Coffee is prized for its taste and mental boost. A new study shows that caffeine may also fine‑tune the internal clock that makes cells grow old.



Researchers observed that yeast aged more slowly when caffeine altered the same energy pathways that help human cells <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/organ-aging-can-predict-diseases-decades-in-advance/">survive</a> under stress.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-caffeine-slows-aging-in-yeast-cells">Caffeine slows aging in yeast cells</h2>



Dr. Charalampos (Babis) Rallis of <a href="https://www.qmul.ac.uk/">Queen Mary University of London</a> focused on the yeast species Schizosaccharomyces pombe because its DNA repair and growth controls echo our own. 



The team logged changes in <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9139625/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">chronological lifespan</a>, the length of time that non‑dividing cells stay viable, then mapped the molecular traffic that caffeine set in motion.



“This is our most exciting find to date,” said Dr. Rallis. The results point to a fuel‑sensing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/healthy-aging-how-some-people-live-past-100-years/">pathway</a> that kicks in when nutrients dip, mirroring how people burn stored energy between meals.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-yeast-helps-us-understand-aging">Yeast helps us understand aging</h2>



Fission yeast may seem worlds apart from humans, but it shares many core <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4772020/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">regulatory pathways</a> found in our cells. Systems like <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2779044/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AMPK</a> and <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3241408/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TOR</a> have been conserved over hundreds of millions of years because they work so well.



This makes yeast an ideal testing ground for decoding how compounds like caffeine affect <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-are-experimenting-with-new-approach-to-fight-and-stop-human-aging-necrosis/">lifespan</a> and stress response. What happens in a petri dish often sparks questions that ripple out to animal models and eventually to people.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-caffeine-may-slow-aging">How caffeine may slow aging</h2>



The key player is AMPK, an enzyme that "notices" when the cell’s ATP (energy) balance tilts toward empty and then shifts metabolism to survival mode. 



“Caffeine helps flip that switch,” said <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=913OCBIAAAAJ&amp;hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dr. John‑Patrick Alao</a>, the postdoctoral scientist who ran the experiments.



Earlier <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23551936/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">work</a> suggested caffeine blocked <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23551936/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TOR</a>, a growth promoter, but new data reveal the compound reaches TOR indirectly by first waking up AMPK. 



Cells then slow growth, patch damaged DNA, and boost antioxidant defenses, the very responses that lengthen life in many lab organisms.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-caffeine-and-metformin-use-same-pathway">Caffeine and metformin use same pathway</h2>



<a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6779524/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Metformin</a>, the common diabetes drug, also charges AMPK and is being tested as a geroprotector in humans. The overlap hints that coffee’s benefits may parallel those seen in metformin cohorts, though dosage and metabolism differ widely.



Both agents dial back inflammation, clear out faulty proteins through autophagy, and keep insulin signaling from running too hot. 



If future trials confirm safety, researchers may combine low‑dose caffeine with metformin analogs to see whether their effects stack without side effects.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-caffeine-helps-manage-cell-stress">Caffeine helps manage cell stress</h2>



The AMPK pathway doesn’t just manage fuel, it also guides how cells respond to <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/medgen/222489" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">genotoxic stress</a>, such as radiation or chemicals that harm DNA. 



The yeast data showed caffeine increased sensitivity to DNA damage in some mutants, revealing AMPK's role in damage response.



This dual role, energy control and DNA repair, suggests that caffeine tunes both survival and quality control systems. 



It’s part of a wider stress adaptation strategy that has been conserved across <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-discover-a-protein-that-reverses-cellular-aging/">evolution</a>, and is now offering new angles for anti-aging research.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-people-who-drink-coffee-may-live-longer">People who drink coffee may live longer</h2>



Observational work involving hundreds of thousands of adults links two to four cups of coffee daily with <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31055709/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">lower all‑cause mortality</a>. 



Separate <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34468722/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">analyses</a> in Asian populations find similar protection against heart disease and several cancers.



Because these studies track behavior, not biology, confounding factors like diet, exercise, and income can cloud cause and effect. 



The yeast data now give those population numbers a plausible mechanism anchored in cell chemistry, without the noise of other factors.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-research-on-caffeine-and-aging">Future research on caffeine and aging</h2>



Yeast tolerate caffeine levels far above a latte, so dose matters when translating findings to people. 



Human AMPK is embedded in tissues that react differently, so benefits in muscle may come at a cost elsewhere if DNA repair stalls during caffeine peaks.



High caffeine can raise blood pressure, trigger anxiety, and interfere with sleep - processes that can speed cell aging if left unchecked. 



Clinical trials that track AMPK activation, cardiovascular markers, and cognitive scores together will be needed before doctors advise specific amounts.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-role-of-diet-and-exercise">The role of diet and exercise </h2>



Exercise is one of the most well-known ways to activate AMPK in humans. When muscles burn through energy during physical activity, this pathway turns on to help cells adapt and recover.



Certain foods, including those high in polyphenols like berries and green tea, may also give AMPK a nudge. 



Understanding how diet and lifestyle naturally influence this system could lead to everyday habits that support healthy aging.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-healthy-lifestyle-matters">A healthy lifestyle matters</h2>



For now, moderate coffee remains a safe pleasure that lines up with epidemiology and basic science. Sleepless nights and energy drinks loaded with sugar still pose risks that no enzyme tweak can erase.



Nutrient‑sensing pathways such as AMPK give researchers a roadmap for therapies, yet lifestyle, steady sleep, balanced diet, and movement, keep the road free of potholes. 



The next wave of studies may explore caffeine analogs that lock onto AMPK with precision, separating the perks from the jitters.



The study is published in <a href="https://microbialcell.com/researcharticles/2025a-alao-microbial-cell/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Microbial Cell</a>.



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Scientists learn that caffeine could slow cellular aging under the right conditions

Coffee is prized for its taste and mental boost. A new study shows that caffeine may also fine‑tune the internal clock that makes cells grow old. Researchers observed that yeast aged more slowly when caffeine altered the same energy pathways that help human cells survive under stress. Caffeine slows aging in yeast cells Dr. Charalampos (Babis) Rallis of Queen Mary University of London focused on the yeast species Schizosaccharomyces pombe because its DNA repair and growth controls echo our own. The team logged changes in chronological lifespan,...

A new study from <a href="https://www.mcmaster.ca/">McMaster University</a> has revealed that where you live may influence your risk of serious diseases, including cancer, diabetes, and <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/wood-coal-cooking-cardiovascular/">cardiovascular disease</a>. The researchers identified factors that can affect lifestyle choices including access to public transit, the variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, the availability and prices of cigarettes and alcohol, and the promotion of healthy foods in restaurants.

Study first author Russell de Souza is an assistant professor in the Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact at McMaster.

“We found there are significant differences in environmental factors that may contribute to health, and that these differed between urban and rural communities, as well as when we compared eastern with western, and northern with southern communities,” said Professor de Souza. 

“We believe that this information shows there are factors outside of a person's control that influence the individual's health, and these factors likely differ depending on where they live.”


The investigation was focused on detailed data collected in Canada's 10 provinces. The study revealed significant variations in the availability of fruits and vegetables found in rural and urban areas, as well as in different provinces. 

Compared to urban communities, rural communities face higher food prices, are more subject to seasonal variation in fruit and vegetable selection, and are generally exposed to less promotion of healthy restaurant options.

The researchers also found that in-store advertising for sweet drinks and junk food is much more prevalent than advertising for tobacco products. In urban areas, cigarette prices are lower and the variety of brands is greater compared to rural tobacco stores. The prices for cigarettes are lowest in central Canada, and alcohol prices are lowest in Quebec.

Professor de Souza said the research was driven by concern about health trends in the nation.

“The rapid increase of overweight and obese Canadians and the associated consequences, including hypertension and diabetes, is a major health problem and threatens to halt the declines in cardiovascular disease deaths that Canada has experienced in the past 30 years,” said Professor de Souza.

“Knowledge gaps exist regarding the impact of the built environment - or the human-made physical surroundings - on how someone develops risk factors like high blood pressure, and the variation of these built environments across Canada by region and rurality.”

The researchers were not surprised to find that the environmental trends identified in their study coincided with health outcomes tracked in other studies.

“Previous Canadian studies have shown that people living in the east have a higher risk of developing heart disease than people living in the west,” said Professor de Souza. “We also see people who live in rural environments tend to have poorer health than people who live in urban environments.”

“This study helps us to understand what we call the 'causes of the causes' of diseases like cardiovascular disease. For example, what are the factors that lead to the development of high blood pressure, which can later lead to a stroke or high cholesterol, which later turns into a heart attack?”

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/loi/rcah20">Cities and Health</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Your zip code can influence your risk of serious diseases

A new study from McMaster University has revealed that where...

Researchers at the <a href="https://www.embl.de/">European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL)</a> may have found a new, less damaging way to scratch <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/scratching-itch-even-more/">that itch</a>. A new light treatment has proved effective on mice, and could therefore offer relief to humans with chronic skin diseases, such as eczema.

The study, published December 17th in <a href="https://www.nature.com/natbiomedeng/">Nature Biomedical Engineering</a>, and led by Linda Nocchi and Paul Heppenstall of EMBL Rome, tested a newly developed light-sensitive chemical that binds the specialized nerve cells that trigger itch in the upper layers of the skin. The researchers injected the chemical into affected mice and then exposed them to near-infrared light. The light caused the nerves to withdraw from the skin, thus eliminating the itch.

Mice and humans share the same target molecule for itch therapy — a protein called Interleukin 31 (IL-31). Because of this, the team believes their light therapy, the anti-itch effects of which last for several months, could be a successful treatment for human skin ailments and plan to test it on human skin cells as soon as possible.

“For me, the most exciting part of this project was seeing the improvements in the animals' health,” Nocchi, a postdoctoral researcher in the <a href="https://www.embl.it/research/unit/heppenstall/members/">EMBL Heppenstall group</a>. "Their skin looked much better after treatment and they scratched less." 

“We hope that one day, our method will be able to help humans suffering from a disease like eczema, which causes chronic itching,” Heppenstall added.

The group believes their light therapy, which they’ve also previously tailored to manage chronic pain, could be used for several different types of skin issues. “Our goal now is to take these therapies further,” Heppenstall said. “We want to collaborate with industry partners to develop therapies for humans, but also for veterinary medicine, as itch is a major problem in dogs as well."

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By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Light treatment could relieve itchy skin

Researchers at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) may have...

According to a new study from the <a href="https://www.sfn.org/">Society for Neuroscience</a>, a sleepless night can increase one’s desire to eat junk food. 

Julia Rihm, from the <a href="https://www.portal.uni-koeln.de/uoc_home.html?L=1">University of Cologne, Germany</a>, and her colleagues wanted to better understand the link between decision-making processes and hormones in relation to food choices and sleep deprivation. 

In their study, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0250-18.2018">published December 17th in JNeurosci</a>, a group of participants visited the lab on two separate evenings and ate a standardized dinner. After each visit, one group of participants were instructed to go home and sleep normally, and the other group was told to spend the night at the lab, where they would be kept awake all night.

The next morning, researchers assessed each participant’s desire for junky snack foods, their brain activity, and hormone levels. 

The team found that, after being sleep deprived, participants who spent the night in the lab displayed an increased subjective value of food compared to non-food items, not based on hormonal effects. 

This same group showed increased activity in the brain circuit involving the amygdala and hypothalamus.

Researchers can conclude that sleep deprivation can play a role in overeating, and therefore, may contribute to obesity.

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By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Poor sleep habits are linked to obesity, study finds

According to a new study from the Society for Neuroscience,...

According to a new study published in <a href="https://ps.psychiatryonline.org/toc/ps/0/0">Psychiatric Services in Advance</a>, 12.6% of U.S. adults used benzodiazepines last year, and 17% of that group, mostly between the ages of 18 and 25, misused the drugs. For comparison, between 2013 and 2014, only about 4 to 6% of U.S. adults used benzodiazepines.

Benzodiazepines are prescribed medications used to treat <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/lavender-calming-treat-anxiety/">anxiety</a> and insomnia. Some forms of benzodiazepine are prescribed as Alprazolam (Xanax, Niravam), diazepam (Valium), clonazepam (Klonopin), lorazepam (Ativan), among others. The drug as a whole has come under fire in recent years because of its harmful side effects and its connection to the ongoing opioid crisis. Researchers found that benzodiazepine misuse is often linked to opioid and stimulant misuse.

The study, in which researchers, led by Donovan Maust, M.D., from the <a href="https://umich.edu/">University of Michigan, Ann Arbor</a>, analyzed National Survey on Drug Use and Health data from 2015 and 2016, was the first to take misuse of benzodiazepines into consideration. The findings also reveal adults aged 50 to 64 accounted for 13% of benzodiazepine users whereas other studies found most users were over the age of 65.

Women were more likely to report using benzodiazepines, and men were more likely to report misuse. When asked about why users misused the drug, meaning they are not following direct doctor instructions, most said they want to relieve stress and tension. Others said the need help sleeping.

Maust said that patients who are prescribed opioids or stimulants should be monitored for benzodiazepine misuse, and also that some misuse may signal a patient’s limited access to health care. Overall misuse could be thwarted with behavioral intervention for sleep and anxiety-related problems.

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By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Use and misuse of benzodiazepines is on the rise, new study finds

According to a new study published in Psychiatric Services in...

On December 14th, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed “Nosey’s Law” making New Jersey the first state to outlaw the use of wild animals in traveling acts. This monumental win illustrates the country’s growing disdain for animal circus performances.

While other states have passed laws regulating the use of wild animals in traveling acts, Nosey’s Law marks the first time a state law has banned wild animal traveling acts. Last year, both Illinois and New York banned the use of elephants in traveling shows and the cities of Los Angeles and New York banned the use of wild animals in <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/scotland-bans-animals-circuses/">circuses</a>.

The bipartisan legislation received high levels of support and was even passed through the Legislature last year before being pocket-vetoed by then-Governor Chris Christie.

Nosey’s Law was inspired by Nosey, an elderly African elephant who was being transported around the country for traveling circus acts. After years of performing, Nosey was found by government officials chained in place, standing in her own excrement and without access to food or water. Nosey was seized from her owners and her owners were subsequently <a href="https://whnt.com/2017/12/15/custody-battle-continues-for-nosey-the-elephant/">arrested</a> for animal cruelty. Nosey is now living in an elephant sanctuary.

Nosey’s plight is similar to many other wild animals who are forced to perform for circus acts. Life in a circus act is far from a wild animal’s natural habitat. The animals are exposed to long periods of traveling and confinement, inhumane handling and training practices and overwhelming stimuli such as circus lights and music. Circus animals are often trained using bullhooks, whips and other tools in an attempt to “tame” them.

The stress of captivity and circus performances can manifest into dangerous animal attacks. A simple internet search can show dozens of videos of circus animals lashing out during performances. A<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Zjd26P57lM"> video</a> of an ostrich trying to escape a circus performance by jumping into the audience went viral just a few months ago. The audience frantically runs and screams as the ostrich falls to the ground. One person was reportedly injured by the incident. In<a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/04/tiger-kills-trainer-mexico_n_2617478.html"> 2013</a>, horrified circus goers in Mexico watched a tiger kill its trainer during a performance.

Sponsor of the bill, Senator Nilsa Cruz-Perez said, “These beautiful creatures suffer from routine abuse and mistreatment by their handlers for the sake of entertainment. This by no means justifies the emotional and physical abuse animals like Nosey are forced to endure. Nosey is now safe in an animal sanctuary, but the law protects other animals from being abused like she was. Today, New Jersey is taking a stand for animal rights and I hope that other states will follow our example so that this sort of abuse can be eliminated everywhere in the country."

With Nosey’s Law on the books, momentum may soon pick up for circus animal bans. New Jersey’s neighbor, New York, is currently considering a similar bill to restrict the use of wild animals in traveling circus performances. Legislation is starting to reflect the growing public sentiment against animal circus performances. In a 2015 Gallup<a href="https://news.gallup.com/poll/183275/say-animals-rights-people.aspx"> poll</a>, 69% of Americans stated they were concerned about animals in circuses.

“I am proud to sign ‘Nosey’s Law’ and ensure that New Jersey will not allow wild and exotic animals to be exploited and cruelly treated within our state,” said Governor Murphy. “This law would not have been possible without the years of hard work and advocacy by Senator Ray Lesniak, whose legacy on issues of animal rights is second to none. These animals belong in their natural habitats or in wildlife sanctuaries, not in performances where their safety and the safety of others is at risk.”

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By <a href="mailto:brianna.grant134@gmail.com">Brianna Lynne</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Contributing Writer

New Jersey bans wild animal traveling performances

On December 14th, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed “Nosey’s...

A new study published by the <a href="http://www.apa.org/">American Psychological Association</a> has found that optimism is a great tool for reducing <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/lavender-calming-treat-anxiety/">anxiety</a>. The researchers found that looking on the bright side is a particularly effective way to deal with financial stress, which is likely due to the fact that individuals with low incomes have less control over their environment.

“Our research shows that socioeconomic status has a powerful effect on whether reframing a situation can reduce anxiety, both in the short term and the long term,” said study co-author Dr. Claudia Haase of <a href="https://www.northwestern.edu/">Northwestern University</a>. “As social inequality continues to rise, it becomes increasingly important that we understand how emotional regulation strategies might benefit mental health across the socioeconomic spectrum.”

The experts set out to analyze the role of income in what the authors called cognitive reappraisal strategies, which is when an individual attempts to regulate his or her emotions by reframing or gaining a new perspective on life experiences.

“After a romantic breakup, for example, you might be afraid of being lonely,” said study lead author Emily Hittner, a PhD candidate at Northwestern. “You could use cognitive reappraisal to manage this fear by telling yourself that now is a great time to get to know yourself better, discover new passions, rekindle old friendships and have space to find a more fulfilling relationship.”


In an experiment involving 112 married spouses, the individuals were asked to watch a short film that featured an upsetting situation. The participants were instructed to reframe the situation in such a way that they experienced fewer negative emotions. They also reported on their annual income and whether they used reappraisal strategies in their daily lives.

The study revealed that participants with a lower income felt less anxious after reframing their perspective on the film, yet this was not the case for participants with middle to high incomes.

When the researchers analyzed data from Midlife in the United States, a national telephone survey, the results were consistent with the findings of the experiment. Individuals who used reappraisal strategies had reduced anxiety levels, but this effect was only found among those with lower incomes.

According to the researchers, cognitive reappraisal started to lose its effectiveness when incomes rose above $35,000 per year. Haase believes that people with money may have more opportunity to change the troublesome situation itself rather than just changing the way it is perceived.

“Individuals with lower incomes, though, have less access to resources to directly change a stressful situation they may find themselves in,” said Haase. “For that reason, they may find it more effective to deal with anxiety by reframing the situation.”

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/emo/">Emotion</a>.

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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

Optimism and positive reframing help battle money anxiety

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

A new study from the <a href="https://umich.edu/">University of Michigan</a> has found that while parents plan childcare for special celebrations, they often do not plan in advance for the next day when they may be tired and hungover. The researchers discovered that around 25 percent of parents with young children did not limit their drinking on the night of an event in anticipation of taking care of their child the following day.

The report from the C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health is based on responses from 1,170 parents with at least one child under the age of nine. Overall, 29 percent of the parents said they know of an adult who caused an unsafe situation for their child due to drinking <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/alcohol-consumption-colder-environments/">alcohol</a> at a celebration. 

These parents were thought to be either too impaired or hungover to supervise their child or to handle a possible emergency. Some reported that they observed an adult driving with a child while they were impaired or getting violent in front of a child, while a few respondents witnessed a child actually being injured.

“Most parents planning to drink alcoholic beverages on a night out arrange for a designated driver and childcare for the event itself,” said poll co-director Sarah Clark. “Fewer parents may consider how their alcohol consumption could impact parenting responsibilities to their young children the next day.”

Most parents reported drinking alcoholic beverages during special events, whether it was a rare or frequent behavior. Among those who indulged, 73 percent said they were very likely to make plans in advance for someone to watch their child during the event, and 68 percent were very likely to plan for safe transportation.

However, just 47 percent were very likely to anticipate how much they would drink, and only 64 percent made plans for someone to take care of their child the day after the event.

“The amount of alcohol consumed can affect parenting the next day,” said Clark. “A parent passed out on the couch will not be effective in recognizing and reacting to the everyday safety risks that occur with children.”


The researchers noted that parents of small children who reported drinking rarely at events were the least likely to plan ahead for transportation or childcare after a celebration. Clark explained that even rare instances of celebrating with alcohol can have serious consequences for children.

“Parents who plan to drink alcoholic beverages during an outing should plan ahead for transportation to ensure they arrive home safely,” said Clark.

“If alcohol use may potentially impact their ability to take care of their children the following day, parents may also consider childcare arrangements. Having children stay the night at a relative's home or asking a grandparent to stay overnight are options to ensure young children are in a safe and supervised environment.”
--
By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

25 percent of parents don’t prepare for holiday parenting hangovers

A new study from the University of Michigan has found...

A survey of 44,482 students from 392 public and private schools has revealed that American teenagers are using <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/vaping-popularity-decline-smoking/">vaping</a> devices in record numbers. According to the <a href="http://www.monitoringthefuture.org/">2018 Monitoring the Future</a> (MTF) survey, more than 37 percent of high school seniors vaped at some point in the past year, which jumped from 28 percent in 2017.

The research team found that vaping nicotine in the 30 days prior to the survey nearly doubled among 12th graders, increasing from 11 percent in 2017 to 20.9 percent in 2018. The number of seniors who reported vaping “just flavoring” in the past year also increased from 20.6 to 25.7 percent. 

However, teens may not be entirely sure what is in the vaping devices they are using, especially considering that the most popular devices do not have nicotine-free options. In addition, some inaccurate labeling has been found. 

Among eighth graders, 10.9 percent say they vaped nicotine in the past year. Overall, use of vaping has increased significantly in virtually all measures among eighth, 10th and 12th graders. For 12th graders, reports of marijuana vaping are also up, jumping from 9.5 percent last year to 13.1 percent. 

Dr. Nora D. Volkow is the director of the <a href="https://www.drugabuse.gov/">National Institute on Drug Abuse</a> (NIDA).

“Teens are clearly attracted to the marketable technology and flavorings seen in vaping devices; however, it is urgent that teens understand the possible effects of vaping on overall health; the development of the teen brain; and the potential for addiction,” said Dr. Volkow. 

“Research tells us that teens who vape may be at risk for transitioning to regular cigarettes, so while we have celebrated our success in lowering their rates of tobacco use in recent years, we must continue aggressive educational efforts on all products containing nicotine.”

The MTF survey is published in this week's issue of <a href="https://www.nejm.org/">The New England Journal of Medicine</a>. In a letter to the editor, Dr. Richard Miech pointed out that the increase in nicotine vaping found in the study is the equivalent of around 1.3 million additional teenagers vaping in 2018.

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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

The number of teenagers who vape is growing at an alarming rate

A survey of 44,482 students from 392 public and private...

Over the last 20 years, food labels have emerged to encourage healthier eating such as the U.S. Nutrition Facts Panel and the “fat-free” and “low sodium” identifiers. A systematic review of interventional studies found that food labeling has positively impacted some consumer and industry behaviors, but not others.

Researchers at the <a href="https://nutrition.tufts.edu/">Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy</a> at Tufts University analyzed 60 studies which included over two million unique observations of dietary intakes, purchases, and sales receipts from 1990 and 2014.

Study senior author Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian is the dean of the Friedman School.

“Many old and new food policies focus on labeling, whether on food packages or restaurant menus. Remarkably, the effectiveness of these labels, whether for changing consumers' choices or industry product formulations, has not been clear,” said Dr. Mozaffarian. “Our findings provide new evidence on what might work, and what might not, when implementing food labeling.”

The experts conducted a separate analysis of all the studies that involved <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/food-labels-harder-choices/">food labeling</a> on menus, product packaging, or other point-of-purchase materials. The investigation revealed that labeling reduced consumer intake of calories by 6.6 percent, fat by 10.6 percent, and unhealthy food options by 13 percent. In addition, labeling increased consumer vegetable consumption by 13.5 percent.

The was no significant link found between food labeling and consumer intakes of other targets such as total protein, saturated fat, fruits, whole grains, or other healthy options.

When the researchers explored how industry behaviors may have changed in response to food labeling, they found 64.3 percent less trans fat and 8.9 percent less sodium in packaged foods. However, total calories, saturated fat, dietary fiber, or other healthy and unhealthy food components were not significantly affected by labeling. 

“For industry responses, it's interesting that the two altered components-trans fat and sodium-are additives,” said Dr. Mozaffarian. “This suggests that industry may be more readily able to alter additives, as opposed to naturally occurring ingredients such as fat or calories, in response to labeling. It will be interesting to see whether this will translate to added sugar, newly added to the Nutrition Facts Panel on food labels in the United States.”

The study is published in the <a href="https://www.ajpmonline.org/">American Journal of Preventive Medicine</a>.

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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

How food labeling has affected consumer and industry behavior

Over the last 20 years, food labels have emerged to...

In most cases, self-perception and reality go hand in hand, according to new research from the <a href="https://www.utoronto.ca/">University of Toronto</a>. It turns out, people have a relatively good sense of their own personalities and capabilities, the researchers say.

"It's widely assumed that people have rose-colored glasses on when they consider their own personality," Dr. Brian Connelly said in a press release. "We found that isn't necessarily the case, that on average people don't show any trend in rating themselves more favorably than they're rated by their peers."

The study grew out of worries that self-assessment questionnaires, a common personality assessment tool, were skewing results because of unrealistic self-perception.

To see if survey-takers leaned toward enhancing their results, Connelly and his team analyzed more than 160 independent studies.

They found that, in most cases, self-perception of key personality traits like openness to experience, extroversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness and neuroticism was accurate. The one exception, openness to new experiences, was slightly over-reported, but the effect was small, Connelly said.

"We make personality judgments of ourselves and others all the time, and a popular notion is that self-reports are more positively biased ... but we find little support for that in the literature," he said.

The results show that people may be fairly in tune with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/self-awareness-read-minds/">how they are perceived by others</a>, and that could have an effect on self-perception. 

"People are generally attuned to the impressions they convey," Connelly said. "Some people may stray toward self-enhancement, or in the opposite direction with self-effacement, but there are social costs associated with both that makes the general trend for people to be accurate."


While researchers were able to see how self-perception compares to how we are perceived by coworkers, friends and other peers, one area that is lacking is how self-perception compares to the opinions of strangers. There just aren’t enough studies in that area for an accurate analysis, Connelly said.

Now, he and his colleagues want to take another look at the people who do enhance themselves, especially in the workplace, and how that inflated self-perception is formed.

"It's important to know if self-enhancers perform worse on the job or have more trouble in school," he said. "It could be they don't internalize negative information about themselves or even totally forget about it altogether, both of which could have negative outcomes."

The study has been published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0956797618810000">Psychological Science</a>. Funding was provided by the <a href="http://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/">Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada</a>.

--

By <a href="mailto:kcathey@earth.com">Kyla Cathey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Contributing Writer

Image credit: <a href="https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/home/">University of Toronto Scarborough</a>

Self-perception is mostly accurate, researchers find

In most cases, self-perception and reality go hand in hand,...

Phone battery running low? Don’t worry – just dock it in a special pocket in your clothing, then spend a little time in the sun, and it will be recharged in no time. Such a scenario isn’t possible now, but it could be thanks to tiny photodiodes woven into your clothing.

Researchers at <a href="https://www.ntu.ac.uk/">Nottingham Trent University</a> say that “e-textiles” containing a network of minuscule photodiodes, just 3 millimeters long, could cut carbon emissions and prevent battery panic at the same time. 

“It could do away with the need to plug items into sockets and reduce the demand on the grid while cutting carbon emissions,” co-author Dr. Tilak Dias told the <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/ushome/index.html">Daily Mail</a>. “The electrical power demand for smart e-textiles has always been its Achilles heel and this technology will allow people to use smart textiles while on the move.”

The research team created a prototype to see how feasible the potential power solution would actually be. 

The tiny photodiodes are so small that they are nearly invisible to the naked eye, and can’t be felt by the clothing’s wearer. Researchers encapsulated each tiny solar cell in resin, so that garments made with them can be laundered like normal.

“Wash tests confirmed that the yarns could survive multiple machine wash and drying cycles without deterioration in performance,” they wrote in their study, published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-34483-8">Scientific Reports</a>.

However, weaving the cells into fabric and coating them with resin did have an effect on how much power they could generate, the researchers said. 

About 2,000 of the tiny photodiodes are needed to charge a smartphone, they said. The prototype, a 5-by-5-centimeter piece of fabric, contained about 200 solar cells – enough to power a Fitbit or old-fashioned mobile phone. 

The researchers believe the prototype shows promise that e-textiles containing photodiodes could be very useful in today’s digital age.

“With the demonstration of a (photodiode)-embedded E-yarn using this technique, there is no doubt that the integration of various types of optical sensors inside of textile yarns is a viable proposition,” they wrote.

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By <a href="mailto:kcathey@earth.com">Kyla Cathey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Contributing Writer

Image credit: <a href="https://www.ntu.ac.uk/research/groups-and-centres/groups/advanced-textiles">Advanced Textiles, Nottingham Trent University</a>

Tiny photodiodes could turn clothing into a phone charger

Phone battery running low? Don’t worry – just dock it...

Australian geneticists have discovered that a baby’s biological sex goes beyond an XX or XY chromosome. A gene that acts as a “regulator” may also determine whether a baby is born with male or female characteristics.

"The sex of a baby is determined by its chromosome makeup at conception. An embryo with two X chromosomes will become a girl, while an embryo with an XY combination results in a boy," <a href="https://www.unimelb.edu.au/">University of Melbourne</a> doctoral student Brittany Croft said in a press release.

Or at least, that’s how it usually works. But whether an embryo has male or female characteristics may be a lot more complex than one chromosome combination.

A gene on the Y chromosome, SRY, triggers another gene called SOX9, which in turn starts the development of testes in the embryo, Croft said. Not just an XY chromosome but also high levels of SOX9 are needed for normal development of male testes, she said.

"However, if there is some disruption to SOX9 activity and only low levels are present, a testis will not develop resulting in a baby with a disorder of sex development,” she said.

According to Dr. Andrew Sinclair, the study’s lead author, up to 90 percent of human DNA is devoted to “junk DNA” that regulates other genes and their activity. These are known as enhancers, and if they don’t behave as they should, it can change how an embryo develops – meaning that with high levels of SOX9, someone with an XX chromosome may appear to be biologically male. With low levels, someone with an XY chromosome may develop female organs.

"We discovered three enhancers that, together, ensure the SOX9 gene is turned on to a high level in an XY embryo, leading to normal testis and male development," Sinclair said. "Importantly, we identified XX patients who would normally have ovaries and be female but carried extra copies of these enhancers, and instead developed testes. In addition, we found XY patients who had lost these SOX9 enhancers, and developed ovaries instead of testes."

Throughout the human genome are about a million enhancers that affect 22,000 genes, Sinclair said.

"These enhancers lie on the DNA but outside genes, in regions previously referred to as junk DNA or dark matter," he said. "The key to diagnosing many disorders may be found in these enhancers which hide in the poorly understood dark matter of our DNA."

The study has been published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-07784-9">Nature Communications</a>. Funding was provided by the <a href="https://nhmrc.gov.au/">National Health and Medical Research Council</a> and <a href="https://www.arc.gov.au/">Australia Research Council</a>.

--

By <a href="mailto:kcathey@earth.com">Kyla Cathey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Contributing Writer

Geneticists: sex depends on more than XX or XY chromosome

Australian geneticists have discovered that a baby’s biological sex goes...

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

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

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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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

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

[sendtonews key="QIoVYJqRBi-2434608-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from NASA...

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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

[sendtonews key="JbW4VsY53O-1632195-12187" type="single"] Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected...

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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