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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Artificial sweetener neotame has shocking effects on gut health

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

When a team of researchers estimated the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cowspiracy-film-review/">sustainability</a> of resources in 151 countries, they found that no nation is capable of meeting the basic human needs of its population. 

The unprecedented analysis revealed that human needs are not being met when social and global requirements are both taken into consideration.

Dr. Daniel O'Neill from the Sustainability Research Institute at the <a href="http://www.leeds.ac.uk/">University of Leeds</a> is the study's lead author.

“Almost everything we do, from having dinner to surfing the Internet, uses resources in some way, but the connections between resource use and human well-being are not always visible to us,” said Dr. O'Neill.

“We examined international relationships between the sustainability of resource use and the achievement of social goals, and found that basic needs, such as nutrition, sanitation, and the elimination of extreme poverty, could most likely be achieved in all countries without exceeding global environmental limits.”

Dr. O'Neill explained that other social goals, such as secondary education and life satisfaction, are not as clearly attainable. 

The current study expands upon previous research by the <a href="http://www.stockholmresilience.org/">Stockholm Resilience Centre</a>, which identified nine crucial environmental processes as being “planetary boundaries.” Crossing these limits, such as freshwater and land use, could lead to devastating climate change.

“Meeting these goals could require a level of resource use that is two to six times the sustainable level,” said Dr. O’Neill.

The research team developed an evaluation based on each country's resource use and well-being achievements.

“Our results suggest that some of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, such as combating climate change and its impacts, could be undermined by the pursuit of other goals, particularly those focused on growth or high levels of human well-being,” said study co-author Dr. Andrew Fanning.

The researchers examined seven planetary boundaries as they related to each country's population, and then compared these limits to resource consumption while accounting for international trade.

The experts also rated countries on 11 social objectives that represented a “safe and just” level of development. Life expectancy and democratic quality were observed, among other objectives.

Ultimately, the researchers found that no country performed well under the conditions of both planetary boundaries and social indicators.

“In general, the more social thresholds a country achieves, the more planetary boundaries it exceeds, and vice versa,” said co-author Dr. William Lamb.

“Although wealthy nations like the US and UK satisfy the basic needs of their citizens, they do so at a level of resource use that is far beyond what is globally sustainable. In contrast, countries that are using resources at a sustainable level, such as Sri Lanka, fail to meet the basic needs of their people.”

The study is published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/natsustain">Nature Sustainability</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

No country is meeting its sustainability needs, says new study

When a team of researchers estimated the sustainability of resources...

<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/couples-together-share-microbes/">Couples</a> who regularly send sexual images and suggestive texts via phone, also known as sexting, may have higher reports of sexual satisfaction than non-sexting couples. 

However, a new study found that frequent sexting could also be indicative of an insecure and unhealthy relationship. 

The study was conducted by researchers from the <a href="https://www.ualberta.ca/">University of Alberta Canada</a> whose aim was to examine sexting to see if it presented a strain on the relationship or strengthened intimacy.

Their results show that regular sexters are insecure, less likely to see a relationship as ongoing, and are more likely to cheat. 

For the study, the researchers surveyed 615 Canadian and American adults who were in committed heterosexual or same-sex relationships. 

The study participants were of different ages, ethnicities and education levels. According to the researchers, the group represents a much broader sample than those in other sexting studies, which typically focus on young adults or teenagers. 

The researchers then categorized the survey responses by splitting the participants into groups based on how frequently they sexted. 

Non-sexters made up 72 percent of the group and never sent suggestive text messages. Word-only sexters reported sending sexual messages but never pictures. Frequent sexters sent several sexts a week, and hyper-sexters participated in the activity at least once a day. 

Both frequent and hyper sexters reported more feelings of insecurity in their relationships, unhappiness in their relationships, and were more likely to cheat than non-sexters. 

“This does not seem to be something that's part of a normal, healthy adult relationship,” said  Michelle Drouin,  a psychology professor who oversaw the study. “They had low levels of commitment to their partner, more insecure attachment to the partner — maybe fearing the partner would leave, or not feeling very connected.”

The results show that hyper-sexters may be insecure in their relationships. Dr. Adam Galovan, lead author of the study, says it’s because those partners are focusing too much on one aspect of the relationship and letting others suffer. 

“My interpretation is that the sexters are focusing more on the sexual part of their relationship and may be neglecting other areas,” Dr. Galovan said. “They need to put the phone down and have a good old-fashioned conversation - spend some time together nurturing the relationship - instead of shortcutting with sexting to try to get a quality relationship.”

Dr. Galovan and his research team make a point to say that their results do not prove that sexting is unhealthy or leads to cheating in all relationships, and that in their research they found sexting was not as widespread or common as some media outlets make it out to be. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com </a>Staff Writer

Couples who sext may actually be insecure about their relationship

Couples who regularly send sexual images and suggestive texts via...

Thanks to new laser technology, archaeologists are uncovering ancient Maya settlements and ruins hidden by jungles in northern Guatemala – and they’re extensive.

The technology, known as “light detection and ranging” or LiDAR, has also been used to explore the ruins of cities around Angkor Wat in Cambodia. 

The new project, led by the <a href="http://www.pacunam.org/">PACUNAM Foundation</a>, took it a step farther, exploring more than 800 square miles of jungle in the Petén region of Guatemala. What it found was a massive network of ruins – homes, palaces, elevated roadways and other structures that may have housed millions – that compares to ancient Greece or China, researchers told <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/">National Geographic</a>.

“We’ve had this western conceit that complex civilizations can’t flourish in the tropics, that the tropics are where civilizations go to die,” said Dr. Marcello Canuto of <a href="https://tulane.edu/">Tulane University</a>, an archaeologist who studies the Guatemalan site of La Corona. “But with the new LiDAR-based evidence from Central America and Angkor Wat, we now have to consider that complex societies may have formed in the tropics and made their way outward from there.”

LiDAR uses laser light to sample the Earth’s surface, creating a detailed topographical map that can reveal ruins just below the ground. Laser pulses are beamed down from a plane or helicopter, and the wavelengths are measured as they bounce back. Although it uses light instead of sound, LiDAR works similarly to bats’ sonar.

The studies found that, during the Maya classic period from 250 to 900 C.E., the center of the complex civilization covered an area double the size of medieval England, but with anywhere from 10 to 15 million people. In comparison, England’s population was around 1.5 million in 1086, according to estimates based on the <a href="http://www.domesdaybook.co.uk/life.html#6">Domesday Book</a>.

The scans showed that Maya settlements in the lowlands included swampland archaeologists previously thought were uninhabitable.

The Maya built elevated roadways so they wouldn’t become impassable in rainy weather, and carefully managed their water with canals and reservoirs, the archaeologists discovered. Defensive walls, fortresses and other military structures point to the large-scale warfare that the Maya civilization engaged in.

Unfortunately, the scans also showed pits dug by pot hunters and other thieves.

“Many of these new sites are only new to us; they are not new to looters,” PACUNAM president Marianne Hernandez said.

A one-hour special highlighting the team’s LiDAR research will air on the <a href="http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/">National Geographic Channel</a> on February 6. 

—

By <a href="mailto:kcathey@earth.com">Kyla Cathey</a>, <a href="http://www.earth.com">Earth.com</a> staff writer

Laser technology reveals sprawling extent of Maya settlements

Thanks to new laser technology, archaeologists are uncovering ancient Maya...

In classrooms all over the world, students are learning about their local water resources, from the animals that make their homes in ponds and rivers to how land use affects the flow of storm water – with a little help <a href="https://www.projectwet.org/">Project WET</a>.

The educational nonprofit’s goal is to help students become the next generation of stewards for their local waterways. They do that by providing teachers with training and student activities to that can be incorporated into science, math, and even language arts and social studies classes.

“We want [students] to use that knowledge to be empowered to make changes in their own communities,” said Nicole Rosenleaf Ritter, Project WET’s communications manager.

In some classrooms, it’s already working. 

One third-grade class in Martinez took up an activity to learn about detecting leaks and calculating how much they cost, said Brian Brown, California’s Project WET coordinator. 

“It was math above their level. It was hard, but they learned it because they wanted to learn it,” he said.

They ended up taking their new knowledge home and helping their parents find leaks, the teacher told him. 

A Sacramento high school learned how to map storm water flow on their campus, Brown said. Other schools have used the activities in Project WET’s curriculum to plan school gardens, monitor water quality in local rivers, improve water hygiene and prevent the spread of waterborne pathogens.

Project WET now hosts workshops and coordinators all over the world, but it began as a trickle of an idea in North Dakota in 1984. Back then, it was focused on educating the public about the state’s water resources, but the focus quickly turned to students and their teachers.

“Our founder, Dennis Nelson … grew up in North Dakota on a farm, and his family always struggled with water,” Rosenleaf Ritter said. 

Although Nelson’s family lived near wetlands, they sunk well after well on their property. None of them lasted.

“So here he is, watching his family struggle with water all the time, and not understanding why farms down the street had water,” Rosenleaf Ritter said.

That curiosity led him to study hydrology in college, with a focus on watersheds – how and why storm water flows into rivers and lakes, she said. Back then, students really didn’t learn much about water in elementary or high school. Nelson, remembering his frustration over his family’s wells, began adapting the lessons he learned in college so they’d be easy to understand for everyone, no matter what their age or background.

“He didn’t want other kids to grow up without understanding where their water comes from, and why it acts the way it does,” Rosenleaf Ritter said.

Between 1989 and 2005, Project WET expanded into all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Working with Montana State University, the organization published its first curriculum and activity guide in 1995 and more than 50 water education guides. Before going independent in 2005, the organization had spread to 19 countries. 

Now based in Bozeman, Montana, Project WET has expanded all over the world and continues to publish curriculum and classroom activities. One of the goals is to make activities general enough they can be used anywhere in the world, but leave room for teachers to localize them so they are specific to their own communities.

“What works for us in Bozeman, Montana might not work [elsewhere],” Rosenleaf Ritter said. “We want these methods to work for teachers of all income levels, of all backgrounds. That’s really important to us.”
<h3>How it works</h3>
California offers a good example for how teachers can adapt Project WET’s curriculum in their classrooms. The program has been available in the state since 1996, and some of the teachers have been using the organization’s curriculum since the beginning. More join them all the time.

“We train about a thousand teachers a year,” Brown said. 

Project WET offers one-day workshops all over the state, aiming to enroll about 20 teachers per workshop. Because the state has unique water management situations – such as a drought that began in 2011 and lasted until 2016 – many school districts and teachers are happy to take advantage of the programs.

“We had people coming out of the woodwork for workshops during the later part of the drought,” Brown said.

The training lasts about six hours, and teachers get an overview of the activity guide. Not only that, they actually try several of the activities, such as turning a crumpled piece of paper into a watershed, playing a game of tag based on macroinvertebrates, or re-enacting spring snowmelt traveling down a river. 

“Then they’re more likely to do one of those activities with their students,” Brown said.

One goal of Common Core is to encourage teachers to focus on lessons that span disciplines, connecting science, math, language arts and other subjects together, Brown said. Many of Project WET’s activities live up to that standard. 

Thanks to grant funding, the California program has been able to survey teachers in the Central Valley about how they used the materials. More than 300 teachers responded to a survey covering 2015 to 2017; of those, 19 percent have been using Project WET materials for more than 10 years, Brown said.

The majority, 86 percent, used the materials to discuss conservation with their students – unsurprising, given California’s water challenges. Water management, critical thinking, the water cycle, and weather and climate are also high on the list of concepts teachers use Project WET materials to explore, according to the survey. 

The activity guide makes an excellent supplement for textbooks, fact sheets and other text-based resources, Brown said. It also matches up well with California’s <a href="http://www.californiaeei.org/">Education and the Environment Initiative</a>, he said.

“We’ve got the hands-on science that is often missing from other materials,” he said.

In addition, the Project WET curriculum frequently uses real-world scenarios. One activity, “Grave Mistake,” teaches students how to use arsenic levels to trace the source of arsenic leaching into a community’s water. It’s based on real cases in which Civil War-era grave sites <a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/arsenic-and-old-graves-civil-war-era-cemeteries-may-be-leaking-toxins-180957115/">contaminated local water sources</a> in the U.S.

Best of all, students all over the state are using what they learn through Project WET in their own real-world scenarios. In Kern County, students used “Color Me a Watershed” to identify how changes in local land use are affecting stream flows, Brown said.

Last year, students at a Sacramento high school walked through their campus on rainy days, watching how the water flowed and trying to determine where it might get backed up and cause flooding. They unexpectedly had the chance to test their map when California saw heavy rains in early 2017.

“Lucky for them, it rained like heck last year,” he said.

They identified several drainage issues on the campus. Now, future classes will have the chance to work out solutions to those issues.

And a number of schools merge Project WET curriculum with agricultural education, an important element in the Central Valley, where some of the country’s top crop-producing counties are located.
<h3>How to get involved – and why</h3>
Project WET hosts regular workshops, but even if there isn’t one nearby in the coming months, teachers can still get involved. 

The organization has a collection of resources on its website. Educators can order publications full of lesson plans and information (with the exception of  Curriculum and Activity Guide 2.0, which is only available at training workshops), and activity booklets for students. There’s even a link to online training.

The organization seeks to make things easy for teachers as well as fun for students. 

“There’s a big emphasis on teachers in many states to teach science using the next generation science standards,” Rosenleaf Ritter said. So the activity guide includes information about how each activity correlates to the standards. 

But Project WET hopes teachers will jump on-board for reasons beyond just meeting new science education standards. In addition to introducing concepts in geography, science, mathematics, technology and critical reading, it also encourages students to think about their community’s water resources and the future. 

“Water is increasingly important around the world today.We don’t think about water till the well runs dry. That’s the old saying. There are places where the well is literally running dry,” Rosenleaf Ritter said. “It’s not that one child can solve that problem, but if children can understand the science behind that … then they’re going to be in a much better position to face these challenges going forward.”

—

By <a href="mailto:kcathey@earth.com">Kyla Cathey</a>, <a href="http://www.earth.com">Earth.com</a> staff writer

Project WET teaches students about water cycle, healthy ecosystems

In classrooms all over the world, students are learning about...

A team of archaeologists from the <a href="http://www.washington.edu/">University of Washington</a> reconstructed weapons used by Alaskan hunters thousands of years ago. The study revealed that the ancient hunter-gatherers of this region were very skilled in creating the most effective points for various targets.

“The hunger-gatherers of 12,000 years ago were more sophisticated than we give them credit for,” said study co-author Ben Fitzhugh. “We haven't thought of hunter-gatherers in the Pleistocene as having that kind of sophistication, but they clearly did for the things that they had to manage in their daily lives, such as hunting game.”

“They had a very comprehensive understanding of different tools, and the best tools for different prey and shot conditions,” he said.

Between 10,000 and 14,000 years ago, Alaskan hunting weapons were made with a variety of projectile points. The hunter-gatherers of this time used different lethal weapons for hunting caribou, reindeer, and other animals.

According to the experts, some types of ancient projectile points originated in Eurasia and Africa and made their way to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/snowfall-alaska-mountains-doubled/">Alaska</a> before the end of the Ice Age.

Kim Eckart, a staff writer for the University of Washington, explained in a <a href="https://www.washington.edu/news/2018/01/31/reconstructing-an-ancient-lethal-weapon/">press release</a>: “These included rudimentary points made of sharpened bone, antler or ivory; more intricate, flaked stone tips popularly familiar as "arrowheads"; and a composite point made of bone or antler with razor blade-like stone microblades embedded around the edges.”

The researchers set out to examine the effectiveness of these three different types of points. They reconstructed 30 projectile points, including ten of each kind, and tested to see how well they could damage two different targets including a reindeer carcass.

The study revealed that the ancient Alaskan hunters were advanced enough to choose the most effective weapon for each target.

“We have shown how each point has its own performance strengths,” explained study co-author Janice Wood. “It has to do with the animal itself; animals react differently to different wounds. And it would have been important to these nomadic hunters to bring the animal down efficiently. They were hunting for food.”

Wood said that this research provides a look into “the capacity of the human brain to come up with innovations that ultimately changed the course of human history.”

The study is published in the <a href="https://www.journals.elsevier.com/journal-of-archaeological-science/">Journal of Archaeological Science</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Janice Wood

Ancient Alaskan hunters were more advanced than was thought

A team of archaeologists from the University of Washington reconstructed...

Researchers at <a href="https://www.hiroshima-u.ac.jp/en">Hiroshima University</a> have found that Americans who understand money are not only more capable of acquiring it, but are also less stressed about life in old age. This study is unprecedented in its assessment of how financial literacy affects aging people in the United States.

“Anxiety is bad for one's health, and it is bad for the economy,” said lead author Yoshihiko Kadoya. “If you have a high level of anxiety about the future, you tend to spend less and be more cautious about saving money, which negatively affects the national economy. We predicted that financial literacy would help to reduce this anxiety.”

The research team examined data from surveys of adults across the country. The participants had answered questions that tested their financial literacy, and also reported on how nervous they felt about life after turning 65.


The results of the preliminary investigation were inconclusive, so the researchers decided to look into household conditions such as education, wealth, and number of children.

The researchers ultimately found that people with financial literacy are less anxious because they have accumulated wealth such as savings and bonds, while people who are less financially literate do not typically have these types of security.


The study revealed that people with children and those who exercise regularly are also less concerned about life in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mid-life-physical-activity-stay-fit/">old age</a>. The research team conducted a similar analysis focused on Japanese people. Anxiety levels, which were classified on a scale of 1 to 5, were reported very differently by Japanese people compared to Americans.

“In Japan, people tended to avoid one extreme answer, like 1 or 5,” said Kadoya. “In the US, on another hand, many people tended to pick an extreme answer. These answers may be strongly influenced by culture.” 

Regardless, financial literacy appeared to play a role in reducing anxiety about life in old age across both countries. The study is published in the <a href="https://link.springer.com/journal/11150">Review of Economics of the Household</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Understanding money helps ease anxiety about old age

Researchers at Hiroshima University have found that Americans who understand...

Science is often hailed as the way forward, as the savior of the environment and the human race.  Nothing is more seductive than the myth of a technological messiah.  We have found that cars, coal power plants and other burners of fossil fuels cause global climate change.  Our answer is more and better technology in the form of solar, wind, hydroelectric, biofuels, even nuclear energy.

We see pollution, the growth of cities and the sprawl of humanity endangering our wild places and animals.  The answer it seems is collecting more data, intense observation, novel ways to mitigate all of these problems.  

Children spend less time outside, see less wildlife, are becoming more and more disconnected to the planet on which they live.  Adults are also becoming just as disconnected to nature as younger people.  Our answer to this problem is to take to our keyboards and write more articles to inspire people to get outside.  We create documentaries and short YouTube films covering everything from the life of a Polar Bear to a recent hiking trip and expect people to be outside more.  

All of these answers are based in technology and changing large blocks of society, culture, humanity.  I want the human race to change before it’s too late as much as anyone but I am deeply suspicious of the methods we’re using for change.  Technology is the problem to begin with and answering the problem with more technology seems at best willfully ignorant.  Part of the problem is that technology is fueled by money, which means it is fueled by consumption, which unfortunately means it’s fed by all of us.  We in turn are kept hungry by the hollow calories of advertisement dreams and so we gorge continuously on things and ideas.  

Science is just a method to fulfil our desires, a way to look at the world, collect facts, not truths and in turn contribute to technology and the invention of things.  There are serious limitations to science and technology, they cannot like we imagine, do everything.  

Anything we create or use has serious costs.  Most Americans, especially middle class and above Americans, don’t see the true consequences of their actions.  Solar panels are made of metal mined from the ground, which is a finite resource, by definition unsustainable.  Plastic often goes into solar panels, plastic usually made from fossil fuels.  Solar panels are still shipped and transported with vehicles burning fossil fuels.  Solar panels and their accessories are packages in paper and cardboard made from trees as well as plastics made from, you guessed it, fossil fuels.  A lot of solar systems also require batteries which are made with a host of toxic materials and have the same shipping, manufacturing and packaging problems as solar panels.  Batteries have the additional problem of disposal at the end of their lives.  Batteries can either be tossed into a landfill where they leak toxins into the soil or recycled.  A battery is often recycled by a destitute child in a poor nation.  The battery exposes the child to toxins, leaving her or him with health problems that may never be addressed and can lead to sickness and early death.  

Wind has all the same basic problems as solar.  Concrete is also a large component of wind farms and can be sourced from the oceans where it wreaks havoc on the environment.  Wind of course also can kill birds and bats that come into contact with the turbines.    

Birds and turbines brings us to another problem.  Mainstream environmentalism often acts as if <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-humidity/">climate change</a> is the biggest or even only environmental catastrophe we face.  Climate change is only one symptom of a deeper, systemic problem pervasive in all aspects of our lives.  Global capitalism and gross over consumption in connection with a lack of understanding, empathy or deep connection on the part of consumers is the real issue.  If we all drove cars that didn’t pollute and used nothing but clean energy, the deeper crisis, a crisis of not just environment but a crisis threatening to rip humanity apart would persist.  We are ecologically illiterate and we’re on our way to becoming simply illiterate as well.  We have become so deluded, so high on the idea of our infallibility as a species that we can’t even see the fossils beneath our feet or the smog filling the emptiness of our skies.  We need real change.  Real change starts with one person.  Real change starts with you, reader.

A big part of the problem with scientific innovation is that is driven by a very unscientific economic model.  We operate under the illusion that economic growth is good and anything less is a failure.  The problem is that any economic growth is based on real things, real ‘resources’ such as oil, rubber, bananas, metal, diamonds.  There isn’t an endless amount of anything, nor the ability to create that thing endlessly.  If the whole world decided that we need to grow nothing but bananas, if every piece of arable land was dedicated to bananas and greenhouses were built where it was too cold to grow bananas normally, there would still be a limit.  You can’t grow an endless number of bananas because banana agriculture depends on finite things like pollinators, soils, water, even sun.  

What needs to happen is a shift in how we rate our success as a society.  I would argue that valuing economics as the biggest driver of ‘success’ is dangerous and especially an economic model of endless growth that is doomed to failure.  We need to look more seriously at countries like the Kingdom of Bhutan where happiness is valued more than economic growth and where many people are ‘poor’ financially but have all needs taken care of.  I want to live in a society that has more to offer than throwing everything into the economic wood chipper and turning it into resources for greater ‘wealth’ usually for a small minority.  I want to live in a society where wildness, beauty, peace and happiness are valued far above economic value; where freedom means more than the power of the dollar.         

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By <a href="mailto:zachfitzner@yahoo.com">Zach Fitzner</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Why science alone won’t save us

Science is often hailed as the way forward, as the...

There is a growing body of research providing evidence for the argument that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mindfulness-reduce-cravings-food/">alcohol</a> consumption can actually have health benefits – in low doses of course. While the hazards of heavy alcohol consumption are well known, many studies have linked low doses of alcohol with a reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases, along with certain cancers. Now, a new study has shown that low levels of alcohol can be good for the brain too.

The study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, was led by Dr. Maiken Nedergaard, co-director of the Center for Translational Neuromedicine at the <a href="https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/">University of Rochester Medical Center</a>. His research focuses on the glymphatic system, a functional waste clearance pathway for the vertebrate central nervous system. Nedergaard and her team actually were the first to describe the brain’s unique cleaning process back in 2012. The process involves cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) getting pumped into the brain tissue, flushing away waste – including the proteins beta amyloid and tau, which are associated with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.

In this study, mice were exposed to low levels of alcohol, equal to about 2.5 drinks per day. Those that “drank” showed less inflammation in the brain, and their glymphatic system was more efficient in moving CSF through the brain and removing waste. However, the performance of low-dose in cognitive and motor tests was identical to control mice.

“Studies have shown that low-to-moderate alcohol intake is associated with a lesser risk of dementia, while heavy drinking for many years confers an increased risk of cognitive decline,” says Nedergaard. “This study may help explain why this occurs. Specifically, low doses of alcohol appear to improve overall brain health.”

It is important to note that heavy alcohol consumption remains detrimental to our overall health, but the same cannot be said for minor consumption. Nedergaard explains, “…in this study we have shown for the first time that low doses of alcohol are potentially beneficial to brain health, namely it improves the brain's ability to remove waste.” So enjoy that glass of wine, just don’t try to finish the bottle by yourself.

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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

Low levels of alcohol shown to be good for the brain

There is a growing body of research providing evidence for...

If you have ever been bitten by a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/puppies-talk-older-dog/">dog</a>, it may have had something to do with your personality type, according to a new study.

Researchers from the <a href="https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/infection-and-global-health/">Institute of Infection and Global Health at the University of Liverpool </a>assessed the number of dog bites that occurred in a town in northern England in order to accurately determine the frequency of dog bites and how often they required treatment. 

The results also showed that certain personality types were more at risk of being bitten than others, as anxious people showed a higher percentage of dog bites. 

The study was published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. 

In the United Kingdom there are 8.5 million dogs, and over 6,500 people require hospital treatment for dog injuries annually. 

The research team wanted to isolate dog bites from other dog-related injuries that are reported by hospital record statistics, and found that the number of dog bites may be much higher than people realize. 

According to the research, 694 people across 385 households were asked about any dog bite instances, if treatment was needed, if they owned a dog themselves, and if they knew the dog that bit them. 

The study participants were also given the<a href="https://gosling.psy.utexas.edu/scales-weve-developed/ten-item-personality-measure-tipi/"> Ten Item Personality Inventory (TIPI) </a>which measures emotional stability and personality type. The researchers wanted to see if there was a correlation between dog bites and certain personality traits. 

The TIPI scores did show a link between anxious personality traits and an increased risk of a dog bite.

Every point increase in the TIPI scores which showed higher emotional stability was associated with a 23 percent decreased risk of being bitten. 

The results also showed men were twice as likely to have been bitten as women, and 1 in 4 of the study participants reported being bitten at one time or another. 

Owning a dog drastically increased the likelihood of having been bitten, but a little over half of the study participants reported that they had been bitten by a dog they didn’t know. 

The researchers then used these results to create a likely national average of dog bites per 100,000 people in the UK. Current hospital records say that dog bites occur in 740 per 100,000 people, but the results of the new study put those numbers at 1,873. 

There are limitations to the study and researchers say that the results may not apply to rest of the world, and important factors like breed and age of the dog in question were not considered. 

The results still suggest that dog bite statistics may need to recalculated and more research should be done looking at dog bite prevention methods based on risk factors and personality type. 

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By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Anxious people are more likely to get bitten by a dog, study says

If you have ever been bitten by a dog, it...

The dangers of playing American <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/youth-football-alter-brain/">football</a> has been a hot topic in the news lately, with groundbreaking studies being published on the connection between professional football and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Other studies have shown behavioral issues arising more frequently in children who play football, and while these findings are controversial, it is raising a lot of questions about the viability of the sport in the long term.

Now, a new study published in the <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama">Journal of the American Medical Association</a> has found that career players in the National Football League (NFL) had slightly higher rates of death than those of replacement players, who had played in only a few games during a short league strike in the 1980s. While the difference was not statistically significant, there was a noticeable difference in death rates between the two populations.

Prior studies have looked at the rate of death in retired NFL players against population norms, which made it difficult to derive any true meaning from the results, as the general population usually lives a radically different lifestyle from NFL players. This study was able to even out the playing field – no pun intended – by assessing career NFL players versus athletes that lived a similar lifestyle. 

The study assessed 3,812 retired players who had played in the league from 1982 to 1992. This included 2,933 regular NFL players and 897 replacement players. Data was collected for any death up to December 31, 2016. Along with the non-statistically significant higher death rate among career NFL players, it was also found that seven career players died of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) compared to zero replacement players. 

While the findings were not statistically significant, and estimates were based on a small number of deaths, this study continues to spur on the conversation regarding the relative safety of American football.

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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

Career NFL players may have a slightly higher risk of death

The dangers of playing American football has been a hot...

What makes a good death? Is it being surrounded by loved ones or waiting until you’re alone to pass away? 

Glenys Caswell, a senior research fellow from <a href="http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/">the University of Nottingham</a> with a special interest in death, has attempted to tackle this question in a piece she wrote for<a href="https://theconversation.com/for-some-people-dying-alone-is-not-such-a-bad-thing-heres-why-90034"> The Conversation</a>. 

The subject of dying alone is usually looked at negatively, and people often feel guilty if they are absent at the time of loved one’s passing. 

However, Caswell argues through her years of research and observation on the topic that some people simply prefer to be alone during that time. 

“My own research found that while hospice-at-home nurses believe that no one should die alone, they had seen cases where a person died after their family members had left the bedside,” Caswell writes. “The nurses believed that some people just want to be on their own when they are dying.” 

Caswell has researched, conducted studies, and written several papers on the subject of death and dying alone. 

<a href="http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21582041.2015.1114663">In one study</a>, she proposes that dying alone at home isn’t the shocking tragedy that many news stories make it out to be, but that it shows a purposeful withdrawal from society on the part of the deceased. 

Dying with loved ones near is also cultural, with many in agreement that dying alone is a terrible way to spend one’s last moments. Health care policies, news coverage of celebrity deaths, and representations of death in the media all support these views. 

Yet, some people prefer to be alone, and as Caswell points out, especially when dying. 

“But we all know people who prefer to be left alone when they are ill. Is it so surprising then that some might wish to be alone when they are dying?”

Whether alone or surrounded by loved ones, a person’s wishes deserve to be respected.  

Caswell emphasizes the importance of talking about these sometimes uncomfortable topics. 

Discussing the subject in advance can help stop unnecessary feelings of guilt if family is not present during someone’s passing, and can ensure that a person’s final wishes are met. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>,<a href="https://www.earth.com/"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Do some people prefer to be alone when they die?

What makes a good death? Is it being surrounded by...

A new report from <a href="http://next10.org/">Next 10</a> has revealed that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/california-water-conservation-benefits/">California</a> can easily reach its target of having 1.5 million electric cars on the road by 2025. In 2017, electric car sales were nearly 30 percent higher than the previous year in California. According to the publication, sales need to improve by just 20 percent each year through 2025 to meet the state's goal.

So far, there have been 350,000 zero-emission vehicles sold in California. The increase in sales has been primarily attributed to the rising demand for electric cars, reduced battery costs, and overall lower pricing.

Last week, California Governor Jerry Brown signed an executive order which set an even more ambitious target of getting 5 million zero-emission vehicles on the state's roads by 2030. The directive also detailed the governor's plans of investing $3.75 billion to bring a quarter million vehicle-charging stations to California by 2025.

Brown pointed out that vehicle emissions contribute 50 percent of the state's harmful greenhouse gases and 80 percent of the pollutants that cause smog.

“This executive order aims to curb carbon pollution from cars and trucks and boost the number of zero-emission vehicles driven in California,” Brown said in a statement. “In addition, the cap-and-trade investments will, in varying degrees, reduce California's carbon footprint and improve the quality of life for all."

Both Britain and France have plans to completely end sales of gasoline and diesel vehicles by 2040 in an effort to curb pollution and carbon emissions, while India is considering a complete transition to electric vehicles by 2032. China is also setting aggressive goals to increase sales of alternative fuel vehicles.

F. Noel Perry is a venture capitalist and philanthropist who founded the non-profit organization Next 10.

“The movement around the globe to move away from gas-powered vehicles is very significant and California is at the center of that,” said Perry. 

The full analysis by Next 10 can be found <a href="http://next10.org/zev">here</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

California plans to hit 1.5 million electric cars by 2025

A new report from Next 10 has revealed that California...

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

[sendtonews key="X0f6OHYoI4-2310561-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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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

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

Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard</a> describes Earth’s interconnected systems, and how this network is affected by rising temperatures.&nbsp;



During 2020, average global temperatures matched the hottest year on record. The hurricane season was also record-breaking, with many of the storms intensifying at extraordinary speeds. Hot water in the ocean is fuel for hurricanes. The satellite data shows that it's all one interconnected system showing how Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected.



According to NASA, dust swept up from Northern Africa plays a major role in the formation of hurricanes, and is also a key source of fertilization in the Amazon rainforest. As a result of<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/seagrass-wasting-disease-is-fueled-by-climate-change/"> climate</a> change, dust plumes are expected to decline, which will have an effect on vegetation far away.&nbsp;



Images from Earth-observing satellites show how the world’s plant life is affected by natural disasters, fires, and deforestation. Satellites also reveal how widespread changes in vegetation impact waterways,&nbsp; the climate, air quality. Satellites communicate by using radio waves to send signals to the antennas on the Earth. "Earth From Space" is a groundbreaking two-hour special that reveals a spectacular new space-based vision of our planet. 



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://welcome.miami.edu/">University of Miami</a> Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science explores how changes in water temperatures have affected tiger shark habitats and movements in the North Atlantic Ocean. The study reveals that rising temperatures have caused the sharks to shift toward the poles over the past 40 years.



“Tiger shark annual migrations have expanded poleward, paralleling rising water temperatures,” explained study lead author Neil Hammerschlag. “These results have consequences for tiger shark conservation, since shifts in their movements outside of marine protected areas may leave them more vulnerable to commercial fishing.”



The researchers analyzed nine years of tracking data from satellite-tagged tiger sharks, combined with four decades of conventional tag and recapture data provided by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Cooperative Shark Tagging Program.



The experts found that during the last decade of record heat, for every one-degree Celsius increase in water temperatures, tiger sharks migrated further poleward by over 400 kilometers. They also migrated two weeks earlier than usual to waters off the northeastern coast of the United States.



“Given their role as apex predators, these changes to tiger shark movements may alter predator-prey interactions, leading to ecological imbalances, and more frequent encounters with humans,” concluded Professor Hammerschlag.



Video Credit: University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science



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



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

Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

The history of Mars is much more complex than we thought

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research



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



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

Cavefish are healthy despite their sedentary lifestyle

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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites capture the world's biggest and fastest waves

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;



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

Satellites have become essential to our survival

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