The poor are not those who have been ‘left behind’; they are the ones who have been robbed.”

It’s important to know the people and even the plants and animals robbed for your own benefit.  The only way we’ll ever change the world is by letting it change us. 

--

By <a href="mailto:zachfitzner@yahoo.com">Zach Fitzer</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

The effects of overseas tourism and volunteerism are not so clear

Tourists are generally considered to be either oblivious or indifferent...

A new study out of Canada found that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/young-people-perfect/">millennial</a> men value selflessness, health, and openness, which is contrary to the popular stereotype of the hedonistic, selfish, and hyper-competitive male caricature we often see painted by society. 

Conducted by researchers from the <a href="https://www.ubc.ca/">University of British Columbia</a> and<a href="https://www.intensions.co/"> Intensions Consulting</a>, the results were published in the journal Psychology of Men &amp; Masculinity and show that self-care and altruism were valued highly by millennial men. 

For the study, the researchers surveyed 630 men in western Canada ages 15 to 29 and asked about different values. The results showed that selflessness was the most highly valued trait among the responders. 

80 percent of the participants agreed that men should help out in their communities and 88 percent said that men should be open to new ideas and experiences. 

Health and self-care were also important values as the participants said men should be healthy and in good shape. 

Other old-school or traditional values of previous generations of men like strength and independence were still ranked highly, however, there was an almost equal emphasis on emotional and intellectual strength. 

“Young Canadian men seem to be holding masculine values that are distinctly different from those of previous generations,” said John Oliffe, the study’s lead author. “These values may run counter to long-standing claims that young men are typically hedonistic, hypercompetitive, and that they risk or neglect their health.” 

Nick Black, the study’s co-author says that the results show how Canadian values in young men are expanding and changing in a way that still incorporates the more traditional ideals of independence and strength. 

“As a millennial myself, I can see these values reflected in the lives of men around me,” said Black. “They want to be both caring and strong, both open to others and self-sufficient, and they see no contradiction in these values.”

The researchers say the results could help develop more effective healthcare program for men and hopefully expand to include other age groups and locations in future studies.

--

By<a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com"> Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Millennial men are different and value health and selflessness

A new study out of Canada found that millennial men...

Researchers at the <a href="https://healthcare.utah.edu/">University of Utah Health</a> are aiming to use music as a therapeutic way of easing anxiety in Alzheimer's patients. The experts are focusing their efforts on a network in the brain that is stimulated by music and is largely unaffected by <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/twice-americans-alzheimers-2060/">Alzheimer's disease</a>.

“People with dementia are confronted by a world that is unfamiliar to them, which causes disorientation and anxiety,” said study co-author Dr. Jeff Anderson. “We believe music will tap into the salience network of the brain that is still relatively functioning.”


Previous studies have shown that music can improve the mood of dementia patients. The current study investigated a mechanism that is connected to the salience region of the brain.

Dementia patients and their caretakers created a playlist of meaningful songs which were loaded into a portable media player.

“When you put headphones on dementia patients and play familiar music, they come alive,” said study first author Jace King. “Music is like an anchor, grounding the patient back in reality.”


The researchers conducted brain scans to track activity as the patients listened to 20-second clips of music or silence. The participants were presented with eight clips of music from their collections, eight clips of the same tracks played in reverse, and eight intervals of silence.


The study revealed that music stimulated brain activity, causing entire brain regions to communicate. As the patients listened to their personal songs, the salience network showed substantially higher functional connectivity with the visual network, the executive network, and the cerebellar and cortical cerebellar networks.

“This is objective evidence from brain imaging that shows personally meaningful music is an alternative route for communicating with patients who have Alzheimer's disease,” said senior author Dr. Norman Foster.

“Language and visual memory pathways are damaged early as the disease progresses, but personalized music programs can activate the brain, especially for patients who are losing contact with their environment.”

The study authors pointed out that the results of the research are not conclusive and that it is unknown whether the enhancement effects observed in the patients are long-term or short-term.

The research offers a new approach to treating agitation, depression, and anxiety in dementia patients. The activation of neighboring brain regions may also have implications for treatments to delay the progression of cognitive decline.

“In our society, the diagnoses of dementia are snowballing and are taxing resources to the max,” said Dr. Anderson. “No one says playing music will be a cure for Alzheimer's disease, but it might make the symptoms more manageable, decrease the cost of care and improve a patient's quality of life.”

The research is published in <a href="http://www.jpreventionalzheimer.com/">The Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Music helps treat anxiety and depression in adults with dementia

Researchers at the University of Utah Health are aiming to...

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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

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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

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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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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



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

Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

The history of Mars is much more complex than we thought

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research



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



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

Cavefish are healthy despite their sedentary lifestyle

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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites capture the world's biggest and fastest waves

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> describes why satellite images and measurements of our planet have become "essential to our survival, offering a new outlook of our world."&nbsp;



Rising sea levels pose one of the biggest societal threats associated with climate change. According to ESA, satellite altimeter missions such as Copernicus Sentinel-6 are essential in monitoring global and regional changes in sea level.



"Unbeknown to many, the island of Crete, Greece, plays an important role in the Copernicus satellite altimetry constellation and on an international stage," reports ESA.



"Satellite altimetry data have to be continuously monitored at the ESA’s Permanent Facility for Altimetry Calibration where different techniques have pioneered the use of transponders to provide the best measurements to validate satellite altimeters in space soon after launch."



Dr. Craig Donlon explains that, by understanding planet Earth through satellite measurements, we are able to find evidence of change.&nbsp;



Video Credit: European Space Agency&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

Satellites have become essential to our survival

[sendtonews key="761m2QQvR1-2035772-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...