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....

New breakthrough paves the way for bee-friendly pesticides. Neonicotinoid pesticides have been the subject of much debate and controversy, with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/european-union-ban-pesticides/">numerous studies</a> showing the debilitating effects that neonicotinoids have on honeybees and bumblebees. 

The European Union has officially banned three neonicotinoid pesticides that were confirmed as harmful to bees from being used on crops outside. 

Even though the adverse effects have been established, it was not well understood why honeybees and bumblebees reacted differently when exposed to harmful pesticides. 

A collaborative effort among researchers from the <a href="https://www.exeter.ac.uk/">University of Exeter</a>, <a href="https://www.rothamsted.ac.uk/">Rothamsted Research, </a>and <a href="https://www.bayer.com/">Bayer AG</a> discovered the enzymes at play in bees that ultimately determine sensitivity to different neonicotinoid pesticides. 

The study represents an important breakthrough that could help in the creation of pesticides that are not toxic to bees. 

Toxins in organisms are broken down by enzymes called cytochrome P450s, and the researchers wanted to investigate what specific enzymes were responsible for breaking down pesticides in bees.

Identifying these enzymes could also shed insight on why honeybees and bumblebees have such different ranges of sensitivity to the neonicotinoids compared to other similar insect species. 

The researchers discovered a subfamily of cytochrome P450s called CYP9Q that was responsible for the rapid breakdown of some pesticides.

Next, the researchers tested how efficiently bees metabolized certain neonicotinoids and found that bees metabolize some more much better than others. 

“Knowing the mechanisms contributing to inherent tolerance helps us and regulators to better understand why certain insecticides have a high margin of safety to bees,” said Ralf Nauen, insect toxicologist and the lead investigator of the study at Bayer. 

Now the researchers say that developing new non-toxic pesticides will be much easier. 

Creating a pesticide is a lengthy and costly process, so having a solid foundation of what factors impact the bee’s sensitivity will ensure that no time is wasted on pesticides that will be harmful. 

“Identifying these key enzymes provides valuable tools to screen new pesticides early in their development to see if bees can break them down,” said Chris Bass, the leader of the team at the University of Exeter.

According to the research team, pesticides should be judged on an individual basis and this study will help create non-toxic pesticides that could safely be used on crops without affecting a bee’s health or abilities. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>,<a href="https://www.earth.com/"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

New breakthrough paves the way for bee-friendly pesticides

New breakthrough paves the way for bee-friendly pesticides. Neonicotinoid pesticides...

The ability to communicate or even form friendships with wild animals is the secret dream of many humans.  Upon looking at our literature and movies, animal-human partnerships become an a common theme. The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling is perhaps the most obvious example, unless it’s Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs.  Of course, both pieces of literature have been adapted to film numerous times and take their place next to parodies such as George of the Jungle.  Less related to wild creatures but no less symptomatic to a desire for closeness to animals are classics such as Dr. Doolittle and Mr. Popper’s Penguins, again both as literature and film.  

Is there some reality behind these pieces of pop-culture or is it all just so much fantasy?  We all know of the strong bond that can be formed between people and domestic animals such as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pets-harmful-indoor-chemicals/">cats and dogs</a>.  Many people are quick to cite examples of cats rescuing family members by waking them to a fire or dogs that mourned the death of owners for years.  Are there clear examples of humans forming lasting partnerships with wild animals that remain wild though? Actually, there are a few examples of humans partnering with wild creatures for the mutual benefit of both. 

There are legends in South America among natives and persisting among Caboclos about river dolphins becoming human, eerily similar to Celtic myths of Selkies, seals who could transform into humans.  In the dolphin myths sometimes, mysterious pregnancies are explained by dolphins, in cases where a woman’s husband has been away. Some Amazon rainforest natives play games with river dolphins, tagging them with canoe paddles.  The games are interesting in that both dolphins and humans seem to understand and cooperate for nothing more than amusement. Amazon River dolphins, locally called Botos, are also considered guardians of river manatees and can whisk swimmers away to magical underwater realms.  It’s not surprising that many groups consider eating dolphins or killing them to be taboo. 

The relationship between dolphins and humans in South America is surpassed by the cooperation between traditional fishermen in Myanmar and the Irrawaddy dolphins.  Irrawaddy dolphins aren’t strictly river dolphins but evolved to tolerate a wide range of salinity from the ocean along the coast to farther up brackish rivers. The Irrawaddy dolphin is represented by several sub-species scattered throughout southeast Asia as far as the northern coast of Australia.  

Fishermen in Myanmar tap sticks in rhythm along the sides of their canoes and mimic the sounds dolphins themselves make.  The dolphins take note and cooperate by herding fish into the fishermen’s waiting nets. Without the nets to push prey into, the dolphins may not be able to catch fish as efficiently, conversely the dolphin’s help significantly increases the success of fishermen.  When the fish are hauled into boats, the dolphins are rewarded with some of the fish they helped catch being tossed back by fishermen. There are stories of dolphins waking fishermen that fell asleep in their boats, encouraging them to help fish. Irrawaddy dolphins are in decline though, and so is asking their help in fishing.  

In an article in <a href="https://news.mongabay.com/">Mongabay.com</a> last year, a fisherman told a reporter that all the dolphins he and others named are now dead.  Part of the cause of decline is the illegal practice of electrocuting fish with car batteries for a quick return.  Growing populations, increased overall strain on ocean habitats and pollution don’t do Irrawaddy dolphins any favors either.

There are unconfirmed reports of bottlenose dolphins in Laguna Brazil helping fishermen in much the same way as the Irrawaddy dolphins, perhaps the phenomena is more widespread than believed.   

In Africa, a different search for food takes place.  A bird called the Greater Honey Guide is keenly efficient at finding wild honey.  The Yao culture of Northern Mozambique among other peoples has taken notice of the bird’s ability.  The Honey Guide itself is happy to share the honey as the bird is really interested in eating bee larvae and in getting help to open hives and sedate angry bees with smoke.  The Yao people make a buzzing noise to call in the Greater Honey Guide, indicating they are ready to hunt for honey and the bird appears (most of the time) to help. Sometimes birds also seek out people, with specific flight pattern and call behavior indicating honey is nearby.  The relationship between different groups of Africans and honey guides was first documented in the 1500’s but it’s likely much older, a mutualism imbedded in the genes of Honey Guides. 

 A loss of the honey guide-human interaction is slowly occurring as more people turn to agricultural lifestyles and raise their own bees.  National parks in Africa have also excluded native peoples, where Honey Guides sometimes try to enlist the help of unwitting tourists. Honey guides at least haven’t put all their eggs in one basket; Honey Badgers (famous on Youtube) also work with honey guides, following the birds to rich hives and breaking into them.  

With our history of domestication and close contact with many other animals, it wouldn’t be surprising if there were many more relationships like these buried in the history of humanity.  Maybe even now, ‘uncontacted’ tribes in South America or Asia have other animals helping them. Maybe we could learn to reach out to other species as true partners not just competitors or slaves.  After all, we are but one species and we need all the friends we can get. 

--

By <a href="mailto:zachfitzner@yahoo.com">Zach Fitzner</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Human-animal partnerships can be mutually beneficial in the wild

The ability to communicate or even form friendships with wild...

Puberty and adolescence often represent a volatile time for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/teens-ridden-impaired-driver/">young people</a>, and changes in social behavior are usually blamed on “raging” hormones. 

However, a new study has found that this common belief is actually inaccurate, and that hormones are not the real culprit behind these changes.

Researchers led by the <a href="http://www.buffalo.edu/">University of Buffalo</a> conducted a study that examined differences in social behavior that come with adolescence to see if these were the result of puberty.

“Changes in social behavior during adolescence appear to be independent of pubertal hormones. They are not triggered by puberty, so we can't blame the hormones,” said Matthew Paul, the lead author of the study. 

The findings were published in the journal Current Biology. 

Puberty and adolescence are often used interchangeably, but this is inaccurate as puberty and adolescence describe two different simultaneous stages in a person’s development. 

Puberty describes the biological process when a person develops the ability to reproduce. Adolescence has a much more wide-reaching definition and involves the changes in cognitive, social, and emotional behavior that occurs alongside puberty during a person’s teen years. 

In order to understand the full effects of puberty versus adolescents on social behavior, the researchers had to find a way to study the two developmental stages isolated from one another. 

This is impossible with humans, so the researchers turned to a species of seasonal breeding hamsters. 

“Puberty and adolescence are happening at the same time. So if you want to know if one causes the other, one of the elements must be moved,” said Paul.“We have no way of doing that in a human, but we have found a way to do it using Siberian hamsters.” 

Siberian hamsters go through puberty dependent on when they are born in the in the breeding season. Hamsters born at the beginning of the breeding season go through puberty quickly in order to reproduce that year. 

Hamsters born later in the season go through puberty much later in order to reproduce during the next breeding season and not in winter. 

The researchers conducted a lab experiment that controlled the amount of light the Siberian hamsters received in order to delay and control the onset of puberty. 

Using this method, the researchers had two groups of hamsters go through puberty at differing times which allowed the researchers to observe if behavioral changes were dependent on puberty. 

The researchers found that no matter when each group was expected to go through puberty, they both experienced adolescence at the same time. 

A shift from play-fighting to social dominance occurred at the same time for all the hamsters. If these changes were hormonal than the groups of hamsters would have experienced the shift at different times. 

The results of the study prove that hormonal changes during puberty are not linked to the social changes of adolescence. 

“This is a surprising finding because we tend to think that pubertal hormones are responsible for the changes we see during adolescence. But our research suggests otherwise,” said Paul. “These findings are also important for adolescent mental health - understanding the underlying mechanisms responsible for adolescent development will provide insight into why so many mental health disorders arise during this time in life.”

--

By<a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com"> Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com </a>Staff Writer

Hormones don’t drive changes in teenage behavior, study finds

Puberty and adolescence often represent a volatile time for young...

Nice guys may not always finish last, but a new study suggests that they are at a pretty big disadvantage in the workplace. Research led by the <a href="http://www.bristol.ac.uk/">University of Bristol</a> has revealed that intelligence is a greater predictor of success than other qualities such as kindness, generosity, or conscientiousness.

In fact, the experts found that intelligent people who tend to be less nice to co-workers are likely to have the greatest career <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/behavior-high-school-success/">success</a> in the long term. While kind and generous individuals do good for others, the benefits are short-lived, according to the study.

The research team developed games in order to identify what makes people more cooperative at work. The experts discovered that individuals with higher intelligence also showed superior levels of cooperation, which hypothetically led to higher earnings.

“We wanted to explore what factors make us effective social animals,” said study co-author Professor Eugenio Proto. “In other words, what enables us to behave optimally in situations when cooperation is potentially beneficial not only to us, but to our neighbors, people in the same country or who share the same planet.”

“People might naturally presume that people who are nice, conscientious and generous are automatically more co-operative,” he said.

The researchers were surprised to find that individuals who were less kind and generous were the drivers of better cooperation in the group.

 “Through our research, we find overwhelming support for the idea that intelligence is the primary condition for a socially cohesive, co-operative society,” said Professor Proto.

“A good heart and good behavior have an effect too but it's transitory and small. An additional benefit of higher intelligence in our experiment, and likely in real life, is the ability to process information faster, hence to accumulate more extensive experience, and to learn from it.”

Professor Proto explained that, when applied to the workplace, intelligent people are more aware of the bigger picture and act accordingly. He said that these individuals “will ultimately be promoted and financially rewarded.”

The research suggests that intelligent people can better anticipate the effects that their actions will have on others, and this ability leads to more success.


The study is published in the <a href="https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/toc/jpe/current">Journal of Political Economy</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Intelligence is more key to success than kindness, study finds

Nice guys may not always finish last, but a new...

<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/conservation-lobster-populations/">Conservation</a> efforts are vital to recovering lost and degraded habitat and ensuring the continued survival of many species. 

But what happens when sweeping conservation policies and programs, which have been reported as ecological triumphs, negatively impact the farmers and residents that have enrolled in the programs? 

Researchers from <a href="https://msu.edu/">Michigan State University</a> set out to answer this question in a new study. The team examined popular payments for ecosystems services (PES) programs and their long-term impact on the residents and farmers of southwestern China's Wolong Nature Reserve. 

The concept of a PES program is fairly straightforward: farmers and residents who live and work on cropland are compensated for their land which is restored to a natural habitat. The farmers would then have the opportunity to seek work elsewhere or even move. 

The results, published in the journal Science Advances, show that even though the programs initially benefit both sides, the compensations do not account for the realities of the job market or inflation. 

For the study, the researchers focused on farmers in the Wolong Nature Reserve who were part of two PES programs, Grain-to-Green and Grain-to-Bamboo. 

A systems approach was used to investigate how the residents and farmers were managing after joining the programs. 

Although ecologically successful, the conservation benefits outweighed the economic gains for the Wolong farmers. 

Finding work elsewhere, one of the advertised advantages of the PES programs, proved difficult. The tourism industry, a major part of the economy in the Wolong area, left little room for local residents to make a profit. 

Moving to a larger city to find work also negatively affected the farmers as jobs in the city came with lower quality healthcare insurance. 

What’s more, the compensation did not change with inflation as the years went on. Ultimately, the researchers found that the residents of the Wolong area would have been better off not taking part in the programs. 

“We can now see the payments were oversimplified in these cases,” said Hongbo Yang, a co-author of the study. “It's a common issue in payment for ecosystem services programs, that the focus is on the current circumstances. We're showing that it's also important to consider opportunity costs at the beginning, and be prepared to monitor and reexamine all the costs and benefits over time.”

The results of the study highlight the importance of thoroughly examining the benefits, outcomes, and costs to both sides of a PES program before implementation, as well as finding ways to ensure that farmers and residents can economically thrive. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: <a href="https://msu.edu/">Michigan State University</a>

Paying farmers for conservation land isn’t always a fair deal

Conservation efforts are vital to recovering lost and degraded habitat...

American dairies produced over 1.3 billion gallons of ice cream in 2016, according to the <a href="https://www.usda.gov/">U.S. Department of Agriculture</a>. And with the average American eating more than 23 pounds of ice cream per year, it’s no wonder they produce so much. 

But despite its popularity and overall deliciousness, eating ice cream can have its downsides. Mainly, the eventual melting of this frozen treat and the calories that can add inches to your waistline. But what if they could make ice cream that takes longer to melt while also being healthier? That’s a door that researchers from the <a href="https://www.uoguelph.ca/">University of Guelph</a> and the <a href="https://www.upb.edu.co/es/home">Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana</a> may have just opened.

By adding tiny cellulose fibers extracted from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bananas-crucial-arteries-healthy/">banana</a> plant waste to ice cream, the research team found that they could slow melting, increase shelf life, and possibly replace some of the fats used to make this frozen treat. 

“Our findings suggest that cellulose nanofibers extracted from banana waste could help improve ice cream in several ways,” says Robin Zuluaga Gallego of the <a href="https://www.uoguelph.ca/">University of Guelph</a>. “In particular, the fibers could lead to the development of a thicker and more palatable dessert, which would take longer to melt. As a result, this would allow for a more relaxing and enjoyable experience with the food, especially in warm weather.”

Past research on this topic has included using polyphenol compounds found in strawberries to develop melt-resistant ice cream, or wood pulp extracts to accomplish the same goal. But now, Zuluaga Gallego and Jorge A. Velásquez Cock and their colleagues at the <a href="https://www.upb.edu.co/es/home">Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana</a> in Colombia have been investigating how banana plants can do the same – and more. 

The researchers extracted cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) from ground-up banana fruit stems. These CNFs are thousands of times smaller than the width of a human hair. They then mixed the CNFs into ice cream at varying concentrations, ranging from zero to three-tenths of a gram per 100 grams of ice cream. They used a number of analytical tools in order to evaluate the effects that CNFs had on ice cream. This included using a rheometer, which measures the force needed to move a fluid, and a texturometer, which measures the hardness of the ice cream.

The results showed that the ice creams mixed with CNFs melted much more slowly than traditional ice creams. They also found that CNFs could increase the shelf life of ice cream, or at least lower its sensitivity to the temperature changes that happen when ice cream is moved in and out of freezers. CNFs also increased the viscosity of low-fat ice cream, improving the creaminess and texture of the dessert. Because these CNFs could help stabilize the fat structure in ice cream, they could be used to potentially replace some of the fats and reduce calories. 

For future research, the team plans to explore how different types fats – like coconut oil and milk fat – affect the behavior of CNFs in other frozen desserts. 

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Bananas could hold the secret to creamier, healthier ice cream

American dairies produced over 1.3 billion gallons of ice cream...

Researchers at the <a href="https://stri.si.edu/">Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute</a> in Panama have discovered the earliest evidence that the Mayans raised and traded dogs and other animals, most likely for food and ceremonial use.

Archaeologist Ashley Sharpe and colleagues found that the ancient animal trade began in Maya around 2,500 years ago during the Preclassic Period, and became more widespread during the Classic Period. 

The experts believe that raising animals for food and organized ceremonies played a major role in the development of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mayan-civilization-collapsed-twice/">Mayan civilization</a>.

“In Asia, Africa and Europe, animal management went hand-in-hand with the development of cities,” said Sharpe. “But in the Americas people may have raised animals for ceremonial purposes. The growth of cities doesn't seem to be directly tied to animal husbandry.”

The team analyzed the isotopes of animal remains from a Mayan dig site in Ceibal, Guatemala. Most of the bones and teeth they examined dated back to between 700 and 350 B.C., during the Maya Middle Preclassic period.

“The animal remains fall into two categories, those with lower carbon isotopes, indicating they were eating mostly wild plants, and those with higher isotopes, which were probably eating corn,” explained Sharpe.


Two northern turkeys, one large cat, and all of the dogs observed in the study had higher isotopes, indicating that they ate corn or other animals that fed on corn. Deer bones that showed butcher marks had lower carbon isotopes, which means that they were likely hunted and not domesticated.

The remains of both a large and a small cat analyzed by the team had lower carbon isotopes, suggesting that they lived in the wild as well.

Forty-four of the 46 animals had strontium isotope ratios that matched the southern lowlands region, but jaw bones from two dogs matched mountainous areas.

“This is the first evidence from the Americas of dogs being moved around the landscape,” said Sharpe. “Around 1000 A.D. there's evidence that dogs were moved out to islands in the Caribbean, but the Ceibal remains are dated at about 400 B.C.”

The bones and teeth of a large cat were found with the jaw bone of one of the dogs.

“The interesting thing is that this big cat was local, but possibly not wild,” said Sharpe. “Based on its tooth enamel, it had been eating a diet similar to that of the dogs since it was very young. Perhaps it was captured and raised in captivity, or it lived near villages and ate animals that were feeding on corn. We still have to look at the DNA to figure out if it was a jaguar or a puma.”


Sharpe is looking forward to analyzing human remains to see if they were all originally from this region.

“It's interesting to consider whether humans may have had a greater impact managing and manipulating animal species in ancient Mesoamerica than has been believed,” said Sharpe. “Studies like this one are beginning to show that animals played a key role in ceremonies and demonstrations of power, which perhaps drove animal-rearing and trade.”

The study is published in the <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

Image Credit: Ashley Sharpe

Ancient Mayans raised dogs for food and sacrifice

Researchers at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama have...

In regions where <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tropical-trees-resist-drought/">trees</a> are scarce, using this precious wood to make paper isn’t exactly the priority. But what if there was an easier, more sustainable way to make paper in these areas – especially if they were home to a lot of elephants or cattle? According to research from Alexander Bismarck of the <a href="https://www.univie.ac.at/en/">University of Vienna, Austria,</a> both elephant and cow manure can be used as a great source of cellulose for paper manufacturing.

“Animals eat low-grade biomass containing cellulose, chew it and expose it to enzymes and acid in their stomach, and then produce manure. Depending on the animal, up to 40 percent of that manure is cellulose, which is then easily accessible,” says Bismarck.

Because the animals breakdown the cellulose in their stomachs, fewer chemical treatments and much less energy would be needed to turn the partially digested material into cellulose nanofibers, when compared to making paper from raw wood. The manure is treated with sodium hydroxide solution, which partially removes lignin – which can be used as a fuel or fertilizer – as well as other impurities. The material is then bleached with sodium hypochlorite in order to fully remove lignin and produce while pulp for making paper. The purified cellulose needs little to no grinding to break it down into the nanofibers required to make paper.

“You need a lot of energy to grind wood down to make nanocellulose,” says Andreas Mautner, a postdoc student at the University of Vienna. But if you use manure as a starting material, “you can reduce the number of steps you need to perform, simply because the animal already chewed the plant and attacked it with acid and enzymes. You inexpensively produce a nanocellulose that has the same or even better properties than nanocellulose from wood, with lower energy and chemical consumption.”

Bismarck also says that the dung-derived nanopaper could be used in a number of applications, including as filters to clean wastewater before releasing it back into the environment, or as reinforcement for polymer composites. His team is currently working with an industrial consortium to explore these other avenues.

The researchers are also looking into whether the process can be made to be even more sustainable. They are attempting to use biogas produced from manure as fuel for generating electricity or heat, and extracting cellulose fibers from that residue.

Overall, these new applications for a seemingly useless (and unpleasant) waste product could provide a viable way for certain regions – like many parks in Africa or cattle farms in the U.S. and Europe – to get rid of manure in an environmentally sound way, while also generating a useful product. 

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Manure can be used to make paper sustainably if trees are scarce

In regions where trees are scarce, using this precious wood...

According to new research, drinking alcohol makes your heart race and could cause arrhythmias in people with heart conditions. 

The new study was conducted by researchers from the <a href="http://www.en.uni-muenchen.de/about_lmu/academics/medical_center/index.html">LMU University Hospital Munich Department of Cardiology</a> in order to assess the acute effects of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/alcohol-good-brain/">alcohol</a> on heart health. 

The results were presented at the <a href="https://www.escardio.org/Sub-specialty-communities/European-Heart-Rhythm-Association-(EHRA)?hit=metanav">European Heart Rhythm Association</a> 2018 Congress1, which is organized by the <a href="https://www.escardio.org/">European Society of Cardiology. </a>

During the 2015 Munich Oktoberfest, researchers recorded the heart rate activity of over 3,000 participants using electrocardiograms (ECG) and measured breath alcohol concentrations. 

The researchers also compiled data on the participants’ age and sex, if there was a history of heart disease, and if they smoked. 

The average breath alcohol concentration was .85 g/kg and higher concentrations correlated with a faster heartbeat. 

“The more alcohol you drink, the higher your heart rate gets,” said Stefan Brunner, a cardiologist at the University Hospital Munich and one of the lead authors of the study. 

After the study was conducted, researchers went to back to examine the ECG data in more detail.  The researchers investigated the impact alcohol concentration had on different electrocardiogram parameters besides heart rate. 

The results of the second analysis also showed that heart rate sped up with increased alcohol consumption but did not affect any of the other ECG parameters. 

All in the all, the study reveals that alcohol directly impacts heart rate and increased alcohol consumption causes your heart to race.

“We cannot yet conclude that a higher heart rate induced by alcohol is harmful,” said Moritz Sinner, a fellow lead author. “But people with heart conditions already have a higher heart rate, which in many cases triggers arrhythmias, including atrial fibrillation. So it is plausible that the higher heart rate following alcohol consumption could lead to arrhythmias.”

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>,<a href="https://www.earth.com/"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Drinking alcohol increases your heart rate, study finds

According to new research, drinking alcohol makes your heart race...

If immediate measures are taken to drastically reduce carbon emissions worldwide, it could save millions of lives, according to a new study. 

The study was conducted by researchers from <a href="https://www.duke.edu/">Duke University</a> and calculated the number of lives that could be saved in 154 different urban areas if <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/co2-emissions-energy-costs/">emissions</a> were reduced sooner rather than later. 

Published in the journal Nature Climate Change, the research is the first of its kind to show the preventable number of deaths from air pollution on a city by city basis. 

Although capping emissions is a top priority, the more favorable plan is postponing major emission cuts in order to reduce the cost of restructuring the energy sector. 

“The lowest-cost approach only looks at how much it will cost to transform the energy sector,” said Drew Shindell, the study’s first author. “It ignores the human cost of more than 150 million lost lives or the fact that slashing emissions in the near term will reduce long-term climate risk and avoid the need to rely on future carbon dioxide removal.” 

The researchers projected the number of preventable deaths by running computer simulations of three future emission scenarios. 

The simulations projected pollution levels under different emissions regulations and their associated health risks. 

The first scenario examined the impact of accelerating carbon emissions with no negative emissions over the remainder of the 21st century. The second scenario used higher carbon emissions in the short term but still met the Paris Climate Accord goals by the end of the century. 

The third scenario simulated the effects of radically accelerating carbon emission reductions.  Each scenario projected pollution levels, and from this, the researchers could infer the health risks and mortality rates linked to varying levels of CO2 pollution. 

The scenario with the quickest reduction of carbon emissions had the greatest benefit regarding preventable deaths. 

In India, over 8 million lives could be saved in major urban areas like Delhi and Kolkata. Thirteen Asian and African cities showed one million preventable deaths, and in 80 cities that number was at least 100,000. 

The results call into the question current emission standards and plans for reducing CO2 pollution. The health risks from increased pollution and emissions should be a priority when working to mitigate climate change. 

--

By<a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com"> Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Quickly reducing carbon emissions could save 153 million lives

If immediate measures are taken to drastically reduce carbon emissions...

A new study from <a href="https://www.osu.edu/">Ohio State University</a> has revealed that emotions can be detected in the color of a person's face, even with the slightest change of blood flow and no muscle movement. The researchers have demonstrated for the first time that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/negative-emotions-growth-success/">emotional expression</a> is linked to the central nervous system. 

The breakthrough has enabled the experts to develop computer algorithms that can identify human emotion through color around the cheeks, chin, nose, and eyebrows with up to 90 percent accuracy.

Study co-author Aleix Martinez is a cognitive scientist and professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Ohio State.

“We identified patterns of facial coloring that are unique to every emotion we studied,” explained Professor Martinez.

“We believe these color patterns are due to subtle changes in blood flow or blood composition triggered by the central nervous system. Not only do we perceive these changes in facial color, but we use them to correctly identify how other people are feeling, whether we do it consciously or not.”


For their investigation, the researchers captured hundreds of images of facial expressions and separated them into different color channels based on how colors are perceived by the human eye. Computer analysis revealed that emotions such as joy or sadness produced unique color patterns.

The researchers found that these color patterns remained essentially the same for specific emotions regardless of ethnicity or skin tone.

“There's a little bit of every color everywhere,” said Martinez. Red, green, blue, and yellow are present in every emotion, but in slightly different concentrations and on different areas of the face. For example, disgust creates a red-green cast around the nose and forehead with a blue-yellow cast around the lips.

To test whether the colors could independently convey emotions, the different color patterns were superimposed onto images of faces with no expression.

The neutral faces were presented to 20 study participants who were asked to guess how the person in the picture was feeling. The individuals were given a list of 18 emotions to choose from, including basic emotions like “happy” or “sad” and more complex emotions such as “happily surprised.”

“Admittedly, these images look weird,” said Martinez. “But we told people to go ahead and guess from the list of emotions what emotion they thought those faces were conveying. And they guessed right most of the time.”

The study participants were able to identify the emotions, based on color alone, between 65 and 75 percent of the time. The same images were used with the algorithms developed by the team, and the computer accurately identified the emotions between 65 and 90 percent of the time. 

Happiness was the easiest emotion for the computer recognize, while “fearfully disgusted” was the least recognizable.


The researchers are obtaining a patent for the computer algorithms, and they hope that the programs may pave the way for future artificial intelligence technology that can recognize and also imitate human emotions. A company has been formed called Online Emotion to commercialize the research.

The study is published in the <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

A person’s emotions are revealed by changes in facial color

A new study from Ohio State University has revealed that...

Skin care products such as face and body wash are often purchased based on the way that they smell, yet these scents do not typically last very long after application. Researchers have created a new way to identify fragrances that will stick to the skin longer by using a sensing device.

“Companies incorporate a lot of fragrance oils in wash-off products, such as face washes and body scrubs, but the majority of these oils get washed away,” said lead author Martin S. Vethamuthu. 

“My research team of solvers wants to help other companies amplify the efficacy, add to the allure and ensure the integrity of the retention of these fragrance notes in their products for skin and hair.”

Consumers are willing to spend a lot of money on products that smell good, but many are left dissatisfied when the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scent-reduce-stress/">scent</a> does not last for more than an hour or two.

The research team set out to increase the efficiency of fragrance oils, which is a complex process.

“To build a scent profile in a body wash, it is a creative and artistic process of blending the fragrances,” said Vethamuthu.

He explained that there are three categories of scents: the top note, middle note, and base note. 

“Each of these has a purpose, and some scents are meant to evaporate during the shower while others are meant to remain on the skin even after toweling off.” 

Developing fragrance profiles can be a time-consuming and expensive process. Each time a fragrance is blended, the oil is sent to evaluators, who often return the fragrance for changes to be made and then re-evaluate the scents until the fragrance is flawless. 

Vethamuthu’s team has modified a device, known as the twister bar headspace sorption extraction sensor, to simplify the process of perfecting fragrances. The tool is commonly used in the food industry to detect chemicals that could alter flavors and scents.

The sensor was used to identify which fragrances lingered on the skin longer, allowing the team to gather a profile of these particular scents. The experts also mixed the fragrance oils with various polymers to ensure their longevity.

Using this simplified process, evaluators would only be needed in the final step of the scent development process for verification.

“Polymers impact different fragrances in diverse ways,” said Vethamuthu. “By studying synthetic and naturally derived polymers, manufacturers can select the types of polymers they want to use that will correspond with the fragrance notes they want to prevail.”

Vethamuthu will continue to optimize these methods, and he hopes to refine the tool to mimic the human sense of smell.

The research was presented at the 255th National Meeting &amp; Exposition of the <a href="https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en.html">American Chemical Society</a> (ACS).

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

New breakthrough will help develop fragrances that last longer

Skin care products such as face and body wash are...

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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



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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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

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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

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