Falling asleep and waking up refreshed is something most of us crave. Yet some people appear to thrive on fewer hours, leaving everyone else wondering how they manage it. A new study involving a healthy older adult suggests that a rare gene mutation might be a key to needing fewer hours of sleep.



The research was led by Dr. Hao Chen from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), whose team investigated a "natural short sleeper" <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/one-night-of-lost-sleep-can-trigger-hidden-health-issues/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">trait</a> linked to a genetic variant in the SIK3 gene.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-genetics-influence-sleep-duration">How genetics influence sleep duration</h2>



Scientists who explore patterns of rest have long recognized that people’s genetic makeup can influence how much <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sleep-prepares-the-brain-for-the-future-while-protecting-memories-of-the-past/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sleep</a> they need. This latest finding highlights how even a slight genetic tweak might reduce the time required for the brain and body to recover.



Those who qualify as short sleepers function at a normal or high level despite clocking fewer hours in bed. Researchers classify them separately from individuals suffering from insomnia, because these short sleepers typically wake up rested and show no health problems tied to exhaustion.



One older participant reported sleeping around 6.3 hours per night yet displayed sharp cognition and good health. Her genetic profile pointed to a single mutation as the possible reason for her efficient slumber.



These individuals, referred to as natural short sleepers, seem wired to operate on less rest. Specialists are intrigued by how they sail through daily life with no visible drawbacks.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gene-mutation-and-sleep-patterns">Gene mutation and sleep patterns</h2>



The <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/protein-kinases" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">kinase protein</a> produced by the SIK3 gene relays signals that influence various cellular processes. Scientists suspect that changes in kinase function might play a role in controlling how much time the body devotes to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sleep-can-boost-memory-in-a-surprising-way/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sleep</a>.



When Dr. Chen’s team transferred this mutation to lab mice, the animals spent slightly less time resting each day. This observation hinted at a biological mechanism that could be significant across different species.



“Studying human sleep genes not only expands our knowledge regarding the sleep regulatory network, but also may bring the basic research from mouse models to clinical relevance,” noted the researchers.



Brain scans in the test mice revealed that their <a href="https://www.thermofisher.com/us/en/home/life-science/protein-biology/protein-biology-learning-center/protein-biology-resource-library/pierce-protein-methods/phosphorylation.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">phosphorylation</a> patterns changed, especially around the areas that oversee rest and wake cycles. This shift aligns with the idea that sleep is coordinated by a web of signals in the brain that might be influenced by tiny chemical tweaks.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-genetic-mutations-in-short-sleepers">Genetic mutations in short sleepers</h2>



Scientists have now identified at least five distinct genetic mutations linked to the natural short sleep trait. Each one affects different proteins involved in the brain’s signaling and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sleep-quality-could-be-the-key-to-better-metabolic-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sleep</a>-wake rhythms, hinting at multiple pathways that might influence rest duration.



The SIK3 variant joins others such as <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1073/pnas.1801693115" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">DEC2</a>, <a href="https://www.ajmc.com/view/a-rare-gene-mutation-is-associated-with-requiring-less-sleep-researchers-say" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ADRB1</a>, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/387129" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NPSR1</a>, and <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/14816" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">GRM1</a>, each contributing a piece to the sleep efficiency puzzle. Researchers believe that mapping these variants could eventually lead to a full blueprint of how the body regulates its need for sleep.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-treatments-for-sleep-disorders">Treatments for sleep disorders</h2>



Researchers think there could be important applications for people who struggle with sleep disorders. Adjusting the pathways linked to this genetic variant might shorten the time needed to feel rested, although practical therapies will likely take time to refine.



Still, scientists caution that these insights do not give an excuse to slash nightly rest. They emphasize that ordinary individuals without the mutation may not reap any benefits from copying a short sleeper’s schedule.



Experts see promise in pursuing treatments that enhance the body’s own efficiency. They hope new knowledge of genetic influences will guide strategies to help those who find it difficult to get restorative rest.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-research-on-short-sleep-genes">Future research on short-sleep genes </h2>



Short-sleep genes have captured the imagination of specialists for years. There is strong interest in mapping out exactly how the human brain resets itself, and why some people get the same benefits in a compressed timeframe.



“These [NSS] people, all these functions our bodies are doing while we are sleeping, they can just perform at a higher level than we can,” said neuroscientist and geneticist Ying-Hui Fu, from the University of California, San Francisco (<a href="https://www.ucsf.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UCSF</a>). 



Scientists aim to <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37398097/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">uncover</a> the precise factors that grant this group their resilience. Many research teams intend to investigate how broader networks of genes might interact to influence rest. 



The SIK3 discovery raises big questions about what else might affect daily energy levels and long-term health.



Fascination with short sleepers is unlikely to fade soon. Unlocking the secrets of their genetics could reshape how we view rest, opening a path to solutions for chronic sleep troubles.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2500356122" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PNAS</a>.



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Rare gene explains why some people can thrive on less sleep

Falling asleep and waking up refreshed is something most of us crave. Yet some people appear to thrive on fewer hours, leaving everyone else wondering how they manage it. A new study involving a healthy older adult suggests that a rare gene mutation might be a key to needing fewer hours of sleep. The research was led by Dr. Hao Chen from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), whose team investigated a "natural short sleeper" trait linked to a genetic variant in the SIK3 gene. How genetics...

<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/people-believe-fake-news/">Fake news</a> has gotten more difficult to weed out due to the amplifying effects of social media and easy access to constant news coverage. 

This has resulted in a loss of trust both in the news and scientific information which is continuously debated, denied, and downplayed by high profile figureheads in the government and media. 

Not only is this damaging to reputable and credible news organizations, but the denial of breaking new scientific findings and reports can also delay policy action and endanger the public’s safety and well-being. 

How do you combat the flood of fake news and the wave of mistrust it has created in its wake? 

A series of studies presented at the 2018 <a href="http://www.sra.org/">Society for Risk Analysis (SRA)</a> Annual Meeting this week in New Orleans tackled the risks posed by fake news, social media, and scientific retractions and developed tools and practices to help create more mindful consumers and journalists. 

For one study, researchers from the <a href="https://umich.edu/">University of Michigan</a> developed an intervention method to help people recognize fake climate science news on Facebook. 

The researchers asked participants to take part in an online survey where they had to read a Facebook post about climate change and think about the information. The participants were put in one of the three groups with the goal of finding a better way to assess and evaluate information. 

The first group had to think carefully about the information and the second group had to rate the importance of different attributes of news such as credibility, how believable the information is, and if it comes from a reliable source. 

For the third group, participants were asked to create their own important attributes for judging the news. 

Having a list of attributes and ranking them had the most positive results and more people from group two were able to point out the fake news in the Facebook post compared to the other groups. 

The second study, conducted by researchers from the <a href="https://www.usc.edu/">University of Southern California</a>, examined how a terror attack influences emotions on social media both for residents close to the event and those far away who only read or heard about it on the news. 

The researchers reviewed 36,259 Tweets posted within seven days of the 2016 Orlando nightclub shooting and found that fear and anger increased after the attack. Interestingly, closer to the attack, fear and anger dissipated sooner compared to Tweets from those who were farther away. 

Distance from an event creates longer periods of anger and fear in response to the event. 

For the third study in the presentation, researchers from the <a href="https://umich.edu/">University of Michigan</a> and the <a href="https://www.uidaho.edu/">University of Idaho</a> examined the impact of publishing retractions on people’s trust. 

Research has found that news coverage that negatively criticizes retractions can cause people to lose faith in scientific findings concerning important health risks or advances in technology. 

The study found that journalists need to practice caution with how retractions are covered. It’s important to discuss why the information was retracted as an honest mistake is much different than intentional misconduct. 

If people have a clearer understanding as to why a study is retracted it can help retain public trust in the scientific community. 

Trust in the news and scientific community is crucial for keeping the public informed, reducing partisan bias, and ensuring the health and safety of the world’s populations are not needlessly endangered through the delayed implementation of important policies.

--

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>

New research offers tools to combat fake news

Fake news has gotten more difficult to weed out due...

Did early <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stone-age-humans-connected/">Stone Age</a> humans living in Europe ritualistically cut off their own fingers

A large number of Upper Paleolithic cave paintings of hands with fingers missing seems to suggest that this was in fact the case.

Hand images, which can refer to either stencils or paintings, are one of the most common and earliest forms of rock art. In France, there are two caves with Stone Age hand images that have missing digits. 

One of the caves, Gargas, has 231 hands painted around the walls and 114 are missing at least one piece of finger. The second cave, Cosquer, has 49 hand images and 28 are missing some sort of finger segment, according to <a href="https://www.newscientist.com/article/2186994-stone-age-people-may-have-ritually-cut-off-their-own-fingers/">New Scientist</a>. 

In Spain, researchers have documented 61 hand images with missing fingers or segments in caves as well. 

There are several proposed hypotheses as to why these hand images are so common, including that the fingers were lost due to frostbite or that the missing fingers are part of some early counting system. 

In a new study published in the Journal of Paleolithic Archaeology, researchers from <a href="https://www.sfu.ca/">Simon Fraser University</a> have a different hypothesis altogether, one that points to intentional amputation for sacrifice or as part of a religious rite. 

Mark Collard, along with a team of colleagues, decided to use a cross-cultural approach to find a better explanation for the missing finger images. 

Because finger amputation was not an uncommon practice in certain cultures and societies, the researchers wondered if there was any link that could be made to explain the Upper Paleolithic hand images. 

“Finger amputation was a reasonably common behaviour in many regions in the recent past,” Collard said to New Scientist. “The available data seem to fit reasonably well with the hypothesis that some Upper Palaeolithic people engaged in finger amputation for the purposes of religious sacrifice.” 

The researchers reviewed many different historical texts including travel journals, expedition archives, and ethnographic documents to find evidence of societies that engaged in “phalangeal amputation” or the intentional removal of fingers and created a taxonomy of amputation practices around the world. 

Finger amputation was mentioned across 188 sources and practiced by 121 groups or societies. The reasons for finger amputation ranged from sacrificial, to a type of punishment, to a sign of mourning. 

Collard told New Scientist that he and his team hypothesize that the Upper Paleolithic hand images were the result of a religious sacrifice or mourning. 

“The idea that the hand images reflect sacrifice is consistent with the way that cave art has been interpreted by many researchers over the years,” said Collard. “Cave art is often in dark, hard-to-access parts of caves, which is consistent with them being part of some sort of dysphoric ritual.”

While the recent study presents an interesting approach to trying to make sense of prehistoric practices, there are those that still maintain the hand images are due to frostbite or that the fingers were just folded back. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Image Credit: Jean Clottes/McCauley et al./Journal of Paleolithic Archaeology

Stone Age cave art suggests intentional finger amputation

Did early Stone Age humans living in Europe ritualistically cut...

Several new studies are exploring the best risk assessment and risk mitigation practices to prepare for future severe weather events. Due to the extreme weather patterns associated with <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/humans-driving-climate-change/">climate change</a>, past strategies are no longer adequate. 

As scientists are considering the possibility of Category 6 hurricanes and sea levels continue to rise, coastal communities are increasingly threatened. Adaptation plans are needed, and researchers are urging local officials to perform risk assessments to identify the biggest dangers in their areas. 

There is considerable debate about which adaptation strategies can realistically reduce the vulnerability of communities. Some measures, such as building sea walls, can inadvertently increase long-term vulnerability. To demonstrate, researchers led by Tom Logan at the <a href="https://umich.edu/">University of Michigan</a> used models combining land use changes and tsunami-inundation. The team has also found that educating a community on hazard awareness can successfully reduce vulnerability.

In another study, a team led by Tamsin Lyle of Ebbwater Consulting Inc. has been working with the city of Vancouver to thoroughly assess flood risk and risk tolerance.

“Some of the tools that we developed and will be presenting push boundaries in terms of coupling flood impacts and likelihoods with non-stationary climate hazards,” said Lyle. “We have added a third dimension to traditional ideas and methods. This was effective at showing how flood mitigation actions work over time.”

In Louisiana, six billion dollars has been allocated to the Comprehensive Master Plan for a Sustainable Coast, which is a 50-year plan for reducing flood risk and preventing land loss. The plan involves flood risk reduction measures such as elevating homes, floodproofing commercial properties, and buying out high-risk assets. 

However, the plan still lacks a solid implementation strategy as well as established mitigation standards. Dr. David R. Johnson at Purdue University is leading a team of researchers that has identified the best strategies for implementing the plan. Their recommendations, which are based on a wide range of future climate conditions, will improve upon the expected risk reduction of similar projects.

The studies will be presented at the 2018 <a href="http://www.sra.org/">Society for Risk Analysis</a> (SRA) Annual Meeting at the New Orleans Marriott in New Orleans, Louisiana.

--

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>

New strategies needed to prepare for flooding and sea level rise

Several new studies are exploring the best risk assessment and...

Animals bring joy into people’s lives, whether we are observing their behaviors in the wild or cuddling up with our beloved pet on the couch. Most people could not imagine hurting these innocent animals yet animal cruelty is still a prevalent issue in our society. A new report by the <a href="https://www.sheriffs.org/">National Sheriffs’ Association</a> warns about the severity of animal cruelty and its link to other violent crimes.

The <a href="https://www.sheriffs.org/publications/e071818886AnimalCruelty_v10_508.pdf">report</a>, as part of the Animal Cruelty as a Gateway to Serious Crimes project, aims to help law enforcement agencies “recognize that animal cruelty crimes can serve as a precursor to more violent crimes, as a co-occurring crime to other types of offenses, and as an interrelated crime to offenses such as domestic violence and elder abuse.”

According to FBI data, there were a reported 1,126 animal cruelty cases in 2016. While this number is significant, it likely encompasses only a small percentage of animal crimes. <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/rejecting-inhumane-animal-activities/">Animal cruelty</a> is difficult to prosecute for many reasons, including the fact that the victim of the crime cannot speak up for themselves and the possibility that the crime may not be reported because witnesses, such as partners and children, may be scared to speak up against the offender.

In a <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/088626099014009004">1999 study,</a> researchers found that animal abusers were significantly more likely to be involved in others forms of criminal behavior such as violent and drug crimes. Overall, animal abusers were 5.3 times more likely to have a violent criminal record than people who had not been convicted of animal cruelty.

Animal abusers often victimize multiple people within the household. A beloved pet dog can be used as a tool to control a partner or child. A <a href="http://www.vachss.com/guest_dispatches/ascione_1.html">study</a> of women entering a domestic violence shelter found that 71% of pet-owning women stated that their partner had threatened or actually harmed their pet.

The link between animal cruelty, domestic violence, child abuse and elder abuse is now well-recognized among animal advocacy and criminal justice groups.

“Our research has shown if somebody is harming an animal, there is a good chance they also are hurting or will hurt a human. If we can see patterns of animal abuse, the odds are that something else is going on,” said John Thompson, Deputy Executive Director of the National Sheriffs’ Association in a<a href="https://www.sheriffs.org/NSA-Releases-New-Animal-Cruelty-Resource-for-Law-Enforcement"> press release.</a>

But it hasn’t always been this way. Traditionally, there was a mentality among criminal justice professionals that animal crimes were less severe than other crimes.

In a 2010 New York Times<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/13/magazine/13dogfighting-t.html"> article</a>, a dog-fighting expert explains, “with traditional law enforcement, the attitude has been that we have enough stuff on our plate, let the others worry about Fluffy and Muffy. But I’m starting to see a shift in that mentality now.”

This mentality was not exclusive to law enforcement but was also seen in our state laws. All fifty U.S. states did not even have felony animal cruelty laws on their books until 2014.

The National Sheriffs’ Association advisory group, composed of animal advocacy groups and experts, concludes that “the law enforcement community’s awareness of animal crimes should increase, and at the same time, they should alleviate some of the issues surrounding the reporting, investigation, and prosecution of animal crimes by first responders, investigators, and prosecutors.”

In addition, the advisory group notes that cultural changes in law enforcement agencies needs to occur so that animal crimes are afforded increased attention and priority. As an indicator crime, the presence of animal cruelty can provide law enforcement with important insight into a situation.

The National Sheriffs’ Association, along with the National Coalition on Violence Against Animals, developed a smartphone app for responding officers in the field to help them identify potential animal cruelty.

Not only will tools such as this help save animals lives but it could help uncover unknown human victims of violence.

--

By <a href="mailto:brianna.grant134@gmail.com">Brianna Lynne</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Contributing Writer

Animal cruelty linked to other violent crimes and behavior

Animals bring joy into people’s lives, whether we are observing...

A long-term study of mothers and children has revealed that chemicals found in <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/cleaning-products-gain-weight/">common household products</a> may be causing girls to enter puberty at younger ages. Phthalates, parabens, and phenols were all linked to earlier puberty in girls, with no significant effect found in boys.

Scented products such as perfumes, deodorants, and soaps often contain phthalates, while parabens are used as preservatives in some cosmetics and other personal care products. Phenols, such as triclosan and benzophenone-3, are used in many products like soap, toothpaste, and skin lotion to increase their shelf life.

Study lead author Dr. Kim Harley is an associate professor of Public Health at the <a href="https://www.berkeley.edu/">University of California, Berkeley</a>.

“We found evidence that some chemicals widely used in personal care products are associated with earlier puberty in girls,” said Dr. Harley.  “Specifically, we found that mothers who had higher levels of two chemicals in their bodies during pregnancy - diethyl phthalate, which is used in fragrance, and triclosan, which is an antibacterial agent in certain soaps and toothpaste - had daughters who entered puberty earlier. We also found that girls with higher levels of parabens in their bodies at the age of nine entered puberty earlier.”

“This is important because we know that the age at which puberty starts in girls has been getting earlier in the last few decades; one hypothesis is that chemicals in the environment might be playing a role, and our findings support this idea. Earlier puberty in girls increases their risk of mental health problems and risk-taking behaviour as teenagers and increases their risk of breast and ovarian cancer over the long-term, so this is an important issue to address.”

The research team analyzed data from pregnant women who participated in the Center for the Health Assessment of Mothers and Children of Salinas (CHAMACOS) study between 1999-2000. 

The pregnant mothers were interviewed at around 14 and 27 weeks, and urine samples were used to measure concentrations of phthalates, parabens, and phenols. The researchers followed up on the pubertal development of their children, including 179 girls and 159 boys, every nine months between the ages of 9 and 13.

Urine testing revealed that 90 percent of the samples had concentrations of all the chemicals that the experts tested for except for triclosan, which was found in up to 73 percent of the samples.

Every time phthalates doubled in concentration within the mother's urine, the development of pubic hair advanced by 1.3 months in the girls. In addition, for every doubling of triclosan in the mother's urine, the girls had their first menstrual period just under a month sooner.

The urine samples taken from the children at the age of nine showed that for every doubling in the level of parabens, the timing of breast development, pubic hair, and first menstrual period all advanced by around one month.

“We already suspect that certain chemicals that are widely used in personal care products - like phthalates, parabens and triclosan - are endocrine disruptors,” said Dr. Harley. “This means that they mimic, block or otherwise interfere with natural hormones in our bodies, such as oestrogen.” 

“In laboratory studies, these chemicals have been shown to cause earlier puberty in rats, but there are very few studies in humans. Additionally, we know that endocrine disrupting effects are particularly important during specific critical windows of development, such as in the womb or during puberty. This study is important because it is one of the first studies to look at human exposure in the womb and because it gives us a chance to examine exposures both in the womb and at puberty.”

According to Dr. Harley, one possible explanation for why the same link was not found in boys is that different hormonal reactions trigger puberty in boys. 

“This is still an active area of research and more studies are needed,” said Dr. Harley. “However, we are concerned about evidence that some widely-used chemical in the products that we put on our bodies every day may be having an impact on hormonal and reproductive development.”

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://academic.oup.com/humrep">Human Reproduction</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 personal care products linked to early puberty for girls

A long-term study of mothers and children has revealed that...

How many times have you been drawn to a product because it contained no artificial ingredients, was <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/lawless-organic-industry-regulations/">all organic</a>, or chemical free? 

As consumers, we aren't going to spend money on a product or service unless we trust that it will meet our expectations. A whole host of biases, perceptions, unreliable information and feelings factor into how a consumer assesses the potential risks or benefits of a new technology or product.

Even without fully understanding what's in a product or what extensive scientific testing was done to ensure product safety, consumers can make snap, seemingly irrational judgments.

But now, a series of new studies show that consumers are predictable and their actions are easy to understand based on heuristics. 

Heuristics are rules or methods that help us make quick and easy decisions based on previous experiences, common sense, feelings and instincts. 

By studying heuristics, researchers can gain insight into what drives decision making and consumer behavior as well as work to change bad habits. 

A symposium at the <a href="http://www.sra.org/news/registration-2018-annual-meeting-now-open">2018 Society for Risk Analysis Annual Meeting</a> this week included several presentations on how heuristics inform risk assessment in consumers. 

One of the studies presented examined how misinformation about toxicological risks in products like cleaning solutions has created controversy and mistrust of chemicals and additives. 

Today, the substances in cleaning solutions, detergents, soaps, and additives are thoroughly tested for safety, but Angela Bearth from <a href="https://www.ethz.ch/en.html">ETH Zurich</a> found that most consumers know very little about these safety testing processes. 

Instead, consumers look to unreliable resources to judge a product, chemical or food additive. 

Another study, also conducted by researchers from ETH Zurich, focused on food technologies and how different advancements in food from additives to artificial meat can elicit strong feelings of disgust and apprehension in consumers. 

The third study presented in the symposium was conducted by researchers from <a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/">Leeds University</a> and examined how different types of judgment are used to assess food products and make eating choices.

The researchers created an online survey meant to determine how people judge their food based on nutrition concerns, cravings, and ethics to name a few. Consumers are more likely to make decisions based on feelings of disgust or cravings even if the food itself lacks nutritional value. 

The studies show how heuristics can be used to predict consumer trust and biases in risk assessment for new products, foods, and technologies.

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Consumers are driven by feelings, bias, and unreliable information

How many times have you been drawn to a product...

Despite having been disproven by several studies, many parents still believe that vaccines, like that for the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR), can cause autism in children. Because of this, previously eradicated diseases are reappearing within modern society.

One study found that measles diagnoses in Europe are increasing, however, measles vaccination rates are dropping. A team led by Ruth Kutalek, Ph.D., of the <a href="https://www.meduniwien.ac.at/web/en/">Medical University of Vienna</a>, conducted 44 interviews with public health experts, vaccine hesitant professionals, and vaccine hesitant parents in Vienna, Austria. 

The team found that the main reason parents decide not to vaccinate their <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/poor-lung-capacity-london/">children</a> is that they believe measles does not pose a large enough threat and that complications from the illness are often exaggerated. They also worry about the side effects that may damage their child’s immature immune system. This hesitancy is often spread throughout society by uninformed citizens who have been influenced by anti-vaccine campaigns.

Furthermore, most of those interviewed felt they could not trust the scientific information backing up the importance of vaccines, and they believed there isn’t enough information available about the long-term effects of early-childhood vaccinations.

This heightened fear surrounding vaccinations has posed a challenge for the medical community. A team from the <a href="http://www.vi-vi.org/">Vienna Vaccine Safety Initiative</a> has developed several digital tools to help bridge the communication gap between doctors and patients regarding vaccine facts and safety. For example, VaccApp helps parents better understand the vaccinations given to their children. The ViVI Score helps health care providers determine the severity of flu-like illnesses in children and adults. And the VACC Tool helps identify unfavorable events at the point of care, whereas the ViVI health survey was developed to assess the needs of vulnerable populations after evacuations from their homeland.

The latter technology has already proved to be necessary. Winifred Ekezie, MPH, <a href="https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/">University of Nottingham</a>, studied the occurrence of infectious diseases, vaccine coverage and vaccine management perceptions among internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Nigeria. What Ekezie and her team found was that malaria, typhoid, diarrhea and cough affected the majority of ill IDPs. 60% of the IDPs received vaccinations, with 15% receiving them within their camps. However, most didn’t know which vaccines they had received, nor did they understand vaccine guidelines or who was in charge of distributing vaccines. Some camps didn’t even have health care providers or on-site vaccinations.

“Proactive healthcare interventions, especially vaccination provision and communication, are required in any displacement conditions," Ekezie said. "This approach would help minimize the risks of infection spreading disease to the general population."

The goal is to provide as much information as possible to parents and adults who contemplate the safety of vaccinations. Hopefully, with the right education, previously eradicated illnesses will once again disappear from the map.

--

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Vaccines are helpful, not harmful, new study proves

Despite having been disproven by several studies, many parents still...

The Tibetan Plateau is one of the largest and highest plateaus in the world, spanning <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Plateau-of-Tibet">965,000 square miles</a> and surrounded by tall mountain peaks. 

With temperatures averaging around 32 degrees Fahrenheit and thin air due to the high altitude,  the Tibetan Plateau is also one of the most challenging places to live on Earth. 

Researchers have long thought that the area was only inhabited by humans as recently as 12,000 years ago and permanently settled around 3,600 years ago.

However, an international team of archeologists and researchers uncovered archeological evidence that suggests humans occupied the Plateau thousands of years earlier <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tibetan-plateau-earlier-humans/">than was thought</a>. 

What’s more, the researchers theorize that it wasn’t modern humans but an ancient species of humans called Denisovans that first lived in the harsh environment. 

The excavation of a new archeological site called Nwya Devu provided a wealth of clues pointing to early settlement. 

Nwya Devu is the highest Paleolithic archeological site ever discovered, according to a study published in the journal Science.

According to <a href="https://www.newscientist.com/article/2186984-extinct-denisovan-people-may-have-lived-on-earths-highest-plateau/">New Scientist</a>, the researchers unearthed thousands of stone tools and only a few organic remains. The team was able to date the stone tools by dating the soil that the tools were buried under and found that some of the tools are 40,000 to 30,000 years old. 

The Tibetan Plateau is sometimes referred to as “the roof of the world” or the “third pole” because of the high altitudes, but the Tibetan people are genetically primed to thrive in the harsh conditions due to genetic variants that help them breathe in the low oxygen environment. 

Previous research has shown that people from Tibet contain gene variants that come from the long since extinct Denisovans, the results of interbreeding between Denisovans and modern humans. 

This latest find could help explain how modern Tibetans came to carry the Denisovan gene variants. 

“What we know is that the Denisovans left their homeland in the Altai Mountains of southern Siberia and eventually trekked all the way to Melanesia [the islands northeast of Australia], taking with them their signature genome,” John Olsen from the University of Arizona in Tucson told New Scientist. “One logical route for such a migration may have included passage up and over the Tibetan Plateau.”

The lack of organic remains at Nwya Devu leaves little room for anything more than speculation as to who were the first people to inhabit the Tibetan Plateau, but this study offers compelling evidence that Denisovans got there first. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Denisovans settled harsh Tibetan Plateau long before modern humans

The Tibetan Plateau is one of the largest and highest...

Curcumin, derived from the turmeric plant and the main chemical ingredient in curry, may improve exercise intolerance in relation to heart failure. Having been used since ancient times to aid skin and gastrointestinal ailments, more recent studies have found that curcumin could prevent muscle wasting, a side effect of many health problems including <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/walking-reduce-heart-failure-risk/">heart failure</a>.

Decreased ability to exercise is a main characteristic of heart failure, a condition that affects more than 6 million people in the United States. 

This decreased ability is a result of having reduced function of the left ventricle and having higher than normal levels of oxidative stress — an imbalance of two separate molecules that leads to cell damage. Heart failure can also cause a lower than normal expression of antioxidant enzymes in muscles. These enzymes both prevent and repair damage from oxidative stress. Scientists believe that boosting antioxidant enzyme levels could improve exercise performance in heart failure patients.

Researchers from the <a href="https://www.unmc.edu/">University of Nebraska Medical Center</a> believe that curcumin can promote the activation of Nrf2, a protein that regulates the expression of antioxidant enzymes. The team ran a study during which they gave several mice that exhibited symptoms of heart failure daily doses of curcumin for 12 weeks, while withholding doses from several other mice experiencing the same symptoms. They then compared both groups to two control groups of healthy mice, one group having received curcumin and the other group left untreated. 

Their findings, published in the <a href="https://www.physiology.org/doi/abs/10.1152/japplphysiol.00654.2018">Journal of Applied Physiology,</a> show that the mice with heart failure that received the curcumin doses expressed both higher levels of Nrf2 and antioxidant enzymes. Plus, all mice that received curcumin (even those who did not express heart failure symptoms) showed better exercise performance. Therefore, researchers believe ingesting curcumin could provide heart failure patients with a “therapeutic strategy” to improve their quality of life.

--

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Curry may improve exercise performance in those with heart failure

Curcumin, derived from the turmeric plant and the main chemical...

A new study published by the <a href="https://www.heart.org/">American Heart Association</a> has found that running full marathons may significantly increase strain on the heart. A team of experts based in Spain found elevated concentrations of several biomarkers of cardiac strain among amateur runners. 

Measuring the levels of cardiac-specific troponin T or troponin I in the blood can help identify damage to the heart. The researchers compared levels of these two cardiac biomarkers in 63 amateur runners. The team also measured levels of biomarkers for cardiac tissue stress.

The tests were conducted after the subjects ran an endurance race of three different lengths including a full marathon, a half marathon, and a 10K race. Initially, there was little difference in the risk for cardiovascular events between the runners. After the full marathon, however, the strain on the <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/weight-lifting-heart-health-benefits/">heart muscle</a> was found to be much greater.

The incidence of cardiac arrests in marathoners is very low, affecting only about 1 in 50,000 runners who compete in races. Regardless, a high proportion of all exercise-induced cardiac events happen during marathons, particularly in men aged 35 and older.

Study lead author Dr. Juan Del Coso is the director of the exercise physiology laboratory at <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universidad_Camilo_Jos%C3%A9_Cela">Camilo José Cela University</a> in Madrid, Spain.

“We typically assume that marathon runners are healthy individuals, without risk factors that might predispose them to a cardiac event during or after a race,” said Dr. Del Coso. “But with the growing popularity of long-endurance races, the exponential increase in the number of participants, and the lack of appropriate training in some cohorts of amateur runners, our findings suggest that running shorter endurance races might reduce the strain imposed on the myocardium during running competition.”

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.ahajournals.org/journal/circ">Circulation</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Running a marathon can be dangerous for amateur runners

A new study published by the American Heart Association has...

Over the past 50 years, freshwater streams and rivers in the United States have become saltier and more alkaline due to human activities. A recent study led by the <a href="https://www.umd.edu/">University of Maryland</a> (UMD) has found that fertilizers and other salty compounds are being heavily released into <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/freshwater-insects-eaten-microplastics/">waterways</a>, in an effect that the researchers refer to as the “freshwater salinization syndrome.”

The same team previously analyzed the local and regional consequences of freshwater salinization, and found that salty, alkaline freshwater can release a variety of chemicals, including toxic metals and harmful compounds from soils in drainage basins. The researchers suspect that many of these chemicals travel together throughout watersheds, forming “chemical cocktails” that are much more threatening to drinking water than individual contaminants.

The current investigation, which includes field observations from Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, emphasizes the urgent need for better pollution management strategies. Study lead author Sujay Kaushal is a professor of Geology at UMD.

“The bottom line of our findings is that when humans add salt to waterways, that salt also releases a lot of dangerous collateral chemicals,” said Professor Kaushal. “It's clear that regulatory agencies need to find new ways to address these 'chemical cocktails' released by saltier water, rather than looking at individual freshwater pollutants one by one.”

Salty, alkaline freshwater is already notorious for contaminating drinking water supplies, urban infrastructure, and natural ecosystems. In 2014, residents of Flint, Michigan, witnessed this type of pollution firsthand when the city switched its primary water source to the Flint River. The river contained a heavy concentration of salt and chemical treatments, which combined to make the water more corrosive and lead began to leach from water pipes. 

For the current study, the team analyzed existing data from rivers in the U.S., Europe, Canada, Russia, China, and Iran. Their findings suggest that freshwater salinization syndrome could be a global phenomenon, with the most conclusive evidence found in both U.S. and European rivers. The trends identified in the study can be traced back at least 50 years.

“Given what we are finding, I continue to be surprised by the scope and magnitude of the recent degradation of Earth's surface waters," said study co-author Gene Likens. “The formation of novel chemical cocktails is causing deterioration far beyond my expectations.”


Professor Kaushal added, “Looking at water quality data over several months in the winter, salt remains high and rarely has a chance to return to baseline before the next storm comes through and more salt is put on the roads.”

“This high salt load not only liberates metals and other contaminants, but there is also evidence that the initial salt pulse releases other salt ions from the streambed and soils, such as magnesium and potassium, which further contribute to keeping overall salt levels high.”

Study co-author Shahan Haq is a graduate student in the Geology program at UMD.

“To me, this study highlights the need to view salt as an emerging contaminant in freshwater,” said Haq. “Salt's ability to move heavy metals like copper from sediments into the water could have dangerous implications for our drinking water and could be toxic to wildlife. Our observations suggest that some rivers are already at risk, especially here in the eastern U.S. directly following road salt applications.”

The study is published in the journal <a href="http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/">Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B</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: Joseph Galella/University of Maryland

US freshwater bodies are increasingly polluted by human activity

Over the past 50 years, freshwater streams and rivers in...

Researchers have found a significant link between artificial outdoor light and <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/insomnia-affects-1-in-4-americans-each-year/">insomnia</a>. Exposure to light pollution was associated with an increased number of prescriptions for sleeping pills, also known as hypnotic drugs.

The effect of artificial outdoor light appeared to be the greatest among older adults, who were found to be more likely to use higher daily doses of hypnotic drugs or used them for longer periods of time. 

Study co-author Dr. Kyoung-bok Min is an associate professor in the Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine at <a href="http://www.useoul.edu/">Seoul National University College of Medicine</a> in South Korea.

“This study observed a significant association between the intensity of outdoor, artificial, nighttime lighting and the prevalence of insomnia as indicated by hypnotic agent prescriptions for older adults in South Korea,” said Dr. Min. “Our results are supportive data that outdoor, artificial, nighttime light could be linked to sleep deprivation among those while inside the house.”

According to the <a href="https://aasm.org/">American Academy of Sleep Medicine</a>, symptoms of insomnia include struggling to fall asleep, having trouble maintaining sleep, or waking up too early. Environmental factors such as noise and light pollution or extreme temperatures can disrupt sleep among most people.

A growing collection of research is reporting on how exposure to excessive lighting at night can affect human health. Whether indoors or outdoors, light pollution can disrupt circadian rhythms, which can lead to many different chronic diseases such as cancer and diabetes. 

The current study was focused on data from the 2002-2013 National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort (NHIS-NSC) in South Korea. After eliminating any respondents who had been diagnosed with a sleep disorder, the study sample included 52,027 adults who were at least 60 years old. 


To determine an individual's exposure to light pollution, the team used satellite data provided by the National Centers for Environmental Information. The researchers also used health insurance records to evaluate the use of two hypnotic drugs, zolpidem and triazolam, and found that about 22 percent of study participants had prescriptions to treat insomnia.


“Given the recent scientific evidence including our results, bright outdoor lighting may be a novel risk factor for prescribing hypnotic drugs,” said Dr. Min.

He also pointed out that public health officials seem to be less concerned with light pollution than with other environmental pollutants. However, this study provides even more evidence of a link between light pollution and negative health outcomes.

The research is published in the <a href="http://jcsm.aasm.org/">Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

New evidence shows light pollution causes chronic sleep problems

Researchers have found a significant link between artificial outdoor light...

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

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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

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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

Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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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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