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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Rare gene explains why some people can thrive on less sleep

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

Polls have shown that a large majority of Americans agree that CO2 emissions should be regulated. Data from the <a href="http://climatecommunication.yale.edu/visualizations-data/ycom-us-2016/?est=happening&amp;type=value&amp;geo=county">Yale Program on Climate Communication</a> found that in 2016, about 7 in 10 Americans were in favor of regulating carbon pollution from coal-fired power plants.

More recently, a <a href="https://news.gallup.com/poll/231530/global-warming-concern-steady-despite-partisan-shifts.aspx">Gallup poll</a> has found that over 60 percent of Americans agree that climate change is happening and humans are the driving force behind it. 

Despite the consensus on greenhouse gas emissions, the issue of climate change is, at this point, not a top issue for voters as we approach the midterm elections. 

A new report from <a href="http://time.com/5413384/california-wildfires-climate-change/?utm_source=emailshare&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=email-share-article&amp;utm_content=20181017">Time</a> revealed how environmental groups are targeting political figures who question climate science to get more voters thinking about climate change this election. 

The aim of environmental groups like the <a href="https://www.sierraclub.org/">Sierra Club </a>and <a href="https://www.redtoblueca.org/">Red to Blue California</a> is to turn the spotlight on Republican political figures who have repeatedly and publicly downplayed or even denied the impacts of climate change. 

In California, a state that has been ravaged by increasingly severe wildfire seasons, U.S Representative Tom McClintock has come under fire by environmentalists for his comments on climate change. 

“The climate has been changing for four and a half billion years,” McClintock said in a September debate, according to Time. “The extent to which human activity has a role to play is being hotly debated right now.”

This is an argument that continues to make the rounds with the administration, climate change deniers, and major political party members. 

In response, environmental groups have launched several ads and campaigns. 

In one campaign headed by the Sierra Club, McClintock is called the “fossil fuel fool.” 

“California is burning, but Republican Tom McClintock voted repeatedly against fire protection and relief,” an add sponsored by the Red to Blue California organization says. 

McClintock isn’t the only Republican coming under fire in a competitive district. In Michigan and Orange County in California, Democratic candidates are pointing out their opponent's opinions on climate change as part of their platform. 

The reason so many groups are pushing to make climate change a top issue is that more and more evidence is coming to light that for us to have any impact on mitigating <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/humans-driving-climate-change/">climate change</a>, the time to act is now. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Paid for by <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com </a>

What role will climate change play in the midterm elections?

Polls have shown that a large majority of Americans agree...

The possibilities most people associate with <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/virtual-reality-beach-dental-procedures/">virtual reality technology</a> (VR) usually revolve around an immersive experience in the next big videogame – but this technology can be put to even better use. New research from <a href="https://www.stanford.edu/">Stanford University</a> uses a virtual reality experience called “Becoming Homeless” to see how this new technology can affect people’s level of empathy.

Published in <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/">PLOS ONE</a>, the study used VR to lead participants through the experience of becoming homeless, showing different scenarios one might experience in the process. They compared empathy levels of those who did the VR experience to participants who were shown other media versions of the VR scenario, such as text.

“Experiences are what define us as humans, so it’s not surprising that an intense experience in VR is more impactful than imagining something,” says Jeremy Bailenson, a professor of communication and a co-author of the paper.

Previous research exploring how VR affects empathy has produced varying results, and most studies used small sample sizes made up of primarily college students. Furthermore, few studies have examined the long-term effects of VR on empathy.

For their study, the researchers conducted two-month-long trials with over 560 participants of varying ages and ethnic backgrounds. Some participants in the study were shown the VR experience “Becoming Homeless,” in which they are led through multiple interactive scenarios of what would happen if they lost their jobs. Scenes range from looking around an apartment to find items to sell to pay for rent, to sheltering on a public bus and protecting their belongings from being stolen by a stranger.

The results showed that participants who underwent the VR experience were more likely to have long-lasting positive attitudes towards the homeless than participants who did the other tasks. The same individuals were also more likely to sign a petition in support of affordable housing.

“Taking the perspective of others in VR produces more empathy and prosocial behaviors in people immediately after going through the experience and over time in comparison to just imagining what it would be like to be in someone else’s shoes,” says lead author Fernanda Herrera, a graduate student in the Department of Communication at Stanford. “And that is an exciting finding.”

These findings show that VR can be used for much more than just personal entertainment.

“What’s special about this research is that it gives us longitudinal evidence that VR changes attitudes and behaviors of people in a positive way,” explains Bailenson.

The impact that “Becoming Homeless” had on some members of the study didn’t go away once the research was completed. “Long after our studies were complete, some research participants emailed me to reflect on how they started becoming more involved in the issue afterward,” says Herrara. “One of them befriended a homeless person in their community and wrote me again once that person found a home. It was really inspiring to see that positive, lasting impact.”

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image credit: L.A. Cicero

Virtual reality experiences can help promote empathy, study shows

The possibilities most people associate with virtual reality technology (VR)...

New research suggests that people are better able to navigate when they have a heightened sense of smell. The study has identified two regions of the <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/switch-turns-brain-off-sleep/">brain</a> that are activated for the use of both olfactory identification and spatial memory.

“Our findings reveal an intrinsic relationship between olfaction and spatial memory that is supported by a shared reliance on the hippocampus and medial orbitofrontal cortex,” explained the study authors. “This relationship may find its roots in the parallel evolution of the olfactory and hippocampal systems.”

A team of scientists led by Véronique D. Bohbot of <a href="https://www.mcgill.ca/">McGill University</a> set out to test the olfactory spatial hypothesis, which is the theory that the primary function of olfaction is navigation.

“In a neuroimaging study, we assessed olfactory identification, navigation, and measured mOFC cortical thickness and hippocampal volumes in 57 healthy young adult participants,” wrote the researchers.

The study authors found that increased thickness of the left medial orbitofrontal cortex (mOFC) and volume of the right hippocampus of the brain predicted better performance on two tasks: identifying different odors and also navigating around a virtual town as part of a “wayfinding task.”

While the mOFC has been previously linked to an individual's sense of smell, this is the first time that this brain region has been demonstrated as playing a critical role in spatial memory and navigation.

“Taken together, our findings point to a close relationship between spatial memory and olfactory identification. We showed that these two processes covary in healthy young adults, that they correlate with right hippocampal volume, and that they are impaired in patients with damage affecting the mOFC,” explained the researchers.

“While further research remains to be done, these findings bring evidence that is consistent with the suggestion that the original function of the olfactory sense may have been to support cognitive mapping and spatial memory.”

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/ncomms/">Nature Communications</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

A good sense of smell may give you the best sense of direction

New research suggests that people are better able to navigate...

A recent assessment of UNESCO World Heritage sites (WHS) located in coastal areas has identified 49 regions that could be destroyed by sea-level rise. In low-lying coastal areas of the Mediterranean, 42 sites are currently threatened by coastal erosion, while 37 sites are at risk of a catastrophic 100-year flood. 

“As the risk of coastal hazards such as flooding and erosion increases with sea-level rise, a considerable number of coastal World Heritage Sites will gradually be exposed to these hazards in the future,” wrote the researchers. “This threatens the Outstanding Universal Value of affected sites and potentially leading to losses in economic revenue.”

Using mathematical models to predict the impacts at individual sites, the researchers examined the risk of flooding and erosion under four sea-level rise scenarios through 2100. The team, led by Lena Reimann from the <a href="https://www.uni-kiel.de/en/?no_cache=1">Kiel University</a>, found that the flood risk will  increase by 50 percent and erosion risk will rise by 13 percent across the Mediterranean coast by the end of this century. 

The study revealed considerably higher increases at certain sites. Venice, for example, was found to be one of the regions most at risk from both <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/sea-levels-double-coastal-flooding/">coastal flooding</a> and erosion. Other historic areas at risk include the medieval city of Rhodes, Piazza del Duomo, and the Amalfi coast.

“Our results provide a first-order assessment of where adaptation is most urgently needed and can support policymakers in steering local-scale research to devise suitable adaptation strategies for each World Heritage Site,” wrote the study authors. 

“The Mediterranean region has a high concentration, many of which are in coastal locations. Sea-level rise poses a threat to these sites however, information on the risk at a local level is needed for adaptation planning.”

“A combination of awareness-raising strategies and protection measures seem to be the most suitable adaptation strategies, but relocation also needs to be considered, in particular where risk is very high.”

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/ncomms/">Nature Communications</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Major World Heritage sites severely threatened by sea-level rise

A recent assessment of UNESCO World Heritage sites (WHS) located...

It’s likely that the traits you received from your <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/men-fathers-older-ages/">father</a> – whether they be physical or otherwise – are quite noticeable. Through genetics, he may have passed down his hair color, height, or sweet tooth to you – the lucky (or unlucky) recipient. But along with the traits we know to be inheritable, studies of humans and animals have suggested that a father’s experiences, such as diet or environmental stress, can ultimately influence the health and development of his offspring and their offspring as well. However, the mechanisms by which these effects are transmitted across generations remains a mystery.

Luckily, Susan Strome’s lab at the <a href="https://www.ucsc.edu/">University of California, Santa Cruz</a>, has been working to decode the mechanisms behind this phenomenon. Their work involves a tiny roundworm called Caenorhabditis elegans (known across the scientific world as C. elegans) which they use to show how marks on chromosomes that affect gene expression can be transmitted from parents to offspring. These are called “epigenetic marks,” in reference to epigenetic changes that are chemical modifications of either DNA itself or the histone proteins with which DNA is packaged in the chromosomes. 

Unlike a mutation, epigenetic changes do not alter the DNA sequences of genes. Despite this, through these chemical modifications they can influence gene expression, turning genes on or off in cells at different stages of development. The idea that epigenetic modifications lead to changes in gene expression transmitted from generation to generation is known as “transgenerational epigenetic inheritance,” and has recently been a major focus of scientific study. 

“We decided to look at C. elegans because it is such a good model for asking epigenetic questions using powerful genetic approaches,” says Strome, a distinguished professor of molecular, cell, and developmental biology. Specifically, her researcher published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/ncomms/">Nature Communications</a> focuses on the transmission of epigenetic marks by C. elegans sperm.

In the researchers’ analysis of C. elegans sperm, they found that the sperm genome fully retains its histone packaging. For many years, scientists thought that sperm did not retain histone packaging, and thus histone-based epigenetic information could not be transmitted to offspring. But recent research has shown about 10 percent of histone packaging is retained in both human and mouse sperm. Other researchers have also found that zebrafish fully retain histone packaging as well. 

“Like zebrafish, worms represent an extreme form of histone retention by sperm, which makes them a great system to see if this packaging really matters,” explains Strome. Her work focused on a specific epigenetic mark; the easy to remember “H3K27me3” mark, which has been well-established as a mark of repressed gene expression in a wide range of organisms.

When the researchers removed this mark from sperm chromosomes, it caused the majority of offspring to be sterile. After this discovery, they wanted to determine if the mark was sufficient to guide normal development of germ cells in the offspring (germ cells give rise to eggs and sperm). To do this, they analyzed a mutant worm that had an abnormal chromosome segregation pattern, where after the first cell division, one cell of the embryo inherits only sperm chromosomes while the other cell inherits only egg chromosomes. Normally, each cell of an embryo inherits both.

This abnormal chromosome segregation pattern allowed the researchers to generate worms whose germ line inherited only sperm chromosomes, and therefore only sperm epigenetic marks. As it turned out, these worms were fertile and had normal gene expression patterns. 

“These findings show that the DNA packaging in sperm is important, because offspring that did not inherit normal sperm epigenetic marks were sterile, and it is sufficient for normal germline development,” says Strome. 

Although this study exhibits the importance of epigenetic information transmitted by sperm for normal development, it does not address the initial question of how the life experience of a father can affect the health of future generations. Strome and her team endeavor to explore this question further.

“The goal is to analyze how the chromatin packaging changes in the parent,” she says. “Whatever gets passed on to the offspring has to go through the germ cells. We want to know which cells experience the environmental factors, how they transmit that information to the germ cells, what changes in the germ cells, and how that impacts the offspring.”

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

A father’s life experiences can impact the health of their offspring

It’s likely that the traits you received from your father...

The <a href="http://www.healthdata.org/">Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME)</a> recently conducted a study that presents a thorough analysis of health and life expectancy for 195 countries and projects drivers of disease and early death in the coming years. 

Published in the journal The Lancet, the study offers several scenarios for what <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/declines-life-expectancy-countries/">life expectancy</a> will look like in 2040, and many of the possible scenarios show an increase in life expectancy for most countries. 

Understanding health risks and the future drivers of health worldwide is crucial for implementing policies and investing in the technology, infrastructure, and healthcare that will best benefit populations. 

However, previous forecasts don’t provide a complete enough picture, and so the researchers found a way to model life expectancy and create several scenarios based on 250 causes of death from 2016 to 2040. 

The researchers modeled causes of death based on the <a href="http://www.healthdata.org/gbd">Global Burden of Disease, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study</a>. 

The alternative scenarios for life expectancy were labeled “better” and “worse,” and the researchers predicted the future rankings of different countries under these scenarios. 

Depending on the scenario, some countries could increase their life expectancy as much as 5.6 years. For China, this would increase its rank from 68 among 195 nations to 39th by 2040. 

The United States, now ranked 43rd, could drop down to 64th out of 195 despite a slight increase in life expectancy. 

The study also found that other high-income countries like Canada, Norway, and the Netherlands could also drop in the rankings. Canada could drop from 17th to 27th by 2040. 

Some nations are expected to see significant gains in life expectancy, such as Syria, now ranked at 137th but which could rise to 80th by 2040.

In 2040, the researchers say the top ten nations with the highest life expectancy will be Spain, Japan, Singapore, Switzerland, Portugal, Italy, Israel, France, Luxembourg, and Australia. 

Many scenarios show increases in life expectancy and even in a “worse” scenario, the top ten countries listed above will still have life expectancies past 80 years of age. However, for some bottom-ranking countries, a worst-case scenario could be devastating for early death. 

The researchers found that in Lesotho, a worse scenario would drop life expectancy to around 45 years by 2040. 

“Inequalities will continue to be large,” said Christopher Murray, the director of the IHME. “The gap between the ‘better’ and ‘worse’ scenarios will narrow but will still be significant. In a substantial number of countries, too many people will continue earning relatively low incomes, remain poorly educated, and die prematurely. But nations could make faster progress by helping people tackle the major risks, especially smoking and poor diet.” 

The researchers also project an increase in deaths from non-communicable diseases and increased health risks from obesity. In 2016, four of the top ten causes of premature mortality were noncommunicable diseases or injuries. In 2040, non-communicable disease and injuries are likely to account for eight of the top ten drivers of early death. 

High blood pressure, high body mass index, high blood sugar, tobacco use, and alcohol use are projected to be the top five health drivers of premature mortality. 

There is still time to steer the course and take preventative measures to avoid a worse scenario. 

“The future of the world's health is not pre-ordained, and there is a wide range of plausible trajectories,” said Kyle Foreman, the lead author on the study. “But whether we see significant progress or stagnation depends on how well or poorly health systems address key health drivers.”

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a><a href="https://www.earth.com/">, Earth,com</a> Staff Writer

What will the average life expectancy be 20 years from now?

The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) recently conducted...

When Andrew Wheeler, the acting <a href="https://www.epa.gov/">Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)</a> administrator, was first <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/andrew-wheeler-inew-epa-head/">appointed</a> to replace Scott Pruitt, there were concerns that Wheeler’s history as a lobbyist for massive energy companies represented a conflict of interest. 

As a former coal lobbyist, he pushed for the termination of a bill that would have restricted coal companies from dumping waste into streams, according to the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/01/climate/andrew-wheeler-epa-lobbying.html">New York Times. </a>

This is just one example of Wheeler’s past coming in direct contrast with the mission of the EPA since its birth in 1970 to address public concerns about pollution. 

It seems those concerns that Wheeler would act counter to the public’s interest in regulating pollution and making public health a top priority were not unfounded. 

The EPA recently announced that Wheeler replaced five members of an independent review committee and disbanded two review panels that were dedicated to assessing standards for particulate matter and ozone. 

<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/10/13/politics/epa-clean-air-committee-changes/index.html">CNN</a> reported that Wheeler appointed five new members to the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) and over the past year, the entire committee has been replaced with new members. 

Review panels are a crucial part of any regulatory process, but this new announcement has some scientists concerned that CASAC will not be able to do its job properly, which is advise the EPA on regulating pollution to ensure air quality standards are kept in check. 

The EPA is tasked with setting outdoor air quality standards for pollutants considered harmful to public health and the environment as part of the <a href="https://www.epa.gov/criteria-air-pollutants/naaqs-table">Clean Air Act.</a>

According to CNN, the EPA updated its air quality standards in 2015 and will be creating new standards in 2020. The CASAC informs the EPA of the health risks associated with different pollutants and recommends air quality and pollution levels that ensure that those health risks are kept to a minimum. 

The <a href="https://www.who.int/airpollution/ambient/health-impacts/en/">World Health Organization</a> estimates that around 4.2 million premature deaths are linked to ambient air pollution, and air pollution increases the risks of cardiovascular and respiratory disease.

Now, with all new members and the disbanding of two other panels that examine ozone and particulate matter, there are concerns that CASAC will not make public safety as much of a priority. 

“Protecting the public's health from dangerous amounts of pollutants in the air that we all breathe is the mandate of this agency,” Jack Harkema, a professor of pathobiology and diagnostic investigation at Michigan State University, told CNN. “This cannot be done without careful, deliberate and knowledgeable understanding [of] this complex environmental health issue. Multidisciplinary teams of scientific experts must be free to conduct thorough peer-review of the pertinent science. Millions of lives are at stake.”

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Paid for by <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a>

EPA dismisses scientists overseeing air quality safety standards

When Andrew Wheeler, the acting Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrator,...

As New Delhi enters into its worst season for air pollution, an emergency action plan has been introduced that will outlaw many activities such as burning trash and the use of diesel-powered generators. The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) details what actions must be taken on day-to-day basis, depending on <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/air-pollution-intelligence/">air pollution</a> levels.

When the air quality is classified as “poor,” generators cannot be used, burning trash is prohibited, and extra police officers will help to direct traffic so that it runs more smoothly. In addition, road sweeping will take place more regularly.

As the air quality worsens, the new regulations under GRAP will become stricter. Some of the measures that will be implemented on days that the air quality is “very poor” or “severe” include: the impounding of polluting vehicles, parking fees will be tripled or quadrupled, bus services will become more frequent, and all construction activity will be temporarily halted. 

The air quality is currently “poor” in New Delhi, but authorities have predicted that the city will reach the status of “very poor” this week.

NASA satellite images have shown that the burning of crop residue has substantially increased over the last ten days in Punjab and Haryana. This activity is a major contributor to air pollution in New Delhi each year, as the smoke mixes with fog and creates a toxic smog.

According to Dr. Harsh Vardhan, the Union environment and science minister, government scientists have set up a new system that will provide warnings about hazardous air conditions three days in advance. The warning system has been developed by experts of Harsh Vardhan's Ministry of Earth Sciences in collaboration with researchers from the United States and Finland.

“Scientists from the Ministry of Earth Sciences have devised a strategy to further improve air quality projection across India,” said Dr. Vardhan. “We are now in a position to give warnings three days in advance about deteriorating air quality.”
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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

New Delhi set to take drastic measure to improve air quality

As New Delhi enters into its worst season for air...

A 2017 population report from the United Nations states that 14 percent of countries currently have declining populations – and projects that by 2050, 32 percent of countries will have shrinking populations. This report brings to mind the detriments of an aging and declining population, but it may not all be bad.

Population <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/fruit-product-slow-aging/">aging</a> has long been considered harmful to society. As the population gets older, it seems like there are fewer workers to support more retirees – not to mention the implication of rising healthcare costs. But a recent study in the journal <a href="http://l">Trends in Ecology &amp; Evolution</a> has researchers arguing that societies should actually be embracing population aging and the population decrease that comes along with it.

“In many countries, stable and declining populations due to demographic aging are often reported by the media as a problem or crisis,” says Frank Götmark, co-senior author of the report and a biologist at the <a href="https://www.gu.se/english">University of Gothenburg</a> in Sweden. “But the alternative – endless population growth – is not ecologically possible. Overpopulation leads to serious problems, including excessive consumption, deadly conflicts over scarce resources, and habitat loss leading to species endangerment.”

In their study, the environmental scientists cite multiple reports of the socioeconomic and environmental benefits of population aging, mortality-related decrease, and shrinking workforces as a result of retirement. The authors state that – contrary to other economic analyses – the costs associated with aging societies are manageable, and a smaller population means a more sustainable society.

Specifically, the researchers cite Japanese economist Akihiko Matsutani as evidence that a shrinking labor pool leads to increased wages for individual workers, and thus results in greater wealth per capita. Furthermore – according to Israeli environmentalist Alon Tal – a smaller population means less crowding, which reduces commute times and stress while improving green space and quality of life.

The study’s authors also found no evidence that population aging leads to worker shortages, although they do acknowledge that healthcare spending increases in aging populations. Despite this, they believe that the increase is manageable, and argue that societies should invest more in preventative care in order to reduce this spending.

Götmark and his colleagues believe that the answer lies in accepting the natural ebb and flow of populations, and not fighting the realities of an aging society. “If we don’t reverse overpopulation, what happens next will be a sad story,” he says. “We have to recognize that continued population growth is a global threat. Short-term economic concerns, while valid, cannot be prioritized over the long-term health of our environment and our societies.”

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By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Why declining national populations may not be a bad thing

A 2017 population report from the United Nations states that...

A new international study has revealed that national bans on physically reprimanding children by slapping or spanking them are linked to a major reduction in youth violence.

The researchers found that rates of physical fighting among young people are 42 to 69 percent lower in countries that prohibit corporal punishment at home and at school compared to countries without any such bans in place.

In many regions, slapping is still considered to be an acceptable form of discipline, but a growing collection of evidence has shown that slapping may be detrimental to a child's health and well-being. Research has also suggested that slapping children as punishment perpetuates a cycle of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/school-violence-detrimental-bullied/">violence</a> across generations.

To investigate whether national bans may affect rates of youth violence, the experts analyzed data from surveys of teen behavior in 88 countries. At the time of the study, these 88 countries were home to around 46 percent of the world's teenagers.


Overall, thirty countries had implemented a full ban on corporal punishment at school and at home, 38 had a partial ban, and 20 had no bans in place. Among the survey questions, the participants were asked whether they had been involved in physical fighting over the past 12 months.


The analysis showed that frequent physical fighting was more than three times as common among young men as it was among young women. Youth violence also varied widely by country, ranging from less than one percent among females in Costa Rica to nearly 35 percent of males in Samoa.

Where full bans were in force, the prevalence of physical fighting was 69 percent lower among young men and 42 percent lower among young women than it was in countries with no ban in place. Partial bans in countries such as the UK, the USA, and Canada resulted in a lower prevalence of physical violence only among young women.

According to the researchers, the findings add to growing evidence of a strong correlation between corporal punishment and teen health and safety. “These results support the hypothesis that societies that prohibit the use of corporal punishment are less violent for youth to grow up in than societies that have not.”

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://bmjopen.bmj.com/">BMJ Open</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

National bans on hitting kids linked to lower rates of youth violence

A new international study has revealed that national bans on...

A new study led by the <a href="https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/">University of Liverpool</a> has found that village chicken populations in Ethiopia are genetically diverse and highly adapted to their local environments. According to the researchers, a more flexible and localized approach to sustainable development could be key to boosting the productivity of small-scale chicken farms across Africa.

“That chickens are so locally adapted, despite often appearing similar, does present challenges to increasing productivity,” explained study co-author Professor Paul Wigley.

“There is not a ‘one size fits all’ chicken for Ethiopia or any village system. It could be argued that improvements in management, the use of vaccination and improvements to disease control such as simple biosecurity measures are as important as the genetic potential of the bird. Such measures need improvements in access to information and training.”

In Africa, chicken production is a crucial <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/700-year-old-farming-technique-could-help-mitigate-climate-change/">farming</a> practice that plays a vital role in reducing poverty, improving nutrition, and gender empowerment. Many people are able to raise village chickens, but productivity is  limited by the scarcity of feed, predation, and disease.

There is growing interest in breeding a chicken resilient to its environment, which would support the development of an economically sustainable operation. So far, interventions have been unable to deliver sustainable improvements.

To investigate, the researchers analyzed the disease challenges and the genetics of local chickens, the nature of the production system, and the socioeconomic reasons for why chickens are raised.

The study, which was focused on two districts of Ethiopia, showed that the village chickens had high levels of adaptation to the local ecosystem. The chickens were also found to be resistant to disease and to the management and cultural variations of their environment. 

Beyond adaptation, the data indicates that there have been multiple introductions of chickens in Ethiopia that can likely be traced back to various trade routes, religions, and cultures.

“The importance of culture and location should not be underestimated,” said study lead author Professor Rob Christley. “Conventionally, the transfer of technology has often taken a top-down approach - from researchers to farmers - ignoring the considerable knowledge of the farmers. This often leads to interventions that are inappropriate to the social, physical and economic settings in which farmers operate, leading to unsustainable interventions.”

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/natsustain/">Nature Sustainability</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

Image Credit: Marisol Collins

Diverse approach may help boost sustainable farming in Africa

A new study led by the University of Liverpool has...

What’s better than reducing pollution while saving money? Your answer should be an enthusiastic “nothing!” – and if you’re lucky enough to be a farmer, you may soon get the chance to experience this in person.

A new study published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/natsustain/">Nature Sustainability</a> reports that if fertilizer production adopts similar benchmarks to the fuel-efficiency standards used in the auto industry, the production of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/organic-fertilizers-microplastic-pollution/">fertilizer</a> could produce $5-8 billion in economic benefits for the U.S. corn sector alone. 

Researchers David Kanter of <a href="https://www.nyu.edu/">New York University</a> and Tim Searchinger of <a href="https://www.princeton.edu/">Princeton University</a> examined the potential impact of a policy to reduce nitrogen emissions in fertilizer. This policy would be modeled after the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards that have been implemented to increase automobile fuel efficiency in the U.S.

“A CAFE-style approach to reducing nitrogen pollution could provide powerful incentives for fertilizer manufacturers to learn where and how enhanced-efficiency fertilizers work best, and ultimately to develop more technically sophisticated nitrogen products tailored to specific crops, climates, and soil conditions,” the authors explain.”

Nitrogen pollution occurs mainly from the inefficient use of fertilizer and manure on farmland, and is a significant environmental concern. Despite this, any policies addressing this pollution source have been largely ineffective.

In their research, the study’s authors looked at the potential impact of a requirement to steadily increase the proportion of enhanced efficiency fertilizer sold alongside traditional fertilizer. They view this as an incentive for technology development within the industry.

Similar to the fuel efficiency standards implemented in the auto industry, the price of enhanced-efficiency fertilizers (EEF) could be more costly to growers. However, they may ultimately lead to increased profits, as lower amounts are needed to grow crops – just like how more fuel-efficient car use less gasoline. EEFs are already produced by several major fertilizer companies, and have been shown to improve yields while reducing nitrogen losses. Despite their success, EEFs are only used on about 12 percent of U.S. corn cropland.

The researchers’ analysis involved examining how CAFE-style standard mandating greater use of EEFs over a ten-year period would affect incomes from higher yields and increased fertilizer costs. The results showed that higher efficiency standards – depending on the standard set – could result in net economic benefits of $5-8 billion per year by 2030. These benefits account for both farmer and industry profits as well as environmental and human health gains from reduced nitrogen pollution. 

“A state could pioneer such an approach – possibly California, which has already adopted ambitious climate goals across all sectors,” the authors propose. “Although the heterogeneity of agricultural, climatic, and political systems across the world requires a range of policy approaches to address the nitrogen pollution issue, industry-focused technology-forcing policies could be a promising option for reducing nitrogen losses, even as we push our planet to produce far more food.”

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Improved corn industry fertilizer efficiency could generate billions

What’s better than reducing pollution while saving money? Your answer...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

[sendtonews key="0879czfG3k-1785905-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from NASA...

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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

[sendtonews key="qARzJPSabQ-2270617-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> 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

[sendtonews key="qas3EhyI0Y-2220951-12187" 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.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

[sendtonews key="vpljfR2VBX-2560867-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

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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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